I'm going to do another track day at Miller Motorsports in a couple of weeks, and I wondered if anyone had any advice as to how to best prepare a 14 for a track day. (I rode my son's CBR600RR at the last one, and it was fun, but I thought I'd take the big girl again.)

Things I'm going to do so far:

1. Raise the footpegs and get them to the rear a bit further
2. Replace the K&N air filter with a stock one (because of Brock's concern about the oil restricting air flow)
3. Remove the lower fairings

I realize that this isn't the ideal bike for the track, but it sure is fun!

Anybody have any additional suggestions?

Thanks!

Most track-day organizers will ask you to remove or tape over your mirrors and cover your headlight, taillight and turn signal lenses. Blue painters tape works great for this. Unplug the headlight bulbs (or remove the fuse) to prevent cooking the duct tape onto the lenses.

You will probably need to replace the anitfreeze with water and a coolant substitute, such as Water Wetter or Engine Ice.

Have fun!

* Last updated by: zoldar on 7/1/2010 @ 10:03 AM *

Right you are.

I run Water Wetter and distilled water in the cooling system, and have found that the 3M blue painter's tape works much better than the similar Duct product. I don't seem to need to unplug the lights -- the tape comes off easily and cleanly.

Thanks, zoldar! -bg

Well Alright!Yer gonna go for it AGAIN!Way to go BG.Someday...maybe.Nothin here to get busy on except the public roads....there are some shweeet spots here however....(did I just say "break the law?) ANYTHING over 70 here is breaking the law technically! Have a blast BG!

* Last updated by: blue07 on 7/1/2010 @ 10:17 AM *

Thanks, blue!

I've survived a couple of these so far, and they are LOTS of fun. I need to work on leaning over further and going faster. It's AMAZING what a motorcycle can do. I found that out on a 2-up ride with an experienced racer last time. I had no idea you could lean over so far, go so fast while leaned over so far, and brake so hard! Gives me a lot to work on... -bg

* Last updated by: bgordon on 7/1/2010 @ 10:43 AM *

Removing lowers-- DAMN--!!!

You really going to scrape lowers before you scrape pegs??

You really going to scrape lowers before you scrape pegs??

No, but I've already scraped the pegs and I don't think the lowers are far behind. Also, am raising the pegs a bit. -bg

SCwewwwwwf. Good luck there, BG. Sounds like you are having a blast.

You've already scraped pegs...on yer 14?I STILL have been unable to scrape anything on mine(course I did remove the peg feelers...too much wind resistance).I KNOW I'm leanin...my tires prove that.I tried the other day to get my lean on...ya...was a nice deep fast curve,plenty o'lean.Stuck my knee out there,you know...like the "real riders" do...ya.Looked down at my clearance.Sh&^...I wasn't even CLOSE to scrapin my knee,and she was pitched over pretty darn far,and I was movin at a pretty good clip(yes,I was off the seat and hangin out...probably looked like a friggin sidecar on there).Hard to imagine what kind of curve and speed I would need to actually catch my knee like a bunch of guys here do.Almost every pic ya see of a 14 in a curve,there's that knee there.WThell?

Anyway...it's probably for the better...wouldn't want to put a hole in my Harley leather pants .

Perhaps I ought to try some Yoga or somethin...maybe get a inch or two more outta my leg?

I think I'm gonna set up my video cam and get some shots of me takin the curve(s)just so's I can see what the hell is goin on.This just aint right.I wanna be like YOU GUYS !

* Last updated by: blue07 on 7/1/2010 @ 12:19 PM *

I think I'm gonna set up my video cam and get some shots of me takin the curve(s)just so's I can see what the hell is goin on.This just aint right.I wanna be like YOU GUYS !

LOL-- I haven't had the guts to look down at my knee. Too afraid to take my eyes off the road and maybe too afraid I'd be disappointed at how far from knee dragging i really I am. No sweat, blue-- I was chasing a guy last year and we came to a big sweeper that we took at --ahemm--really fast like maybe not too much slower than we might on a track. The guy wasn't dragging but he definitely had an impressive lean going. That's enough for me. But yeah, it would be fun to find the real limit.

Yeah,had the same kinda deal with a guy on a Busa earlier this year.We were definitely rollin.Yep.He was in front.Leaned in on this one curve...sheeesh...he was like ALMOST touchin his fairing down there.WAY leaned in."Any farther" I was thinkin,"and he's gonna lose it"It was that far over.And I'm right behind him about 70 feet,and I'm rollin as hard as he is. I've NO idea what I looked like, I'm right in the same line as him,so I know I was "in the groove" so to speak.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 7/1/2010 @ 12:59 PM *

^^^Exact same thing I experienced last year. A guy on a silver busa. It was a blast. ~130 I suppose, third gear, leaning and screaming around a nice long, sweeping corner with no other traffic and we both pushed it as hard as we dared. About the best riding experience i can recall. One reason I have enjoyed riding with a partner is you get to see the whole bike. All we ever see riding alone is the road and our instrument cluster. One reason track riding would be so exciting is because you get to see other riders. I'd love to ride a track alone if that were ever possible but I think I would prefer to have others out there to make it a more exciting experience.

* Last updated by: Rook on 7/1/2010 @ 1:59 PM *

You've already scraped pegs...on yer 14?

Yeah, but not close to getting the knee down yet. Probably not good body position.

I'd love to ride a track alone if that were ever possible but I think I would prefer to have others out there to make it a more exciting experience.

Yeah, it can be more exciting all right. Like when some guy passes you and almost clips your front tire, or you're moving to the outside of the track coming out of a turn (taking the proper line) and just before you get to the edge of the track, some guy squirts through there -- right where you're heading. They say to give others a 6 foot buffer, or to pass on the outside only. Nobody seems to pay attention to those things. Can be kind of wild. -bg

Yeah, but not close to getting the knee down yet. Probably not good body position.

It's funny I was just thinking about this topic when I was going through SBK X (I just got it in the mail). In the rider creation menu it lets you pick what kind of cornering style you want to use. Here's what it lists as your available choices:

"Rocker" Style: Low torso, with shoulders grazing the tarmac, made famous by Luca Scassa. A style that is typical of the new generation of riders, who began racing on more responsive bikes in the new millennium.

"Elbowz Style: Low torso and wide elbows, made famous by Ben Spies. He's the only one who turns like this.

"Corsair" Style: A neutral riding position, made famous by Max Biaggi. Typical of riders with a smoth, clean riding style.

"Crocodile" Style: High torso, low elbows, made famous by Troy Corser. A style used by riders who became famous in the 90s, riding bikes that were temperamental and had little in the way of electronics.

"Baylisstic" Style: High torso and elbows, made famous by Troy Bayliss. Very popular among Legendary riders!

INCREDIBLE pictures!

Thanks, Mass! -bg

HA! I have my knee out like I'm reaching to touch the pavement. Those guys are pretty much just there.

Makes me wonder, "how close do I come?"

and when I get close, how much farther will i go?

When I had that 2-up ride (with the director of the Yamaha Champions Riding School) I could have very easily reached my hand out and touched the ground on the inside of the turns -- if I hadn't been doing everything I could just to hang on. Unbelievable... -bg

Yesterday at my favorite track Monticello (66 configuration)

Good looking track, there, mass. Thanks for the pic. -bg

How did the track day go?

Still coming up -- 7/17. This will be my 3rd one. 1st was on the ZX-14 (Miller west track); 2nd was on a CBR600RR (Miller east track). 7/17 is west track again. Will report back...

Thanks for all the input, guys. Have made several changes to the bike. -bg

Mass:

Looking good there.

What tires do you use on the track? I've been talking to the Michelin guy who is always at Miller track days, and I'm thinking of putting some racing tires on and getting some tire warmers. Maybe I'll get a 2nd set of wheels and put street tires on them.

Probably better to invest in a separate track bike, but I may not be able to do that until next year, so I'm trying to fix up the 14 as best as possible for the track. -bg

bg,

I'm running Pirelli race rubber- Diablo slicks, Dragon Pros (blue and green compounds)
and also wets and rains by the same manufacturer. The set in the pic above is the Diablo Superbike Pro.

Other than with the slicks, you don't have to use warmers but that will shorten the life of the race rubber
as heat cycles mainly affect their performance.
I've used Dragon Pros without warmers and they barely can give me a 3rd day without having the rear sliding and chattering- 450-500 miles or so is all I can get out of a set. With warmers I get another full day out of them without much trouble.
The slicks demand warmers- you can ruin a set within just 2-3 sessions and also risk crashing during warm up.
You also have to bring a second set of wheels and tires and swap in the case of rain.

I just don't know if the zx14 can get more than 2 track days out of a set of race rubber with it's monstrous torque.
I've been content with the grip of double compound street rubber- Michelins, Pirellis etc.

I'm gonna try a set of Michelin power pures for my track day next month I think.