and last post, as far as gear goes. Did I mention buy used? Except for your helmet...I draw the line at helmets.
Anyway, Knox Contour back protector (or similar) is a must IMO. I wear a RS Taichi chest protector and knox multi-shorts. With that much gear under my suit, I actually have to order a size bigger for my suit to fit right. I'd say your suit, as long as it's a full circumference zipper, is fine for your first few track days. But look for good deals on other suits in the mean time.
I have Held Titan gloves which i also highly recommend. The Held Phantoms are great as well. I tend to stay away from A* gloves (and A* in general, but for other reasons), but their suits seem to hold up well.
My boots of choice are Sidi Vortice's. They're completely rebuildable, so when people are having to replace their boots because their soles have a hole in them from their rear sets, I can just replace the sole
-Cody
__________________
2009 ZX-6R (Track)--Akrapovic Evolution Full Exhaust, PC V, Auto Tune, Dyno Tuned, BMC Race Filter, Kleen Air Block Off Kit, Stomp Grips, GP Shift, Woodcraft Rear Sets, Sharkskinz Plastics
I'll be honest Flexx,
get out on the track first before you decide what needs upgrading. you really can't whack your bike on the street the way you can on a track, so IMO, you'll have to whack it first to see what you want to change, like gearing, braking, tires....
To me, this would be the minimum:
rearsets, SS brakelines, synthetic fluid, water wetter (if mandated by the trackday provider), better tires (not necessarily slicks).
riding fast on a track isn't rocket science. you want to be on the throttle as much as you can, and be on the brake as little as you can (use the shorteest braking distance, maximum braking effect).
this means you need to learn the behavior of your bike for max throttle (it can take for the track you are on), and threshold (max) braking, as well as trailbraking.
Then there is body position to help with max lean angle and corner speed, and suspension, not trying to underplay anything or oversimplify.
there's usually a suspension dude you pay to dial it in at the track. if you do a novice school, sometimes it's a free suspension tune.
If is far more elegant and difficult to ride a bike well on a track than a car, IMHO.
and even you have a fast bike, you are still the rider. most bikes stock, we can't touch or tap into it's max performance, b/c we don't have that high a level of riding skills, or balls to do it.
Personally I just want to be a better rider, that's why I track. I know already, on the street, it's saved my bacon, knowing how my bike will behave under certain conditions. it's confidence inspiring.
lots of ppl assume I eventually want to race. car and bike. um no. contact is allowed in racing. me no likey contact.
track days and clinics and schools for me.
One example of a trackday saving my butt... my other bike is a 2011 cbr 1000rr. unfortunately my 09 zx6r was in the shop b/c an idiot rebuilt the forks wrong.
So I took my 1krr to the track for a couple of days. thank goodness I did. On my regular commute, I have a right lane exit from the freeway, I have my own lane as I exit onto a large 6 lane, fast street (50 mph speed limit)... everyday I exit this way. I commute at dawn.
anyway, farthead SUV driver, DID not look and came over into my lane. instinct is just that, and I was right in the middle of his SUV, b/t the rear door and the front passenger door, so my brain said brake, and I did.
had I not been practicing threshold braking on the track, I would not have known how hard to squeeze and my braking distance.
b/c I knew, it really wasn't a close call, as I quickly dissappeared from the smear the queer zone.
and of course I speed up to his driver's side window and waved my arm in a 'WTF' gesture. he obviously was puzzled. it was only 1 second, and then I blew out of there. but I wasn't shaken, just annoyed.
Location: Wilmington, Nc.. building fantastical shit
Posts: 28,227
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flexxx
Oh man, that's awesome. I would think thats one of the last trackdays they're doing this year? But if there are any other track events going on soon, I wouldn't mind getting your contact info and having some tech talk with you out there for sure.
i'm down. when i get a chance to actually be there, i am a tech inspector ( be in line at 8-8:30am if you don't like to rush shit in the morning..) and actual pit tech. i get out on the sessions when i can over the weekend, but most times i'm in the garage doing tires, unfucking shit that some douchebag hacked on someone's bike, or just BSing with the cats there. at night, usually bending bent up shit or welding something.. or changing tires. lol its def a blast. theres another TD coming up towards the end of the month
if the bike is relatively set-up for ya as far as suspension and all already, we'll make small adjustments per your request or our discretion ( if its a safety hazard that we see during teching) to get it a little more stable and you may find you really don't need to sink a ton of money into the bike to make it fun and potent on the track. only dedicated track bikes IMO should get money thrown at it with speed parts.
__________________ ►Sept09 B.O.T.M. winner◄
Quote:
Originally Posted by RacinJason44
Never lick a hooker in the coin purse.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nizzmister
Bike pulls real hard and smooth, kinda like Supra's mom, but without the regret
Location: On an intergalactic cruise, in my office
Posts: 27,866
Must be nice. Jennings tech is ridiculous in that there really isn't any. You could have cords showing and they probably wouldn't catch it unless a CR was following you.
Tech in the paddock? Only if there's another rider there that has time and knows what he's doing. Suspension tech? Maybe CCS and WERA weekends, but that's it.
Location: Wilmington, Nc.. building fantastical shit
Posts: 28,227
ohh man. if it was a TPM td there at jennings, i'd be there making sure shit was safe, as would errrbody else. lol i'll talk to the bossman and see if he can get some jennings days lined up. then i'll get down there to watch you whoolie the straight at 110mph.
__________________ ►Sept09 B.O.T.M. winner◄
Quote:
Originally Posted by RacinJason44
Never lick a hooker in the coin purse.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nizzmister
Bike pulls real hard and smooth, kinda like Supra's mom, but without the regret
Location: On an intergalactic cruise, in my office
Posts: 27,866
Will have to be first session or last session with no one on the track. They don't take kindly to that kind of shenanigans, heh. You talk to the bossman and see if you can't get me a free track day, how about that? I'll work for it if need be. Help you out tech or whatever. I would also like the opportunity to wheelie past you on the straight
When it's a JGP run track day tech is basically on the honor system, unless they're looking a lot closer than they appear to be when they check your wrist bands first session. I don't know about any of the other organizations that run Jennings.
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