posted December 02, 2004 05:11 PM
OT: The Trackbike Prepped No, it's the 6E, not the 10R.
I've got my bike (the 6E) ready to take to ASMA (Arroyo Seco in Deming, NM) tomorrow.
Here's some shots of it all uglied up. Every bit of plastic came off eBay, but the tank is original. The spare tank is in better shape.
Spools welded on the swingarm, centerstand gone (removing sidestand tomorrow), fiberglass blanks in the front for signals and headlight, the orange is holding together some spiderwebbing (and will be a number background), sliders installed on the CBR600F3 clip ons, Pilot Powers (it will be in the low 50's on the track), yadda.
Some shots in the garage:
Man, I am SO looking forward to this weekend, a two-day trackday.
posted December 05, 2004 11:25 PM
Just got back, will give more details tomorrow, but this bike has too many issues for me to keep working with.
Had a blast, but didn't pass hardly anyone and make it stick for more than a few turns, I was grinding hard parts in a big way, and ruined my boots (they lasted both days, fortunately, but I need new ones). I broke more things, and second gear on the bike is beyond shot. No off-track excursions, but no illusions about this example of a 6E winning wood.
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ASMA 47
WERA 147
posted December 06, 2004 03:41 PM
Edited By: kz2zx on 6 Dec 2004 18:27
First, second gear problems had it jump out of gear at very predictible 1-second intervals below 9000 RPM, and about once every three seconds above... recipie for highside if you're leaned over - and I had about two opportunities for highsides (saved them both) before I either bogged in third (bus-stop) or grabbed some intestinal reserve and turned a second-gear drive into a third-gear carry of cornerspeed.
Which brings us to issue #2 - the poor shock and low footpegs, aka outdated chassis. Fixing the shock would cost... in the last five months I haven't found a used one. Carrying more cornerspeed meant hanging off far - really far - to keep the bike upright enough to overcome the dragging pegs and still turn the bike at a high rate of speed. Slight errors in foot placement meant I was dragging my titanium toeslider from time-to-time, until it ground through. Then I was dragging boot in one turn - and wore through almost to my sock. I had to pit and strap on duct-tape... that was a $250 pair of Oxtars, damnit. The shock was overdamped on rebound and undersprung, leading to it being packed-down after the esses - not such a huge problem on this track, but left the rear squatting and the front a little vague. Fortunately, the Pilot Powers did really well, and there was no lack of grip.
Issue #3 was power, or lack thereof. Gearing the bike for the track would have helped a lot, but getting passed at the end of a 2,000 ft long straight with over a 40-MPH difference in speed (114 to 155 MPH difference) sucks and is probably not overcome-able (everyone else gets to change gearing too, so I probably would have given up 25 MPH after a substantial gearing change). Leaving the carusel even with an R6 and grabbing fifth when the R6 disappears around the bend at the end of the straight while I still had 300 feet before my braking marker purely sucked. Absolutely railing to the limit of the cornering (see #2 above) and carrying more cornerspeed than most riders let me close up through the esses, and I could pass a few people at the last hairpin before a 150' open straight to the bus-stop, but they'd immediately pass me leaving the bus stop (while I was bogging in third gear...).
So, I can't get better on a bike I'm dragging hard parts in every corner with. This is frustrating... I figured I could at least make it as hard as possible to be passed, so I had fun with defensive lines - I swear I could hear teeth grind behind me sometimes. Also, I did hang with the fast guys in the carusel or at least they didn't widen the gap there, so while I didn't pass a new Gixxer on the outside, I have hopes.
I broke the rear mount on the right footpeg, and ground the undersides flat. When I can, I'll post up a picture of my right boot (it's in the trailer at a friend's house).
I'll reinstall the plastics and sell this bike to someone - probably some stunta kid, who may or may not appreciate the Race-Tech in the forks. He'll get instant poser-points with the scrubbing and gumballs on the Pilot Powers - they have about 2 more trackdays in them (I liked them so much I'll run a new set of them on a 600 on any track).
I have until March to find and prep a more competitive mount for the 2005 season.
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ASMA 47
WERA 147
posted December 08, 2004 07:02 AM
Edited By: kz2zx on 8 Dec 2004 07:04
For anyone who was curious why rearsets can be important, here's some evidence of being limited in cornering clearance:
The peg mount I broke:
I'd removed the feeler when I got that bike, now I can't reinstall the feeler to sell the bike: ____________
ASMA 47
WERA 147
posted December 08, 2004 04:44 PM
KZ, See if you can find a race prepped ,Supersport legal, SV650. Much better than what you just ran, and as long as you enter competitive classes, you won't be outgunned. Many club racers sell their Supersport SVs for around $3500. Total turn key. Put your numbers on and go.
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CCS #428
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
posted December 08, 2004 06:43 PM
The SV is gonna be lots faster than what you have now, but won't set your hair on fire like a 600 will. That being said, slower equals more forgiving...
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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 December 09, 2004 02:19 PM
I agree SWFT. A race prepped 600 is much more "inspiring" than an SV. I don't know KZ's budget or intent. Figured an SV would save some cash and teach KZ a little about cornering speed etc under race conditions. Hell, if its a tight track where he will be doing his racing, a race prepped EX 500 would be a great starter. Whatever, long as he comes home in one piece and with a big grin on his face.
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CCS #428
$3k budget. My intent was to race Novice, 7MW-like Vintage, and supersport (knowing I'd get my ass handed to me there, but wanting to gain experience) for 7 weekends this year ('05).
If I scrap the Vintage (get a newer bike and not an inexpensive F3 or 7R - legal for class at this track), I'd go for a well-set-up inline with gearing choices in the spares collection over the twin, though, I think.
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ASMA 47
WERA 147
posted December 10, 2004 02:51 PM
You animal. Put your toes more on the pegs and less of your foot. Why ruin a perfectly good set of boots. There called toe sliders, not toe grinders.
posted December 10, 2004 03:12 PM
well... in the first place I didn't realize I was grinding boot, and in the second, I was really cranked over (for this bike) in the carusel chasing a Gixx 750, with the peg grinding and folded up holding my foot in place when the slider gave up the ghost.
I spoke with Oxtar, and the best repair I can do is to use a new slider and some Shoe-Goo to build it back up. Or buy a new boot.
posted December 18, 2004 09:12 AM
What kind of times are you getting. Which way did they have the track going? I've been there twice its alot of fun. It's really difficult on the back half of the track ,on the tight stuff. Of course, i do run a zx12. The only place i dominate is that front straight and it doesn't hurt to have 200 hp bike either.
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9.78@155.13 mph 1.71 60 ft @ a near mile high dragstrip
quote:What kind of times are you getting. Which way did they have the track going? I've been there twice its alot of fun. It's really difficult on the back half of the track ,on the tight stuff. Of course, i do run a zx12. The only place i dominate is that front straight and it doesn't hurt to have 200 hp bike either.
Times were limited by grinding noises - about 1:36's I guesstimate.
One day CCW, second CW. I prefer CW - I like the tightening-up of the Ess curves that way, and I much prefer the bus-stop-to-Yucca turn than the other way. Plus CCW entering the carusel at 100+ on that bike made me queasy when parts ground...
I've delivered the bike to it's new owner, and after the new year will begin the search for a replacement in earnest.
Fellows, don't shoot me - it may not be green - I need a trackbike more than I need it to be Kawi, at least for this season.
Also, I repaired the boot for $17.95 in parts - Shoo Goo and replacement plastic sliders from Oxtar.
posted December 20, 2004 09:19 AM
Yup - you can do a lot of damage on an SV to 600s in capable hands. Especially on tight tracks. You can carry STOOPID corner speed on one that's set up right.
With your budget you should be able to find a reasonable track weapon and have enough oomph to go knee to knee with somebody in superstock classes.
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posted December 02, 2004 05:11 PM
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