Background: A newbie on the track (done 3 so far at Autobahn) and now addicted. To add, all i do in my free time is read on how I can be a better rider. Also, I've realized on the track: text knowledge: 10% and learning with a coach is 90%. Issue: From what I gather, the fundamentals of your bike setup are: brakes, suspension and tires. I was advised by a tech inspector at the track (also a mechanic) that I should not worry about anything on my bike except tires and brakes till I get smooth, predictable and good on the track. Don't get braided brake lines, super expensive slicks, fairings, suspension, short shifter, dainese suits till I get good as a novice. He mentioned that he was running advanced on a stock bike after which he decided to mod his bike and honestly I have seen some folks on stock bikes at the track in Advanced. My issue is that after I analyzed myself after the third track day I was not able to lean my bike as confidently as I would have liked. I just felt like it should be smooth like other novice riders i see perform better than me. I just got stuck in some zone where no matter how hard I tried to go in faster that the slightest drop in throttle just wanted me off the bike. The voice in my head my last track day before every turn : "As a novice( ACC South course) turn at marker 1 on all turns,hold throttle, half butt off, balls of feet on pegs, counter steer, look at where you want to go, then roll on the throttle by the apex" I tried at least 3 sessions after lunch to work on it but I have NO clue why.... was I scared? was it my bike? am I scared to wipe out? my bike is a 2006 cbrr with 11,000 and never been serviced except yearly oil changes. its a bike i dedicated to track and I probably ride 10 miles a year in my neighborhood. Question: For a newbie like myself, is servicing my bike really going to improve my riding and confidence and will I feel it? What should the cost of this be in the Chicagoland area? Anyone have a name of someone/a service I can reach out to? I sincerely appreciates everyones response in advance.
Get your suspension cleaned and serviced and set-up for your weight. If it's never been done it's way past due. If you're a normal size dude then properly set up stock suspension should take you into the advanced group. Your coach is right. Spend your money on track time instead of go fast goodies. I'd likely add bodywork, clip-ons and engine covers just in case you crash. Stock brake lines are fine if they are in good shape. I've run some sub 1:30 laps at grattan with stock brake lines. Btw my 2006 gsxr 750 race bike has hardly any go fast goodies. No motor work at all. The bike has suspension front and rear because I weigh at least 240lbs in gear. Brake lines, Ohlins steering damper, race bodywork, clip-ons, full pipe and a quick throttle. Doesn't have a quick shifter or power commander and I'm still running stock rear sets and a OEM 525 chain. This bike took me into the 1:23's at grattan this year. I think I'm safe saying that time is well into the advanced group. Later Steve
Keep doing track days and keep listening to the coaches. We start second guessing the minute we leave the track. Just keep repeating the process. Go to track. Ride. Listen. Ride some more. Listen some more. It took me 12 or 13 Novice days to have my breakthrough. Guess what? When I finally gave up on trying to be fast and just threw myself 100% into what my coach was telling me that day is when I found the speed I was looking for. It comes. Don't force it. Listen to each specific bit of instruction you receive. Work on specific things. What happens for many people is discovering the one piece of the puzzle that makes everything else start to fall into place. It may take four track days to find your puzzle piece, it may take 13, it may take 50. Most importantly just keep having fun.
First things first: Servicing your motorcycle (whether you do it or have someone else do it) is the best peace of mind you can buy. Knowing it is able to perform as expected is important to free your mind to let us do what we do on track. It sounds like you are at a point where you have rehearsed things for awhile at a certain speed and need a paradigm shift. There is a rhythm in your head and you are not able to quicken the tempo. In my opinion there are some really good ways to break the rhythm and shift your paradigm to go faster working within the constraints of the Novice group. Next time you're at a track day, be brave and raise your hand for a faster group. If you usually ride in group 4, raise your hand for group 2 or 3. The "no brakes" drill will be your big opportunity to work on adjusting from a slower pace to a faster one. If the pace really is too much you can always step down at any time during the day. Another good way is to get a 2-up ride from a coach in Intermediate or Advanced. This is a great way to adjust your sense of how fast you can go into a corner. It's a great way to view almost first hand where breaking and turn in points go when you're faster. Most of the coaches who ride bikes with passenger seats will also have street tires, so there aren't any excuses for the equipment being different. These are just a couple of suggestions, but really the most important thing is to share with your coaches what is going on. They will guide you in the right direction! -Tom
I fin Chicago, MCC is a great shop to have the bike serviced. Mike and the guys are certainly capable. You can also go north to Motounion and home of one of the best race techs in the country in TJ. You can also go south and go to Ducati Indy where Matt Carr is not only a high level racer, but VERY knowledged on japanese race bikes. Reuben Frankenfield is also in Indy (south end) and is one of the top choices. Indy is going to be pretty far, but both are exceptional. As for what to do, I suggest suspension as a priority if adding anything. Bolt ons like exhaust and such are certainly cool, but don't get you much. Suspension even if stock is massaged can be a HUGE help in getting better as a rider. Feel, feedback and ability are all things the suspension can help with... I suggest either Matt Carr or Reuben Frankenfield for that stuff... Both have tools and knowledge that is updated regularly and have all the things needed to help even massage the stock stuff. They both have done so several times. And they will NOT do any black magic crap and simply turn dials in all the way for a stiffer set of suspension components. They will check and do whatever they can to help you. You become very limited on stock stuff at some point and massaging will only go so far. But up to that point and beyond, they can help. Average labor rates are anywhere from $80-$100 plus. Chicago is going to be over $100 easy/hour...
Not going to add to this as most has already been said, but I will recommend our great buddies at Racer Cafe for servicing. They are a great group of guys with a really knowledgeable staff, oh and BTW they attend EVERY MW track we ride at with tire service and support so you can walk up to them and have them help you trackside. I do suggest you get your suspension refreshed/resprung, brake fluid changed, brakes, etc. http://www.racercafe.com/
' ur best bet is to take ur bike to racer cafe,, they can go over it for u and get it ready for spring, ask rob,, awasome guy,, he might even deliver the bike to the track in spring all ready to go,
get some quality gear,, u can always replace it,, broken bones cant be replaced,, call and talk to rob from racer cafe,
I cannot be any thankful to the divine for having a great community of helping riders like this. truly a blessing. As part of just maintaining my bike and reading everyone's feedback , my responses are below: I am 5'11 - 220LB and before Spring I will be 195-200. I used to be 280 at one point(before joining track) and have changed my lifestyle so i am determined to be 195-200 in 3 months or so. steve802cc: "Get your suspension cleaned and serviced and set-up for your weight. If it's never been done it's way past due. If you're a normal size dude then properly set up stock suspension should take you into the advanced group. " my bike has never seen any servicing other than oil changes and change of front brakes. IL8APEX: "Another good way is to get a 2-up ride from a coach in Intermediate or Advanced." THANK YOU, great idea that I will consider in 2014 DMASON53 : "It took me 12 or 13 Novice days to have my breakthrough" Q: what kind of work did you do on your bike in between these days? Q: I will do my research I promise but can someone please provide a breakdown of what exactly "servicing" includes ? Without taking names when I inquired I got the following prices: $350: 1.full rebuild on forks - covers bushing and items that ware. The seals used are race level components that "avoid sticksion" (a new word I have to learn). for $1000 it covers the above AND: 1. SPRINGS and 2. VALVING I was advised as a novice who's bike has not seen any real servicing that my springs should be replaced/done and valving COULD wait but will be more expensive if I came back again. Believe me, I have read every post on here with great detail and appreciate the feedback. I am just a newbie learning my bike, the sport and want to make sure I am doing the right thing. For now I think the bike deserves some kind of servicing since 2006 it has only seen oil changes and I don't know what the previous owner did since I bought in 2009. Again, very humbled by everyones response and truly appreciate the feedback!!
This was THE first thing i did and absolutely did not look at the price tag as it was all about safety. I got an A* used suit, new gloves, Bell helmet and TCX track boots along with under gear. As I get further I will invest in a Dainese and but I feel like Dainese designers don't know how the US economy has the most diverse range of sizes :lmao: which none the less its more motivation to get fit !:wheel:
I don't think so. I am in group 8, the very last one and after lunch when they let us loose and I was in group 3, I got passed by folks in group 8 on the straight aways.... not because I couldn't use my throttle, because they took their turns better. Again, I thank everyone for their responses and will have to figure out how which tree prints money to get my servicing done :thumb:
dainese suit, is just too expensive,, i think its cus i was unable to find my size,, have u checked out aplinestar suits,, they are really nice, thats what i have been using,
Who quoted those prices? Did you check with Reuben and CarrMoto? Those sound kinda high... $1k is just short of getting Ohlins cartridges or something like GP Suspension, etc. Even some 25mm kits from Ohlins and such. What type of "valving" was included? You need to provide details so we can help. I might be off base here as I get hooked up so well and probably a terrible choice for costs, but I know that guys are getting those things done a TON cheaper... $350 for R&R plus seals is somewhat high in my mind. Depends on what they are doing in that cost, but it shouldn't be that much. Fork seals should OEM. There isn't "race spec" seals that are better than OEM. Most guys run OEM or an equivalent. They usually cost $25-$35 a pair... We use OEM seals for reference. They cost more...
You can get Ohlins 20mm kits installed with new seals and everything for under $600... Again, installed!