From a press release:

Keith Code’s “Control Trainer”



The California Superbike School has added yet another unique training device to its long list of innovations in the field of rider training. The newest device, called the Control Trainer, teaches riders to operate and correctly time their control operations for the three advanced methods of changing gears: 1) simultaneous braking and downshifting done smoothly; 2) upshifts without the clutch; 3) downshifts without the clutch.

Simultaneous braking and downshifting is the most complex control sequence in riding. Up to 40 separate actions can be performed by a rider in about 2 seconds to make five downshifts while maintaining control of the front brake lever and doing it smoothly.

Code’s training device voice prompts the student rider through each of the steps, one at a time, until they are mastered. The Kawasaki ZX-9R platform bike is stationary, the student can see on the computer screen if his control usage is within spec and is reminded by voice prompts of what he did wrong and how to correct it.

The ZX-9R’s throttle, brake, clutch and gear change lever information is routed through the device’s computer which measures each control action for how long and how much it is used and if it is being used at the right time in coordination with the other controls.



Code says, “I’ve surveyed over 5000 street riders on their braking and downshifting skills and found that only about 2 out of 20 are confident with it. Even someone who is totally uncoordinated can master the control sequences to make it smooth in about 1/2-hour, more talented riders take around 5 minutes, even if they’ve never tried it before.

“I’ve seen magazines say that we don’t have to learn how to do this and have heard some trainers say it is too complex for most riders to master but It feels good when you do it right and riders get an enormous satisfaction once they learn and that makes it completely worthwhile all by itself.

“Riders generally master the upshift drill in a matter of minutes and we still have some bugs in the program for the clutchless downshifts but it’ll be sorted out soon.”