GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Attached is a quick video I put together from the most recent trackday I attended (Monday April 4th.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gymLfLw654Q

I hope you enjoy!

(BTW: Huge thanks to Bob Broussard for helping with my front end. You can see the results of his handiwork in this video.)

Great video!!  This proves that the single biggest upgrade you can do to your bike is ...you.  Learn how to ride :)

Thanks. :)

Tires and suspension work helps. You don't need a GSX-R front end by any means, but I'd strongly encourage anyone riding a GS to install the right springs and oil for their weight.

Indeed.  I can speak to the springs comment given I put a set progressive springs on my bike last year and it was a vast improvement over stock. 

That was awesome, I am thinking about getting into a racing school here at my local track this summer and hopefully doing this, I need a second bike for the street first though.

Nice catch can  :laugh:

Quote from: mass-hole on April 08, 2011, 11:50:44 AM
That was awesome, I am thinking about getting into a racing school here at my local track this summer and hopefully doing this, I need a second bike for the street first though.

I can't say enough good things about professional instruction on the track. $500 spent on instruction will make a bigger difference than $1500 in mods.

Owned!!! Nice video.

Great video!!  What band/artist is that? I likes!

Song is "Ride the Static" by Course of Empire. I felt like the video needed some mellow music, and I happened to have that on my work computer.

"Enjoy the Struggle" by "Therapy?" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG9YNBu4eM0) would be an epic high energy song for one of my videos. Pretty much describes my racing effort. :)

"Forward. I'll go on. I'll push on. Through all the trouble, and I can only try, and enjoy the struggle."

Sweet, you used the whole track, you braked late...smooth is fast, you schooled them all!  :cheers:

Great video Burning1. Gotta watch it again when I'm not on my phone.

Gotta say it saddened me a little to see the abuse to your bike (in the pics), but I'm sure there's a helluva story for each dent, scratch, a re-painted section.

Burning:

Do they know your bike is a 487cc air cooled antique with 20+ year old technology?  :thumb:

Michael

Quote from: Big Rich on April 08, 2011, 08:37:43 PMGotta say it saddened me a little to see the abuse to your bike (in the pics), but I'm sure there's a helluva story for each dent, scratch, a re-painted section.

I'm sure there are a lot of stories too, but thankfully, most of the dents and paintwork are stories from someone else.

When I got the bike, it was nearly pristine aside from a few scuffs here and there from the previous owner. It seemed a shame to put such nice bodywork to the track, so I put it in storage, and found replacements from a few local GS guys. The mish-mash of dents and color is the result.

I eventually sold the original plastic to Addidas guy, so Check out his bike (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=53366.msg629866#msg629866) if you'd like an idea on how mine started life. :)

Quote from: mister on April 08, 2011, 10:10:57 PM
Burning:

Do they know your bike is a 487cc air cooled antique with 20+ year old technology?  :thumb:

Michael

A few guys certainly noticed. Lots of compliments from the instructors on the bike, and a lot of people stopped by to check it out, and ask questions. Noiseguy wasn't the only person to ask about the catch bottle, either. ;)

Hey, as long as it meets tech inspection...

Got held up at teach the first time through. One of the Sr. techs had to explain that it was not a coolant overflow bottle. :)

I put right springs and oil in the fork and the bike has changed dramaticaly it's amazing. Should I also change the rear shock for a katana one, I mean will it make as much a difference as diffrent front spring?

great vid. good to see someone running around with the skill over mods mentality and making it work. where was this at?

Quote from: gsf500RR on April 09, 2011, 03:02:00 PM
I put right springs and oil in the fork and the bike has changed dramaticaly it's amazing. Should I also change the rear shock for a katana one, I mean will it make as much a difference as diffrent front spring?

I'd definitely do the rear shock. It's an easy swap, especially if you still have the center stand.

Quote from: c.will on April 09, 2011, 07:32:38 PM
great vid. good to see someone running around with the skill over mods mentality and making it work. where was this at?

Thanks, yeah. I think the GS500 is a great platform for focusing on cornering speed and skill. Lots of easy suspension mods, good frame. I just helped my SO build a Ninja250 race bike. She's coming off of a 600, and was commenting about how much more the lightweight bike forces her to focus on cornering -- get it wrong, and you can't make up for it on the gas.

The video is Thunderhill Raceway (http://www.thunderhill.com), up in Willows CA.

It doesn't look to me like you'll be in the B+ class for long.  Those guys are much slower in the corners than you, especially when you consider what they're riding and what you're riding.  Nice job!

P.S.  You have a track near where you live and the weather's always good compared to here so I hate you!  :D

Thanks!

Not entirely sure how I feel about making the jump to A, but we'll see; it would probably be good for me. I actually did the fastest group in my most recent track-day down south at Buttotwillow. Pace was well below what I was expecting for a fast group, and I had to make a few passes with a pretty unbelievable speed differential through the corners. :|

After you change gears it looks like you're hitting your horn or indicator off button. What's that about?

Michael

It's the turn signal cancel button. It's a habit from street riding, and really serves no purpose on the track. :)

as a newb, it seems like u took the turns wider than most of them them, allowing u to brake less and pass them up. am i right in that?

Generally, I took the turns wider because that's the part of the track that was available. On the track, passing usually means getting off of the ideal line, and using alternative lines. Had all those riders decided to run a wide line, I would have stayed tight and passed on the inside.

For the most part, I was able to pass because I was more comfortable being on the gas while leaned over, and comfortable at steep lean angles. For example, during the long straight, you can see that I fall way back, but catch up quickly after the following turn. I can accomplish that because I have a good deal of consistency through turn one (that corner) allowing me to carry more cornering speed and allowing me to use more of the track without risking running into the dirt due to a mistake. Because of that consistency and confidence, I can actually go through that corner without braking on the GS500 (though If I had a more powerful bike, I would have to brake there.)

Being fast on the track takes a lot of skills. There's no single magic bullet that makes it possible. I spend a lot of time observing, researching, and learning to make it happen. I walk the track. I put my head to the pavement. I look at satellite photos. I work with a mentor, and observe other racers.

Quote from: burning1 on April 13, 2011, 12:02:16 PM
It's the turn signal cancel button. It's a habit from street riding, and really serves no purpose on the track. :)

:icon_lol:

I wondered if you were doing that out of habit, since it is my habit to cancel the signal when upshifting as well.  But I thought you were really time marking your turns.

That video was unreal. Makes me love my bike even more. Need to do more track riding now. :D

Quote from: burning1 on April 13, 2011, 12:02:16 PM
It's the turn signal cancel button. It's a habit from street riding, and really serves no purpose on the track. :)

Lmao...glad I am not the only one who has turn signal cancel OCD.

Quote from: Twisted on April 18, 2011, 01:51:38 AM

Quote from: burning1 on April 13, 2011, 12:02:16 PM
It's the turn signal cancel button. It's a habit from street riding, and really serves no purpose on the track. :)

Lmao...glad I am not the only one who has turn signal cancel OCD.

If i had a nickel for everytime I hit that and it was already cancelled...

Quote from: impulse816 on April 18, 2011, 03:03:09 AM

Quote from: Twisted on April 18, 2011, 01:51:38 AM

Quote from: burning1 on April 13, 2011, 12:02:16 PM
It's the turn signal cancel button. It's a habit from street riding, and really serves no purpose on the track. :)

Lmao...glad I am not the only one who has turn signal cancel OCD.

If i had a nickel for everytime I hit that and it was already cancelled...

Hence the name Impulse?

Quote from: mister on April 13, 2011, 03:03:55 AM
After you change gears it looks like you're hitting your horn or indicator off button. What's that about?

Michael

No the right answer is that your hitting your turbo boost button.  :D Maybe its the new push to pass system from IRL  :icon_rolleyes:

Quote from: Twism86 on April 18, 2011, 05:35:42 AM

Quote from: mister on April 13, 2011, 03:03:55 AM
After you change gears it looks like you're hitting your horn or indicator off button. What's that about?

Michael

No the right answer is that your hitting your turbo boost button.  :D Maybe its the new push to pass system from IRL  :icon_rolleyes:

It's the Milk Delivery System button.  :thumb:

Michael

Quote from: Twisted on April 18, 2011, 01:51:38 AM
Lmao...glad I am not the only one who has turn signal cancel OCD.

Funny thing is, my street bike has auto cancelling signals. I just can't bring myself to rely on it.