| Author | Message | ||
     Buellish |
I'm doing my 1st track day in March at North Florida Motorsports Park.Followed by one in April at Talladega.They are put on by a company called Sportbike Track Time. I'll be riding my '96 S2T,with the bags removed. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. Mike | ||
| Dynarider |
Is it a track day or a track school? There is a difference. | ||
| Buellish |
Greg, It's a track day.Check it out at www.sportbiketracktime.com | ||
| Hans |
Mike: Don`t worry, just have fun. Just back off somewhat when you fill that your system reached its limits to integrate new tricks. Just normal maintenance and your tire pressure spot on, cold measured. Hans | ||
| Jimidan |
Mike, make sure your tires are new or nearly new and inflate them to what the experienced guys are for the day. I ususally run 30 lbs in mine, which allows for heat to build up in them. Your S2 is a heavy bike and your pegs will drag before you get to max lean angles of the tires, but you will still have fun. The first several laps will be on cold tires, so don't push very hard in the corners at first. You didn't say what kind of tires you have... Also, get in the beginners group and take it easy for the first half of the day. Stay in the middle of the track instead of the race line to let those who are much faster get around you easily without scaring the bejeezus out of you. The major danger will be someone taking you out from behind at the corner by trying to dive in under you, Nicky Hayden style. This will not be as much of a problem if you are not cutting the corners so closely. Most likely the beginners group will not allow passing on the inside, but some dang fools will do it anyway. You will also want to set your rear sag to 32mm (spring preload--you may want to get a sport bike shop to help with this...your Buell dealership will not have a clue). Your front and rear compression damping and rebound settings should be set to the stiff side. Your suspension should feel stiff on the street to be able to deal with the added stress of the track. Make sure your belt is plenty loose. Check your oil at the lunch break and have some extra to top it off. You will NOT need to run at the top end of your RPM range like the IL4s who will be running all around you, as you have mid range torque. Your bike will drive out of the corners better than they will anyway, with your midrange and there will be less chance of tire spin. Just get to the apex and nail it. Take plenty of fresh fuel of as high of an octane as you can find, as at WFO you will be using extra. I use Marvel Mystery oil in my gas when at the track, as it lubes the top end under the extreme conditions...follow directions on the can. Also, use sysnthetic oil in your bike (if you don't already), as it holds up to the heat much better. I think an oil cooler is essential to keep the heat down at the track as well, so you might consider putting one on before you go. All race Buells use them for a reason. Have fun, the S2 is an amazingly stable bike, although in stock form, it will be one of,if not the slowest bikes there, with its 60 RWHP and girth. But I have seen guys beat much faster machines on them because they knew how to ride fast in the corners. Hell, last time I was at the track, a guy on an 883 sportster racebike was cleaning most everybody there! Later on, if you do this stuff much, you can raise your pegs more than an inch by getting a set of S2 touring peg brackets from American Sport Bike and flipping them over and mounting them on the opposite side of the bike than intended. You will have to adjust the shifter and brake lever accordingly if you do. | ||
| Buellish |
Jim' Thanks for the great advice!My bike is an S2T, and I have been running with the touring peg brackets inverted for a couple of years now. I will probably run Metzler M1 Sportecs. | ||
| Blake |
Good advice Jimidan. I would add that you might want to perform a cursory check of all vital systems, get the cables all lubed, check primary chain tension, those types of things. And most importantly, get yourself some good safety gear. Boots, gloves, leathers, back protector... all good quality racing caliber gear. Bring plenty of water to drink. A set of new sport tires won't hurt. Lose the mirrors and kickstand; use a wheel stand or tie down next to a post or your truck/trailer to support your bike. I actually prefer the tie down method over wheel stands. I can pull up to my pit, hook the tie down around the frame and be done with it while others need a helper or have to dismount while balancing their bike and simultaneously getting it up onto the wheel stand. Why remove the kickstand? I makes a wicked spear attached to a tumbling 400+ lb motorcycle. Alternately to removing the kickstand you can tie it up with a couple super heavy duty tie wraps. It's also not a bad idea to put a big hose clamp around the oil filter and wire tie it off to keep it from coming loose. A dab of high temp silicon/RTV between the tranny drain plug and cases is a good idea too. Have fun. You will likely be ruined for street riding.  | ||
| Caboose |
When being followed / overtaken by a faster rider maintain your "line". You'll also be amazed at how much farther you can look through the corners without the worries of road debris and other typical road hazzards. Most importantly, have fun and don't exceed your comfort level. | ||
| Jimidan |
Caboose brings up an interesting point...where you look will determine where you go. It is strange how the laws of physics seem to change when you are going really fast on a bike. Always, and I mean always look where you want to go. Never look off the track for even a moment as you will be drawn to that spot like you are in a spell. I know because I have done it. Look way out in front of you and use your peripheral vision to see what is directly in front of the bike. This has two purposes...it is better to use your peripheral vision to see what is close to you than to try and use it for distance, and by looking way out there it will seem like you are going slower, so you will not scare yourself so badly. If someone goes down in front of you or looses a part off of their bike, look at it quickly at a distance and then look back to where you want to go and keep the object in your peripheral vision only. This will make it much easier to avoid. If you make it your primary focus, you will run smack dab over it...those strange physics again. Also, put tape over your speedometer...you don't want to scare yourself and if you have time to look at your speedo, your are not going fast enough! |
