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Ezblast
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 05:29 pm: | 
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Cool and Thanks! You could follow up here as well and let us know how the bike's handling felt for you during your track day! Ahhh Florida! Hot weather and women but too many straight roads, however, I knew of a few state park roads that meander by some rivers that where nice! Thanks John - looking forward to the report - have fun and enjoy the ride!
Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ |
Spooky
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 - 06:31 pm: |
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Just think each spring I order 2 fronts and 5 rears for the riding season.
Mmelvis you might want to start your tires out at
25psi in the front and 28psi in the rear. Air pressure should be check right after warm up lap. There should be about a 4psi increase front and rear. Adjust as needed. |
Jprovo
| | Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 11:53 am: |
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Saro,
As far as tires go, the rear Pirrelli lasts about the same as the stock 'lop for ~$70, I think it feels stickier and has a better profile, but that might just be my vauge recollections of the stock tire. Using my highly sensitive thumbnail, the rear Pirrelli seemed to be as soft or softer than the medium slick next to it at Glendale. The front Pirrelli is definitely stickier than the Dunlop and wears out quicker.
As far as the Avons go the rear is harder (londer wearing) than the Dunlop, but seems to stick better in the corners. Maybe the center compound is different than the sides. The front wears about the same as the Pirrelli, maybe a little more.
James |
Jprovo
| | Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 11:57 am: |
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Spooky,
Those pressures sound really low!! I run 31 front, 34 rear for agressive canyon riding. Of course, I've never measured temps on them.
The Pirrelli tech that I talked to was telling me that you are supposed to run higher tire pressures on the track than on the street.
James |
Spooky
| | Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 06:36 pm: |
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Ralph thank you for taking the time to post over here. How about you start to read what people have posted better before you start to put everyone down.
James, I'll give the techs over at Pirelli and Works a call about the problem I'm having with the front. The only time I've had a problem in high speed sweepers. |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Thursday, February 19, 2004 - 10:40 pm: |
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My bike was fine - I had ole DP check it that very week - and it came out with a clean bill of health - and them a little richer, road condition maybe - but a better shock would have then done a better job of compensating for those things - riding style? - maybe, but I've read about others experiencing the same thing - so I'm not unique - lol - tire size is still in my mind a personal preference, however, I have noted that more power will call for an increase in contact patch, Barebones, and several other top of the line singles track racers all are running larger rubber - so it makes you wonder - sure in the Ninja series every one was running simular, but thats a rule, and it is more interesting to me to see more single GP style racing where such rules are not in place, now a days most of that is club racing though.
Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Friday, February 20, 2004 - 12:20 pm: |
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Chill dude - its just words! - and thats exactly what I plan to do! - I will not go gently to that sweet good night! - kicking, screaming and blood covered will work - thats how I came into the world! - lol
GT - JBOTDS! EZ
edited by ezblast on February 20, 2004 |
Mmelvis
| | Posted on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 05:35 pm: |
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Track day went great; the Pirelli tires made the bike cornering feel great. I was actually able to do several laps in 1:40. Now that is not blazing compared to some of the faster riders in the expert group, but I was able to turn in times faster than some of the other novice riders. 3 other guys who were breaking in new engines before they went to Daytona did smoke me.
The class I signed up for was worth every penny, I learned more in one day than I had learned in several years of riding. My major problem was breaking all the old habits and learning to do things the new way. Had several people ask about the Blast, normal questions like how much horse power, what modifications I had made and so on. What surprised most of the people was when I told then about my whopping 30 hp. They looked at me like I was lying, they thought I had more power due to my lap times; these were other novice riders in my group. The guy next to me did not look too happy when he found out my fastest lap best his time by 3 seconds, he had a real nice bike though. The bike handled great, I still need to improve my riding skills. Can’t wait to get back out there and do another track day…..
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Spooky
| | Posted on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 05:45 pm: |
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Mmelvis,
What tire pressure did you end up running? |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 10:30 pm: |
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 Totally cool! Sounds like you had a Blast! What motor mod.s, bars, and rearsets did you run? Did you have a fork brace? What brake pads where you using - stock? Is your total suspension stock? - Just curious! Sounds like a great time! Definitely something to put on my to do list!
Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ |
Mmelvis
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 09:33 am: |
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Spooky, the instructors had me set the tire pressure to 30 and 30. Adjustments were made during the day to verify we stayed at 30 and 30. Spoke with the Pirelli tire guy at the track he told me that would be fine.
EZ , Motor mods, well just the vance and hines pipe with a jet kit and K&N air filter. No fork brace, stock brake pads (installed a new set before going out to the track), suspension is 100% stock (this includes the front fork oil). Handlebars are from JC whitney flat drag bars as well as the front fairing. Foot pegs are also the stock ones. They are ground down pretty good now so they do not always drag.
I have a few pics from the track photo person. Need to make them smaller, then I can post a couple of them.
edited by mmelvis on February 24, 2004 |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 12:52 pm: |
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COOL!
GT - JBOTDS! |
Blake
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 02:49 pm: |
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Mmelvis,
Totally COOL! I don't think most riders have any idea how insanely fun it is to ride a bike like the Blast around a track. The peak speed and mongo rwhp track-day junkies don't have any more fun.
JProvo,
The guy that gave you the advice about tire pressures go it backwards. When subjected to repeated hard acceleration (rear) and hard braking (front), tires become much hotter on the track than they typically do on the street. Those higher temperatures cause the running pressures to increase. Also, the pressures recommended for street riding are a compromise between optimum grip and durability. On the track, most go for optimum grip, durability be damned, so a bit lower running pressure may be desirable.
A rule of thumb I've heard is that if your hot tire pressure exceeds your cold tire pressure by more than 4 psi, an increase in pressure is warranted. Much less than a 4 psi increase might indicate that you can reduce the pressue a bit. I concur that the 30/30 psi settings are a real good place to start.
EZ,
Just noticed your comment, "The Blast frame was supposed to be stiffer/stronger than the tube frames...". Where did you get that idea? Teh individual primary member (big rectangular tube) is certainly stronger and stiffer than the relatively small individual circular tubes comprising the tube frame twins' frames, but as a trussed out assembly, the big twins' frames are undoubtedly much stiffer and stronger, at least for the critical loading cases. I can see where the big tube backbone of the Blast could have more lateral (side to side) and axial (compression/tension) strength and stiffness as the trussing of the twins' frames is mostly in the vertical plane. But in bending in the vertical plane (resisting sagging like an old saddle worn horse), or in torsion (resisting rolling of rear swingarm relative to steering head), I'm pretty sure the old tube frames are much stronger/stiffer.
I recall a guy who used to race a big MZ 600cc single in the CMRA. It had a single round tube backbone frame. The tube was no where near as large as the Blast's rectangular member. The guy did say that on the track the MZ frame was lacking in stiffness. I think the MZ frame may also have been aluminum, which has one third the stiffness of steel. I bet he would have loved a Blast frame.
I would love to see someone campaign a Blast in the lightweight sportsman type classes. It would take a worked over engine to be competitive, but I bet it could be done. I'd love to give it a go someday. EZ, you oght to look into it. You already have the bike for it, no? |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 04:01 pm: |
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LOL - yes but not the time, and even for a track day I plan to be prepared - a cam switch out, some brake work, and possibly the Works suspension pieces. Busy guy - lol - on that quote - I got it from one of the Erik interviews on the Blast - The ThunderBike interview - I think (others have read it and commented as well - speak up folks - don't leave me hanging! - lol) - I hope he (the ThunderBike Forum now) hasn't lost it - I need to check now that he's changed formats, etc. - I know I printed a copy at home some where, but still its not verification without the link, and my old direct link now doesn't work - Ah well - something more to look for this evening - lol
Blake - I was under the impression you where going to get a Blast and start doing some track time on it - sticking with the M2 eh?
Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ |
Evaddave
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 08:35 pm: |
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quote:I think the MZ frame may also have been aluminum, which has one third the stiffness of steel.
Blake, I thought that was the other way around. I thought aluminum was stiffer than steel. It sure feels that way on mountain bikes.
Or is it that for the same diameter, steel is stiffer, but with aluminum you could make a larger diameter tube with the same stiffness, butless weight than steel? 'cause all the aluminum mountain bikes have bigger tubes than the steel bikes. |
Blake
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 24, 2004 - 10:52 pm: |
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Dave,
I'm talking about material properties. The section properties of a structural member also very much affect their stiffness. A big aluminum tube can easily be more stiff than a small steel tube. For axial loading, it would need more than three times the material, in bending the section make ALL the difference a little depth goes a long way. If you take the two opposing flanges of an I-beam and move them twice as far apart, the beam will have 8 times its original stiffness in bending. I posted a link to an article on this exact subject a week or two ago, and it was in relation to mountain bikes. Here it is. Enjoy. |
Evaddave
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 10:46 pm: |
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Thanks, Blake. That's a good read.
I'll consider myself smacked.
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Jprovo
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 10:38 am: |
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Blake,
Re: tire pressures
That makes sense, I'll have to talk to this tire tech some more next time I go to Willow Springs, I might have just mis-heard him or not remembered what he said.
BTW: Golden State Brag members have shown interest in getting some Blast race bikes together to form a formaula class during WSMC club races. The thought from one of the members that regularly races at Willow is that if we can get 5 regular riders we can get a special class established in the rulebook. I'm saving my money.
James
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Ezblast
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 12:39 pm: |
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I wonder if something like that could be arranged up here - think I'll ask about it monday at American Sport BikeNIGHT. More food for thought! Thanks James!
Got Thump?! t Blasting on the Dark side! |
Gearheaderiko
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 09:17 pm: |
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Hmmm..interesting..maybe I should keep the Why Bothers exhaust for a race bike(it is a race only exhaust)! Nawww--it will be for sale very soon! |
Ezblast
| | Posted on Friday, November 28, 2008 - 04:39 pm: |
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LOL - he keeps it -
Frame update -
After a long talk with Terry Parsley - the only weak link for racing the stock Blast frame - correcting me from other info from another group - is the Blast Swing-arm. He did say if a triangulation of steel was added to it to stiffen it up - it would be fine, however, with 70 hp hitting it - it would flex - so at least he gave a reasonable idea for fixing the problem as well.
EZ |
Gearheaderiko
| | Posted on Friday, November 28, 2008 - 08:06 pm: |
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Why Bothers exhaust: Ironically, I did sell the WB exhaust, but wound up with the "Race Only" WB exhaust I now have mounted on the raceblast. If I'd known I'd wind up with another WB, I wouldnt have sold the first one with all my extra discs! The second WB 'race'exhaust did cost much much less than the first and I bought it for less than I sold the first one for too! |
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