the bb trackday thread.
Discussion
CQ8 said:
How was the new bike?
What little time I had on it, I was blown away. It’s miles off being set up right for me, but the autoblipper, and general feel of the bike is incredible, plus it’s stupid fast on the straights, a genuine rip your arms out power, which is way beyond anything I’ve felt before. Think I’m going to book another day next week and try to get it nearer a decent set up for me. The Bitubo suspension is pretty frustrating though, it needs a special tool to turn the dials on preload and compression, but exactly the same dials turn by hand for rebound and damping. If I’ve got that wrong I’m trying to relay what the guys who know what they’re talking about were saying. Gavia said:
What little time I had on it, I was blown away. It’s miles off being set up right for me, but the autoblipper, and general feel of the bike is incredible, plus it’s stupid fast on the straights, a genuine rip your arms out power, which is way beyond anything I’ve felt before. Think I’m going to book another day next week and try to get it nearer a decent set up for me. The Bitubo suspension is pretty frustrating though, it needs a special tool to turn the dials on preload and compression, but exactly the same dials turn by hand for rebound and damping. If I’ve got that wrong I’m trying to relay what the guys who know what they’re talking about were saying.
You just need an under yoke paddock stand to take the weight off the forks, then you can change the preload by handGeorge29 said:
You just need an under yoke paddock stand to take the weight off the forks, then you can change the preload by hand
Ahhhhh, thanks, didn’t realise that, I’ve got one sitting spare in the garage so will have a go. It’ll save giving Hawk another £20and then waiting 8 weeks for them to bother sending me the gizmo thingummybobenywotsit. My first track day of the year yesterday, and also my first on the R wern ... a small bit of preparation the night before that meant removing the mirrors and then fitting the baffles and a quick glance over to check all is well.
Up bright and early to dry roads and off to Oulton Park which is around 40 minutes away and arrived to reserved garages 1 and 2 as was spending the day with the Bolton Motorcycles shop lot... said hello to everyone, then drop the tyre pressures to 31 front, 28 rear COLD. Off to sign in and then straight out as in the inters group again...
First session and I felt stiff, awkward and finding the R1 hard work... not the bikes fault - the issue was me having not been on track since last August and not even doing any brisk road rides yet with it being April so I stuck the bike in standard mode and concentrated on working out where I was going and slowed things down rather than charging into corners... come off that session feeling a bit meh about it all. Back in for noise testing ... 98dB with baffles, happy with that and I'm pretty sure it will go through without the baffles given how noisy some of the bikes were on track tbh, but last thing I want is to be messing about installing baffles at the track - at least I know with the baffles installed it should always pass.
Second session now remembering roughly where I was going I was having fun even if my lines were abysmal and I was fighting the bike too much ... going over hilltop I overtook a mate on one wheel going through 2nd and 3rd gear which was mighty funny.. a small thing, but gave me a giggle. That R1 engine has some serious drive coming out of corners.
I enjoyed the session but my body was complaining loudly as I was fighting the bike so much, but a mate happened to wonder over to say hello who is known by some on here as being 'Mr Awesome' ... so I had a moan to him and he gave me some very useful pointers as well as telling me to relax and chill out. ... spent a bit of time going through some stuff with him and headed out of the third session... which was WET!
I put the bike into rain mode and just cruised along concentrating on body positioning and trying to be smooth ... the track was dry in a few places, but by doing this I started to relax more despite being effectively a mobile chicane as the majority were on wets... then the heavens opened and after watching a guy in novice cartwheel a rental bike (smallboys) over the fence just before old hall due to locking the front wheel that was my que to call it a day.
Frustrating day in all honesty... 3rd time to Oulton Park - three times it has rained, So I've never had more than 3 sessions to try and find a rhythm - it is a very complicated / technical track so lots of practise is what I need ... which is proving hard to get at this place. However, it is what it is ... it got me out of the Office for a day out anyway.
Few more pics:
One thing is for sure ... back to basics and do some re-learning to rid old habits.
Up bright and early to dry roads and off to Oulton Park which is around 40 minutes away and arrived to reserved garages 1 and 2 as was spending the day with the Bolton Motorcycles shop lot... said hello to everyone, then drop the tyre pressures to 31 front, 28 rear COLD. Off to sign in and then straight out as in the inters group again...
First session and I felt stiff, awkward and finding the R1 hard work... not the bikes fault - the issue was me having not been on track since last August and not even doing any brisk road rides yet with it being April so I stuck the bike in standard mode and concentrated on working out where I was going and slowed things down rather than charging into corners... come off that session feeling a bit meh about it all. Back in for noise testing ... 98dB with baffles, happy with that and I'm pretty sure it will go through without the baffles given how noisy some of the bikes were on track tbh, but last thing I want is to be messing about installing baffles at the track - at least I know with the baffles installed it should always pass.
Second session now remembering roughly where I was going I was having fun even if my lines were abysmal and I was fighting the bike too much ... going over hilltop I overtook a mate on one wheel going through 2nd and 3rd gear which was mighty funny.. a small thing, but gave me a giggle. That R1 engine has some serious drive coming out of corners.
I enjoyed the session but my body was complaining loudly as I was fighting the bike so much, but a mate happened to wonder over to say hello who is known by some on here as being 'Mr Awesome' ... so I had a moan to him and he gave me some very useful pointers as well as telling me to relax and chill out. ... spent a bit of time going through some stuff with him and headed out of the third session... which was WET!
I put the bike into rain mode and just cruised along concentrating on body positioning and trying to be smooth ... the track was dry in a few places, but by doing this I started to relax more despite being effectively a mobile chicane as the majority were on wets... then the heavens opened and after watching a guy in novice cartwheel a rental bike (smallboys) over the fence just before old hall due to locking the front wheel that was my que to call it a day.
Frustrating day in all honesty... 3rd time to Oulton Park - three times it has rained, So I've never had more than 3 sessions to try and find a rhythm - it is a very complicated / technical track so lots of practise is what I need ... which is proving hard to get at this place. However, it is what it is ... it got me out of the Office for a day out anyway.
Few more pics:
One thing is for sure ... back to basics and do some re-learning to rid old habits.
First trackday of the year for me at Croft tomorrow and Friday. Really can't be arsed.
Literally just finished sticking everything back together after a bit of a winter service. I didn't even scrub the bodywork clean with a Brillo pad like I normally do.
By this point of the year I'd have normally have done 2 Euro trips abroad, and be ready for a 3rd, but a new job and shift pattern has made time off for euros more difficult. I have plenty of time off that will fit in with uk days, but I just can't be arsed with it.
If I thought i could sell my Croft spaces without having my pants pulled down, I really would rather stay at home. f
king weather doesn't help either, just started battering down with sleet as I'm trying to pack the van
Literally just finished sticking everything back together after a bit of a winter service. I didn't even scrub the bodywork clean with a Brillo pad like I normally do.
By this point of the year I'd have normally have done 2 Euro trips abroad, and be ready for a 3rd, but a new job and shift pattern has made time off for euros more difficult. I have plenty of time off that will fit in with uk days, but I just can't be arsed with it.
If I thought i could sell my Croft spaces without having my pants pulled down, I really would rather stay at home. f
king weather doesn't help either, just started battering down with sleet as I'm trying to pack the van
mckeann said:
First trackday of the year for me at Croft tomorrow and Friday. Really can't be arsed.
Literally just finished sticking everything back together after a bit of a winter service. I didn't even scrub the bodywork clean with a Brillo pad like I normally do.
By this point of the year I'd have normally have done 2 Euro trips abroad, and be ready for a 3rd, but a new job and shift pattern has made time off for euros more difficult. I have plenty of time off that will fit in with uk days, but I just can't be arsed with it.
If I thought i could sell my Croft spaces without having my pants pulled down, I really would rather stay at home. fking weather doesn't help either, just started battering down with sleet as I'm trying to pack the van
You can use me for passing practice, that should put a smile on your face.Literally just finished sticking everything back together after a bit of a winter service. I didn't even scrub the bodywork clean with a Brillo pad like I normally do.
By this point of the year I'd have normally have done 2 Euro trips abroad, and be ready for a 3rd, but a new job and shift pattern has made time off for euros more difficult. I have plenty of time off that will fit in with uk days, but I just can't be arsed with it.
If I thought i could sell my Croft spaces without having my pants pulled down, I really would rather stay at home. f
king weather doesn't help either, just started battering down with sleet as I'm trying to pack the van
mckeann said:
First trackday of the year for me at Croft tomorrow and Friday. Really can't be arsed.
Literally just finished sticking everything back together after a bit of a winter service. I didn't even scrub the bodywork clean with a Brillo pad like I normally do.
By this point of the year I'd have normally have done 2 Euro trips abroad, and be ready for a 3rd, but a new job and shift pattern has made time off for euros more difficult. I have plenty of time off that will fit in with uk days, but I just can't be arsed with it.
If I thought i could sell my Croft spaces without having my pants pulled down, I really would rather stay at home. fking weather doesn't help either, just started battering down with sleet as I'm trying to pack the van
Awesome enthusiasm! Literally just finished sticking everything back together after a bit of a winter service. I didn't even scrub the bodywork clean with a Brillo pad like I normally do.
By this point of the year I'd have normally have done 2 Euro trips abroad, and be ready for a 3rd, but a new job and shift pattern has made time off for euros more difficult. I have plenty of time off that will fit in with uk days, but I just can't be arsed with it.
If I thought i could sell my Croft spaces without having my pants pulled down, I really would rather stay at home. f
king weather doesn't help either, just started battering down with sleet as I'm trying to pack the van
I've got my first of the year this Saturday at Bedford Aerodrome. Never done it before, 'great to blow off the cobwebs before Brno' I said to the lads.
Looking forward more to the beer & curry the night before and catching up with everyone than actually riding my bike at the moment! Weather forecast isn't helping.
moto_traxport said:
mckeann said:
First trackday of the year for me at Croft tomorrow and Friday. Really can't be arsed.
Literally just finished sticking everything back together after a bit of a winter service. I didn't even scrub the bodywork clean with a Brillo pad like I normally do.
By this point of the year I'd have normally have done 2 Euro trips abroad, and be ready for a 3rd, but a new job and shift pattern has made time off for euros more difficult. I have plenty of time off that will fit in with uk days, but I just can't be arsed with it.
If I thought i could sell my Croft spaces without having my pants pulled down, I really would rather stay at home. fking weather doesn't help either, just started battering down with sleet as I'm trying to pack the van
Awesome enthusiasm! Literally just finished sticking everything back together after a bit of a winter service. I didn't even scrub the bodywork clean with a Brillo pad like I normally do.
By this point of the year I'd have normally have done 2 Euro trips abroad, and be ready for a 3rd, but a new job and shift pattern has made time off for euros more difficult. I have plenty of time off that will fit in with uk days, but I just can't be arsed with it.
If I thought i could sell my Croft spaces without having my pants pulled down, I really would rather stay at home. f
king weather doesn't help either, just started battering down with sleet as I'm trying to pack the vanI've got my first of the year this Saturday at Bedford Aerodrome. Never done it before, 'great to blow off the cobwebs before Brno' I said to the lads.
Looking forward more to the beer & curry the night before and catching up with everyone than actually riding my bike at the moment! Weather forecast isn't helping.
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