Discussion
At Cadwell again yesterday. Jees, how warm was it (bad day to decide to ride there 
).
Still didn't get my knee down, but in all honesty not hugely concerned as the number of people on track, in the same group as me, that make this there main priority is just ridiculous. Knee down every corner but soooooooo slow (and I mean slow).
Anyway, I digress, no knee action but did scrape a toe slider thingy
Only one crash in the morning as well & that was in the last session. The marshalls were saying that there's never been a accident free morning there & was hoping it may have been the case yesterday. Never mind eh (them group 3 rider, bah).
). Still didn't get my knee down, but in all honesty not hugely concerned as the number of people on track, in the same group as me, that make this there main priority is just ridiculous. Knee down every corner but soooooooo slow (and I mean slow).
Anyway, I digress, no knee action but did scrape a toe slider thingy
Only one crash in the morning as well & that was in the last session. The marshalls were saying that there's never been a accident free morning there & was hoping it may have been the case yesterday. Never mind eh (them group 3 rider, bah).
hobo said:
Anyway, I digress, no knee action but did scrape a toe slider thingy
Went to my local dealer a couple of months ago for boots for my son. He offered to give us a pair of brand new boots he'd just worn once racing a ZX10 at Cadwell. He'd worn the whole of the outside of the front of the boot off - slider, sole, upper. Apparently lost some toe too 
He apparently didn't realize till he came in. Also went through a couple more pairs of boots! I did a trackday there in my FireBlade engined Westfield and that was scary enough, must be an awesome circuit on a bike. Pity it's 270 miles from me ...
Yesterday was the 6th trackday.
Think that will be it until August though as have the inconvenience of a marriage/honeymoon to work around
Didn't bother with photo's yesterday as by the time I realised I'd not been to see the photo guy, the que was huge, I was f@cked, and still had 100 miles to ride home, so just went.
Bikes going in for regearing & have a new K&N air filter fitting before next one.
Had a excellent tussle with a ZX10R for a couple of sessions. Although he was quicker on the 2 straights I could outbrake him at the end of them. It ended 1-1 in the end. Must try harder.
Think that will be it until August though as have the inconvenience of a marriage/honeymoon to work around
Didn't bother with photo's yesterday as by the time I realised I'd not been to see the photo guy, the que was huge, I was f@cked, and still had 100 miles to ride home, so just went.
Bikes going in for regearing & have a new K&N air filter fitting before next one.
Had a excellent tussle with a ZX10R for a couple of sessions. Although he was quicker on the 2 straights I could outbrake him at the end of them. It ended 1-1 in the end. Must try harder.
Could be your foot is in the wrong position on the bike - my toe was down quite often on my last track day for that very reason! Toe down isn't as cool as knee down really, is it?!
I still couldn't get my knee down even though my tyre was wearing right to the edge so I'm guessing my lean angle was there... Not sure if my knee was in the right position or not... I know knee down isn't necessary to ride fast but it's something I REALLY want to do!
The pic is probably the closest I managed...
Rob.
I still couldn't get my knee down even though my tyre was wearing right to the edge so I'm guessing my lean angle was there... Not sure if my knee was in the right position or not... I know knee down isn't necessary to ride fast but it's something I REALLY want to do!
The pic is probably the closest I managed...
Rob.
shot2bits said:
Could be your foot is in the wrong position on the bike - my toe was down quite often on my last track day for that very reason! Toe down isn't as cool as knee down really, is it?!
S2B,
if you move the ball of your foot on to the middle of the peg, you will find it almost pushes your knee down! Be very careful if you lean over any more with your foot in the position it's in. You could have a nasty accident.
Also, try and move off the bike slightly more. If you press on the outside peg with your foot and lock your thigh/knee into the tank cutouts (the reason why they're there), you should be able to almost hang off without using your hands. (You can try this if you get some mates to hold the bike upright, whilst you practice moving aroun ont he bike - you'll be amazed how well you can 'hold on' to the bike just using leverage from your calf muscle!)
try and keep your spine parallel to the bike, rather than just stick your bum out and twist round the tank. Again, you can practice this if some mates are willing to help keep your bike upright whilst you climb over it!!
fergus said:
shot2bits said:
Could be your foot is in the wrong position on the bike - my toe was down quite often on my last track day for that very reason! Toe down isn't as cool as knee down really, is it?!
S2B,
if you move the ball of your foot on to the middle of the peg, you will find it almost pushes your knee down! Be very careful if you lean over any more with your foot in the position it's in. You could have a nasty accident.
Also, try and move off the bike slightly more. If you press on the outside peg with your foot and lock your thigh/knee into the tank cutouts (the reason why they're there), you should be able to almost hang off without using your hands. (You can try this if you get some mates to hold the bike upright, whilst you practice moving aroun ont he bike - you'll be amazed how well you can 'hold on' to the bike just using leverage from your calf muscle!)
try and keep your spine parallel to the bike, rather than just stick your bum out and twist round the tank. Again, you can practice this if some mates are willing to help keep your bike upright whilst you climb over it!!
Thanks again for you advice - booked on 20/7 Snetterton again, this time my knee WILL BE down! Need to sort my feet out as well because each time my foot touched down it put me off the corner...
I was always told that your bollox should be in the fresh air. It really is a cse of getting off the seat rather than just sticking your knee out and the first few times you do it will feel like a really exagerated movement, but it will come. If you are getting your toe to scrape the floor then you are leaning the bike enough to get your knee down if you want.
shot2bits said:
I think we both need to just lean off the bike a little more...
To be fair, neither of you are leaning off at all! It's more a case of 'hanging off' rather than leaning off. S2B, you look like a large chap, so I can appreciate it can be a bit awkward, however, I'm almost 6'6" and 19 stone, and even though it's cramped on my R1 (I cut an old foam back protector in half and gaffer tapped it to the seat and it made a world of difference, i.e. raised the seat height 40-50mm), I can manage to move around on the bike. It just takes practice and someone to give you some pointers. Once you're going really quickly, you're correct, you don't really need to 'get off' the bike as much, but you will have to learn to do this initially!
You are obviously right, neither of us are hanging off one little bit, however personally I can can you that I though that I was when riding (until I saw the picture). What I mean is I did feel like I was moving my weight around much more than I am (or am not). Suppose it just takes time getting used to doing something your body really doesn't want to do (or hasn't done before).
Still, just means I'll have to do another day sooner than I though, just to work on it obviously
Still, just means I'll have to do another day sooner than I though, just to work on it obviously
it really can help if you get some mates to hold your bike upright whilst you practice moving about. May look stupid to start with but gives you a fell of what it fells like to move right off the bike, and also how to lock your outside leg into the tank. You should be able to hang right off and take your hands off the bars! Give it a go before your next t/day and then try and put into practice what you've done in a static position.
hobo said:
Yesterday was the 6th trackday.
Think that will be it until August though as have the inconvenience of a marriage/honeymoon to work around
Didn't bother with photo's yesterday as by the time I realised I'd not been to see the photo guy, the que was huge, I was f@cked, and still had 100 miles to ride home, so just went.
Bikes going in for regearing & have a new K&N air filter fitting before next one.
Had a excellent tussle with a ZX10R for a couple of sessions. Although he was quicker on the 2 straights I could outbrake him at the end of them. It ended 1-1 in the end. Must try harder.
Think that will be it until August though as have the inconvenience of a marriage/honeymoon to work around
Didn't bother with photo's yesterday as by the time I realised I'd not been to see the photo guy, the que was huge, I was f@cked, and still had 100 miles to ride home, so just went.
Bikes going in for regearing & have a new K&N air filter fitting before next one.
Had a excellent tussle with a ZX10R for a couple of sessions. Although he was quicker on the 2 straights I could outbrake him at the end of them. It ended 1-1 in the end. Must try harder.
What does the re-gearing and the air filter do? Does this just set it up more for track days?
Sounds like you had a laugh, can't wait to do one myself. It's a great feeling outbraking someone from behind (leave it) ..... Only happened once so far!
The bike is getting geared-down. Basically the front sprocket is being changed from 16 tooth to 15 tooth. This will reduce the top speed but increase acceleration through the gears. How often are you going to use 160mph ? Not often in my case so I thought I may as well have a bike that accelerate to 150 quicker.
The air filter just aid acceleration as well. Not by huge amounts, they reckon maybe a couple of bhp's worth.
Probably looking at around £150 for both, fitted.
And yes. Brilliant fun outbraking people. The R6 is sooo light in comparison to some of the bigger/older bikes. You really need to get on track Chilli. Such fun.
The air filter just aid acceleration as well. Not by huge amounts, they reckon maybe a couple of bhp's worth.
Probably looking at around £150 for both, fitted.
And yes. Brilliant fun outbraking people. The R6 is sooo light in comparison to some of the bigger/older bikes. You really need to get on track Chilli. Such fun.
hobo said:
The bike is getting geared-down. Basically the front sprocket is being changed from 16 tooth to 15 tooth. This will reduce the top speed but increase acceleration through the gears. How often are you going to use 160mph ? Not often in my case so I thought I may as well have a bike that accelerate to 150 quicker.
The air filter just aid acceleration as well. Not by huge amounts, they reckon maybe a couple of bhp's worth.
Probably looking at around £150 for both, fitted.
And yes. Brilliant fun outbraking people. The R6 is sooo light in comparison to some of the bigger/older bikes. You really need to get on track Chilli. Such fun.
The air filter just aid acceleration as well. Not by huge amounts, they reckon maybe a couple of bhp's worth.
Probably looking at around £150 for both, fitted.
And yes. Brilliant fun outbraking people. The R6 is sooo light in comparison to some of the bigger/older bikes. You really need to get on track Chilli. Such fun.
Ah, ok I get ya.
Yeah, I will one day....Just trying to find the time, and sneak the funds past 'She who must be obeyed'! A few of the guys I know have Cadwell booked for the 15th August....But I've been told that I've gotta go and see Madonna with her instead....That was one b'day present that seems to have back-fired!
I always find mansfield a good place to get your knee down at Cadwell.But its true you really feel like your hanging off and moving around untill you see the pictures .With me I always find I have got my arms to straight and I need to bend them more so that cornering is easier but it often feels unnatural.
hobo said:
15th ? Who's that with ? I'm looking at doing one around that time but only seen 10th, 11th, 18th & 19th.
Not sure. A few of the guys that belong to ELAM (East London Advanced Motorcyclists) have organised it. Trying desperately for someone to take my place watching Madonna, but the Mrs is adamant so far!
Really? 
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