[spooph]

Right, so this last Sunday a few buddy's and I went to the local track. This is a go-kart track, which is really cool. You need a helmet and a jacket, and that's about it. Supermotards run in tandem with the bikes. They pull the carts and let the bikes out, and then reverse. You can change the track direction if you want between switch-ups. Unfortunately my leathers weren't done for this session. Boo! I was hoping to give them a shot and drag some knee, but such is life. Thus, I tested my new racing gloves and boots, and they are brilliant, although the boots squeeze my big toe when I'm off the bike. My road helmet is also out of commission and being painted, so I rode with the sumo helmet (but I don't have a sumo...).

I learned a ton, and mostly that I need a different exhaust which doesn't scrape, rear-sets (or the Shinto relocation plates which are on-order), stickier tires, and clip-ons which are not so wide. With these I'd feel quite comfortable putting a knee down, oh and I'm sure a warmer track would help too. (60F surface temp is no good for speed). But the brats were great, so was the company. Buddy came out to take some pics, and as much as I learned about riding on the track, he learned just as much about taking photos - suffice it to say I think these are great, but ya know, we all pursue getting better at our hobbies.... I was able to keep up with a Ducati 916, and a Triumph 675, but the resident expert on his ZX-10 just walked away from all of us. enough yakkin, pics:

Ducati lining up for a kill it never got

The resident expert just chillin, watching me ride for pointers later.

 

[zartan]

Awesome possum!

 

[Aysee]

Cool! Did they keep track of lap times? How were yours? Or was it a bit more casual than that?

 

[Delta107]

Cool! Did they keep track of lap times? How were yours? Or was it a bit more casual than that?

No lap times unless you have someone manually doing it.

Looked like fun spooph!

 

[metbandit1]

some good pics spooph. But damn that rear tire is square! i expect to see a nice round one on your next set of pics

 

[virtualmatrix258]

Spooph making the Ducati QQ at the track I love it! Looks so fun man thank you for that write-up.

 

[Felix]

Wicked! Love that last pic!

Where you snap those boots from?!!

Felix

 

[zartan]

Are you still running that rear tire you bought out here and if so do you like it still?

 

[BlackBoar]

Wow that's very cool. Tracks like that just don't exist around here. Sweet pictures too.

 

[Racer X]

Way to go . That looks like so much fun.

 

[spooph]

Cool! Did they keep track of lap times? How were yours? Or was it a bit more casual than that?

Delta got it, you need somebody else to time you, and we were all out riding. It was just a fun last hurrah, so to speak, before the snow hits...

some good pics spooph. But damn that rear tire is square! i expect to see a nice round one on your next set of pics

Met, if you commuted my route everyday, your tires would look like that too.... I'm thinking for next season a set of BT003's and a second set of wheels is the way to go. I don't want to burn up the center strip on a pair of those for the few corners I hit everyday....

Where you snap those boots from?!!

From a guy in the area who's feet were too fat... $200 for a pair of Vertigos, not bad, eh? Or did I get screwed...

Are you still running that rear tire you bought out here and if so do you like it still?

Yup yup, I'm still on the front Avon Roadrunner I've been on for the past xx,000 miles. I can't even remember anymore. The thing just doesn't want to wear out, it's amazing! And the rear BT45 I got at your place is still on the back. So yea, referring to Met's post, this is a bit astonishing. I've ridden many thousands of miles on these tires, and then hammering them on the track..No wonder their square... LOL

And thanks for all the comments/compliments guys!

 

[Shady Lane]

that's awesome spooph, and thanks for the linky so I would make my way over here.

pics are awesome, looks like a great time.

and +10000 for BT003s - I love LOVE LOVE mine. run them on track and now on the street bike too. WOW

I can hook you up with that shop in denver, 303cycle. that is where I get mine. You remember the secret password?

 

[spooph]

I do, yup, no worries, thanks for the offer though!

 

[metbandit1]

Sounds like a plan spooph! How much are wheels for the ninja?

 

[SWE37]

Nice one Spooph!

Looking good out there. Would have been awesome fun. And yeah, as you guys have already said, a new set of tyres are definately needed.

Mine are kinda starting to look the opposite to yours at the moment. Pushing hard-ish around all the corners between my house and work is really wearing down the sides fast. But I still have chicken strips.... BAH

 

[hi-tech]

nice, any pics of the whole track?

 

[Delta107]

nice, any pics of the whole track?

READ: http://www.newninja.com/racesmeets/imi-august-14th-2010/

I'm to lazy to post the pic.

 

[hi-tech]

gosh!!

 

[spooph]

I have no idea Met, but I'll be hunting for a deal this winter...

SWE, I'm jealous, not sure if I'll ever be able to do that...

 

[spooph]

Went again. This time with a set of leathers.... They definitely made me feel secure. I was worried of low-side on the right because of the stock exhaust, and hit the peg (not the feelers - which I've taken off), once one the right. So, I've gotta get on this exhaust situation, and be patient for the Shinto rear-set relocator plates to get here.... With some BT003's I'll be golden and dragging that knee around every corner! A note: The pit-boss at the track (Mike), said I was the smoothest bike out there he's seen in a while, so that made my day...