Wiring accessories in can be a pain in the arse.
Especially if it's canbus equipped.
BMW & Aprilia are particularly sensitive, and don't like additional current loads on curcuits.
Everything was great on my Aprillia initially, few months later, the error message monkeys woke up.
I've used PDM60's on a few bikes with some success, 6 circuits available, allows you to pre-program current amperage/fuse rating on each. Auto-reset when there's a short. ON delay (allows bike starting with 100% of available battery power...then switches feeds to ancillaries on) OFF delay (allows circuits to remain live for a pre-set time once engine has been switched off...great for satnavs)
https://pdm60.com/
On 21st June I had a less than brilliant day at Mallory Park - my recently serviced Nitron Race shock had lost gas pressure and after only a couple of sessions lost it's oil so the bike was handling badly, which knocked my confidence.
Last week I swapped the Nitron out & got the EOM Suzuki shock back in. The Nitron is going back, the canister has a minute crack due to a design flaw that they have since rectified, so they'll replace the canister & rebuilt the shock.
Now the OEM shock is 12 years old, has never been serviced & I just guessed at an initial setting. So whilst the handling wasn't spot on today, it was OK & my confidence was restored.
I was in inters, having not ridden on track (apart from Mallory) since July the 8th last year. There were I think 4 guys quicker than me in the group - click the link for the highlights if you're interested. Apologies in advance for the wind noise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuZO...ature=youtu.be
You'll notice I do most of my passing on the brakes, not under power. The old K8 GSXR 750 is severely outgunned by most of the bikes on track these days, but when the suspension is working as it should, it really handles nicely. I've had the bike for 11 years & whilst it's a bit of a 10 yard princess (lots of scratches, cracks & gaffer tape on the fairings), I absolutely love it.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
The cement dust puts you off, for sure! I was going ‘oh-oh-oh’ just watching you go inside that guy onto the cement line.
I’ve only done a couple of track days and they were over 10yrs ago- one a Nial Mackenzie day and the other Hopp Rider Training at Cadwell. They were both on my BoxerCup Replika, which although only 100bhp on a bike weighing around 210kg - did well in the class. The Cadwell one - I rode down from Edinburgh with the panniers on, on Pilot Road 2 tyres - took off the panniers, did the track day........ and rode home the next day.
Would love a session on my R-1 or HP2s, on an open-type circuit, but think those days are behind me now.
Enjoyed watching the vid.
Track days aren’t supposed to be racing Tony but do allow you to explore your limits (you’re still unlikely to get anywhere near the bike’s limits).
If you want to continue to enjoy your riding on the road then I’d advise you not to do track days; once you’ve done a few, you’ll find riding on the road pretty dull.
I’ve done heaps of track days and I’m kind of finding it’s the other way around. Maybe I’m just bored with them but I’m having a hard time finding the motivation to drag the gixxer to Cadwell but I throughly enjoy riding the Tribsa through the back lanes of an evening watching the scenery go past.
I will say that the two things that improved my riding skills more than anything else were track days and moto X. For that reason alone, I’d recommend doing loads of each.
Perhaps it’s an age thing; I’ve not done any track days for the best part of twenty years now but I do have road bikes to potter about on.
I also spent most of the last twenty years riding off road. Starting with trail riding on the Lancashire moors, before moving to Spain and setting up a trail riding holiday business. Then competing in H&H enduros for a number of years on my return to the UK before finally hanging up my muddy boots!
Maybe it is an age thing. I quit observed trials a few years ago after doing a superman over the bars and landing on me noggin. Haven’t done many track days since my knees have decided they don’t like rear sets anymore. The old Tribsa may be slow and handle like a 3 legged cow with no brakes but it’s comfortable (ish) and a hoot to wrangle round the back lanes.
My trials experience is very limited but it really did help me get a proper 'feel' for a bike...plus I've never been so sweaty and knackered than after half a day doing trials, much more so than after time on track, but that's probably and age (and weight and fitness) thing.
I enjoy both road & track & I definitely think track riding helps with brisk riding on road. If nothing else, you're far less likely to grab a handful of brakes when you think (but your not) going too fast round a corner, as unless you're mad, road cornering speeds are far slower.
There is truth in the 2 bike thing for me:-
1) If drop the Gixxer it doesn't owe me that much & cosmetic repairs generally = gaffer tape. Replacement track fairings cost peanuts compared to OEM road fairings + lights, indicators etc. I'd be much more careful with the S1000RR
2) I can ride the Gixxer reasonably close to it's limits. The RR would laugh in my face & if I could ride it anywhere as hard, I'd be knackered by lunch time until I got much fitter - easier said than done @ 55.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
Even MotoX has changed dramatically since the 70s. the difficulty of the course (linked to the enhanced capabilities of the bikes) and the speed they manage are now far beyond my comprehension (let alone, of course, any attempt at emulation). I tried a few(!) years back on a 125 Husky just to do one lap when I was virtually alone on a track in SW France, and even that was challenging.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Yes, of course it possibly could.
The point I was trying to make was more about the knowledge and skills you develop as you become a decent track rider.
However but being a confident rider makes you more relaxed, able to ride more smoothly and efficiently on the road, devoting less bandwdith to machine control, thus freeing more for hazard perception and planning your ride according to the road & traffic conditions.
Last edited by andy tims; 30th June 2020 at 12:25.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
We all wish we'd be a bit younger Tony, it ached less...
But as to discovering track (not on your baby I must add) you'd be absolutely fine. Certainly slower than younger beginners (see the aches above) but at least as enjoyable. Following an instructor who shows you the line, then slowly increases his speed is a revelation. Especially when you're shown your lap time at the beginning, and at the end of the session.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
I honestly think you'd be fine either:-
Joining a commercial track day in the novice group & getting some (usually free) instruction from the instructors that are, in my experience, always ready to help. Unless you are completely useless
or
Ditto, but hiring an instructor for a whole day of 1:1 - When I saw whole day that is typically 7 x 20 minute sessions (once an hour) on track + time between each session to debrief & chill out.
or
Doing a Ron Haslam https://www.haslamraceschool.com/ or Jamie Whitham https://www.jameswhitham.com/ type race school, generally on their bikes with their kit.
Andy
Wanted - Damasko DC57
Got a friend And her daughter who did both the Ron Hallam and the Jamie Whitham track days.
Both are fairly recent full license holders. And obviously joined the novice groups. Both said that the Whitham day was the best for instruction and track time.
The main difference is that on the RH day you use their bikes, on the JW day you use your own.
I wish I was even close to that level. Pre 65 would be closer to my age, but still way off from my ability :(
The skill of the top riders defies belief. I've watched a few competitions involving riders like Toni Bou and I'm left staggered by some (most) of the stuff they do with a bike.
I agree with this, I am sure that I am a safer road rider as a result of all the track days I have done, with the biggest benefit that you come to appreciate the true capability of the bike - handling, grip, brakes, correct gears, getting the power on in the right place etc, all of which will help a lot to develop as a rider and will reduce panic in emergency situations. It might just be age, but I rarely rise to anyone flying past on my road rides as I might have done years ago, just let them get on with it knowing that at some point I will be back on track and able to redline through the gears in relative safety. For those that might not have done it, redlining a big bike through the gears and holding full throttle is a pretty violent experience. I used to hear the expression "straight line heroes" aimed at those who gave it welly on the straights but then wobbled round the corners, but holding it full on for the straights is not an easy thing to do.
Whilst both are good, I would say the Ron day is more of a track experience, with far less track time than a Jamie Whitham day. Chances are your instructor on a Whitham day will be a current BSB rider from one of the classes, which if you follow BSB is another plus I suppose.
For anyone interested, I would tend to give the novice group a go with MSV or No Limits and see how you enjoy it first before going down the instruction route.
Nice looking bike. I'm always anti dual exhausts as the cost to change to something nice like an Akra makes it a no-go. If the R1M, K1300S, And S1000RR can handle one then so can everything else. Does look nice if you have enough money or don't mind keeping it stock.
Very excited today - replaced the locks on my 3 pre-loved Givis with a matched set so I only need to carry one key!
Before I bin the old ones, would anyone like a matched pair or a single one?
Oh and I also fitted an Enduristan 1.6 litre fender bag to my rack so I don't have to have my phone, wallet and keys in my jacket pocket
is it easy to change the locks I have 2 different keys for my Givi E36s?
^^^^^
That just looks awesome!
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
I think I can hear it from here
It’s flipping loud.... I started it up without the DB killers in.... way to loud. Put the DB killers in, and it’s taken the edge of it. You can keep it quiet ish when going slow, but blipping the throttle is a no no..
I’m hoping it’ll tone down a bit after a few miles, if not I’ll buy the Zard cat for it, which makes it euro 4 compliant..
It sounds really angry at the higher revs..😈😈
7 hours.... accepted I’m not the fastest of workers, but there are no instructions just a video on YouTube which missed a vital point that cost me at least an hour (hidden bolt)
Everything on the ducati seems to take twice as long as it should, I mean an 18 month old bike, that I had to drill 3 bolts out because they were so corroded, just make hard work on the simplest of tasks, access to anything is a nightmare...
As a comparison, I’ve just sat down after fitting a decat to my mates Thruxton R. It took about 3 hours, and everything came undone as sweet as a nut, no rounded fasteners, great access makes the job a breeze. Oh and he’s chuffed to bits with the sound, nice deep rumble from the V&H silencers as he rode off..