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Peter_nikols
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 12:37 pm: | 
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Drawkward, Yes, the bank account will be siphoned and the piggy bank will be broken.
Talking about money, 99buellx1, what did that fairing cost you? Was it hard to install? Can I get away with just getting the upper fairing (nose cone) without the headlights?
What are the general preparations that need to be done besides removing the lights, mirrors, turn signals? |
Jdugger
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 03:28 pm: |
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> What are the general preparations that need to be done
Get the rule book for your race organization.
Generally:
- Safety wire on anything with fluid of any kind behind it plus axle pinch bolts and calipers.
- Flush all glycol out of the coolant system (water/water wetter only)
- Belly pan of roughly equal size to all the fluids in the bike
- Removal of all "shatterables"
- A sock or sweatband on all plastic reservoirs
- Case cover on the stator side |
01lightning
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 04:36 pm: |
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I have specifically asked the fastest guys and the owner of the club about my bike and the majority of the people say its an awesome bike and its fine. HOWEVER, I didnt preface the question by telling them I want to race, I was just asking if they felt that my bike would hold me back in any way.
Ideally I would love to have an R...aerodynamically speaking and the taller gears would surely help with the straightaways- that being said I wasnt aware of a disadvantage ergonomically- have you sat on a CR? I thought the clubmans put me further than the clip ons of the R, which would help to put more weight on the front.
The main 'problem' I have is when I bought the bike I was strictly a street rider. The bike has turned me off of the street and I only want to be on the track now. Had I known that was going to happen I would've gotten the R in the first place.
I am bumming when I add up everything that I'll need to be competitive on my CR...but its my only bike and I'm not working so I'm going to work with what I have.
People are basically giving away CR's at the moment so its looking more and more like I have to stick with my bike.
All that being said, I would trade my CR for an R if I could,but I dont think its gonna happen.Maybe i'll put another ad in the classifieds... |
99buellx1
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 04:40 pm: |
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Cost for that full fairing was....hell, I don't remember exact. But I think it was close to $600.
They make just a stock styled upper without the headlight holes. Basically what Duggram's picture shows above.
Installation was simple, just had to make two brackets to hold the rear of the belly pan up. |
Jdugger
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 04:42 pm: |
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01,
Race the CR. Odds are you aren't going to be "competitive" regardless of what you are on in your first couple of years.
I've been seriously at this track thing for a couple of years now, and I am a bottom-halfer by *any* measure in the more competitive classes like Superbike A (1000) and Superbike B (750). My guess is, unless you have "the gift" you will be, too.
So what if you give up 5-10 mph on the back straight. You will be a better rider learning on a "less competitive" bike. And, that's ignoring the fact that the CR is an absolute hoot to ride on the track and more fun than getting a final tap at an ex-girlfriend.
I wouldn't worry about it for now. Go get your race license and get on the grid. Try not to finish D.F.L. and try not to let the experts lap you in a 6-8 lap race.
Accomplish that and you will also be getting faster more quickly than you ever thought possible.
Race the CR! |
Froggy
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 04:51 pm: |
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Clubmans are nearly identical to the ergonomics of a stock R.
Look into getting the trackday bike from Erik Buell Racing. $9500, fully equipped and ready to run. Fill the tank, turn the key and win  |
Drawkward
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 06:46 pm: |
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I can echo what JD is saying though I've been at it for far less time as him.
To be honest, I'd like to jump on an SV650, get my fundamentals perfected and then jump back on the R. I'm at a point with my riding that I KNOW for a fact that I can go a lot faster than I am, but I am mentally holding myself back because I don't want to push over 75 to 80% of my limits and risk crashing the bike. It sounds stupid but it is really holding me back. |
Jng1226
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 06:52 pm: |
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That doesn't sound stupid at all. Any competitive sport is mostly mental, once the fundamentals have been mastered. Confidence is the number one thing with riding fast. An SV650 ridden to its limit will smoke an 1125R ridden much lower than its limit. Seen scenarios like that many times at many different tracks. |
01lightning
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 07:54 pm: |
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Jduggar, yeah really! sometimes ya just have to see it in black and white for it to sink in I guess. Its not like I'm gonna jump in and win a championship next year...everything you said makes perfect sense and just reinforces what I'm going to do- ride my bike at the track,enjoy my bike and if I get good enough to race I will, if not I'll do what I'm doing now which is having a friggin blast!
what was i thinking
froggy,I'd love to get the ebr trackbike but its not possible in my immediate financial future-would be cool though
doc- yeah i hear ya-it would be more sensible to beat some other bike, but its just not in the cards at the moment.Plus, what if it wasnt as fun to ride as the CR? That would kind of defeat the purpose maybe. Racing....what am I nuts? I hear these guys talking about the cost....just entering every race costs a nut. I better just relax and have fun for now.
(Message edited by 01lightning on September 21, 2010) |
Not_purple_s2
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 08:28 pm: |
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One question about racing a CR. How can you mount a steering damper?
WERA and CCS both require steering dampers but I can't find any steering damper solutions for the CR.
I only found one person who custom mounted a Scotts Damper and it took quite a bit of fabrication.
I know there were some photos floating around of a race CR from europe which probably had a damper but I couldn't find any information.
(Message edited by Not_Purple_S2 on September 21, 2010) |
Jdugger
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 08:37 pm: |
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> if I get good enough to race I will
I had this attitude for a while and in hindsight wished I hadn't.
There's going to be several classes the CR is eligible for, and one of them will have other guys at about your skill level. You will be racing those guys -- whether it's for the podium or for who's DFL, it's still racing and it's still fun. |
01lightning
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 09:00 pm: |
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I was talking to the owner of GPR stabilizers at the AMA event at NJMP and he seemed confident that he would be able to adapt a kit to fit the CR. I didnt get that far into it because I wasnt sure if I'd be using the cr front or if I'd have to use an R front...didnt want to waste his time.
Jdug-what do you mean, you wish you started earlier? |
Jdugger
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 09:46 pm: |
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> you wish you started earlier
Yes. I waited until I was "fast enough" to start racing.
Instead of being competitive, everyone else that got in it earlier became much better racers faster. |
Duggram
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 10:32 pm: |
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I can't agree enough. Wish I'd started 40 years ago. But that's not what you meant. I did 2 trackday weekends before I started racing. Certainly not a mistake. I've only done a few things in my life that were this much fun. |
01lightning
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 - 10:42 pm: |
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wow....thats interesting.
If there are anymore TPM races this year I think I'll enter. There are riders in slower groups that I ride in who race. I didnt understand why but I guess I was in the dark.Still not sure I understand why,but maybe just jumping in IS the way to go. Gotta admit I was wanting to be out there with them racing a few times. It must be a rush!
but wait....i guess you dont need a race license for the club races...or do you? I'll find out Monday- hey by the way I'll be at NJMP mon and Tue with TPM come one out if in the neighborhood. |
Jdugger
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 - 07:59 am: |
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Around here, the race organization is CMRA, and they require a race license.
As long as you are a decent enough rider to run in the A track day group, they offer a provisional novice license the Friday track day before race weekend, so you can jump in like that.
You will also have to have your bike race prepped.
Every race org is a little different. Do yourself a favor and get a rulebook NOW and start working through it. Contact the race organization and find out. |
Jng1226
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 - 10:41 am: |
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01lightning - being on the East Coast, you will have racing opportunities with both CCS and WERA racing organizations. If you take a track school (Cornerspeed at VIR, Ed Bargy at Jennings GP, etc.) most of those have accreditations with CCS and WERA. Once you complete the course, you submit your license application with your school certificate and you get your race license.
Your home crew, Team Promotion, even offers a non-sanctioned racing series that doesn't require a racing license and the cost appears very reasonable to try it out - http://www.teampromotion.com/tpm.php?page_id=racin g |
Skntpig
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 - 11:33 am: |
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Jng,
Is Jennings the track with the DB restriction? I raced Daytona, Moroso, and Homestead back in the day but not Jennings. |
Jng1226
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 - 11:57 am: |
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Yes, Jennings GP has a 104dB restriction and some days they do enforce. They suspend that usually for the CCS and WERA weekends, but it's common to see the dB meter at the side of the track. The unfortunate problem is that they measure on the short front straight on the right side of the track, where the 1125 is the loudest! |
99buellx1
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 - 01:58 pm: |
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quote:if I get good enough to race I will
I agree that if you want to do it, and are comfortable on the track, do it now.
I hadn't been on the track in years, took a license school and raced the next day.
Did I win....no, but I also didn't finish last.
And to top it off, I'm currently 2nd in points in the SuperTwins class for the Midwest region of CCS for my first year out.
Do it! |
01lightning
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 - 09:29 pm: |
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oh damn...i feel like a dope...didnt even know about the TPM races...I thought it was just a here and there thing.
Well shat man...I guess its time to put my money where my mouth is...I'll be at NJMP on the 27th and there is a TPM race....I'm entering! I'll keep you informed...good or bad or ugly.
Thanks for the insight everyone...
thanks for posting a link to my own club! |
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