I did my first trackday today!

I'm waiting on pics, but it was through my friend and mentor's company, The Total Performance Group that this happened. Aussie Dave Anthony, you know AMA Pro, was able to help me out as he was my track coach, one on one at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. I never would have gotten to where I'm at without them. I am a completely different rider now, because of them. The difference is night and day! Mentoring and one on one coaching works. Damn does it work!

To put it mildly, any reservations or doubts about the performance capabilities of my 05 VFR have been permanently and absolutely obliterated. Any uncertainties I had about the Michelin Pilot Road 4 tires has been destroyed as well. Those tires work fantastically. I know they aren't track tires, but they don't. Even when I was hard on the gas coming out of turns and I could feel the back tire sliding a little under power, it never gave me any concern at all. The front tire was nothing but absolute communication. I could literally feel everything going on with it, incredibly hard braking, high lean angle braking into the turn, massive G-Forces mid turn and even in The Bowl which is a long sweeping right hand turn banked 10 degrees, I would be in 3rd gear, full throttle, with the G-Forces crushing me into the bike, the tires held.

The bike. Oh man, the bike. Totally stock. Spring at max compression, forks turned in all the way, and I know I weigh too much for the stock setup, it just worked and worked and worked. Excellent acceleration, braking hard enough to stretch my eyeballs, lean angles far enough over to scratch the foot pegs, with the feelers removed, even with me hanging off the bike, almost completely and pushing the bike up, it worked and worked and worked. Braking late enough to pass 5 bikes into the turn, front tire chattering and squealing, it slowed right the hell down and tipped into the turn, it asked for nothing and delivered everything. I could feel the front right to the edge of adhesion, literally knowing that I could hold it right on the razor's edge and it would stay there all day.

I may at one time buy a track only bike, but I am never selling my VFR. Running bone stock and sport touring tires, it left many literally in the dust, as it was windy and blowing a light dust on the track. I wanted to put a sign on my back, saying you just got passed by a street bike. I am gobsmacked and smitten with my VFR!

 

Probably 90% of riders never explore the limits of their bike/tires. I had the privelege last year to ride with 2 others (non-VFR) who I pushed myself HARD to keep up with. You're right, the VFR is incredibly capable, & you can outride others on much FASTER bikes by having an entry speed TWICE theirs~


Doing that on the street IS FOOLHARDY because there are so many variables that can bite you in the ass. Won't be pushing that hard on the street again....

 

I agree Rabbit. To be able to experience my bike at that level was amazing.

I don't think I'll ever ride like that on the street. As you said, too many variables. I'm definitely riding the track more tho!

 

LOL! You better watch yourself there Lint, sounds like you got bit by the racing bug. You better be very very careful, next thing you know you'll be dumping money in this big hole just for enjoyment. Then the hole starts gets real deep and bottomless.

Time for a track bike. May be a little 600, lots of parts for those. Remember there are two kind of racers, those that have gone down and those that are going to. What's your VFR worth to ya?

Kudos to you for having a fun time at the track. Hope you have more.

 

Sounds like a great experience. I am very impressed and could almost feel what you must have felt with those Gs in the turns. Great write up. Look forward to pics!!

 

+

Bit?? That thing mauled me! I want to get a 600 track bike.

 

Links to the track photographer pics.

http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36475#image=5050215
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36475#image=5050164
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36475#image=5050029
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36475#image=5049902
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36475#image=5049901
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36473#image=5048945
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36473#image=5048944
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36471#image=5048695
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36471#image=5048696
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36471#image=5048751
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36471#image=5048752
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36471#image=5048753
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36471#image=5048754
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36473#image=5049052
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36473#image=5049053
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36477#image=5051328
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36477#image=5051329
http://www.caliphotography.com/photos/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=36477#image=5051331

 

Wow, and you had a really good day, weatherwise, as well. Where is that track?
For a 600 track bike, I've got a friend with an SV650 who really hauls butt on it. Very light and agile, and lots of midrange power so you can throttle on strong in the corners. How tall are you?

 

I'm 6' 2"
I've heard lots of good about the SV.

 

I'm 6'0", and I find the 600 race replicas incredibly tight. I feel like I'm riding "on top" of the bike and tank. That being said, once I'm rolling, the handling/control actually seems pretty good. I'm limited for time on it though, as I need to get off and stretch.
Maybe you've already had some experience on a 600, so this could all be for moot. In any event, I find the SV650 a much more comfortable ride. I haven't tracked it yet, but they're supposed to be a real blast.

 

The track is on the Desert in Southern California. The tiny town is called Desert Center, Ca. MAP

 

I'm going to buy this one.

 

Thats a sweet picture.....Freddy

HELL YEAH---LETS RIDE

 

Here ya go Lint, from my other site: http://www.cbrxx.com/bikes-for-sale/26094-2003-sv1000-track-bike-for-sale.html

Here's the description and the low low price is at the bottom. A perfect beginners bike sorta speak. Plenty of used parts out there too. May not look pretty but seems to have the function part going in the right direction and cheap. IMO

2003 SV1000 Track Bike For Sale

2003 SV1000 track bike, Ohio junk title- this bike CANNOT BE TITLED FOR STREET USE, period. Not salvage, not rebuild- junk, as in scrap. I don't care if your uncle knows a guy in Sasketchewan who dated a chick at the DMV who once did her brother a favor and got a junk title back on the street, it ain't gonna happen here. This is a track only bike unless you replace the frame.

Bought in late 2008 as project bike with ~13,000 miles. Donor bike was torn down and pretty much completely rebuilt. The next year it was stripped down to the frame for the powder coating and gone over thoroughly again. Speedo's off a bit due to the gearing (-1 front, +2 rear).


Mods-
-2006 GSXR 600 front end conversion, 2008 front wheel (lighter), stock valving, sprung for 220-230lbs.
-2006 GSXR rear wheel
-Brembo 19x20 front master cylinder, R6 monoblock calipers w/Vesrah RJL pads at about 40-50%.
-Penske triple adjustable rear shock.
-Yosh 3/4 system, stainless pipes w/aluminum can
-PCIII (downloaded map)
-Suzuki equivelent of PAIR valve delete.
-Delrin frame, swingarm and front axle sliders.
-Billet mini rear brake resevoir
-Vortex adjustable rearsets
-Vortex keyless gas cap
-Vortex clip ons.
-Vortex Fairing stay
-Custom subframe (okay, it's the stocker that was bent all to hell that I took a sawzall, sledgehammer and a can of spraypaint to)
-Ignition delete (no key)
-Braided brake and clutch lines.
-Custom one-off upper triple w/Scotts steering damper mount, powder coated black, damper included
-Frame powder coated red.
-Rattle canned black race bodywork. Many scuffs.
-Pazzo brake and clutch levers.
-Pirelli Superbike PRO slicks with many track days on them.
-520 conversion.

$2000

Will be at JenningsGP in north Florida on 3/13/15 for a track day, maybe that weekend as well. Cutting back my inventory and would love to put it in someone's hands who will use it more than 4-8 day a year. Pics and more info available upon request. Potential delivery along the Atlantic states.

Message here or to ixxion97@yahoo.com


And now the hole deepens...................
​

 

If that bike runs, is straight, good compression its a great deal. I run Jennings often and see several of these up there. Would be a cheap fun track bike. I have been running the same 06 CBR 1000rr for 8 + years track and some street duty. Its a bit much for Jennings but still a blast. Well sorted with the help of a friend that got me great deals on parts when he owned a bike shop. Ohlins forks with super bike valving, Ohlins shock, PC dyno tuned, steel lines, brembo master, vortex rear sets. Has 20k on it and still runs incredible. Iv'e only tossed it down the track once and frame/swingarm sliders did their job. The track bug is very addicting. Next thing you know your traveling the country hitting tracks and spending a fortune on slicks. lol Have fun.

 

Dang, that's a good deal on the bike above. I have got to get my business income higher, after just having spent about $5000 on paying off credit cards, other bills, a new bed and tires/gear.

But, yeah, I'm definitely putting a track bike on my radar. I liked riding my VFR on the track as I got to learn it's capabilities, but prudence demands I don't ride my transportation at the track!!!

 

It really doesn't matter what you get for a bike. As long as it's track worthy, inexpensive and have used/spares a plenty, cause your first two years are a big learning curve. You don't need to be thinking about not cashing the bike (cause of $$) you'll have enough to think about out there. Then when it comes together, you don't have think anymore just react and plan. That's when you know your on the right track. The learning starts then.

You know you want this bike. Maybe you don't need this bike. But you know you want this bike.............otstir:

 

Yeah, I don't "need" it... Well, maybe....

I would like to do another day on my VFR once I get the suspension sorted out for my weight and have some trackworthy tires on it. I know there were many a corner there that I was having to hold back due to how the front felt and the fact that my tire wear is past the very edges of the tires. It's an interesting sensation to feel the tread of the tire when you are leaned over. It felt as if the front tire was literally clawing the track. The really fun part was feeling the rear sliding around a little coming out of turns at full throttle. That's fun!!!

Looking at the pictures I can see now that I have a lot farther that I can get off of the bike and get down around the turns, and this would allow me to push the bike up a little while carrying more speed around the turns.

Yeah, this sh!t is like crack. One hit and you're hooked!!!