First track weekend, first lowside, the GS and I loved it! (with pics!)

[ecpreston]

Just did a full weekend with NESBA at Summit Point's Jefferson Circuit and I thought I'd share some pics. It was a blast, and I'm happy with the bike. I've had it for less than 2 months http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=4200.msg425739#msg425739, I've done a lot of car events, and riding hard on the street seems like a bad idea, so I figured, what better way to learn than on track!    I threw some Sport Demons on it (thanks to this forum), got some EBC pads for the front, cranked up that rear adjuster, re-filled the front with 15W oil, and had a go at it. In fact, pretty much all that was thanks to this forum. Otherwise, the bike is stock.

Again, I'm pretty impressed by the bike. Despite the fact that I was outgunned by 95% of the bikes out there, on this small track, I had no trouble keeping up with at least half the field. The beginner group with NESBA includes a wide variety of skill, most have WAY more bike than skill, so at times the traffic was frustrating. A bike or two would blow by on a straight, then park it in the turns. But once everyone got moving, it was satisfying to run with and pass quite a few 600s, and chase down a GSXR 750 for half a session. It's pretty amazing how those bikes pull on the straights, but I found the GS to be predictable and it inspired a lot of confidence, so I wasn't scared to make it up with later braking, higher corner speeds, and earlier throttle application.





The pictures show that I'm really the limiting factor, and I probably will be for a while. The first limit of the bike is the low pegs though. However, as a learning tool, that's forcing me to get off the bike more, and while I made a lot of progress, I have a lot of room to improve. The 2nd limit might be the soft suspension, but honestly, it was predictable, and while everyone else was complaining about the bumps and slick surface, the GS and I just ate it up!

Entering T1


Somewhere after apex of T1


A little further in T1....


I touched a peg down a few times in turn 1, which was quite unsettling, and late on Sunday led to a lowside. I was hanging off fairly well, peg touched, I probably drifted too much off line while trying to settle the bike again, got into an off camber part of the track, and just couldn't hold that lean angle, so down I went. Happened pretty fast, very suddenly I was just down, immediately happy that it didn't hurt a bit, my gear did its job, I got to watch the shower of sparks as the bike went on ahead, and by the time I finished sliding and ending up sitting in the grass, I was pretty ecstatic about the whole thing. The picture might be deceiving because of the high shutter speed, I and the bike are probably still going ~40MPH. The bike didn't tumble, the case guards and stock bar ends worked exactly as designed, and after they flagged the session, the NESBA guys helped me pick up the bike and I rode it back in. After picking the huge clump of mud out between the engine and case guard, finding that nothing other than the bar end was tweaked, I got re-teched and went back out for the last session. I took it a little easy. 

Long story short, I'll be keeping the GS500 for a while. 

[ohgood]

Those are some really nice shots. Good to see your gear performed and saved your hide. How about some pictures of the gs's damage ? LOoks like you're having a blast there. I think I'd frame the first one but I'm a 

[gaspy]

Just did a full weekend with NESBA at Summit Point's Jefferson Circuit and I thought I'd share some pics. It was a blast, and I'm happy with the bike. I've had it for less than 2 months.

I must say I'm impressed that a fellow newbie is already on the track. Good to see you're alright and excited to keep riding after that. It probably would've shook me up big time!

- G

[bobthebiker]

A piece of advice that may help you,  in your picture it looks like you're hanging off, but still sitting ON the seat, and not weighting the outside footpeg, which would really help you a good bit. 

the idea behind weighting the pegs is to shift WHERE the weight is applied,  pegs are lower than the seat, so its going to help transfer that weight to the peg instead of your seat and make the bike a little more responsive. I'm hoping that helps you out a little bit there.

other than that, grab up Keith Code's twist of the wrist books, and soak up all the knowledge you can from them.

[pantablo]

ah, a man after my own heart. Isnt it great to smackdown on those 600's! bwahahahah...now that I have a 600 I feel the same way about literbikes...bwahahahaa...

Glad you had a great time out there in spite of the crash.


The pegs are not your first limiting factor-the suspension is. You look like a big guy. The suspension is probably compressing quite a bit in the turns, and that is bringing your pegs closer to the ground. Tighten up the suspension and you'll go faster and lean more before touching down. You'll need to replace the fork springs with progressives at least and replace the rear shock to accomplish that. Stiffening the stock suspension settings wont get you there. Im only 125lbs and even I was overtaxing the suspension bits...

Your form looks good for a new track rider. You *could* hang your butt off the seat a little bit more but not important. The more important thing you can do is lower your upper body and move your head out from the centerline of the bike. You should have at least a full butt cheek off the seat and your spine should be parallel with the bike. Weight your pegs, either inside or outside depending on what you want to do . The only time I weight my outside peg is when I need to get the bike straighened up quickly. Otherwise in a turn my outside foot practically barely touches the peg, sometimes coming clean off it. My inside peg gets my full weight on it though.

You can see my body is in line parallel with my bike in this pic:

[ecpreston]

Good point about the suspension limiting the lean angle as well. I'm 6'2 and probably 220 with all the gear on. I'll likely do another event as is, but at least the front spring will be on the to-do list.

And thanks for the riding tips, I've read up a bit, but didn't get around to consciously weighting the pegs, and you're right, my weight is on the seat. That and all the upper body position are on the to-do list as well. 

How about some pictures of the gs's damage ? LOoks like you're having a blast there. I think I'd frame the first one but I'm a 

I might print a few out, but I'd rather wait for another event when my body position gets better. With my height, I look pretty goofy in most of the pics! I want to get that knee down too! ....preferably not by falling off.    Here's the pic after I got back to the pit, the engine case didn't touch down at all, the case gaurd got a little ground down, the bar end is done, and only light scratches on the muffler heat shield and rear plastics:

[GeeP]

Looking good!  (Well, except for that last pic)

You're sliding about the same way I was when I lowsided at about the same speed.  I need to show that photo to my neighbor next door, who rides a Ninja 250.  He's a new rider, but won't wear gloves because he says it impedes his control feel.  Nothing like sticking your hand on the big 'ol beltsander 'eh?

Naked bikes are great for crashing huh?   

[ecpreston]

He's a new rider, but won't wear gloves because he says it impedes his control feel.  Nothing like sticking your hand on the big 'ol beltsander 'eh?

I imagine without the gloves, and if I were just wearing jeans or something, I would have been on my way to the hospital instead of going back out for the next session.    Tell him to get some damn gloves at least! He'll get used to them, I sure have. Now the boots on the other hand.... talk about impeding control feel... I can actually use the rear brake on the street with regular boots on, but with those racing boots, forget it, I can't feel a thing.    I guess I'll eventually get used to that too, good thing I don't need that rear brake anytime soon.

[coll0412]

.... forget it, I can't feel a thing.    I guess I'll eventually get used to that too, good thing I don't need that rear brake anytime soon. [/b[

Or ever, no need for the rear brake on the track unless you are trying to "back it in" like Nicky Hayden

Pics look good, you have to get the upper body moved over, but that pretty standard for a first track day...take me for example


Then


Now

[Prafeston]

Man those stock signals are huge...much longer and they'd be the first thing to hit the ground on a turn...haha. I see you took them off though...good choice. Also got those huge mirrors off. Looks much slicker!

[badguy]

Nice!  Sorry to hear about the get-off, but you're not the only one on a GS to eat it in T1 at Jefferson...I got a little too cocky there in August during my first trackday.  I re-teched, but then a storm blew in... Oh well, at least me and the bike were ok and I only missed the last two sessions.

Anyway, lookin good out there for your first time, but like others have said, hanging off more will help keep the bike from leaning as much...you'll get it soon.  Maybe I'll see you out there one of these days

[SmartDrug]

Sucks about the getoff, but nice job man, looking sharp out there!

[kdogg84]

proper gear is huge.  i wiped out once in jeans, t-shirt, and no gloves.  my pants and knee were destroyed, road rash all over my arms and back, and half the skin missing from my right palm.  i didn't even care about the $3000 damage to the bike.  7 hours at the hospital, several x-rays, pain killers, debriding and stitches later, i'll never go out without full gear again.  at least i had sense to wear a helmet....  i'm a paramedic and saw a guy last week who crashed his bike with no helmet on!!  his head/face will never be the same.  not sure how he was even still alive.

[ROD gs rider]

what a day it was i hope you got good lap times 

[KokomoSam]

Thanks for posting.

I am getting the urge to take the GS for  a track day soon.  I for one would love to hear more about your track day experiences.   

Sam

[kml.krk]

[...] I threw some Sport Demons on it (thanks to this forum) [...]

what size sport demons did you use??

thanks

[TragicImage]

Thanks for posting.

I am getting the urge to take the GS for  a track day soon.  I for one would love to hear more about your track day experiences.   

Sam

The biggest thing I can say is, Don't be afraid to sign up.  Its a daunting adventure when you start out for sure, because you feel like everyone else has done it and they'll all know whats going on and you'll be the odd man out, but trust me, everyone starts out some time and more than likely 1/2 your group will be first timers as well.  Its a great addicting time.


     

 

[kml.krk]

the faired version looks very nice on a race track!!
I hope I'll take my GS to the track one day.
what are the costs of that pleasure? how much you pay for a day/session/lap on a race track?
sorry for dumb questions but I really don't know.

[KokomoSam]

the faired version looks very nice on a race track!!
I hope I'll take my GS to the track one day.
what are the costs of that pleasure? how much you pay for a day/session/lap on a race track?
sorry for dumb questions but I really don't know.

Others maybe able to answer this better, but I have been looking at  http://www.nesba.com/   and it looks like $100 to $200 per day from nsba.

Sam

[TragicImage]

I've paid 110, and 200, as well as won a free trackday from an organization.

You can find them as cheap as 70 and as expensive as you want them to be.

You can run in either open format (Avoid for your first track day) or in group formats where you run in 15-20 minute sessions.

Open format is you just run on an open track all day, with all skill levels riding in a single group.... which can be very frustrating (and dangerous) for your first few times.