Just finished my first full track day @ BHF in South Beloit Illinois. Conditions were PERFECT! A bluebird day that got in the 80’s. My Pirellis stuck like glue. The Traxxion Dynamics fork upgrade and Penske 3 way shock both worked as advertized. By the end of the last session I got the invite to move up to the first intermediate group. Bye bye novice group, hello Orange team! HAH. The big beast is surprising a lot of riders including myself. Got questions all day along the lines of; man, that has got to be hard getting that pig around this tight technical track? How hard is it? Do you want a smaller bike for the track? I gotta say, I love riding the zx14 on track, and I am getting faster every session. I cant tell how hard it is as I have never rode a smaller bike on track. Yes a 650 or 1000 would be a wiser choice but for now, this is all i got. The power is intoxicating. Going to Road America on August 20, so the green machine will be able to stretch her legs a bit more. I have been watching race vids from RA and the way those guys back it in after going over the hill going into turn 5 looks so intense! I had an unintentional back it in moment today, but made it out by the hair of my chinny chin chin... I let out a warhoop inside my helmet after that one. What an amazing day!

* Last updated by: ironheadmike on 6/23/2018 @ 6:21 PM *

I let out a warhoop inside my helmet after that one. What an amazing day!

I've had this experience, narrowly avoiding a crash and then feeling complete euphoria. It's weird! A normal person should be cautiously trotting away with his tail between his legs but instead it feels right go at it as hard as possible.

I'm glad your having fun, Mike. I'm proud of you too.

I sorta get the feeling your edging closer to buying a beat up track bike to save the 14's from crashing. I think that would be wise. Let's face it, you are going to crash on the track if you really want to find your absolute limits. Everyone does.

ROOK!!!!
Man I would LOVE to buy a litre bike..any japanese brand would do. I dont see that coming together till next year.
I did not quite get my goal of a 1:26 lap time, but I did improve 3 sec as the day progessed and finished with a 1:28. Oh and this happened: and from that moment on, that right side puck got abused frequently. Blackhawk is a right turn kinda track. The big sweeping turn 5 (left) is a little different getting a knee down. Watching the blue group guys fly by lets you know it is there for the taking if you got the gumption, and tires, and suspension tune...

* Last updated by: ironheadmike on 6/24/2018 @ 9:09 PM *

Got the pics from last weekend!

Looking good!

PIKEN!!!!!
Thanks bro. I am hooked for sure. Had a real blast, cant wait to go back. I am totaaly stoked for Road America on Aug 20. That is going to be a balls out track for sure!

Great pics! Makes me want to get out again soon. Whats all that green stuff in the background?

Lookin like a pro! Speeking of which, I see a GoPro stuck on the back. Get some video up! I gotta see it!

CRUDE!!!!
That’s our free crash barrier nature cushion we grow ‘round these parts. I take it you live in an arid area? Lucky bastard; with that often comes lots of road race tracks! I LOVED Vegas and the Phoenix area. Both had some pretty cool tracks nearby. I have to drive pretty far to get to any good track out here.
ROOK!!!!!
I am working on that. I do have a handfull of vids and they turned out ok. I have one up on my face page if you want to check it there...am really wanting to get the whole lap data, sound track and gopro vid all edited together.
I’ll figure it out sooner or later. Looked at sn 08 R1 today w that track bike eye...

Send along a friend request. There's gotta be a million yous on FB.

ROOK!!!!!
By god there are not a million yous on there. Went right to ya.

Saw your vids!!! Id say you've got something to show there even without editing on that last one. Big improvement since the earlier video.

The sounds sure bring it all back. I'd love to go again someday.

lookin good ironheadmike, just curious what helmet and shield you rockin ?, and how much you weigh with all your race gear? you make it look fun.

Streetsweeper!!!!!
Thank you for the kind words. I am having a friggin blast, and gonna get faster too!
That is an Icon Airframe Pro, w a gold mirror sheild. That lid can be had super cheap on clearance through Revzilla, Sportbiketrackgear, and e-bay of course. It is Icon’s top shelf helmet. Note: I also have a Bell Race Star that really is a higher quality lid, but the intermediate oval shape of the Bell just does not fit my long oval gourd quite as well as the Icon. There are very few lids made for the long oval shape- Arai Signet Q, Icon Airframe Pro, and a few Nexx brand lids. I suppose I would cut someone a deal on that Bell race star. It is xl- for around a 61cm skull. With all my gear i am going about 240-245 as I am trimmed down to a lean summer weight. Work outside doing heavy industrial construction. Ironwork.

Rook!!!!!
Thank you as well. Man I would love for you to be able to hook up on a track day too. Aug 20 is a Road America day. September 1 & 2 are back to back days at BHF. Will be at all those. Hey, barring a firey death, there will always be next year.

Here is the tire wear detail after 2 full track days using warmers. Front is a Supercorsa SC1 run @ 30psi hot. The rear is a 190/55 Supercorsa SP V2 ran it @ 25psi hot.

nice, looks like the hot pressures were about optimum. time for a new set before RA

CRUDE!!!!
Yessir, I have an intermediate sport track riding class at BHF on July 27. I have the beast on the table in the barn fixin to put a set of Dunlop soft compound slicks: KR451 rear in 200 and KR448 front in 120 on for demo on that day. Then use em up at RA on Aug 20! That leaves me a set of Pirelli SC1 rear in 200 and SC2 front for a two day jam at BHF on Sep 1&2.

respec, man!!

Was out in the pole barn today about to change the tires when I remembered to look for the areas I felt rubbing during highest lean sngles at BHF.
I found them. Just a tiny one on the last bend of the exhaust as well.

F__KING AWESOME!

I scraped my exhaust in the same place. Never touched a fairing though. I'll bet your shock is giving you a little more height in back?

Keep wearing those fairings with pride but that's as far as you go. Time to plan what track bike you're going to get.

ahhaahaaha--that's funny--You put a sticker over a scrape and then you scraped the sticker!