[Kevin_Duke]

If you haven't ever been to a track day, you owe it to yourself and your riding experiences to join one!

 

[MOKE1K]

The old Moroso Motor Sports Track has been completely rebuilt and is now the Palm Beach International Raceway. They are doing "Motorcycle Mondays" which appears to be a track day every week. I'm going to see what that's all about; I have no idea if it's something I'd really pursue, but who knows. I'm going by on Sunday for a Superbike event and I'll see what's up with that while I'm there.

I cant wait to ride the new track at Moroso. I hated it before, more of a point and shoot track when I rode it. And they have retained the same layout as the old one pretty much. Looks nice on the site. You'll have a blast.

 

[Kenneth_Moore]

If you haven't ever been to a track day, you owe it to yourself and your riding experiences to join one!

I got to do the Skip Barber 3 day car control class at Sebring, and it was one of the best times I've ever had. Vic Elford was my instructor...imagine that! I'm sure some track days on the bike would be just as cool.

 

[Kevin_Duke]

I'm sure some track days on the bike would be just as cool.

Cooler, actually! Make it happen! That goes for all of you who haven't yet experienced it!

 

[seruzawa]

Miller has put the motorcycle track days back on the calendar. I might just pull it off. I've been wanting to for a long time. It's a matter of the several hundred bucks for the school, tires, set-up etc. Should do it before I get too old.

 

[mscuddy]

Hey, a little on-topic for once. I know, here he goes again about liter bikes weighing too much, but holy cripes, looking back at open class street motorcycles over the last 20 or so years, they seem to have gained a lot of weight. Some of which can be removed with common sense engineering and design.

Yes, I know, water cooling, black boxes, bigger brakes, forks, frames to handle all that power, etc. etc.. add weight and all that, but we have TECHNOLOGY that can lessen the impact on the environment when your Gixxer thousand falls over in a parking lot, and you have to call three burly homeboys to help you right it, or risk wearing a truss.

I had an '81 Yamaha Vision touring rig based on the XS1100, and with all that touring crap, the bike still tipped the scales at 550 lbs. (weighed it at a scrap metal place). How can the big four justify foisting 500+ lb. rockets on an unsuspecting public?

And yes, I've ridden some of these bikes, and under power they don't want to change direction all that well, and resemble more a missle than a good handling street bike. Making a hard transition from a right-to-left hand tight corner at speed, due to mass in motion, almost highsides the damn things anymore. I cite the bikes tested in the '04 MO liter bike shootout, when Sean ate it into his brother, in that corner right up from the Rock Store (hard blind right handed sweeper).

My Buell had that lump of a Sportster motor, and still came in at just over 400 lbs, and as a result could out handle most anything Japan had to offer in the tight stuff (and the fast sweepers too).

Maybe I should start a company that removes unsightly pounds from 1000cc Japanese repli-racers..might be big.

What's your spin on the weight issue? Is it a necessary evil, what with all the technology, or can it be solved with better engineering/materials?

 

[The_AirHawk]

Here's a new tracktoy a friend of mine is almost finished-with:

Triumph 675; 132 WHP, 327lbs wet - minus fuel (that's with the tail on it). Penske's at each end. He also figures theres a teensy-bit more power in it (probably ~10-12hp), and another 15-20 pounds it can shed - but that's gonna require MONEY.

I figure it's gonna go like stink, just how it sits..........

(and with J.D. piloting it - anything goes)

 

[mscuddy]

See? 327 lbs wet. With just some smart modifications. That makes a ZRX10 or Gixxer (even with all that power) and ill handling pig in comparison.

Like pitting a Mini Cooper (a real one) against a Buick Roadmaster. Sure, the Buicks got it on top, but trying to muscle it around a corner requires nerves of steel, and a REAL BIG CORNER.

 

[Kevin_Duke]

Hey, a little on-topic for once. I know, here he goes again about liter bikes weighing too much, but holy cripes, looking back at open class street motorcycles over the last 20 or so years, they seem to have gained a lot of weight. Some of which can be removed with common sense engineering and design.

My Buell had that lump of a Sportster motor, and still came in at just over 400 lbs, and as a result could out handle most anything Japan had to offer in the tight stuff (and the fast sweepers too).

Maybe I should start a company that removes unsightly pounds from 1000cc Japanese repli-racers..might be big.

What's your spin on the weight issue? Is it a necessary evil, what with all the technology, or can it be solved with better engineering/materials?

My spin is facts. The wet weight of a 1991 Yamaha FZR1000, according to Cycle magazine, was 533 lbs full of fuel. That's nearly 100 lbs heavier than the lightweight '08-09 CBR1000RR, and it's 60 some lbs heavier than the lardy new R1. If you don't think OEMs try hard to reduce weight of sportbikes, you're not paying close enough attention to the additions of forged-aluminum, titanium and magnesium components to contemporary sportbikes. Big kudos to Honda for doing the best job at reducing weight of both its CBRs.

 

[MOKE1K]

Hey, a little on-topic for once. I know, here he goes again about liter bikes weighing too much, but holy cripes, looking back at open class street motorcycles over the last 20 or so years, they seem to have gained a lot of weight. Some of which can be removed with common sense engineering and design.

Yes, I know, water cooling, black boxes, bigger brakes, forks, frames to handle all that power, etc. etc.. add weight and all that, but we have TECHNOLOGY that can lessen the impact on the environment when your Gixxer thousand falls over in a parking lot, and you have to call three burly homeboys to help you right it, or risk wearing a truss.

I had an '81 Yamaha Vision touring rig based on the XS1100, and with all that touring crap, the bike still tipped the scales at 550 lbs. (weighed it at a scrap metal place). How can the big four justify foisting 500+ lb. rockets on an unsuspecting public?

And yes, I've ridden some of these bikes, and under power they don't want to change direction all that well, and resemble more a missle than a good handling street bike. Making a hard transition from a right-to-left hand tight corner at speed, due to mass in motion, almost highsides the damn things anymore. I cite the bikes tested in the '04 MO liter bike shootout, when Sean ate it into his brother, in that corner right up from the Rock Store (hard blind right handed sweeper).

My Buell had that lump of a Sportster motor, and still came in at just over 400 lbs, and as a result could out handle most anything Japan had to offer in the tight stuff (and the fast sweepers too).

Maybe I should start a company that removes unsightly pounds from 1000cc Japanese repli-racers..might be big.

What's your spin on the weight issue? Is it a necessary evil, what with all the technology, or can it be solved with better engineering/materials?

Ah I think you better take a closer look brother the bikes of today don't turn? At speed? Are you kidding me, no disrespect but check the weight of a gs1100 versus a Gsxr1000? The bikes are much much lighter now a days? Thats not even mentioning the 600 class?

 

[Kevin_Duke]

Ah I think you better take a closer look brother the bikes of today don't turn? At speed? Are you kidding me, no disrespect but check the weight of a gs1100 versus a Gsxr1000? The bikes are much much lighter now a days? Thats not even mentioning the 600 class?

The aforementioned FZR had a 26.7-degree rake. That's almost chopperish compared to 23.3 degrees of the CBR. Combine the much steeper rake with 100 less pounds, and you can guess which changes direction quicker. Thank technology for steering dampers that keep the new bikes from headshaking riders off.

 

[MOKE1K]

Palm Beach International Raceway's Road Course

Heres the site to Moroso , Iam sure youve seen it Ken. Posting it for others! The road coarse has a ridiculously long front straight.

 

[MOKE1K]

One reason I think everyone here should take a trackday, is proof that its not as safe as some here think.

 

[seruzawa]

One reason I think everyone here should take a trackday, is proof that its not as safe as some here think.

I don't think that anyone says that trackdays are "safe". You just don't have the added risk of idiots in their cages to ruin your day.

 

[longride]

One reason I think everyone here should take a trackday, is proof that its not as safe as some here think.

Seruzawa nailed it. What is worse, falling down on the pavement, or falling down and getting run over by an 18 wheeler? I'll take falling down!

 

[MOKE1K]

Yes no doubt. I'll agree with that. If I had my choice between the semi and the flipping bike I'd take the bike. I believe I was always referencing the amount of skill each one took. A ride to work even in the worst conditions doesnt eqate to a 6lap sprint race with 2waves of riders. Imo?

 

[Kenneth_Moore]

Palm Beach International Raceway's Road Course

Heres the site to Moroso , Iam sure youve seen it Ken. Posting it for others! The road coarse has a ridiculously long front straight.

The rain is finally clearing up and I'm leaving shortly. I'll take the camera and post some feeelthy peeectures tonight.

 

[Kenneth_Moore]

Cooler, actually! Make it happen! That goes for all of you who haven't yet experienced it!

I'm not sure that 21" front wheel on the DL1000 is going to work too well on the track. Got something ending in "RR" I can borrow? And don't say; "RRR!"

 

[Kevin_Duke]

I'm not sure that 21" front wheel on the DL1000 is going to work too well on the track. Got something ending in "RR" I can borrow? And don't say; "RRR!"

I once did a trackday on a R1200GS and the older Triumph Tiger at Infineon. Despite the stock enduro-ish tires, I did a lot of passing out there!

The point is, the RR comes in your pocket, not the bike! Have a blast!

 

[Kenneth_Moore]

I once did a trackday on a R1200GS and the older Triumph Tiger at Infineon. Despite the stock enduro-ish tires, I did a lot of passing out there!

The point is, the RR comes in your pocket, not the bike! Have a blast!

It was a great afternoon! I had no idea there's a bunch of old pharts my age riding around in circles and hanging out in the pits in their underwear with their racing leathers drying in the corner. Looks to me like a guy could get on the track without spending megabucks. The new and improved track is less than an hour from my place. This could be fun!