Jacek

Well it’s not a brand new track bike but it’s new to me... I have now a gixer 600 as my track machine and a 600rr as my street. Well let me tell you it’s night and day difference between those two bikes.

Ill start off first saying that it has been about 6 months of off season so getting to ride on the street right now is not so safe. So much gravel up here that even 2 of our more exp. riders went down this sat.

I planned on attending the track day event on Sunday and it was calling for rain. My buddy also came along so at least I had someone to chill with between the sessions.

I went out there to start setting the bike up for our club track (stratotech.ca) if you want to see it, and to get the feel for this 03 Gixer. Well I started out by seeing how different it was and about 5 laps in I pulled into the pit to lower the forks cuz it felt lethargic coming into the corners.

After that was fixed I went out for another 6 laps only to feel the forks bottoming out and me scraping bodywork... (The guy that had this bike must have been like 145 lbs I'm 200)

So I came back in and started adjusting the suspension. Took another 2 laps and made more adjustments... After that was done I started to see what I can do...

And here is where the fun began..... Lol Well with all the cobwebs that I had from the off season I pulled at least 4 boner moves before I started to actually feel good on this bike.

1st was coming down the back straight and I don’t know what was on my mind but I downshifted one too many gears and then panic set in... Once that back tire stats hopping and sliding around your instincts take over. I pull in the clutch click second while still on the front brakes blip and let out the clutch just in time to lean into the corner gently release the front brake and barely make it.... WOW that was close... Pulled into the hot pit for a breather after that>>

2 nd was the same corner off the back straight where I was trying to see how far I can push my brake marker. And well I came in way to hot and wound up loosing the front... I don’t know what I did but it came back to me and wound up riding out a wobler out of the corner. Don’t ask how I did it I just did.

3rd was me trying to make a late apex so I could out drive the guy out of corner 1 and onto the back straight well I got on the gas way to quick and wound up coming out of the corner sideways... I did not chop the gas or back off (the pro guy (Justin) told me never to chop it just stay on it) and the ****ing bike straightened out with just a slight wobble... wow that felt close... when I pulled off at the end of the session the guy behind me was like "wow nice power slide” I was like "that was purely unintentional and will not be done on a regular basis"

4th was just a dumb move through the infield coming onto #5 turn (its a herpin) and well I don’t know what I did on that one but a very near miss to a high side. Probably on the gas too early but wow sitting on the gas tank after a corner not so good.

All in all I improved my lap times from last years last track day by about 3 seconds... very happy with it.

I’m going again next week and will take some pix for you guys to see

Jack

SPEED

Sweet! Glad you didn't end up on your a$$! Don't try to get it all done in one day, it takes a few times out to really get a new bike dialled in.

Thanks for the report!

__________________
Live to ride another day!"
"Zoomsplat" -Wingers"

SPORTBIKES WEST.COM

• User Maintenance
• General Forum Usage
• Reading and Posting Messages

Jacek

Anytime I will have picture of next weeks track day so you guys can see some of our guys.... I'm thinking of getting a helmet-cam so my buddy can follow me,.. that way I can see what i need to improve upon.

JakeR1

Wow, that sounds like a crazy day man!!! Glad you kept it upright!!

__________________
Just call me Matt...

www.msf-usa.org

Jacek

I think the big guy was watching over me a little...

Fred S

I think The Big Guy was busy.

Tryful

Sounds like you had some ohhhh crap moments, but those make you a better rider anyways. Still sounds like you had quite a bit of fun!

Also the way your methodically trying to improve is a good way to go about it. Just choose one then conquer it then move onto the next one. Heck I even have to remember this myself. Don't try overwhelm yourself or you won't see any improvement.

__________________
How do you know where you are? If you don't know where you started from?

2005 999 Duc- Black

Jacek

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback... its good to have. Yeah, I learned a lot that day with the other bike. Before I was on the track with a thought in my mind of not crashing because it was my nice minty street bike. This time that was not there and I think it made me take some larger risks and get better gains from them.