Track Days

[Johno]

I'd be interested to hear feedback on the engine characteristics of the 1400 on the track.

I did a track day on my 1978 GS1000 back in the day and discovered some engine characteristics not evident on the road. In particular there was a distinct kick at about 7500 rpm on the short back straight at Amaroo Park.

[Kiwifruit]

Headed off to Hampton Downs at 6.15am yesterday without a cloud in the sky. Its 150kms from home to the track. Just over half way there and I can see a rainbow in the distance......damn, that's rain. So I get wet, ten minutes later its sunny and I dry out again. We had showers on and off all day but fortunately it was warm and the track dried out in 15 mins. The Club Circuit was us for the day, the GP Track was being used tor the NZ Grand Prix on Sunday so a lot of activity there getting that sorted .
Think there were about twelve of us plus two instructors.
It was suggested we drop our tyre pressures. Many will know I have Michelin PR5 boots on which I dropped to 30lbs front and rear. We did 5 look laps behind the instructor and I thought this is not good, the bike was heavy and slow to turn in. As some temperature got into the tyres they got better and better.
After that we started off doing some brake drills and learning to brake from 80, 90, then 100kph to stopped applying first the rear brake then two staging the front brake as fast as you can say 1,2,3. Rear brake momentarily first settles the rear end into the track, 1st stage front brake compresses the slack in the front end, second stage makes the contact patch bigger. and you can really haul on the brake, but only allowed to use two fingers, four fingers can turn the throttle. I could hear the front tyre tearing at the track. The podgy 14 don't stop too bad.
!5 minute break, we were all told to have a drink of water. Then we did 8 laps and had to trail our rear brake while weaving through 8-10 cones placed on the front straight. We were told to focus on the gaps not the cones.
Had an hour for lunch, nice little cafe at the track, then back into it. This time easing off the front brake but trailing the rear brake around some of the tighter corners on the track. Easy on left handers near impossible on rights. you cant get your foot on the brake. Apparently MotoGP bikes have a thumb operated rear brake on the bars. We rode the track both ways, going anti clockwise there is a decreasing radius left hand sweeper. Trailing the rear brake really pulled the bike in tight on exit. I have often trailed my rear brake around roundabouts and tight turns around town often thinking I shouldn't be doing this, but it worked for me, now I feel ok doing it as it does keep the head of the bike tucked in. Another break and a drink, bit of feedback from the instructors and tips about shifting your body weight, getting to the inside of the bike a bit and setting up for the turns. Then back out, this time accelerating out of the corners with a bit of rear brake applied, slowly easing it off as you exit the turn. This smoothes out the exit and controls the power delivery while keeping the bike settled.
Back to the pits, by now i'm sweating like a pig, since arriving I have shed the thermal liners in my jacket and pants, long johns are long gone and I'm down to a Tee shirt and jocks under my textiles with every vent open. (in the jacket not my jocks) We have had a few showers on and off all day but its got hot so then the sun comes out the track steams and in 15 minutes its dry.
Its time to put into practice what we have been working on. I found I couldn't hustle and think about everything we had learned so I slowed to a pace that was comfortable and tried to be smooth. Before long I started to feel comfortable and put in some laps I was pretty happy with. Tipping in later than you think you should makes a wider radius turn, slowing to get a good line on a double apex is quite a buzz once you get it sorted. I finished up dragging both the left and right foot pegs, don't think I have ever even come close before, I don't ride like that on the road anyway, actually spooked me the first time, didn't think I was that far over.
The bike never missed a beat all day, have to say it handled like a dream and was complimented on its condition and the stonk it had coming out of a couple of the tighter turns by a fella riding a GSXR750.....but once he was gone he was gone. Other than the instructors I reckon the quickest thing was a Triumph 675, scruffy lookin dude but a nice guy and he rode good. Yours truly had to go and apologize to a fella on a Harley that I gave a good close haircut to, I felt quite bad as it was totally my mistake. I went to pass him on the outside when I should have gone under him and then out braked him. He accepted my apology with good grace. Found out later he was an ex cop....ooops !!
All in all I had a great day, I learned a lot, the ole 14 is not the fastest but it is by no means a slouch we got around pretty tidy and didnt disgrace ourselves in amongst some nice modern bikes.
Popped in and saw Dad on the way , from his place its an hour home. Got home there after suffering cramp for the last half hour of the journey absolutely shattered.
Top day out, can't wait to have another go. Just got to plaster the fridge door with a load more gold stickers 

[KiwiCol]

Awesome mate! 

[Big Phil]

Sounds like you had a cracking day Col. Still waiting for our lockdown to finish and weather to improve before I can book my track day at Snetterton which is about 70km from my home.

Did get the bikes out today though as we had a sunny day so took them both for a little run. Only 10 minutes on each enough to warm them up and realise how much I miss riding as well as everything else in this current time.

[SFC1000]

Kiwifruit sounds like you had a great day. 
I found many years ago applying rear break on exit tucks the bike in and gives better drive out of corners.

[Milts]

@Kiwifruit good to read your track day experience,   

[Notty]

Brilliant  Col

[Kiwifruit]

Nice little stable Phil 

[GSXKING]

Headed off to Hampton Downs at 6.15am yesterday without a cloud in the sky. Its 150kms from home to the track. Just over half way there and I can see a rainbow in the distance......damn, that's rain. So I get wet, ten minutes later its sunny and I dry out again. We had showers on and off all day but fortunately it was warm and the track dried out in 15 mins. The Club Circuit was us for the day, the GP Track was being used tor the NZ Grand Prix on Sunday so a lot of activity there getting that sorted .
Think there were about twelve of us plus two instructors.
It was suggested we drop our tyre pressures. Many will know I have Michelin PR5 boots on which I dropped to 30lbs front and rear. We did 5 look laps behind the instructor and I thought this is not good, the bike was heavy and slow to turn in. As some temperature got into the tyres they got better and better.
After that we started off doing some brake drills and learning to brake from 80, 90, then 100kph to stopped applying first the rear brake then two staging the front brake as fast as you can say 1,2,3. Rear brake momentarily first settles the rear end into the track, 1st stage front brake compresses the slack in the front end, second stage makes the contact patch bigger. and you can really haul on the brake, but only allowed to use two fingers, four fingers can turn the throttle. I could hear the front tyre tearing at the track. The podgy 14 don't stop too bad.
!5 minute break, we were all told to have a drink of water. Then we did 8 laps and had to trail our rear brake while weaving through 8-10 cones placed on the front straight. We were told to focus on the gaps not the cones.
Had an hour for lunch, nice little cafe at the track, then back into it. This time easing off the front brake but trailing the rear brake around some of the tighter corners on the track. Easy on left handers near impossible on rights. you cant get your foot on the brake. Apparently MotoGP bikes have a thumb operated rear brake on the bars. We rode the track both ways, going anti clockwise there is a decreasing radius left hand sweeper. Trailing the rear brake really pulled the bike in tight on exit. I have often trailed my rear brake around roundabouts and tight turns around town often thinking I shouldn't be doing this, but it worked for me, now I feel ok doing it as it does keep the head of the bike tucked in. Another break and a drink, bit of feedback from the instructors and tips about shifting your body weight, getting to the inside of the bike a bit and setting up for the turns. Then back out, this time accelerating out of the corners with a bit of rear brake applied, slowly easing it off as you exit the turn. This smoothes out the exit and controls the power delivery while keeping the bike settled.
Back to the pits, by now i'm sweating like a pig, since arriving I have shed the thermal liners in my jacket and pants, long johns are long gone and I'm down to a Tee shirt and jocks under my textiles with every vent open. (in the jacket not my jocks) We have had a few showers on and off all day but its got hot so then the sun comes out the track steams and in 15 minutes its dry.
Its time to put into practice what we have been working on. I found I couldn't hustle and think about everything we had learned so I slowed to a pace that was comfortable and tried to be smooth. Before long I started to feel comfortable and put in some laps I was pretty happy with. Tipping in later than you think you should makes a wider radius turn, slowing to get a good line on a double apex is quite a buzz once you get it sorted. I finished up dragging both the left and right foot pegs, don't think I have ever even come close before, I don't ride like that on the road anyway, actually spooked me the first time, didn't think I was that far over.
The bike never missed a beat all day, have to say it handled like a dream and was complimented on its condition and the stonk it had coming out of a couple of the tighter turns by a fella riding a GSXR750.....but once he was gone he was gone. Other than the instructors I reckon the quickest thing was a Triumph 675, scruffy lookin dude but a nice guy and he rode good. Yours truly had to go and apologize to a fella on a Harley that I gave a good close haircut to, I felt quite bad as it was totally my mistake. I went to pass him on the outside when I should have gone under him and then out braked him. He accepted my apology with good grace. Found out later he was an ex cop....ooops !!
All in all I had a great day, I learned a lot, the ole 14 is not the fastest but it is by no means a slouch we got around pretty tidy and didnt disgrace ourselves in amongst some nice modern bikes.
Popped in and saw Dad on the way , from his place its an hour home. Got home there after suffering cramp for the last half hour of the journey absolutely shattered.
Top day out, can't wait to have another go. Just got to plaster the fridge door with a load more gold stickers 

Great report Col. It sounds like you certainly got your moneysworth it'll be interesting to see how you adapt it to your roadcraft. 

[Kiwifruit]

Yes Kingi, the instructors parting comment was "we hope we have taught you things to be safer, not how to crash faster" a point well made.

[grog]

Brilliant descripton of your day Col. 👍Glad you enjoyed

[Eric GSX1400K3]

Well done Kiwifruit, thanks for sharing, sounds like a great day.

[Teufel]

Just thought I'd like to try to persuade anyone considering the track.
I promise, it's fun.

[Teufel]

The above pic is from a couple of years ago, but it's my favourite.
This one is from last Tuesday.

[Teufel]

And one more