posted November 06, 2002 03:14 PM
Edited By: jason370 on 6 Nov 2002 15:55
track day questions????? going to 2nd creek raceway tomorrow in denver. they require nothing at all other than leathers. no safety wiring, no mirror removal...nada.
gearing aside and a steering damper, my bike is bone stock.
question.....what psi do i want to run my tires at?
im gonna remove my mirrors anyway, just because i dont want to be distracted from behind and i think that if the bike went down, that mirrors off gives less leverage towards front end damage. do i need to pry out that rubber thing on the top of the mirror, i imagine i'd have to.
any basic recommendations that a track newbie might need to know, as far as bike prep and actual on track riding is concerned??????
i'm running bt010/200 on the rear, and a dunlop 208 on the front (haven't gotten around to putting the 011 on yet, plus it only has 3k miles on it and has plenty of tread left)
i'm up against a few busas and i'm pretty sure that i'll make a strong showing, just want to have every edge that i can get.
also, do i want to set mt rebound dampening different for the track thatn for street, and if yes, how so?
unless you guys tell me otherwise, psi is my number one concern.
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
posted November 06, 2002 03:53 PM
Track temp is gonna be something to consider. Start with the recommended pressures, and check your tire pressure after a few laps out there. What you will find, on your stock bike, is that it won't want to turn when braking from high speed. So get your braking done early, then tip it in.
____________
82 Gpz750, 84 Ninja 900, 2000 ZX12R (Muzzy Big Bore Kit), *another* 2000 ZX12R (Muzzy custom stroke crank 1341cc motor), 2004 ZZR1200, 2005 ZX10R, 2007 ZX14, 2008 Concours 14, 2014 Versys 650, 2014 Yamaha WR450F, 2015 Ninja H2
posted November 06, 2002 04:50 PM
I run Rennsports at trackdays. 190 rear set at 38 psi and front at 39. I don't know if that really translates well to your tires. I do know that a bike inspector for some track day organization said that the two most common screw ups he sees are too much air pressure and too tight of a chain. I only click in a little more rebound dampening and crank down my preload for the aggressive braking you will be doing (at least two more lines). Most important is to have a plan for skills to work on and think more than react. Wait, on second thought, the most important thing is to have fun !!!
____________
If you aren't an AMA member, you're part of the problem.
NESBA #209
Needs a life
living life, and loving it.
Posts: 7981
posted November 06, 2002 07:17 PM
fun fun fun...that is what its all about, I ran a bone stock ZX12R to the Ed Bargy school up in Fuakville Ga and had a blast. I had to safty wire and drain the antifreeze, but the rest of it I left alone. Had fun, but I did notice a little bit of plow in the front end...just have fun
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
posted November 06, 2002 10:13 PM
Edited By: ZHooligan on 7 Nov 2002 08:09
Take a pressure gauge. Check the preasure cold and then imeadiately after you come in from running hard. Your hot tire pressure should be within 10% of your cold air pressure. If for example you go out with 32 pounds cold your hot pressure should be around 35 pounds. If the pressure is higher then that it means you are under inflated. Yes I said under inflated. If your hot pressure is still at or about the cold pressure of 32 pounds it means you are over inflated.
The recommended pressures are usually on the high side for the track.
Another really easy thing to do that will help the bike turnin quicker is to drop the nose by pushing the forks up in in the triple clamps. You'll need if my memory serves me a 12 mm wrench to loosen the triple clamp pinch bolts. If you push the forks up 5 mm from the stock position you will be amazed at the results. You have a steering Damper so take advantage of it.
Remember the skills you picked up at the keith Code school. Set up early before entering the turn and look as far ahead as possible. Looking ahead is the single most important habit and skill that will let you stay ahead of the bike! And don't forget to move your head parallel with your body. When I work with guys that ride the track once in a blue moon they have a tendency to hang off of the bike in the turns but forget to bring their head with the body! If you are hanging off of the bike severely in a turn and your looking through the windscreen it is a pretty sure bet that your head is in the wrong place!
One other hint, if you can arrange things so that you can run your bike with a couple of gallons of fuel only in the tank for your sessions. Bring a gas can to replenish as needed. One and half gallons will go a long ways and only ways about 9 lbs as opposed to a full tank weighing at over 35 pounds!
One last piece of advice and or a reminder, if you find yourself in a spot where you think you have blown it and are not going to make it, 99% of time if you don't panic just go on ahead turning the bike you will come out the other side. Most riders crash on the track because they panic or give up. The other skill that helps over come these panics is trail braking. If you get a chance come in to some turns pretty hot and practice turning with the brake on. Of course the trick is to learn to apply the brakes in the vertical position and proportinally let off of the fron brake as your lean angle increases. Trail Braking will let you go in farther then your buddies. Practice this and try to be absolutely smooth.
Freddy Spencer says, "Fast hands slow lap times, slow hands fast lap times". Freddy believes that you should try to upsetting the bike with jerky motions, dynamite brake work etc.
Have fun and don't be afraid to get comfortable before you dial it up. I am always amused at the guys that crash in the first lap or two.
____________
To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
posted November 07, 2002 03:55 AM
I didn't know that tire pressure rule of thumb ZH. Hafta experiment with that. Damn I love this site.
____________
If you aren't an AMA member, you're part of the problem.
NESBA #209
posted November 07, 2002 09:10 AM
Bean.. You get old enough and people throw enough stuff at you occasionally it sticks. Unfortunately sometimes it just sticks to the bottom of my boot!
The 10% rule has been around for quite awhile. Of course it is a good spot to start at and then adjust per the riders preference. But at least in y experience and the guys I know the preference is the rule.
When you get back from your vacation in the desert we will have to hook up and do some fine tuning on your suspension. And go out for a ride.
____________
To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
posted November 07, 2002 09:56 AM
My draft classification at this point puts me in the catagory of they will have to have taken every male between the Atlantic and the Rockey Mountains before they get that desperate!!
I can see it now, I'm deployed with two guys along side of me. One with a pack full of advil and the other with a pack full of Glucosamine/Chondroitin capsules!!
____________
To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
posted November 07, 2002 06:08 PM
also learned on track last month that even if you think you are too hot, leaning it over scrubs speed as well. tires are still turning as fast, but you are on smaller circumference so the actual roadspeed drops.
was eery dropping it in at what felt to be way too fast, but having it, even with constant throttle, slowing down.
then it just got fun :-)
still remember the instructor's quote about getting into situations...
ifyou are in situation where you think you are going to lose it, losing traction etc, keep on the throttle...95% of the time it will solve the problem.
the other 5% of the time, it ends the suspense, either way the situation is past.
and to prove his point (even timed it perfectly) a guy on an R1 highsided after slipping a bit and chopping throttle........dl shoulder was all, bike had a few scratches was fine since it landed and slid in grass.
posted November 07, 2002 07:15 PM
Highsides suck!
____________
To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
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posted November 06, 2002 03:14 PM
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