| Author | Message | ||
     Xl1200r |
Saw a couple 1125R's there - and orange and black bike, and then an all black being ridden by a coach. Anyone here? I never saw them in the paddocks... Some photos I took - I can send full resolution if you're the rider:    This is my friend Paul who I was hanging out with (I didn't get to ride this event)  | ||
| Seanp |
I was there on my Triumph. I talked to a guy with an 1125R back at the Labor Day weekend meets, and I think it might be the same guy. I don't know if he's on here or not. He was there with two other guys in September, on Japanese bikes. I forget where he was from, but he really liked the Buell. Here's me - I probably shouldn't be looking at the camera, but I still like this shot.  | ||
| Xl1200r |
No $hit - I was with the group of guys right across from you in the paddock (with the little yellow 3-wheeler). I was there with my S3T meeting some guys I know. | ||
| Seanp |
Yep, I remember your S3T, and the little yellow 3-wheeler pit bike. Did you do any of the track days at Monticello this season? My first time (two days) was Labor Day, and this was only my second time at the track. It's a huge blast, but now I need leathers and better gloves and boots. I'll be going back many more times next year, provided I can fit it into my schedule... | ||
| Xl1200r |
I didn't get to do any track days this year, but i'm thinking of getting a track bike as soon as cash allows. I'd probably get rid of my CR for one... but I'm also considering getting rid of the S3T for a Sorint GT and I don't want to be Buell-less, so we'll see. I might get a fairing for the CR and just track that thing instead since it's worth so little now. | ||
| Eboos |
The first picture is Gunner who is a member here. He races at Loudon. I wasn't at Monti, but I hear that it went less then smooth on Monday. | ||
| Seanp |
Yeah, there were some major issues with crashes in the Advanced and Intermediate groups. At one point both ambulances were out with injured riders and we had to wait for them to get another ambulance to cover the track so we could ride. It was pretty ugly. I only saw two crashes in the Novice group, one of which was actually an Intermediate rider who was out there as a coach. But I left before the last session, as it was getting pretty crazy. I figured people would kind of go nuts the last few laps... | ||
| Xl1200r |
My friends were all running in the advanced class and pretty unhappy with the day overall. Not a lot of riding. Word on the street was a lot of people wanted spots to this event, and were buying up anyone who was willing to sell, regardless of what group it was in. I heard a lot of talk about some really slow riders in the advanced group causing some wrecks. I'm glad I decided not to participate at this one. | ||
| Seanp |
Yeah, it was pretty hairy even in the novice group. I feel like i got my money's worth, and had a great time, but it wasn't as much riding time as the Labor Day meet. The biggest problem is that there's no way to tell who really belongs in one group or another. There were people in Novice who didn't belong out there at all, I think. Horrible lines, slow, and just overall ugly riding. And I would imagine the problems are amplified in Intermediate and Advanced when the rest of the pack is going even faster and expecting a higher overall level of competency in their group. But it's a question I wonder myself - how long should one ride in Novice before moving up? I don't know if I want to spend all next season riding Novice or try to move up to Intermediate, yet I don't want to be that idjit out there causing wrecks and ruining everyone else's day. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Sean, I've done exactly 3 track days, all at NJMP Lightning. Obviously, I started in the Novice group. By my third day, I got moved from beginner to advanced novice (this organization had two novice groups) and then moved again into intermediate before lunch time. Basically, I waited for a coach to tell me I should move up, even though I was passing every rider in the novice group, some multiple times in a session. Granted, I feel like I was kind of a quick learner. My knee was down by my second session on my first track day. Also, I had only ridden one track, so I had a lot of laps on work on things. I don't think I'd have been nearly as fast at another track, yet. If you feel like you're close the fastest person in the novice group and you want to move up, ask a coach to follow you for a couple laps and see what they think. If you're finding yourself moving through a ton of traffic all the time, it's really hard to work on your line any, and the coaches understand this. Intermediate is usually the widest range of skill level, and therefore the most wrecks, so be aware of that (everything from guys who think they're better than they are and should be in Novice to guys who are fast as hell and belong in Advanced but like that they pass everyone). You'll also need leathers instead of the Aerostich, and change your coolant to a non-glycol type (they let me pass on this when I got bumped up, but I'd need it for my next track day). If you're not getting your knee down in at least most of the turns (aside from the real fast ones), you probably don't have the speed and/or proper form to move up. This, of course, is just my opinion and I could be totally off base. And don't be afraid to ask for some one-on-one with a coach. They're more than happy to do it. | ||
| Seanp |
I definitely need to get off the bike more, as I only touched my knee briefly once or twice over the course of the day. I'm also sitting up too much (too used to riding the Uly and sitting as high as possible) so I don't get down and lay on the tank like I should. I'll do at least a few more track days in Novice before I think I should move up, but I really feel like I'm doing pretty well moving through traffic. We'll see, and this is definitely just the start of a new addiction for me.  | ||
| Eboos |
It would be a pleasure for you guys to join me at a Boston Moto trackday in either NJMP (most likely partnered with STT)or NHMS next year. I will also be riding VIR some time around April this coming year. Unfortunately, no more Buell for me, but the Ducati that I am building is going to be killer. | ||
| Xl1200r |
I'm 90% sure I'm going to put my 1125CR together as a track bike. I never ride it on the street anymore so it'd probably see more use if I had a track ••••• instead. Not sure what group I'll be riding with next year... |
