Thanks. Here's a link to that video. Sorry about the quality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRjWGekd-QI

The video seems to lag slightly behind the audio, progressivly worse as the video plays. It's at Beaverun, near Pittsburgh. The video is at a track day with Sportbike Track Time, running in their "fast" group. That group starts at about 1:15's and faster. There's a lot of traffic that day.

The best known lap on that bike was a mid 1:06 where the track record is about :58, set by Larry Peagram on his R-1 and during a race. I was advised by others that I have run in the 1:05's when I didn't have a timer on so can't vouch for that. Typical fastest track day times on full race bikes are around 1:04 and the stray slightly faster to near a minute flat. The bike is bone stock except the front sag set with new spacers. It is also on original suspension, including fork seals, and with 90,000 miles on the clock.

It's now at 122,000 and has had fork seals replaced. It is ready for motor freshen up but was crashed hard last year. It has been completely mechanically repaired and test ridden, all good, but is on the back burner to finish cosmetics due to other commitments. I AM keeping it and WILL ride it again.

 

Real nice to see that pace on an old CBR and you seemed to keep a position in the front group. It looked a bit scary at the end when the rear slided [&:] but it never got out of control. After seeing how you drove and what the bike i capable of with the right driver, I'm less surpriced that a friend of mine cant follow me with his GSX R 1000 -05 in twisty roads.

 

Yeeeha!! Nice driving dad! I´m guessing it wasn´t your first time on a race track? Let´s hope that i´ve started a trend here, I wanna see more vids of our beloved bikes! Speaking of lap times, my bro´s clocked me a couple of laps on Monzta, my best lap was 1.14.7, track record was 1.03 or 1.04, this was my first time ever on a track...

 

That group was running about 6-8 seconds off my usual lap times. Being a track day, you don't pull any really close passes but there's a section at the back that's really fast and has a couple of kinks in it. I finally passed a whole bunch of them back there and broke out of that jam up. Then I got a bike entering from pit out that slowed me up, again extending track day courtesy. If that had been an actual race you wouldn't give that up so readily. And that's the difference that makes it a track day and NOT a race. No silly stuff, no tight passes, but otherwise, run as hard as you want. Makes it reasonably safe and fun for everybody!

Edit add: And the slide? Keep your cool, it's "just a thing". That's a benefit to running relaxed and legs loaded. Hold the throttle steady or lift just the slightest amount. It'll come back in line if you didn't let it get too far out, and you can pick your butt up off the seat the slightest amount on the pegs so when it does snap, you don't get pitched badly. You take the snap through your legs. After about six good, fast laps on a 608# bike, the DOT tires start to get too hot (+185 F). They start to get greasy at those temps. They're really nice up to about 165 F. This is where slicks might help as they are fine beyond 200 F.

 

No, not the first time at the track. But probably less time than most would think.

I have the good fortune of living near some of the best twisty riding anywhere and have taken advantage of that for thirty some years and to the tune of 20,000 miles average per year. That's a lot of practice time!

And those lap times you ran? Nice job! Anytime you can get one of these tanks running within ten seconds of the track record, you're cooking! Remember that those records are on race prepped bikes, fresh race rubber with just a few laps on it, typically a top rider, and going for the gusto. Race times and records are usually a good four seconds faster than the fastest track day times. The pressure of the race brings out just a little more in the riders.

If any of you guys decide to give it a go, make sure to remove the centerstand even if your track day club doesn't require it. You can hit the arm on the left and it will unload the tire and set you on your ear. It also helps to remove the tin covers on the pipes as they can hit but aren't as likely to upset you because they'll give a little. On mine, even the brake pedal has been ground at a bevel and the plastic lower kissed, up by the clutch cover.

 

Hey DAD!!!

Awesome video. That rear slide looked like you been doing that for years. My buddy is signed up for July 14 (either that or the 15th) down at poconos. I tried to sign up only a couple days after he did, and I ended up getting put on a waiting list. So, I am going to go in august right after we get back from going down to deals gap (tail of the dragon) for the second time. It is amazing how either that road (US129 at tail of the dragon) or even a track day will improve your skills. I just love late apexing now. I gave up highway riding and trying to do wheelies, only to find twisty roads and learn more about tires.

Anyhoo, you looked awesome, great show!

 

Tell me you're kidding. Team Pro-Motion, East Course by chance?

If so, I'll be coaching that day. I've been running all over the east here with them this year. VIR, Summit Point, Shannonville Ontario, Beaverun, etc. That'll be my first time at Pocono but I have several more that I've committed to this year. And if you're there, I'll be the old guy on the stock, license plated, taped turn signals, EX-500. (But re-sprung stock shock. They're beyond bleak if you try to push them hard on the super-soft stock springs.) It's my kid's bike and I use it for coaching to underscore the idea that if you ride it well, it'll GO! I give up terribly on the straights with a 115MPH max but still manage presentable lap times. It makes that point pretty well.

And that's one of the reasons my CBR isn't back on the road. I've been burning up time getting to the track and keeping up on tires and maintenance. Hope to see you there!

 

I'm not kidding.

Yes you are correct. It is pocono east and it is through team pro motion. I was not able to get in on the friday (7/14). But my buddies were able to. One of them is going through the whole skit, the morning class, to get a license or something, while the bike goes through tech inspection, then goes out with novice, and then he said he would get moved up.

I consider myself to be intermediate minus, and he is more relaxed and therefore a better rider with the lines. He will be on an 03 GSXR750. He's from Kirkville, NY. The other is from Tennessee. I think he will be on a ducati 999 and he would be an advanced rider. There are a couple others going, but I don't know them as I have not met them. I will let them know that you will be there and how I know you.

 

Sorry you won't make it. Your buddies have chosen a good club to ride with, especially for first timers. They run a pretty nice day with the emphasis on safety and fun!

It sounds like your buddy is taking the ART Basic course which includes class time between sessions through lunch, and then continuous riding and instructor assistance through the rest of the day. Because it's pretty much a full day, he shouldn't be disappointed if he doesn't get a chance to move up that day, but can be reviewed at any dates in the future and moved when he's ready. Plus, he's got the instructor and coaches available all day as part of his class so should take full advantage. They can be very helpful. That's why they're there.

Some guys feel pressure to move but it's really best to just progress at a comfortable pace, not pushing too hard but working on technique. While lap times play some into the decision, move ups are more about the rider's smoothness and dealing cleanly with traffic and passes, keeping a nice smooth line, and evidencing comfort with the whole scene. It's important that they be clean for their own safety but also for the others that they're out there with, especially at the higher pace of the next level. Plus, with good smooth technique, the speed comes all by itself. Always remember the track day motto, "It's a track day, not a race!". But WOW is it FUN!

Make sure they take the time to introduce themselves. BTW, my name is Mark at track days, and Dad everywhere else, including the local riding crew.

 

Ok, first of all, to get things clear: Monzta is not an fenced circuit, so no regular races are allowed. So that track record was set on a "track day", not a race. There was a guy in the fast group with a Ducati 748 (I think) that was really race prepped, he and his bike must have weighed nearly 90-100 kilograms (200-220 lbs) less than me and my CBR, and by the looks of his bike he was a really experienced driver. He was doing lap times at 1.05... and he had a onboard lap time computer... If I have had a sport tire in the rear instead of my Avon Sport Touring and managed to find a better line in the curves maybe my times would had been better.