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Hi my name is Ron, and I'm a Trackhead

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1.2K views 11 replies 10 participants last post by  Madski  
#1 ·
Here's a pic of the pick all track ready
Image


BeaverRun had a Skills Enhancement Day. Here's a map of the Beaver http://www.beaverun.com/roadmap.html I had a blast I didn't want it to end. I learned ALOT!!!! I wish I had more time there to practice the right way instead of the way I was riding. Some things I learned about myself and the bike.

1. I favor left hand turns to right hand turns. It feels like I'm fighting the handlebars on right handers.

2. I pick up speed in the turns good, but that means 1 thing. I'm not entering the turns fast enough.

3. I REALLY need to work on my body positioning. I try to ride it like a dirtbike in the turns.

4. I also need to ride on my toes instead of mid-foot. I scraped my toes a couple times in a couple right handers.

5. I need to trust the markers There's quite a few blind turns; that I just didn't have the balls to just turn in to.

6. LOOK WHERE YA WANNA GO!!!! Turn 1, there was a few times I was passing people and I hear the tires growling and the ass end is wiggling side to side on the brakes, BTW is that OK?? Is the bike suppose to do that? Well anyway. I thought I was going way to fast and I was like oh $hit I'm gonna go off-road, but I look through the turn and BAM I made it.

The bike, B mode was plenty fast enough for me. About 15 minutes in to the 30 minute session, I'd put it in Standard mode. The bike would stay 2nd and 3rd gear. for most of the track. Every once and a while I'd hit 4th, on the straights. From what everyone says The Beaver is a 600cc track? I need more time on the 1 to really learn how to ride it.

All in all I learned sooooooo much. Next year I wanna go to http://www.superbikeschool.com/ at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and ride the corkscrew. Does the Superbike school offer any type of scholarship? lol Here are the pics of the tires.

Front Tire

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Rear Tire


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I hope my rambling isn't to bad. I just have so much in my brain with the track day experience. I can't wait to do it again.
 
#3 ·
blueyzfr6 said:
1. I favor left hand turns to right hand turns. It feels like I'm fighting the handlebars on right handers.

2. I pick up speed in the turns good, but that means 1 thing. I'm not entering the turns fast enough.

3. I REALLY need to work on my body positioning. I try to ride it like a dirtbike in the turns.

4. I also need to ride on my toes instead of mid-foot. I scraped my toes a couple times in a couple right handers.

5. I need to trust the markers There's quite a few blind turns; that I just didn't have the balls to just turn in to.

6. LOOK WHERE YA WANNA GO!!!! Turn 1, there was a few times I was passing people and I hear the tires growling and the ass end is wiggling side to side on the brakes, BTW is that OK?? Is the bike suppose to do that? Well anyway. I thought I was going way to fast and I was like oh $hit I'm gonna go off-road, but I look through the turn and BAM I made it.

The bike, B mode was plenty fast enough for me. About 15 minutes in to the 30 minute session, I'd put it in Standard mode. The bike would stay 2nd and 3rd gear. for most of the track. Every once and a while I'd hit 4th, on the straights. From what everyone says The Beaver is a 600cc track? I need more time on the 1 to really learn how to ride it.
Click to expand...
Glad you had a great time! Da'Beave is always a good time.
On your notes:
1 - This appears to be the case for many, if not most riders. Likely had a lot to do with the throttle and getting handcuffed in right hand turns. Try changing your position the throttle to an almost screw driver like grip in right handers and relax on the bars.
2 - Motorcycles are generally slow in / fast out. As you ride more you will learn to both carry more entry speed and more corner speed in general which all leads to more straight away speed. Generally newer riders over brake entry. Just something you learn to do less of with time.
3 - Get a supermoto :)
4 - That was really hard for me to get past. I spent a lot of time on the street teaching myself to ride more or less on the balls of my feet in order for it to become natural all the time.
5 - Really only the T6/7 transition is blind at Beaver. T1 sort of it but you can see the exit before you tip in. The elevation changes make that track a blast. T7 is the turn that gives me the most trouble. You really want to make sure you don't end up wide at the top of the hill - bad things....
6 - You would not be the first to do the straight shot off T1. There is actually a ton of grip and a good bit of camber in T1. Its hard to see when you are riding but if you ever walk the track (highly recommended) you will see it. You can carry a lot of speed into T1. Stay off the patch at the apex of T2 and then treat both 2 and 3 as a single turn.
Your rear end is walking around you probably because you need to do a better job of rev-matching your down shifts (even with a slipper). In B a lot of guys try to out-brake each other into T1. Sometimes they try a bit too hard.

So far as being a "600" track - pretty much any track for a mere mortal is a "600" track. The current record around Beaver (I believe a high 55) was set on an S1000RR so go figure.
 
#6 ·
Congrats!!! I just finished my first and second trackdays at VIR north and south recently and I loved it.... Your tires look similar to mine after day 1. I had issues with scraping my feet and body positioning as well....must be a newbie thing. Keep us posted on the next trackday!!!
 
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