rubbersidedown

Don't forget to fill/check you resevoir level.

Save yourself some money, youtube has some good videos to learn suspension basics that you can do with the help of a friend.  If it gets to indepth seek help.

Road America was on CBSSN last night.  I don't get CBSSN

Thanks guys.  With the MS racers out my chances are diminished.  Hopefully someone is still out there dreaming about riding Barber.

For the record I'm a NESBA fan also.  It was a sad day for me when NESBA closed midwest operations. 

I've ridden with MS, MO and STT but from tech-in to leaving the track it seems to me that NESBA runs the smoothest TD's.  IMO the downside of NESBA is that I would not recommend them for a someone with no track experience and less the five years on a streetbike.   Their "beginner" group is completely different that any other orgs "novice" group. In NESBA after a classroom session and few warm-up laps ridders are free to run thier own pace unlike the other orgs and more like an "I" session.  Classroom sessions are conducted after each track session for the entire morning.  The upside to NESBA is that you stay in "B" group for more events and continue to get more CR attention and learn faster TD after TD after TD until you get the "I" bump.  I never got the "I" bump and I didn't care, never asked to be evaluated.  I was riding my ride at my speed and having fun.  Also, it is more fun passing than getting passed and I was able keep the action ahead of me instead of behind me.

When NESBA closed I looked into other orgs.  I even called the events coordinator to talk about where I fit in, not to stroke my ego but to be safe amongst others.  They always say "Try our "Novice" group.  Its about learning and you can get in a fast group due to your experience."  This was a wasted morning for me each time.  Yes, I was in the fastest novice group.  My point is that for bumps and recommedations ALL ORGS will fail conservative.  (I know what your thinking, you can't evaluate someone on the phone.  Well if someone says that they do 5 TD's  a year with NESBA it should be a strong indicator that novice is not the fit. If they don't understand the other TD orgs and structures shame on them for not understanding thier competition, market and competative advantage.)

More on Bumps and Groups:

Is it not common sense that people will like an org that you can pick where you run versus have to earn it?  I think that having this freedom to choose is in the fabric of our society and any company or TD org that does not allow the choice will be scoffed even if it is best for us.

It seems rediculous to me that we are aguing about the titles of a job, CR's vs coach vs instructors.  I have recieved more one-on-one attention from CR's both on track and of track than coaches and instructors combined.  There job titles are different but the job is the same, keep everyone safe, help us riders to learn and help the event run smoothly.

Last here is my take on rider ability breakdown for the different orgs. So yes you can be different in different orgs. I am a NESBA "B" and "I" everywhere else.

NESBA

B group - Lower 50%+/- in ability 

I group - Middle 25%+/- in ability 

A group - Upper 25%+/- in ability 

MO, MS, STT

N group - Lower 20%+/- in ability 

I group - Middle 50%+/- in ability 

A group - Upper 30%+/- in ability 

Sorry to hear about you highside 2thdr.  Hope your OK.

Round trip? Not bad, but cinci is a bitch during rush hour.

I commute 140 one way at least 3 days per week.

^^^Yes 71 and 75 are very busy in the mornings and evenings.  Have you considered relocating to the east or west of Cinci close to 275?  275 is better in the morning and this would split the distance if your wife goes to Wright State.

I am planning on attending the X-Act trackday at Barber on June 29-30th.

http://x-actmotorsports.com/Dates.html

Due to the distance and that "stuff happens" I would like to have a traveling partner.  I have just about everything most trackday attendees require; tow vehicle, trailer with chocks, canopy, etc.  (If your going and have a nicer setup I have no problem riding shotgun.)

The plan is to leave Cincinnati Friday morning and get back sometime on Monday.

If your interested all you would need is your bike, gear and split the travel costs.

Anyone? anyone? Bueller?

Yep, maintenance has no value. It may help get yours sold faster than others but no market value. Mods are pretty much the same way. $2k is not bad but everyone wants to think they got a deal. So, you have to price it $500 over what you want as others have said.

Mike, I sent you a PM that you may not have seen with the new site setup. 

Not sure what just happened.

PM's show up as a red number box, no email and no popup. I really liked the email notification so that I would know I had a PM even if I was away from the site a couple of days.

Pages load VERY slow (>10 seconds)on my computer compared to the old site. Is this because you are still working on the site?Will it get better.

I think I'm going to need a training video. 

 

How do the PM's work?  will we still get and email notification?  popup when you enter the site?  Or does the "Notification" just go to a color?  I just found that top banner after spending a lot of time trying to find "user CP".

Better yet, someone send me a PM.

I think I'm going to need a training video. 

How do the PM's work?  will we still get and email notification?  popup when you enter the site?  Or does the "Notification" just go to a color?  I just found that top banner after spending a lot of time trying to find "user CP".

Yes, almost stopped after 2 episodes because of the stupid stuff Charlie was doing.  Glad that she got her crap together...somewhat.

DO IT! chances are you'll love it. I did my first track day after 12 years of street riding. I was in a similar situation as you since I was riding a VFR, under powered and overweight compared to the other bikes in novice. I loved and did a couple more dates on the VFR. I broke down and bought a track bike not because I could not hang in novice with the VFR but because Plastic is too expensive on the Viffer if something goes wrong. You'll be fine on the 14. Just "ride your ride". Did I say do it?

DO IT!

Well, we just bought the Q2's and finally had a chance to use over a 4 hour period. I am NOT satisfied with the quality and will be returning them.

We bought two that were supposed to be paired from the factory. They were not. Finally got them synced and all seemed good. First time out, they unpaired not far into the ride. Went out again on Saturday and we were constantly working to get them paired again when it is supposed to pair up immediately upon powering up. Lots of wind noise came through. My husband had to turn his off because the noise was bothering him which defeats having them in the first place. And although the volume was fine, the clarity wasn't always there. We bought these mostly for the rider to rider intercom feature but my husband did set up the Bluetooth for iPhone. We got lost at one point and he tried to use it to get directions and it couldn't recognize what he was saying.

Maybe we got a defective unit but I'm voting fail on the Q2's.

I'm going to return these and try the Sena next. Hope it works better.

Mary

thats good to know.

+1

I managed with a boom on my HJC for a couple years before switching to a corded. I will not go back to messing with a boom again. If you have a full face helmet it is the way to go and worth upgrading if you don't have a corded mic.

Welcome to OR.

Will you show us your tits?

Do you screw on the first date?

Do you like guns?

Answer yes to all three, and you might just fit in.

Welcome!

I realize this is guy to guy but please don't lead us down this trail again.

Yes, if one is further forward it shouldn't be an issue, the bars are the issue side by side.

Blue what is the normal plywood thickness for an enclosed trailer? If I bought a cheap trailer with thin plywood would it be difficult to replace?

Settled on this 5x10. Would have preferred black, but only a year old and in excellent shape. Would be an added bonus if I can fit 2 bikes

This space intentionally left blank to avoid offending anyone

2012

Looks nice, how much did you get it for? What manufacturer?

Thanks for the input Josh, Sena seems to make a good unit. I had never heard of them until I started looking into a buying new unit. I have a couple followup questions.

Do you know if there is a technology change between the SMH5 and the SMH10 or is the tuner the only difference?

Where was your SMH10 manufactured?

I found one listed on ebay and it said Manufactured in DPRK (North Korea). That would be a big pill for me to swallow. I could not find that on there website.

I plan to use my unit similar to the way you use yours, the bluetooth will be great! (I've been corded.) I recently got a new phone and plan to bluetooth for Nav and phone and MP3 for longer rides. The FM tuner is big for me because I like to listen to the morning news on my commute to work.

I'm in the market for a new communicator. I've been using a Chatterbox and am just tired of all of its issues and cords so it is time to move on. Here are my requirements:

Built in FM tuner - I commute and it is nice to listen to music without messing with a second device.

Bluetooth - nice not to mess with cords.

Wired mic - I wear a full face helmet and the boom on the Chatterbox is a pain in the butt.

As I see it this limits me to:

Sena SMH5-FM

Scala G9, Q2, Q3

Any others?

If you have one of these let me know how it works, how good is the tuner, would you buy again and any regrets.

Thanks for your help.

This sounds great! Hope to make it.

Nobody gives a shit about Daytona anymore. They should make the "200" a non-championship standalone (like U.S. Open/Monster Energy Cup in moto). Then they can start the real racing fresh two months later.

I may be wrong but isn't the Monster Energy Cup a points race this year?

not to pick at you brian,

but why does ducati who is a oem who sells mostly all sport /adventure bikes and has made record profits and record sales in the u.s. in the past few years, not step up as all the other oem s have in the past, and foot the bill to get ama pro racing on tv.

heck it would be nice if they would even support pro racing in any form in the u.s. .

their amatuer contingincy is applaudable but in reality they know they are not going to pay much out since there are not too many on the grids to begin with.

if they had some presence in the ama paddock or on tv they might be able to re-juvinate the old win on sun , sell on monday.

but they seem to be content in taking profits but not giving back to the u.s. racing community.

the other oem 's have more than given their fare share over the years.

frankly bmw is no better or maybe worse , they too are reaping huge sales in the u.s. and not spending much to do it.

what insight can you give as a dealer rep on these questions.

i guess my thinking is if they do not want to step up and be part of the solution , then they are just another one of the problems.

IMO the win on Sunday sell on Monday business model is stale...no dead. The internet and the ability to reseach comparisons or current models is vastly superior to buying the model that won on Sunday. Why, for many buyers the first thing we are going to do is dump the can and intake to make the air flow and map the fuel. So we research performance after the mod.

Second, unlike when this business model started a long time ago the racing bikes are no longer slightly modified stock bikes. They have completely reworked engines, shocks, brakes, etc. What remains stock? the frame? Informer buyers recognize this fact and know they are not buying the bike that was raced.

IMO if Ducati wants to increase sales they should incentivise new dealerships to grow their distribution network. Do they even have a dealership in Cincinnati? Not that I know of, the closest that I know of is in Indy. The distance is a consideration for me when considering a new bike. Ducati has brand recognition and a strong base of loyal customers so build on that!

But to agree with you yes I wish they would contribute to growing the road racing comunity and viewership.