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ozfireblade

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Posts posted by ozfireblade

  1. You're welcome. That you're not using travel is a major indicator to me at least, that the effective spring rate is to high.

     

    Until your next track day, see if you can open up the forks and measure the oil level. It's the free-air level above the oil that's important.

    Also, if you already don't have it, consider to get a funnel, some ml-based measuring glasses, and a thing to suck up the oil from the forks so you can adjust them on the spot.

    Was there travel vs Force & oil-level diagram in your fork manual? It might be useful to study it to get an impression of the right oil level.

     

    Kai

    The fork levels should be fine as everything was installed by a Ohlins approved technician, I think its mainly a combination of me, the settings being too hard and cold oil. Just keen to get the bike back out again. :)

  2. Thanks for the advice, I'm not too bad with the concepts of suspension tuning I guess its putting it into practice at the track and not trying to "get my monies worth and pull in during a session and make adjustments. A hot day would probably been good to really gauge where the current setup is at. I have the zip ties on and they're not using all the travel. I really need to get some heat into the oil first before I try and set it up so I'm going to have to wait till I'm at the track next and get the local suspension guru to help as well.

     

    Thanks

  3. Hi khp, No too fussed on the crash bit sore a few says later but nothing broken:) footpeg snapped at the bolt so new bolt, some filing of the footpeg, tape for the fairings and back on track

     

    The main issues that I'm having is mid corner and exit the front feels like its walking away even when applying throttle control. Like you said I think too stiff on the front, the spring is about right as I'm 87kg and with gear about 95kg. I have 85 mm of oil in the forks. So if I did the stock settings I should go softer by a click or 2? to take in account the harder spring?

     

    The rear came around because I thought the line had dried out and decided to use my dry line, getting on the gas to hard tried to back off the throttle slightly to keep it spinning and controlled, thought I had control then the rear came around and the sliding began. My fault nothing to do with the bike

  4. Hi All,

     

    I haven't been on for a while, so I hope everyone's doing ok...

     

    To the question......

     

    I just had all the internals replaced to Ohlin's on forks and shock revalved, new springs, shock spring etc... SAG was set in shop, on a cold bike mind you.

     

    I did a track day on Friday and I hate it no matter what I did the bike feels like . If I set the oem settings they will be out because the springs are both stiffer, front Ohlin's 4744-10 and rear spring 1115N. There wasn't any suspension guys there just a few people that tried to help. Anyway after 2 sessions, in pouring rain, the back end came around on me and I took a closer inspection of the track surface. I was riding at about 60%. I repaired the broken bits and went out again when it dried up, after returning the settings to the ones the suspension guy applied thinking it was just the wet and poor throttle control, but no the bike still felt horrible and left me with no confidence.

     

    Has anyone had a similar (not crashing though) experience after new suspension?

     

    Thanks in advance

     

    Dylan

  5. 1342082513[/url]' post='28440']
    1342074905[/url]' post='28437']

    Welcome!

     

    I think it makes sense to take the class on your own bike that you are starting to get familiar with. At your level, just familiarize yourself with a much heavier and far more powerful machine will be daunting, likely reducing the outcome of the class. You will learn far more on your own bike where too much power will not be a problem, leaving you to fully concentrate on braking and especially turning plus lines.

     

     

    Thanks Eirik, good advice. I can't trailer my bike down there (about 1.5 hrs drive) so I can see the ride home will be a hard slog, but I will put a few mates that have trailers on notice just in case!

     

    If you have a car I would suggest to definately trailer the bike there, you can rent one for the day, trailer. Just in case you happen to slide down the road and that you will be very tired after a doing level 1

  6. Could have swarn I had 190.55 17 rear ancient regular qualifiers. They were old and warn out so went to get the new Q2 put on. The 55s rubbed the chain and the installer recommeded we put on a 50. The 50 cleared the chain but now I think the tire is to flat. I guess I should have just put 180.55s on. Now Im stuck with this low profile 190/50 rear tire and heading to L1 an L2 in a month. Should I just bite the bullet and swap for the 180/55 rear?...bike is a 2000 Duc 900ss. Stock tire is a 170/55 but I've got wide marchesinis on the rear. Thus the chain clearence problem....crud.

     

     

    I have the 190/50's and I would never go that profile again at the track. IMO 180/55 would be the go if they fit, ebay your 190's

  7. Bad news, Mugget--you are now riding your track bike like a Harley!

     

    A classic way to ride a heavy cruiser on the street is to enter a corner by going around the outside of the turn. In other words, you tip the bike in at, say 10 degrees of lean. Then, when you see the apex and all is clear (no trucks or squids in your lane), you make a possitive turn toward the apex and lean in to a frieghtening (on a cruiser) 20-degrees. This type of a line is called Tip-in Turn-in. It is actually a safe and conservative way to ride on the street.

     

    I also see a lot of MotoGP riders using this technique. They approach the curve and TIP in till they about drag their boot, THEN they pick up their foot and actually TURN in. I don't stick my foot out, but I like this approach sometimes because once I have tipped in, I don't feel like I'm about to run off the road. Somehow, leaning MORE seems less scary to me than that initial lean from straight up.

     

    You must be pretty comfortable on our trak bike to notice this. Well done.

     

     

     

     

    I have no idea what your statement means

  8. Vanishing point, yes. But there are a couple of issues.

     

    The apex's in Spain go on for ages. You're normally on a hill too so you're either going up and down. I remember one flat hairpin where I surveyed the whole corner on the way in - left hander. Planned my way around it and pretty much forgot that the bike was there. Went in and came out in 3rd gear with my front wheel leaving the tarmac. I know you shouldn't treat the roads as your own private race track but the tarmac is sooooo good. But it's not consistent.

     

    It's making me think that i'm not looking far enough into the corner and allowing my concentration to get closer to the front of the bike when I should be forgetting about the bike and looking to where I want to go.

     

    Hhmmm...

     

     

    David

     

     

    Just answered your own question i'd say :)

  9. I'm no expert by any means, and hopefully one of the coaches will chip in, but in those top three shots, your inside shoulder looks like it's twisting in towards the bike, rather than being open towards the corner exit.

     

    I know what you mean about playing around with BP though, I'm forever doing that.

     

    Just to be clear you are saying I should have my shoulders more like that on the left on the diagram?

     

    I was going to not ask this but wth .. when doing the kissing the mirror thing do you feel you are sitting on your wedding tackles? like its almost between you and your seat?

     

    Nice!! your wedding tackle is important so take it easy. I find that if I keep a fist or so between me (the takle) and the tank then I can move around the tank without giving the tackle cause for alarm, especially during hard braking. I agree with Mr Rutter that it looks like your looking at your front wheel maybe try looking up a bit more unless its just the way your helmets sitting, should open up your wide view a bit too.Try dropping your elbow towards the corner a bit might help with the upper body twisting too.

  10. Thanks Eirik, for street and backroad riding, the negative aspects of developing a hang off the side style may outweigh the positives. Roadracing is a different animal altogether.

     

    +1

     

    For me I slowed down because trying to ride at the same speed with a different body position just wont work. Level 3 will help, if you havent done it yet try getting your bike on stands and trying different body positions maybe use a video camera to have a look at each position have 3 or so, your normal and then a couple of adjusted positions, I know its not the same as riding. When you get on the track have a camera at the rear, a mate behind you, use the track photographer and/or the track coach. each session try one of the positions and see which feels good and check out the footage. Find the best body position and gradually increase your speed until it becomes your normal body psoition and off you go!! O try some tech spec or stomp grip to help sliding around the tank, reduce the fatigue of the legs and arms.

     

    Might help might not :)

  11. Hanging off!! why do racers hang off? So that they can keep the bike as upright as possible to maintain more grip to put the power down earlier to get better drive out of a corner thereby making them faster? Would that sound about right? Personally I'm not too fussed about how many degrees my bike is at I just ride the bloody thing. I'm guessing you guys dont ride with a protractor attached to your bikes so you are at 47.25647859 degrees max lean angle, you know when your exceeding it cause your sliding along the track personally I know that when I'm over too far I feel the bike getting loose and wanting to push out from the front, stepping out in the rear or I'm tucking my elbow in and knee back in to the tank because its dragging too much . If I wasnt locked into the tank and had a good body position, head to mirror etc I wouldnt be going faster than I did prior to doing CSS where I learnt these skills.

     

    Fact: Hanging off has definatley made me quicker plus it also looks very very cool!!!B)

  12. If you got the bike leaned over at the entrance to the corner without falling down, you probably won't fall over by adding a little maintenance throttle in the middle of the corner. If you can take confidence in that, you may be able o relax and enjoy the ride. :)

     

    the problem i am having is half way threw i panic . i mean i dont look any other place than the corner . just look threw it as much as i can . i dont know if i am letting off the throttle or not .

     

    Some questions I should have asked from the start. How long have you been riding and where? Have you completed Level 1 yet or read TOTW? Do you feel like your riding at 100% of your ability?

     

    Back to your answer your saying you dont know if your getting off the throttle, if the throttles still on you'll hear the engine climbing in revs correct? You will definately run wide. Be very careful with the above mentioned adding of maintenance throttle too much, and the rear slides out or you chop the throttle and highside. Are you looking to far into the corner are you doing the two step properly? You will need to slow down so that you can set up for the corner, body poisiton, braking, RP's, TP's, exit point just to mention some.

     

     

    I'm still thinking its a visual problem and that you just dont like being behind someone your probably flicking your vision between the bike in front and the road.

  13. I've been paying a lot of attention to my fear lately, trying to hear what it has to tell me.

     

    My strongest fear reactions come JUST as I'm about to lean or leanING (in the process of "falling" in).

     

    As soon as the bike is leanED, all that fear goes away.

     

    You?

     

     

    if your worried about leaning you could buy a trike

  14. ok so here is what happens, i go out with all my friends i am good for the first lets say hour. than i start thinking, i get half way threw the corner and panic sets in .thinking i am going to fast when i am not. i cant get past this and i have no idea how to get past it. pretty much i mind f my self. i start out in the front of the pack and by the end of the day i am in the back . when i go out by my self it does not happen . HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thinks a bunch

     

     

    Remeber that some poeple are faster than you and may just be taking it easy for the first hour or so. I think your getting tired, overthinking and maybe your visual skills are are diminishing. Where in the corners are you looking at the start of your ride compared to the latter half of the day, sounds like a bit of the two step drill needs to be consolidated. I also find that I stay at the front of the pack when I ride by myself too :D

  15. What are the starting on-the-warmers pressures for Q2s on a CBR600F4i? You've given pretty good answers on cold pressures for track and they've served me well. I'm starting to use warmers now and like that it gives a fixed point to work from but I'm not sure what that fixed point is. I'll be running Road Atlanta this weekend and VIR in June if that helps. Thanks for all the good info.

     

    Hot pressures are generally 2 psi more than cold.

     

    But I must note: Q2 and warmers? that sounds like you are ready to move up to the D211GPA. ;)

     

    I will be lecturing at the NESBA event at Road Atlanta this weekend April 23-24. Both Saturday and Sunday at lunch. Come sit in on the lecture, there is a lot to be learned. We also like to bust tire myths and urban legends.

     

    Come attend.

     

     

    Hi Steve,

     

    I have been running the Q2, (190/50) with warmers for the last 3 track sessions, and have been running them hot @ 35psi, and after reading your post above I guess they should have been between 30-32 hot? Would this may have lead to me feeling like my bike was 'unstable' really touchy and like I'm riding on glass. Not sure if thats a good description :)

     

     

    Dylan

    Not following you on this one. He said 32 cold front and rear but that on-the-warmer temps are generally 2 psi more. So, that would be 34 psi F&R on the warmers. Pretty close to the 35 you're running. Based on his comments, I was going to try 34 F&R on the warmers. Interested to see the reply to this.

     

     

    I assumed he was talking to the bloke who doesnt use warmers? If I'm running 35 hot of the warmers wouldnt I get more PSI from being on track? In my last trackday session I did drop the pressure, on the rear, from 35 to 31 of the warmer and it felt heaps better. Just thinking I should've done the same on the front too. I will be going to the 211 soon not much left on the Q2's. I'm also going to change to a 190/55 rather than the 190/50 as this would provide a bigger contact patch when leaned over at speed.

  16. What are the starting on-the-warmers pressures for Q2s on a CBR600F4i? You've given pretty good answers on cold pressures for track and they've served me well. I'm starting to use warmers now and like that it gives a fixed point to work from but I'm not sure what that fixed point is. I'll be running Road Atlanta this weekend and VIR in June if that helps. Thanks for all the good info.

     

    Hot pressures are generally 2 psi more than cold.

     

    But I must note: Q2 and warmers? that sounds like you are ready to move up to the D211GPA. ;)

     

    I will be lecturing at the NESBA event at Road Atlanta this weekend April 23-24. Both Saturday and Sunday at lunch. Come sit in on the lecture, there is a lot to be learned. We also like to bust tire myths and urban legends.

     

    Come attend.

     

     

    Hi Steve,

     

    I have been running the Q2, (190/50) with warmers for the last 3 track sessions, and have been running them hot @ 35psi, and after reading your post above I guess they should have been between 30-32 hot? Would this may have lead to me feeling like my bike was 'unstable' really touchy and like I'm riding on glass. Not sure if thats a good description :)

     

     

    Dylan

  17. Wow, this is really great information.

     

    I recently bought a 2005 GSXR 750 which was salvaged and rebuilt as a track bike, so it will not be street legal and I can run whatever tires make sense for track days. I am pretty slow and I don't plan to race (I suppose that could change), so I'm mostly interested in finding tires which will give reasonable grip and wear for track day adventures. Although I have ambitions to ride more often, I will guess that for the time being I probably won't get in more than 5-6 track days in a riding season. I was planning on getting Q2's when I next replace the tires, and mainly because they have good rep, don't require tire warmers, and they are lower price, but I'm wondering if one of the race tires would be a better choice since I don't have to worry about street use. I'm not rich by any means, but I can afford any of the tires mentioned, provided they don't wear out too quickly, and I could get tire warmers if that was a necessity for use of race-only vs. Q2's. So now that I've qualified my usage, I have two questions:

     

    - Which tire is likely to give me the best combination of grip and wear for the amount I'd spend?

     

    - (not to create a controversy, but...) If I wanted one of the race-only tires, where is a good place to buy them?

     

     

    Thanks!

    Brad

     

     

    Q2's are awesome. Use warmers it saves warming up tyres and wasting your sessions 2 laps warm up 6 sessions thats 12 laps wasted

  18. Hello again,

     

    I've got this weird problem. When i'm trying to hang off the bike doing a right hand turn it just feels a bit ackward and strange compared with the left ones. Does anyone here have or had similar problem? How i can overcome it? Or maybe it's just in my head and i simply need to stop thinking about it?

    Not sure due to being a right-handed rider. I hang off easier to left as a right-hand person. However, when another student in bike school said not as smooth on right side lean. Keith suggested another way of twisting the throttle for us to try (in his words, like holding a screw driver)and it makes a big difference in leaning. Some how the way of holding the throttle can be different for each side.

    Interesting to find out whether the left-handed rider will lean easier on the right side. Any left-handed rider to tell us?

     

     

    Disagree on that point Im right handed and find left handers harder than right.

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