KawaBonzai
Zone Head
Leader of the Back.
Posts: 537
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posted March 31, 2009 04:38 PM
 Edited By: KawaBonzai on 1 Apr 2009 00:41
Road Track'n the ZX-14
Hiya gang!
So this weekend was my first attempt at road track'n the Zx-14. We had a private track day at Arroyo Seco in NM, had a blast.
I need to point out that this was my very first track day on ANY bike, let alone a big pig like the 14. I got many questions and onlookers as I wheeled the 14 out fo the trailer and heads turned with the WTF expression.
I was very surprised, I thought it would be a bear to handle and throw around, but the 14 did everything I asked it to and never complained a bit. there were some rough sections on the track which would upset the 600's and some fo the liter bikes. The added weigh of the 14 meant my a$$ never got bumped off the seat and carried the lines perfectly. Where others had to take a different line or slow down, I just motored through it all. 
I never took the Buell pegs off and managed to scrape both sides in several corners. I consider this a good thing as my fairing remained untouched.
After I get my hips fixed and into working shape I'll be able to get my head down, a cheek off and keep the bike a bit more upright. I rode 'Old School' all weekend because 850mg of Ibuprofen 4x a day could not get me any closer to having a knee down. Oh well, still fun!
For once in my life I have shed my chicken strips and have tires with little balled up melted rubber on the sides!
Pics here .. http://s443.photobucket.com/albums/qq156/TucsonSportRiders/Bonzai
This is about as low as I could get the bike without dragging the pegs, they are about 1/2 inch from dragging here. At least the fairings are safe!
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PC-III w/USB, Muzzys M14 + Carbon Oval + M10, BMC Race Filter, Flies Out, Buell Pegs, Heli Risers
www.TucsonSportRiders.com - Tucson's Premier SportRider Community
   
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slates
Expert Class
Posts: 377
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posted March 31, 2009 06:31 PM
Sweet pics...looks like lots of fun. I'm not sure I could do that with my 14, but I'd love to have a track bike to abuse.
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black zx14 - Brock's Gen3 Carbon, PCIII, no secondaries, Carrozzeria wheels, Sato rearsets, Pazzo levers, GPR V4 steering damper, Puig windscreen, Tiger Racing chain guard
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Bawls
Needs a job
re-learning to ride
Posts: 2701
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posted March 31, 2009 06:33 PM
the blue on your leathers matches your painters tape nicely 
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Best 60ft: 1.42
Best 1/8th: 5.97
Best 1/8th MPH: 119
Brockland Police Badge # 001
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted March 31, 2009 06:35 PM
nice!
FYI, if you get a penske rear shock you'll enjoy the track a LOT more on that bike
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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TurboBike
Expert Class
Posts: 121
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posted March 31, 2009 08:28 PM
Edited By: TurboBike on 1 Apr 2009 04:31
You can still lean the 14 as far as scraping the fairings before the pegs scrape.
The cool thing about the 14 is the low end tq coming out of corners leaving nice little trails of rubber.
We're up here in Albuquerque and occasionally hit Arroyo. Don't you like that nice long straight away?
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RACE WHAT YOU BRUNG AND HOPE YOU BRUNG ENUFF
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Old Guy
Expert Class
Posts: 470
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posted March 31, 2009 09:21 PM
Edited By: Old Guy on 1 Apr 2009 05:28
I like the photo of the motard going around the outside of you!!(sincerely doubt you dove INSIDE a tard.)
Glad you had a great time !!!
Its a blast isnt it !!!!
With that purdy paint, take the lowers off for next time.
You will scrape them. You will be going faster as your comfort zone will grow.
Or just leave the Buells on and learn how to hang off like a spaz monkey!
You are going to have to learn how to anyway once you heal up.
I take mine off for track days and zip tie the mid fairings to the lower radiator mount.
Keeps them from becoming wings at 180+
I tore up the sight glass tab on the right. The kickstand foot, shifter tip and a coolant hose on the left.
Stock springs and valving aint up to REAL spirited riding. Nevermind the advanced classes at a track day.
Stepping out the back end helps finish corners and drives the marshals and instructors nuts.
And like Turbo said, you can check your line next time around..,hehehe
The cost of track days here is dropping a lot.
Will probably do at least one........., or more.
Got this trick suspension to check out, ya know.
Rode a KTM 690sm the other day.
That thing would be nuts on the track!!! (It was a blast on the street !!)
Considering getting a motard for rainy days.
The truly demented riders in my area have them as 2nd bikes.
Lots of twisty dirty roads around here.
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Living the good life...,
On a XZ !!!!!
Tsukigi stainless full system
pcIII w/custom map
NO freakin flies!!
GP suspension forks
Penske rear shock
Rich's custom seat
And a whole bunch of other stuff.
97 zx6r full race bike with all the
good stuff
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KawaBonzai
Zone Head
Leader of the Back.
Posts: 537
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posted March 31, 2009 10:37 PM
quote:
You can still lean the 14 as far as scraping the fairings before the pegs scrape.
The cool thing about the 14 is the low end tq coming out of corners leaving nice little trails of rubber.
We're up here in Albuquerque and occasionally hit Arroyo. Don't you like that nice long straight away?
I have the Buell pegs on and they dragged before the fairings. I'm sure if I had the stock pegs then the fairings would get it first.
Yes, the back straight was great, 1800 feet of pure joy. I hit 174mph and had to brake waaaaay before #4, I started breaking in the yellow drag X's, otherwise I'd overshoot the carousel. We ran counterclockwise.
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PC-III w/USB, Muzzys M14 + Carbon Oval + M10, BMC Race Filter, Flies Out, Buell Pegs, Heli Risers
www.TucsonSportRiders.com - Tucson's Premier SportRider Community
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KZScott
Needs a life
high on speed
Posts: 7235
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posted March 31, 2009 10:41 PM
idiot question....:
why do you have to tape up the lights? do they reflect sunlight at other drivers on the track at those crazy lean angles? (im not so great at corners...)
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01 ZX-12R 8.84 @ 156.3 no bars, DOT tires. Pump Gas, NA.... turbo 8.47 @ 164.
00 ZX-12R 8.62 @ 165.2 no bars, slicks, Pump Gas, 55 shot.... turbo 8.32 @173
00 ZX-12R Fastest NA Kawasaki in the world 1: 222.046 1.5: 226.390 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R street turbo 1: 227.9 1.5: 234.1 Loring AFB
00 ZX-12R LSR turbo 1: 263.1 1.5: 266.5 Loring AFB Worlds fastest ZX-12R
CMG Racing RCC Turbos
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KawaBonzai
Zone Head
Leader of the Back.
Posts: 537
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posted March 31, 2009 10:47 PM
quote:
I like the photo of the motard going around the outside of you!!(sincerely doubt you dove INSIDE a tard.)
Glad you had a great time !!!
Its a blast isnt it !!!!
You are going to have to learn how to anyway once you heal up.
.
Yes, the KTM rider was not too fond of my choice of lines. The day before Track Day we did a whole track school. One instructor per rider and it was a blast. I learned a lot on how to pick lines for that track, which corners to sacrifice to make following corners faster etc ... We had to map out all our reference points on paper and also did drills to reinforce our lines.
Unfortunately the KTM rider did not do the school so I'm sure some of my lines looked really weird. I think I even forced him off the track when he tried to pass me on the outside corner where we normally come out wide under power to setup for the next corner.
If he had taken the school and learned why we were taught the lines we did he could have gone so much quicker himself. I saw lots fo folks taking traditional lines through corners only to not consider linked corners and how to get through 3 of them faster by sacrificing one.
Also, I'm thinking about purchasing a track bike that ran that day. An 01 GSX-R 600 full race prep'd and ready to go. $2,500.00 out the door, single owner, clear title, no salvage. I can do my learning on that and then upgrade if my hips can heal up (hoping no surgery). Heck, it'd cost $2500.00 to fix the 14 if I dumped it, hehe.
Fun to be had!
____________
PC-III w/USB, Muzzys M14 + Carbon Oval + M10, BMC Race Filter, Flies Out, Buell Pegs, Heli Risers
www.TucsonSportRiders.com - Tucson's Premier SportRider Community
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Bawls
Needs a job
re-learning to ride
Posts: 2701
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posted April 01, 2009 05:07 AM
Check the san diego craigslist. There's a pretty nice f4I track bike for 2300. Plus if you buy it we can drink some beers lol.
____________
Best 60ft: 1.42
Best 1/8th: 5.97
Best 1/8th MPH: 119
Brockland Police Badge # 001
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted April 01, 2009 05:58 AM
quote:
Also, I'm thinking about purchasing a track bike that ran that day. An 01 GSX-R 600 full race prep'd and ready to go. $2,500.00 out the door, single owner, clear title, no salvage. I can do my learning on that and then upgrade if my hips can heal up (hoping no surgery). Heck, it'd cost $2500.00 to fix the 14 if I dumped it, hehe.
Fun to be had!
People don't understand how addicting the race track is !
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted April 01, 2009 06:15 AM
Here's an example track day checklist that will make it more pleasurable. And you can't imagine how many people leave their key at home!
Bike key
Tires
Gas and gas cans
Tire warmers
Funnle
Bike repair manual
Chain lube
Oil
Spare parts (clipons, rearsets, bodywork....)
All purpose grease
Coolant
GEAR:
Helmet
Hearing protection
Extra visors
Back protection
Gloves
Boots
Mouth guard
Extention cords
EZ up
Windex for visor cleaning
TOOLS:
Tool box
Latex gloves
Towels
Oil pan
Zip ties
Bike stands
Flashlight
Markers
Safety wire and safety wire tool
Adjustable wrenches
Hammer
Spark plug wrench
Sockets and socket wrench
Oil filter wrench
Tire pressure gauge
Phillips/standard screw drivers
Feeler gauges
Loc-tite
Duct tape
wire cutters
Pliers
Dremmel tool
Hack saw
Torque wrench
Velcro
MISC:
H20 and Gatoraid
Food
Cooler
Folding chair
Cash/credit cards
Racing license
Fan
Tent
Sleeping bag
Pillow
Inflatable mattress
IMPORTANT: MAKE THIS LIST AND GIVE IT TO ANOTHER PERSON WHO KNOWS YOU
ON PAPER LIST THE FOLLOWING:
Any past/current medical problems. IE: Diabetic, surgery, fractures....
Any medications that you currently take.
Any allergies you have.
Hospital preference.
Social Security number.
Full name.
Date of birth.
Your address.
Your private medical doctors name and where they are located.
Several phone numbers for emergency contact along with their addresses.
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
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posted April 01, 2009 01:35 PM
Very cool! I love trackdays! I love the expressions on the other riders faces when they see a 14 rolling out of the garage onto the track lol 
I cant wait to get back out there myself ... Just gotta save a few pennies 1st 
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'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted April 01, 2009 02:17 PM
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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rich s
![]()
Posts:
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posted April 27, 2009 07:26 AM
That is an awesome picture! You must have a good photographer. I can never get mine to turn out that good. Any pointers? Sure looks like fun.
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blackbullet76
Pro
Posts: 1134
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posted April 27, 2009 09:04 AM
quote:
the blue on your leathers matches your painters tape nicely
I think it matches the helmet blue better
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2007 ZX-14 black
Brocks s-meg exhaust
PCIII w/track map
BMC race filter
Flies removed
16 tooth front sprocket
Speedohealer
APE cam chain tensioner
Vortex rearsets
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Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
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posted April 27, 2009 10:56 AM
Steve, thanks for the list. For that matter, thanks for still coming into the 14 section and helping out the fellas here whenever handling or road racing comes up! Track experts are few and far between PERIOD and to have one available is appreciated.
Just don't let that 'track expert' title go to your head... I bet I could still take you on a mountain road!
____________
'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
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NinjaofDoom
Novice Class
Posts: 68
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posted April 27, 2009 11:52 AM
quote:
That is an awesome picture! You must have a good photographer. I can never get mine to turn out that good. Any pointers? Sure looks like fun.
The photog can make anyone look fast We have a really good one up here in Seattle. I refuse to get pics from anyone else.
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Someday we'll look back on all this and plow into a parked car.
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KawaBonzai
Zone Head
Leader of the Back.
Posts: 537
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posted April 27, 2009 04:01 PM
quote:
That is an awesome picture! You must have a good photographer. I can never get mine to turn out that good. Any pointers? Sure looks like fun.
The opwner fo the track to those shots. I myself am a photographer (hobby) but I have all the Pro Canon gear like the "L" series lenses and 2 Canon 1Ds Mark III, $7k each.
But I tell you no matter how good you are at taking photos, having good subject content really helps. A slow rider will always look slow, a fast rider with good form makes nice pics.
An example of one of mine ...
I do not like motion blur in my shots. I'm still using the same technique but I'm shooting at a faster shutter speed with a 70-200L Image Stabilization lense. I can alwyas add motion blur in post processing, you can't ever take it out.
Ps. that's the bike I bought for track days too.
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PC-III w/USB, Muzzys M14 + Carbon Oval + M10, BMC Race Filter, Flies Out, Buell Pegs, Heli Risers
www.TucsonSportRiders.com - Tucson's Premier SportRider Community
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NinjaNick
Needs a job
'08 ZX14 (Blue)
Posts: 4558
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posted April 27, 2009 11:34 PM
quote:
idiot question....:
why do you have to tape up the lights? do they reflect sunlight at other drivers on the track at those crazy lean angles? (im not so great at corners...)
The tape is for easy clean up if you go down. The tape keeps all the shattered pieces together for easy, fast cleaning of the track.
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NinjaNick
Needs a job
'08 ZX14 (Blue)
Posts: 4558
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posted April 27, 2009 11:37 PM
Edited By: NinjaNick on 28 Apr 2009 07:46
I love road racing man. Lean fwd (#11 up above from ninjaofdoom is a good example) and hang off to pull the bike more through the turn. Hanging off when you're at max lean will help you keep the bike upright more so you can pull it through the turn for faster cornering. I've dragged knee many times but not yet scratched up my lower fairing and I felt like I was on the sidewall of my tire. Suspension tweaking for your weight to set SAG is a good starting tool too.
Take a measurement with the bike's suspension at full extension (topped out), and then another measurement with you aboard in full gear. At the front, measure along a fork leg, and at the rear measure between the axle and some convenient bit of bodywork directly above the axle line. The difference in distance from topped-out to compression (by you sitting on it) is the sag. You're shooting for 25mm to 35mm—less for sportier handling, more for increased comfort.  Oh, it'll take 2 or 3 people.
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