Joined
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1,050 Posts
WOOOHOOO! What a day!!
I prepped the 12 the night before by removing the excess sticky out bits (mirrors and indicators) and rode out at 7 am. I arrived at 7.45 and started scrutineering as the pit was pretty full by then. When the pukka track/race bikes started rolling in I began to wonder what else was here?? Fully prepped Gixxer 1000 with tyre warmers and a stack of wheels all piled up!! There was 2 prepped Aprillia RSV R's and several other assorted 750's all fully sorted out race bikes. The track bikes were all wearing SLICKS!! Hmmmm! Anyway, I got her all taped up and put on my race number (102). (remember her)?
The groups were split into 3, novice, intermediate and expert. I elected to go into the experts class, seeing as there was a huge amount of R1's and fireblades and a lot of Kawa 750's, and I been riding a few years. (This was my first track day as well)!!
No 'Busa's!! Must have heard that there was a 12 on the loose and didn't want to got a beating!! I was the only 12 there.
The track/runway was soaking wet from the night before, big puddles everywhere! real confidence inspiring!! NOT!!!
They stated that the experts were to go first to dry the track out!! We lined up, me, 1 Blade and 1 R1 and 9 other proper race bikes!! Thoughts of WTF am I doing here?? Sprung to mind!!
Anyway, we blasted off and did a couple of very steady laps (2 miles) and then we were off proper! I did well enough, coming ahead of the 2 other road bikes and not too far behind the track bikes, except for the gixxer 1000, hells bells, could that thing go!!
Did the next experts session and it was a lot faster!! Track still wet in places and damp in others! she was spinning up as we came ont the runway, 110 MPH cranked over to the right! After a couple of laps I began to get used to it!! I started to enjoy myself and the bike just got faster!
During the lunch break, we watched the wheelie school perform their stunts, well impressed!
It was time for me to try and get to 200 MPH if I could! Runway was still a bit damp, but I decided to give it a go!
We moved the cones out of the way as we had put a filter lane to the right side of the runway and then made a 270 turn on the runway to allow the speed to be reduced and get the riders to turn right off the runway.
I then blasted off and howled down and as I snuck it into top the cones arrived and I shut it down as I was used to braking at that point on the runway! Bugger! I still had a couple of hundred yards to go!! I tore back up the runway and had another go! Same deal! Senses screamed that this was the braking point, Guess it was a bit like going through a red well before you ge there!! I played the video back and the speedo was reading just over 170 MPH with 18/43 sprockets. I went faster than that last tuesday night!! Then again the runway completely clear!
I then put the 17/46 back on and went out and gave it all I had (Stress relief)!! The bike was pretty damn quick with the new gearing!! FUN FUN FUN! I toasted everything except the race bikes! Couldn't out brake them, made a little on them on the runway.
I then went out with the novices, to have a play with the fast riders that shouldn't have been in that group as they should have been in the experts with me! A few of my friend were complaining about being cut up in the corners!
I was given their description and I went to the front of the group with them and away we went!! Yeee! Hah!! I sat with them for the first lap and then did them on the runway! I was still gouing 30 MPH faster as they were braking!! LOLOL
There was only 2 bikes in front of me and it was more fun lapping riders after 3 laps. I showed the novices curtesy and gave them room to move about before overtaking. Very enjoyable session.
At the end of the day, I was congratulated by several other riders as they had gotten hold of the lap times! The Gixxer 1000 was timed at 1 min 38 secs and I was clocked at 1 min 45 secs!! 7 seconds is pretty darn good against a proper bike with slicks etc.
Average times were 2 mins plus.
So all in all, I was well pleased with my results, I found out how far you can push a 12, the bridgestones held up well! The brakes were great, (Kevlar goodridge, HH pads and Dot 5 fully synthetic brake fluid). Fuel consumption dropped to 60 MILES PER TANK!!! Worth every drop!!
I played the video of the speedo back afterwards at a barbie and the room was stunned with the way the needle rocketted up to just over 170!!! (when i bottled it in teh coned area) and that was with 18/43!!
I am now hooked on track days!! they are great fun and you learn how to really get to grips with your bike!
When I get a chance, I'll post a couple of pics of the bike, I'm waiting for some to come through the post as they had a professional photographer there as well!!
Only about 8 people fell off, out of a pool of 180 plus riders, that was pretty good, no one got hurt. We all cried when a ducati 998 came in with the right side all torn up!! Expensive!!
Finally, I would like to thank everyone on the board for their support and the technical information that allowed me and my 12 to have such a great day! We did stay shiny side up and black bit down!! LOLOL
Regards
Ted
</p>
I prepped the 12 the night before by removing the excess sticky out bits (mirrors and indicators) and rode out at 7 am. I arrived at 7.45 and started scrutineering as the pit was pretty full by then. When the pukka track/race bikes started rolling in I began to wonder what else was here?? Fully prepped Gixxer 1000 with tyre warmers and a stack of wheels all piled up!! There was 2 prepped Aprillia RSV R's and several other assorted 750's all fully sorted out race bikes. The track bikes were all wearing SLICKS!! Hmmmm! Anyway, I got her all taped up and put on my race number (102). (remember her)?
The groups were split into 3, novice, intermediate and expert. I elected to go into the experts class, seeing as there was a huge amount of R1's and fireblades and a lot of Kawa 750's, and I been riding a few years. (This was my first track day as well)!!
No 'Busa's!! Must have heard that there was a 12 on the loose and didn't want to got a beating!! I was the only 12 there.
The track/runway was soaking wet from the night before, big puddles everywhere! real confidence inspiring!! NOT!!!
They stated that the experts were to go first to dry the track out!! We lined up, me, 1 Blade and 1 R1 and 9 other proper race bikes!! Thoughts of WTF am I doing here?? Sprung to mind!!
Anyway, we blasted off and did a couple of very steady laps (2 miles) and then we were off proper! I did well enough, coming ahead of the 2 other road bikes and not too far behind the track bikes, except for the gixxer 1000, hells bells, could that thing go!!
Did the next experts session and it was a lot faster!! Track still wet in places and damp in others! she was spinning up as we came ont the runway, 110 MPH cranked over to the right! After a couple of laps I began to get used to it!! I started to enjoy myself and the bike just got faster!
During the lunch break, we watched the wheelie school perform their stunts, well impressed!
It was time for me to try and get to 200 MPH if I could! Runway was still a bit damp, but I decided to give it a go!
We moved the cones out of the way as we had put a filter lane to the right side of the runway and then made a 270 turn on the runway to allow the speed to be reduced and get the riders to turn right off the runway.
I then blasted off and howled down and as I snuck it into top the cones arrived and I shut it down as I was used to braking at that point on the runway! Bugger! I still had a couple of hundred yards to go!! I tore back up the runway and had another go! Same deal! Senses screamed that this was the braking point, Guess it was a bit like going through a red well before you ge there!! I played the video back and the speedo was reading just over 170 MPH with 18/43 sprockets. I went faster than that last tuesday night!! Then again the runway completely clear!
I then put the 17/46 back on and went out and gave it all I had (Stress relief)!! The bike was pretty damn quick with the new gearing!! FUN FUN FUN! I toasted everything except the race bikes! Couldn't out brake them, made a little on them on the runway.
I then went out with the novices, to have a play with the fast riders that shouldn't have been in that group as they should have been in the experts with me! A few of my friend were complaining about being cut up in the corners!
I was given their description and I went to the front of the group with them and away we went!! Yeee! Hah!! I sat with them for the first lap and then did them on the runway! I was still gouing 30 MPH faster as they were braking!! LOLOL
There was only 2 bikes in front of me and it was more fun lapping riders after 3 laps. I showed the novices curtesy and gave them room to move about before overtaking. Very enjoyable session.
At the end of the day, I was congratulated by several other riders as they had gotten hold of the lap times! The Gixxer 1000 was timed at 1 min 38 secs and I was clocked at 1 min 45 secs!! 7 seconds is pretty darn good against a proper bike with slicks etc.
Average times were 2 mins plus.
So all in all, I was well pleased with my results, I found out how far you can push a 12, the bridgestones held up well! The brakes were great, (Kevlar goodridge, HH pads and Dot 5 fully synthetic brake fluid). Fuel consumption dropped to 60 MILES PER TANK!!! Worth every drop!!
I played the video of the speedo back afterwards at a barbie and the room was stunned with the way the needle rocketted up to just over 170!!! (when i bottled it in teh coned area) and that was with 18/43!!
I am now hooked on track days!! they are great fun and you learn how to really get to grips with your bike!
When I get a chance, I'll post a couple of pics of the bike, I'm waiting for some to come through the post as they had a professional photographer there as well!!
Only about 8 people fell off, out of a pool of 180 plus riders, that was pretty good, no one got hurt. We all cried when a ducati 998 came in with the right side all torn up!! Expensive!!
Finally, I would like to thank everyone on the board for their support and the technical information that allowed me and my 12 to have such a great day! We did stay shiny side up and black bit down!! LOLOL
Regards
Ted
</p>
"> Sounds like a really great time, and you did us 12 owners proud! Looking forward to the pics!
