CAM & BAD track day?

[Meerkat]

Here's the 6:
Meerkat Jim
I ride a kawasaki so i'm too good to register on here Brett
"Skip rope" Panda Ian
Autohag "I wish I had a bike that runs" Brian
Tocino grande! (in his own mind) Steve
Track Addict Venomousr1993 Randy
99Zulu who I met, but can't remember his name

[Autohag]

Autohag "I wish I had a bike that runs" Brian

It runs! It runs on moonshine!

[JoeP]

I'll go if I can get some gear in time for this. Need a suit and boots, and also need to get my suspension set up. Since it will be my first time on the track, I have a few questions. Is an old m600 good enough to run with the beginner group? The bike is in good shape but it ain't no speed machine. Should I get a new set of tires for the track? It has street tires on it now with a lot of life left. Any other advice you guys might have is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Slide Panda]

I'll be on a KTM 690 - a 650cc single that's no rocket by far. And in the beginners it's going to be a lot more about the riders than the bikes. Might well get someone out there on something like a gixer 750 with chicken strips a mile wide that will park it in the turns. Shenandoah circuit is short and twisty that will mitigate a lot of the bike vs bike issues and make it more rider vs rider.

The 24th will be under the auspices of Roger Lyle
- should be all the details you'll need.
http://www.motorcyclexcitement.com/

http://www.motorcyclexcitement.com/static/trackdays

"
Gear
Full leather suit. If using a 2 piece suit, it must be zipped together. If you don't have a suit, ask about our leather riding suits that are available to rent for $75.00 with a $650 deposit on your credit card. Return the suit undamaged and we destroy your credit card deposit information. Rental leather racing suits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserve your leathers and track day early! Call Roger at 301-933-2599.
A high quality full-face helmet with DOT and Snell 2000 or 2005, or EC-22 rating with no dents or scratches. Remember, buy the best helmet you can afford! It will be protecting the most precious head in the world–yours!
Heavy-duty leather gloves, with gauntlet to cover the wrist, preferably made for road racing.
Leather riding boots that cover the ankles and shins.
A back protector is recommended, but not required.
  All bikes should be clean and dry, with fresh tires and brake pads.

Tech
Any glass lenses or mirrors should be taped over with blue painter's tape or they should be removed. All bikes should have at least two numbers or letters, 4-6 inches tall, on the windshield of the bike for identification purposes.
Anti-freeze can remain in the bike.
If the center stand drags in turns, it should be removed. Kickstands can remain.
Safety wiring of your motorcycle is not required, but appreciated, in order to ride with Motorcycle Xcitement.
All motorcycles and riding gear will be tech-inspected for safety compliance before going on course. Be sure to take ALL gear
with you to be inspected."

So you can even rent a suit.

[JoeP]

Thanks SP. Will definitely try to make this. If anyone has a spot available in their truck or trailer let me know. There's also a possibility that I'll have a trailer with an open spot for one of you. If that happens, I'll post up.

[Autohag]

I'll go if I can get some gear in time for this. Need a suit and boots, and also need to get my suspension set up. Since it will be my first time on the track, I have a few questions. Is an old m600 good enough to run with the beginner group? The bike is in good shape but it ain't no speed machine. Should I get a new set of tires for the track? It has street tires on it now with a lot of life left. Any other advice you guys might have is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Your bike and tires are good to go. Shenny is a slow but fun track. In the beginners group there's no passing in turns so you'll just have to be prepared for I4's buzzin' by you on the straights.

If you've been thinking about having your suspension done you might as well get it done ahead of time. You will definitely appreciate it.

Sliders on your bike? If you have bar-end mirrors replace them with bar-end weights/sliders for the day.

[The Mad King Pepe']

Is an old m600 good enough to run with the beginner group? The bike is in good shape but it ain't no speed machine.

One of my first times at Shenandoah, one of Roger's guys was riding a Kawasaki 250 twin: no contest on the straight, but I could barely keep up with him in the turns...

Shenny is a slow but fun track.

+11tyb on that.

Go your own speed, follow the control riders and talk to them (they're cool people, they'll give you good hints), and you'll have a great time!

[Slide Panda]

Your bike and tires are good to go. Shenny is a slow but fun track. In the beginners group there's no passing in turns so you'll just have to be prepared for I4's buzzin' by you on the straights.

Yeah i'm gettin' myself ready for a day of that on the ktoom. Passing in the bends would be nice - just have to be my reward for getting up to I. Or just my over inflated sense of self worth that I'd manage a pass even if allowed 

[zooom]

  .....In the beginners group there's no passing in turns ....

at all?...most orgs say passing on the outside is allowed...

[Slide Panda]

"Sportbike riders will have some classroom instruction and coaching from Control Riders. The rider must stay in his/her assigned group unless permission is granted by Roger Lyle to ride in another group that better suits his/her riding ability.
In the Beginner group, THERE IS NO PASSING IN THE TURNS! No passing from the entrance through the exit of the turns. The rider may only exercise safe passing on the straight-aways. All riders must obey the coach's instructions."

No passin

[Autohag]

Yeah i'm gettin' myself ready for a day of that on the ktoom. Passing in the bends would be nice - just have to be my reward for getting up to I. Or just my over inflated sense of self worth that I'd manage a pass even if allowed 

I'd say your goal is to show a little front tire just after the exit. Just enough to say, "Hi there! I'm on a thumper... What's your excuse?"

[Slide Panda]

Haven't managed a wheel up on that thing yet - at least that Iv'e noticed. Not that I'm trying... but not that I'm NOT trying either. On the little dirt bikes I got that little pop! as it stands out of a slide... no so much on the biggy yet. Probably just needs a track and a bit more punishment.

[tocino]

I'll go if I can get some gear in time for this. Need a suit and boots, and also need to get my suspension set up. Since it will be my first time on the track, I have a few questions. Is an old m600 good enough to run with the beginner group? The bike is in good shape but it ain't no speed machine. Should I get a new set of tires for the track? It has street tires on it now with a lot of life left. Any other advice you guys might have is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

If by set up you mean having the sag/preload/etc done it'd be worthwhile. Getting springs/revalve/etc. I'd say wait, unless you've been dying to get this done and have the money already set aside, or you're a skinny bastard like me and the suspension is waaay too stiff, or you're a fat bastard like [redacted!] and you've really got no suspension left. For your first trackday you want to have fun and learn, not break the bank. Of course you may get addicted in which case all bets are off and then you'll be poor but have all the cool sh*t done.

Running your street tires at a track day may not be allowed - check the rules as different orgs run differently, although unless they're shagged I can't see how they'd disallow them. But then I'm not a tech inspector. Are your current tires a street/track compound? What tires do you have now? How old are they? How much tread is left? I'm sure in the beginner's group on an air-cooled 600 any good set of tires would be OK. *But* if you've been thinking of getting new tires then do it now.

Brake / clutch fluid: How old? Change it anyways You don't want brake fade from tired brake fluid. If you have brake hoses and not steel or teflon lines then get some. How much left on the pads? Maybe change them too. Don't mess with brakes.

Engine oil: change it before and after the track day. Love your motor and it will love you! (awwwww)

Other than frame sliders (already mentioned) there's not much else. You'll have to safety-wire your oil filter (using a hose clamp) and oil drain plug. That's about the only wire req. for track-day events, but once again check the rules. Bring some blue painters tape to cover any lenses, unless you feel like removing signals, head and taillight. Mirrors will have to come off but that's easy.

Oh, and fun. Track days are fun. So be prepared for fun. Unless you throw it away in the first turn taking out that new 1199 the instructor is on. But what are the chances of that? Besides, if your bike gets dirty Jim is going to have his new wash bottle contraption to clean things off. Right Jim?

[Slide Panda]

Engine oil: change it before and after the track day. Love your motor and it will love you! (awwwww)

If you do a change - get the KN oil filter, It's got a stamped and drilled nut for wiring. Also motowheels stocks a billet drain plug that is, like wise, drilled for safety-wire.

[JoeP]

or you're a skinny bastard like me

Yes I am. Speaking of which, do they typically have skinny-bastard-sized leathers for rent, or should I just buy some from the skinny bastard leathers store? 

Running your street tires at a track day may not be allowed - check the rules as different orgs run differently, although unless they're shagged I can't see how they'd disallow them. But then I'm not a tech inspector. Are your current tires a street/track compound? What tires do you have now? How old are they? How much tread is left? I'm sure in the beginner's group on an air-cooled 600 any good set of tires would be OK. *But* if you've been thinking of getting new tires then do it now.

Tires are Metzler something or others (pretty cheap, but not the cheapest) with about 3k miles. They will have about 5k by the time we hit the track.

Brake / clutch fluid: How old? Change it anyways You don't want brake fade from tired brake fluid. If you have brake hoses and not steel or teflon lines then get some. How much left on the pads? Maybe change them too. Don't mess with brakes.

Engine oil: change it before and after the track day. Love your motor and it will love you! (awwwww)

I just changed the oil, so I will have to put on about 3k miles from now til then so I won't feel like I wasted $90 worth of oil.  Not a problem.

Other than frame sliders (already mentioned) there's not much else. You'll have to safety-wire your oil filter (using a hose clamp) and oil drain plug. That's about the only wire req. for track-day events, but once again check the rules. Bring some blue painters tape to cover any lenses, unless you feel like removing signals, head and taillight. Mirrors will have to come off but that's easy.

I have a KN filter that I can wire up. Fancy drain plug and bar-end sliders are on order. Thanks again fellers.

Oh, and fun. Track days are fun.

Bah. I want to win.