So on Friday I had my very first track day at Pocono International Raceway. I got to ride on the east course, which was a pretty small and technical course, perfect for the GS500! I went with a group called Team Promotion; they're a great bunch of guys, and I recommend anyone in the East (they have events from VA all the way up to Canada) to check them out.
Let me tell you, it was a blast. I think I'm going to try to get out there one more time this season and give another go at it. The big down side though, it makes riding on the street seem pretty boring. So my advice is if you want to stay fat, dumb and happy riding the twisties, DON'T DO IT.
It gives you a chance to really ring the piss out of the GS, and it's truely amazing how on a tight track it's not much slower than bikes with 120hp. The owner of the club, an ex-AMA racer, had an EX500, and he would pass EVERYONE several times on that thing. Then he'd switch it up for an R1 and give girls rides around the track, again passing EVERYONE with a chick on the back. It was nuts.
Here the track:
(http://www.teampromotion.com/trackinfo/pocono_both_map.jpg)
Anyway, towards the end of the day I low sided coming into turn 1. The bike and I are fine; full leathers did a great job of saving my skin, and my case gaurds did an awesome job of saving my bike. The low side occured after the entry into the turn and before the appex, just about as I changed my focusing point from the appex to the exit. This was towards the end of the day, so my speed was picking up, but I was 100% comfortable with how fast I was going. The coach and I both thought the front end slipped out, but the thing is I don't know what I did to cause it.
The first thing that comes to mind is applying the front brake in the turn, but I know better than that and I was very comfortable going into the turn so there would be no reason for my to apply the brake, so I'm 95% sure I didn't do that. For the same reason, I'm also pretty sure I didn't snap the throttle shut in the turn.
My next thought is maybe the front suspension. I have 0.95 straight rate springs and 15w oil and weigh 220 lbs. I admit I didn't take the time to tune the sag or oil level, so maybe it bottomed out in the turn. I guess I find this one hard to believe.
My third thought, which I'm leaning towards as being the problem, is the tires. I still have the stock tires as I figured they'd be fine for the track. Looking at them now, the rubber is all chewed up, like kind of abraded, and never used to look like that. It's like that all the way to the edge of the tread, so maybe I just exceeded the cornering speed of the tires. :dunno_white:
Any thoughts of what I could be?
Glad you and the bike are ok!
:laugh: ditch those stockers immediately!!! Get some sport demons from motorcycle-superstore.com they're cheaper there than anywhere else I've found them...the difference..is amazing..if you think the GS was fun in turns before..just wait...and :o can I just say..its awesome that you did that with those shitty stock tires!!!! :cheers:
Glad you had fun. And, glad you're allright.
My guess is you chopped the throttle when you were at the apex of the the corner, or did not give enough
Take a look at your rear tires, if you dont see the same amount of balled up rubber then your front end is pushing, and that means you need more throttle through the corner, which also means slower entry speed, or adjust the supension with proper sag.
I usually find that I got a lot of balled up rubber only on my front when I was on the gas but still slowing down a little bit, which causes your weight to transfer to the front.( Which is not always a bad thing, that is what trail braking is all about). But that is just my style on the GS, and everybody does it different. Plus the perk to a slower entry is a faster exit, and that is good when you only have 50hp, because you have it opened up all the way through the turn to exit with a good amount of speed that you will carry to the next.
Anyways, you are not at the edge of the tires but you may be at the edge of there grip. I have found that you will drag your pegs first before you are at the edge of the tire. Which means you need to hang off more but you get the idea, but even hanging off the stock pegs drag.
Get any pics?
Tackdays are very addicting, and far more fun than riding twisties on the street.
How much does something like this cost? It's something I really want to do someday...
Quote from: mattf on September 24, 2006, 06:39:00 PM
How much does something like this cost? It's something I really want to do someday...
It depends on the organization you do it with and what track you go to. Here in Texas they are about $150-$180 depending on organization and track choice.
I'd guess the stock tires just gave after being thrashed on the track. happens to better tires, why not the stockers. glad you had fun. I did a trackday today and I need a shower....I am spent. Damn straight about how riding on the street changes after you ride the track...
my brother went to there with his 05 636(kawi) on the east course with nesba. I was there as head macanic and team manager ;). but he and i were havig a blast but with 2 sesions left in the day he lost the front end just after the apex in turn 11 while accelerating at full lean angle. It was just a case of loose of grip from the half worn BT 14. That is the stock brigstone tire on the 636. Your situation bay have been similar b/c of the stock street tires after a long day at the track. simply a case of lose of grip from a worn street tire. Plan on have no more money b/c track days are very addicting :thumb:
Tires.