| Author | Message | ||
     Adrian_8 |
Chad...I would put those tires on and ride the sucker stock...the more stock the better. That way it will be more fun to pass guys on "track whores" on the plain old ULY. As the saying goes.."It ain't the bow...its the Indian". | ||
| Chadhargis |
I'm sure I might reel in a few inexperienced riders or squids who just want to whack it wide open on the straights, but the organization I'm doing the track days with keeps a pretty sharp watch on people. At least that's what I'm told. If you're out in the intermediate group and you're doing the squid see-saw through the turns, they'll bump you down to the beginner group. I'm guessing that me, with my skill, on a big heavy dual sport wannabe, running in the intermediate group will be doing my level best to keep from getting demoted to beginner. I need every advantage I can get.  | ||
| Etennuly |
Nah, you ride pretty dammm smooth, I think you'll do better than you figure you might. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Chadley, Did you get your sock monkey yet?  | ||
| Chadhargis |
I actually ride fairly sedate on the street. When I did my last track day, the tires were fairly boogered up. I've never managed to do that on the street. Fatty...I've gotta get a sock monkey. That would be too sweet riding on the back of the Uly.  (Message edited by chadhargis on February 28, 2007) | ||
| Chadhargis |
Of course, my knee pucks got scuffed ever so lightly...actually not even enough to really count.  | ||
| Chadhargis |
 | ||
| Etennuly |
If you did that and were still on the bike it counts for sure! | ||
| Lorazepam |
I think if I drag a knee on the Uly, the bike will be dragging next. Too many years looking for gravel and deer, dogs and horse manure for me to let it out on the track. | ||
| Endoman28 |
is anyone in here | ||
| Chadhargis |
It's all about rotating your body off the bike. The more weight you get forward, down, and to the inside, the less you have to lean the bike. I managed to scuff those sliders while riding a Ducati Monster 900. Never touched a peg down. I've never touched anything down on the Uly either. | ||
| Lorazepam |
When I say bike dragging, I mean sidecases and other parts that will need replacing  | ||
| Bosh |
Chad can drag a knee without even leaning the bike over!  | ||
| Chadhargis |
Elbows too! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I can drag a butt cheek. Does that count? | ||
| Ihavemanyfleas |
That's preeety. I have some friends who keep asking me to do track day... Seems like a great place to learn how to drop a knee. I would be pretty sad if I dropped much more than that... (Message edited by ihavemanyfleas on March 01, 2007) | ||
| Chadhargis |
The funny thing is, when I first got on the track, I was all about trying to go fast. After some of the instructors showed me the right line, I was able to go faster without really trying. I became more relaxed. That's when my knee pucks started skimming the pavement. I actually didn't really know what it was because you can't feel it...you just hear it. When you're leaned over at those speeds, strange sounds scare you. LOL! I learned the secret to going fast. Stop trying, relax, and let the bike do the work. Trying to muscle it around the track doesn't work. Just let it "flow". It's amazing how it works. | ||
| Etennuly |
Chad, I dragged a peg and boot when I was riding right with you on the first leg of our Nashville to Knoxville blast. But then I like my suspension soft and I'm heavy and I was totin' my side bags with about another 25 lbs in them. The "flow" thing is right. When I raced I used to listen to Boston, Queen, and Aerosmith on the way to the track so that I could get a song in my head that would help with timing and smoothness.  | ||
| Chadhargis |
I don't run my suspension very hard, in fact, most people think a hard suspension will handle better. It won't. If anything, it will caused the bike to "push" and lose front end feel. I like mine "just right", I wasn't running bags as I typically only need what's in my seat bag for local rides. I spent a good deal of time in the garage today. I mounted up the wave rotors to my new black wheels and installed the medium rise Renthal bars. The wheels look good, but my $10 rear sprocket I bought off eBay is apparently for an '03 bike as the teeth are completely different. I checked the part number, and sure enough, the sprocket for the Ulysses is different than the one on the sprocket I got. I picked up an '06 sprocket off eBay tonight, so when it shows up, I'll finally get to mount the wheels. The Renthal bars are what should have come from the factory. These bars look great!! There is no cross bar to get in the way such as when you're trying to switch the mode on the LCD display or reset a trip meter. They are a bit lower, which I LOVE. They feel very natural to me. If you do much off road riding on the Uly, you won't like them as they are lower which makes standing harder, but for aggressive street riding, they are nice. I am glad I got the medium rise one. I don't see how you'd mount the low rise bars without putting on shorter clutch and throttle cables and a shorter brake line. The picture is a bit decieving as the clutch cable doesn't obstruct any of the dash when you're on the bike. Here's what the bars look like all mounted up:  (Message edited by chadhargis on March 03, 2007) | ||
| Chadhargis |
Here are the wheels with the wave rotors mounted. I've got to read up on wave rotors. They make sense in principle, but to my knowledge, Kawasaki is the only company using them. You don't even seen them on race bikes. If they are so good, why are the GP boys running them? It may turn out that they are purely cosmetic, and I'll toss on some stock rotors. Time will tell.  | ||
| Chadhargis |
 | ||
| Chadhargis |
Tried out the new bars today...I like them. I've got to build up some neck muscles and I have to hold my head up a bit more due to the forward lean, but they do make the bike easier to handle. More weight on the front of the bike for sure. I signed up for the Buell track day at Barber on the 31st. Can't wait to take the Uly to the track. Should be an absolute blast (humm poor choice of words), it will still be a Uly...oh hell, you know what I mean. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Any of you guys planning on doing the Buell track day at Barber on the 31st?? I stopped by the dealer and he talked me into it. Yeah...that's it...he talked me into it! Here's the scoop: http://www.buell.com/en_us/news_events/insidepass/ index.asp There are a few other dates and tracks as well. You can also demo a Buell on the track. I'm thinking I might have to try out the XB12Ss or the new TT. | ||
| Chadhargis |
I got my rear pulley today. Mounted it to the wheels. I have to balance the wheels, then I'm ready to roll. I also pulled off the yellow stripe...it didn't match the orange very well. Decals are in too. Being a computer geek...I HAD to have this decal:  | ||
| Chadhargis |
I applied the number decal NESBA requires:  | ||
| Chadhargis |
Just for fun, I decided to do a discreet "XB12X-R" decal on the rear hugger. It's a very dark carbon fiber that you really can't see very well unless the light hits it right. The flash really set it off.  Now all I'm waiting on is my Wilbers suspension. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
What tires did you mount to the "race" wheels? | ||
| L_je |
Chad, you suck. Now you've got me thinking about trying this track day. Thanks [insert sarcasm here] | ||
| Chadhargis |
I stuck with what came on the wheels. Pirelli Diablos. Figure when I wear them out, I'll toss on the Pirelli Diablo Corsa IIIs. L_je....do it!! No one says you have to be as fast as the race replica bikes to have fun on the track. The Ulysses will be a lot of fun, and I'm willing to be I surprise a few squids. (Message edited by chadhargis on March 08, 2007) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I'm willing to bet I surprise a few squids. Yeah, they've never had their ass kicked by a Yeti on a dirt bike!  |
