EA6BMECH

Well here's a very!! to say the least, late follow up. the 1.0's didn't work out IMO. The most sag I could get was 23mm. Rode it that way for a while but it wasn't cutting it. So I was gonna go back to the Hyper Pro springs. Put one back in and I thought for a moment and said, lets try one spring change. At least now I can get sag and the bike will not bottom out. I've been riding it that way for the last few years to include several track days. I still don't think the bike turns as well as it should, but I don't have the $$ to invest in new suspenders front and rear. I was even told to not waste my $$ in valving, that Ohlins/Penski were the only way to go. So there's my follow up

R Sole, I can go with that statement to a point, but the point is, there becomes a point of no return. I've had the exact same thing happen in a corner, but kept my cool because I can, but, there was a point of no return. It wasn't from not being smooth enough, I wasn't expecting the turn to decrease as much as it did and a bike can only lean so far. The 250 had no more. Down I went. The same on the track I'd rather call a spade a spade chop the throttle and stand the bike up and run off rather than some of the other little bit faster hotdog Advanced guys and go sailing off the track. I understand the SR's even though I've never taken any classes. I'm sure the KC school is one of the best you can take, but none of those instructors are gonna be there to grab your bike when you step out of your envelope, which is something you have to test IMO to become a better/faster rider.

I'm just gonna go with "I started when I was 12". Rode street bikes. I rode a bike and thought I was pretty good rider until I bought a ZRX1200 in '02. Joined up with the ZRXOA......then I learned how to ride a bike. A year later I was on the track. I have close to 30 track days since then with one crash. 636 is the primary but can dice it up fairly well with the ZRX. No schools because I need the more time on the track than instruction. I bought TOTW2 last week, watched it and I can check yes I comply to all the above, I need the practice.....

I use Wesley's white wall cleaner after I spoon on my tires to get the soap residue off and later on I might use it again to get the road grim off. Never have had a problem, but I rinse them off well.

Old thread, but, yes the 70 fits, I've run nothing but them on mine since the OEM wore out. Now my question it for the KC SB crew is, do you run the 65 all the time or do you switch over to the 70's? If you do or don't and you guys have mega miles on the track, for the stock setup, which profile gives you a better feel? I'm looking to get a set of the Stone 002R/S's or the DC III. A friend of mine was turning mid/high with a 1:35 on 3rd day track tires at Road Atlanta on a stock Gix1K. He said they held fine and the rear looked great!!! But anyhoo, back to the question of the profile size.............

I gave in and bought a set of RT 1.0's for the front. Better. Now I can at least set some sort of sag.

Ya, I believe they come off fairly easy. I actually had a hard time getting mine on. I tried when it was too cold though, and they never did stick well. My fault. They don't have glue like you think, sort of like a sticky note pad sort of stuff. Good luck!!

Hey guys, I tossed on a set of Hyper Pro springs front and rear. Feels better on the street. Don't know about the track yet. I am 220 with gear and with full preload, I can bottom out the forks with ease, even with the stock springs. I'm doing about the same with the HP's on the street. I emailed Hyper Pro to see if they had stiffer springs. I was at the edge of the weight scale according to the salesman. The bike rides smoother and for $268(front & rear), it was a nice mod. My hands/arms felt better after a ride. Maybe I'm going further than what this board is about bringing in brand names, but what the heck.

I'm gonna try out Hyper Pro springs front and rear on the '05 636 tomorrow. Any input guys?? I bottom out the stock forks with 220 in gear. Can't afford to do $1500 front and rear. I use my bike to do the twisties around here also. Gotta have the best of both worlds. I'll post on my results. Have to intall them tomorrow. 15 day trial.

I took a buddies Gixxer750 for about 8 laps at Roebling last summer. He came in and the tires sat for about 10 minutes and he let me take it out for a spin. I'm not the fastest guy out there, maybe 1:22 at best. Anyhoo, I warmed up the tires for about 3 laps before I started in on some good laps. They were H2's by the way. I ruffed up the right side pretty good. By the next day he had to get another set of tires. I think it was the tire. I've head that about the H2's. Try one more tire before you pass judgement unless it happens every time.

I went back are reread what Mr. Keith was talking about. I understand. Just get the feel, so when you get to that point of entry into the turn it should be totally brake free. You should already know your max speed and roll into it smoothly like you did with the no brake drills. If I did understand that correctly, I pactice that everytime I'm out. With my bike, it is a big avantage to know your max entry speed with no brakes. Helps me do a better line and come on the gas earlier. Do I do some ugly corners at times.......YIP!! but it's a start. Sounds funny, but even with my big bike, that's my advantage on the track. It surprises me on the track how I can go deeper than allot of the 600 bikes. Good post..

Sounds like a PACE ride with a touch of hard throttle added to it. I/we do them allot around here on some of the mountian roads. We'll ease off the trottle but not back off. Makes for a nice ride.

Very interesting article. Never have done this type of drill short or taking it easy on the track for the sole porpuse of getting a few easy laps in. Trying to digest not using brakes before the turn is a hard one to swallow. How can one make better lap times loose speed early for making a corner? I try to look at my track days the way I ride and having the same type bike and equal rider. No way most turns can be taken at 150+ and to have an equal ride chop the throttle early gives me quite the advantage on the lead. I will brake hard enough to give me the max entry and exit speed that I feel I can safely manage without a lowside. Watching the AMA and Moto GP racing on TV, I notce severe braking after the straights to the point of raising the rear wheel almost off the ground. Surely they would have better times not using brakes??? Help me understand this one.

Although I don?t read sport rider mag, I will inturpit this as street riding more than track riding. So in that case, most of what he says I can go with because the speeds aren?t going to be nearly as fast as the track. I use my rear brake quit often on the street. Maybe not exactly like mentioned, but close. I can picture what he is talking about and there are times I know the rear brake can play a nice part in braking in the twisties, as long as your not dicing it up with somebody. On the track, not a chance with the rear brake.

OK, I think I'm getting the jist of this conversation. Seems maybe we all ride different bikes. I have a 1200 torque monster. Some may have a 600 or some thing that to me is like a sewing maching going around the track even though it's a 4 cyl like mine. Having a 2stroke backing off the throttle is like having nothing for engine braking, unless there is a compression release to use and I don't have the expereince to talk about that if it is even used on the track. We all have to adjust to our bikes and get the feel of them. I have a 5 speed and drop it a tooth in the front. The tracks I ride after the straight, I drop it to 4th and on a sharp turn 3rd with heavy braking. I can come out of a turn at 4K and get it. Some of the other guys have to keep them cranked to 9K to even get them to move. Wish I could give more than the 2cents I've given.

I think what he means is feather the clutch on the last down shift and don't let it all the way out til he's ready to come back on the gas and let it back out and go. I guess next best thing to a manual slipper clutch, but you do the work. Nice idea I'd like to try. Sometimes coming in hot I've popped the clutch and the rear tires chatters bad. I'll have to work on that one myself. Would make a nice difference in the corners. A slipper clutch sounds like the way to go though. PS Speaking of the devil, Iwatched Rossi do the same thing tonight. I recorded the race and that really caught my eye.

Be very careful about driving these mountain roads. I live in them. The best was is to learn them before attempting a better way to take them. You can get bit real fast up here. Stuman, you know the girl that was killed on the Cherohala don't you or heard of her? She was from south Florida. I know she knew the road, but a car was doing a U turn in a corner. She was not lucky and her skill did not pull her through. Track days and school are great, but don't over ride your ability to stop before you see what's around that next corner.

Funny how bikes are different. My ZRX has to have the front end stiff to turn well in a corner. As mentioned that maybe your front end may be too stiff so it doesn't compress in a turn reminds me of hitting the front brake in a turn causing the front end to dive and stand it up. So to me a tight front end turns much better than a loose one. I'm sure some of you would shake your heads at the way I do it, but it works. I would only suggest anything that if your game, number 1, I hope you don't have a worn front tire. Tires are an issue if they're worn IMO when it comes to handling. Give yourself about 1 less line of compression (tighten). Compression (bottom) 5 clicks out, and rebound(top) about 2-3 clicks out. If ya don't like it, no harm done. Will it ride smoother? No, but it should turn in better. One thing I would like to mention is, you were riding an SV and an EX. To me those are sit on top bikes, like mine. Gotta toss them a little differently. I rode a Gixxer 750 and ZX10 after mine on the track. Different bike going to a ZX. I got them both to handle well, but only track experience taught me what to do. Have fun and try a few different things. PS 012SS's are the stickier ones. Pretty good tires for the most part. Try a fresh set of M-1's. Those in themselves will make a difference....

For the track, try the new Bridgestone 002's. I used them on my ZRX and they held great and I push the heck out of it!! Less expensive than the others by about $100 and I'm sure will hold as well. Less expensive doesn't mean less hold or wear all the time. Soft front and med rear. You might get 2 days out of them, but the difference is how you ride the bike. Some use the Diablo Corsa's and get 5+ days but we both have heavy bikes and they seem to eat them up a little more. A couple of the guys I've talked to say the DC will start to push the front end if ridden too hard. Your choice..

Ditto what Kevin said. I won't even try to do on the street what I do on the track. Maybe a little but just the skill part. Too many things going on in the head thinking about obsticles/dangers. I can only have total concentration on the track. Hate to say it, but street riding isn't as fun as it use to be because of that. In the twistes, the white line is my line. Totally opposite of the track lines. Usually because the word apex is associated with cars on the street. That's about where they like to be most of the time. Worry about your corners on the track and just be careful on the street.

I had a friend take me deep into a corner off a straight away. 150+ and I was thinking some bad thoughts at my friend who was taking me to my death!! and it was then I found out how deep I could go and still handle the bike. Once I get use to a corner, I look at it and think "Bite me"!! and I hit it!!! It get's a little hairy sometimes but so far I handle it and do it. Sometimes it's like the monster in the closet, ya gotta have that "I'm gonna whoop your ass" attitude.. Hey, it works!!!

blackzx10r, just tell me you wear full gear..... Get in all the stick time you can on that bike. Just don't bring it over here to Deals to see how fast you can run the Gap. I've done it many times on the way home but I kinda steer clear of the high speed runs now cause I figure God has let me live this long. I go to the track a couple times a year now. Just did VIR North last Monday with Team Promotion. Getting out there with all your gear on and knowing the grass is about as far as your gonna go if you go off the track is a big confort.. Good set of tires and a good look over on the bike, take about 2 sessions to learn the track and cut loose, but be safe. Lotta fun!! Watch that ZX10, that's allot of bike you have there! I have a ZRX1200, lotta bike too but different. Just for asking, what bike did you own before the ZX10??

Mark, we have "metric tons" of roads over here.. No pun intended... Ever wanna come over here for a test run, let me know. I live close to Deals Gap, www.tailofthedragon.com Great riding, so come on over, rent is free!

Well here's my straight up answer. Get a friend that is use to sport riding and can get a knee at will and let him/her take the bike for a spin and let them see if the bike setup is worthy of a knee drag run. The bike might be out of whack causing you to feel very unconfortable trying to do it. I took a couple friends bikes out for a spin for that reason also. It was just them. They needed better body position and speed. Just make sure your tires are up for the task, get a clear shot at a corner with visibility and a soft shoulder incase you over shoot... I know I should tell you to go to the track, and I do myself, but the reality of it is, everybody is gonna take a shot at it on the street. I just got a secluded area and went for it. I swore I could never do it on my bike because my legs wouldn't bend right, but it was all me. When you get it, you get it, and it gets easier. If you do make it to a track and start getting your speeds up, you'll understand why the guys/girls say it isn't as important, but in the same breath, we still always do it.....

I like the 207RR's but seems they are discontinueing them over here. I'm gonna toss on a set of 002's to see what they do for me at the track. I'll post again in early Aug after the trackday and let you know. Med rear and soft front.