the bb trackday thread.

[graeme4130]

moanthebairns said:

So what did you learn from doing all levels of the california school

Stance looks much more aggressive from when I last saw you. Why the change. Do you find it easier now.

In level 4, I worked more on locking myself into the bike with my legs, so I could be ready in cornering position as I'mr on the brakes coming into the corner.
It made a decent difference to my attack angles for corners, as before I'd get my braking largely done, and then reposition my backside as I was trailing into the corner, whereas now I can get all the braking done ready to tip straight in
It's only a small change, but it's made me feel a lot more confident on corner entry speeds
I'm at Silverstone on the GP circuit tomorrow, so I guess I'll see how it feels on a proper track

[Tribal Chestnut]

Brands Hatch today, slow as anything, but fun.

[BuzzBravado]

I just stumbled across this trackday video. Looks a sore one for the airborne chap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ6BjyDcM48

[moanthebairns]

BuzzBravado said:

I just stumbled across this trackday video. Looks a sore one for the airborne chap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ6BjyDcM48

ouch and wow.

[Tribal Chestnut]

Tribal Chestnut said:

Brands Hatch today, slow as anything, but fun.

Just cannot get around corners without catching my pegs, might try my other bike next time.

[George29]

Tribal Chestnut said:

Just cannot get around corners without catching my pegs, might try my other bike next time.

Or just fit some rearsets?

[graeme4130]

moanthebairns said:

BuzzBravado said:

I just stumbled across this trackday video. Looks a sore one for the airborne chap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ6BjyDcM48

ouch and wow.

Blimey !

[graeme4130]

Good day at Silverstone today on the GP circuit, although it couldn't decide if it was going to drizzle or not, and although the track never got 'Wet', it spooks me a bit
Still, a day on the bike is better than a day at work

[moto_traxport]

graeme4130 said:

Good day at Silverstone today on the GP circuit, although it couldn't decide if it was going to drizzle or not, and although the track never got 'Wet', it spooks me a bit
Still, a day on the bike is better than a day at work

Flippin' hell. You work as well??

How many days on track so far this year Graeme? My guess you will be winning the BB commited-to-the-cause award.

I think I've done 5 days so far; three at Jerez and two at Snetts - must try harder.

[Tribal Chestnut]

George29 said:

Tribal Chestnut said:

Just cannot get around corners without catching my pegs, might try my other bike next time.

Or just fit some rearsets?

Have considered this, but need to check how much clearance I have with the centre stand. Easiest option is other bike once sorted out.

[CaptainSlow]

graeme4130 said:

Good day at Silverstone today on the GP circuit, although it couldn't decide if it was going to drizzle or not, and although the track never got 'Wet', it spooks me a bit
Still, a day on the bike is better than a day at work

You would have loved it last Friday then. Heavy downpour during the sighting laps, after which I came in, most the group stayed out though.

[graeme4130]

CaptainSlow said:

graeme4130 said:

Good day at Silverstone today on the GP circuit, although it couldn't decide if it was going to drizzle or not, and although the track never got 'Wet', it spooks me a bit
Still, a day on the bike is better than a day at work

You would have loved it last Friday then. Heavy downpour during the sighting laps, after which I came in, most the group stayed out though.

Good Ol' British summer time. I shouldn't moan, as it's been a pretty dry summer this year, but it's these last few trackdays before Oct that I could really do with being dry..
I'm at Donington next Tuesday, and Silverstone again on Thursday, so a dry week next week would be welcomed

[graeme4130]

moto_traxport said:

graeme4130 said:

Good day at Silverstone today on the GP circuit, although it couldn't decide if it was going to drizzle or not, and although the track never got 'Wet', it spooks me a bit
Still, a day on the bike is better than a day at work

Flippin' hell. You work as well??

How many days on track so far this year Graeme? My guess you will be winning the BB commited-to-the-cause award.

I think I've done 5 days so far; three at Jerez and two at Snetts - must try harder.

haha, I'm lucky in that I work for myself, and my time is pretty flexible (most of my work is sat on a laptop at home), so i tend to work hard a few days, and then take the days off for trackdays
I'm still very new to it, and this is my first year on a motorbike, so I'm getting in as many as I can to play catch up with my mates
Today, I think, was my 34th trackday this year. The wife still thinks they cost £30/day too, and hasn't thought anything else other than my bike's still on the same tyres it came with

[Andy XRV]

graeme4130 said:

CaptainSlow said:

graeme4130 said:

Good day at Silverstone today on the GP circuit, although it couldn't decide if it was going to drizzle or not, and although the track never got 'Wet', it spooks me a bit
Still, a day on the bike is better than a day at work

You would have loved it last Friday then. Heavy downpour during the sighting laps, after which I came in, most the group stayed out though.

Good Ol' British summer time. I shouldn't moan, as it's been a pretty dry summer this year, but it's these last few trackdays before Oct that I could really do with being dry..
I'm at Donington next Tuesday, and Silverstone again on Thursday, so a dry week next week would be welcomed

It's not just the Good Ol' British summer. For most of last weekend this was my view in Mugello

[graeme4130]

Andy XRV said:

graeme4130 said:

CaptainSlow said:

graeme4130 said:

Good day at Silverstone today on the GP circuit, although it couldn't decide if it was going to drizzle or not, and although the track never got 'Wet', it spooks me a bit
Still, a day on the bike is better than a day at work

You would have loved it last Friday then. Heavy downpour during the sighting laps, after which I came in, most the group stayed out though.

Good Ol' British summer time. I shouldn't moan, as it's been a pretty dry summer this year, but it's these last few trackdays before Oct that I could really do with being dry..
I'm at Donington next Tuesday, and Silverstone again on Thursday, so a dry week next week would be welcomed

It's not just the Good Ol' British summer. For most of last weekend this was my view in Mugello

That's pants. You don't expect that in Sept in Italy
Did you get any dry sessions in ?

[mckeann]

Friday was a wash out. Alternated from open pitlane because it was so wet no one wanted to ride, to too wet to actually ride safely.

Damp on Saturday morning for a couple of session, 1 session that was a dry line with damp patches, then 3 fully dry session on Saturday afternoon

Sunday morning was a damp session before a dry line appeared but the track stopped at 1pm

[Andy XRV]

graeme4130 said:

That's pants. You don't expect that in Sept in Italy
Did you get any dry sessions in ?

As Neil said, Friday was a wash out in fact the circuit was closed from around midday until 2ish because of standing water. The onsite tyre guys ran out of wets but I was lucky enough to find a set of pretty good scrubs at a sensible price. So unlike most, when the rain finally stopped I did managed to get a few wet laps in late Friday afternoon and again on Saturday morning.

But all in all it was still a fantastic trip and Mugello is without doubt the best circuit that I’ve ever ridden.

[Biker's Nemesis]

As much as I hate doing write-ups I'll do one tonight about my mugello trip

[Dakkon]

My plan is to get a 600-ish sports bike over the Winter to start doing trackdays next year, couple of queries:

1) Do I just use new, fresh DOT4 brake fluid?
2) Should I use any particular pads, are stock ok?
3) I am guessing any sort or performance based tyre is good enough for a novice?
4) Anything I need to do / check on the bike?

[Pebbles167]

Dakkon said:

My plan is to get a 600-ish sports bike over the Winter to start doing trackdays next year, couple of queries:

1) Do I just use new, fresh DOT4 brake fluid?
2) Should I use any particular pads, are stock ok?
3) I am guessing any sort or performance based tyre is good enough for a novice?
4) Anything I need to do / check on the bike?

As a novice, you'll be fine with completely stock stuff for the most part. A decent service will cover the basics, such as the brake fluid and pads you mentioned. I'd make sure the fluid is high boiling point as you'll be hard on the brakes quite often. Pads, I use sintered pads which seem fine, some guys use carbon, but I think the warm up times are pretty slow so be careful. If you're quite fast on road and tend to lean a lot and really power out of corners it might be worth some better road/trackday rubber and rearsets. Do a day or two, then assess weather you could do with race compounds and tyre warmers. It's pretty addictive, and your skill will likely increase quickly.