[Fundamentals] Motor Controls: The key to adjustability – Part 3

In Part 3, Ken shifts focus to an often-overlooked aspect of motor controls: inputs that are too soft, insufficient, or indecisive. Ken explains why underwhelming inputs can be just as problematic.

My last AMA professional race was in 2006 at Sonoma Raceway, competing in both the 600 and Superbike classes. This was during the near peak of the Mat Mladin and Ben Spies era, alongside an incredibly competitive field of factory riders in both categories. At the time, I was instructing at the Freddie Spencer School, club racing, and riding well—but "riding well" wasn’t enough in that company.

While training at Freddie’s, I had the opportunity to put in laps for myself during lunch breaks. One day, as Freddie observed me riding, he said: “Ken, you’re riding well right now, but you’re a bit too school smooth. I want more force in the bike on the brakes and on the throttle. I want your hands to move faster so I can see the bike moving around on the entry and exit.”

Many times when talking about Motor Controls, only abrupt inputs are discussed. There should also be conversation on having too little or overly soft inputs on the track because these can also cause issues, just in a different way from abrupt inputs. While smoothness is crucial, it’s equally important to apply inputs with enough decisiveness to keep the vehicle within its optimal performance range.