Moto-Brian

How does it help? I mean, it probably could help, but with so many states not needing it and catching criminals anyways, I don't think that is a good enough stance. They are stupid and not needed. They are great for the State Troopers to laser people and that's it...

Have three vehicles currently and not a one with a front plate. Been pulled over a few times and never a peep. They are not concerned over no front plates. A local city cop in a small town? Maybe... I haven't run a front plate since college...

In all honesty, my son has been riding since he was 4 years old. Grew up at the track and has his own bike. I had the RC8R as a street bike last year and we rode together all the time. I'd drop him off at school and pick him up and we'd ride. Had a full face helmet and a jacket and jeans, etc. He was a great passenger and was always wanting to go. Broke a few laws in terms of speed, but honestly, it was controlled and done with safety in mind if anyone believes that. He wants to do some supermoto on his MX bike and wants to ride a 125 as soon as we will allow. I suspect when he is about 14-ish or when mom says she feels ok in allowing it... Point is, the age has nothing to do with it. Educate your kids. They reflect what we do and they tend to want to be like us a lot of times. If you act stupid and treat it as a joke, they will too...

You somewhat classify as having numerous track days! I'll see ya those days. Of course, tomorrow also! Stop by and say "hey".

I did a backflip with my 10year old on the back of a bike designed for one person. Is that bad?

You'll see it at Mid-Ohio next week. Keep it up, funny boy...

Last year's bike was an R model. This is an RS (Race Spec). Since the 2011 street bike is white with orate, I had Paul mimic the street bike look as seen here: Uploaded with ImageShack.us I just never got pics of it completed and done. I ran it one time at Mid-Ohio and that was it. Weather has sucked nuts.

So, the weather has been nice enough to get the trailer washed and everything else so, I took pics today of the RC8R RS and decided to post final shots. Here's the RC8R RS in all it's glory. I somehow got a chip in the paint just behind the exhaust - SORRY PAUL!! But otherwise, the thing looks Billy Bad-Ass! Pauls' work is exceptional and I really like what he did with the tail. Side shot: Uploaded with ImageShack.us A little from behind: Uploaded with ImageShack.us The tail underside (#10 is on top of tail also): Uploaded with ImageShack.us Of course, the GSXR (I know another thread was started, but just to lump it all together to showcase Paul's work): Uploaded with ImageShack.us Uploaded with ImageShack.us Just for shits and giggles, my truck since it was clean! Uploaded with ImageShack.us Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Not a good idea to heat the edges until melted and then press together and smooth out. Look at it this way - you will essentially be shrinking the plastic to get it melted. When cool, there will now be stress as it wants to be further apart when assembled. They will crack again... The best thing is a plastic welder. It's what I have seen done and even then, they tend to still crack again... If it is small, the welder will work. If it is like what you pictured, they tend to fracture again...

Considering everything that has occurred on his watch, I am not surprised... Look, every college team has these issues, every player knows it goes on, every coach, everyone... But, when you are caught and it is a certainty, you cannot pretend to hide it or pretend to not know what you should have done. Pretty much expected it after the added heat was applied after the fact. He should have resigned when it all came to light that he lied. Would have been a better way to exit...

26 riders is by no means packed. They can fit 40 easily...

I am not sure if he's going to get it approved unless he gets a certain number of units actually produced. Otherwise, it is a pure prototype based machine and if allowed, might as well bring in an M1 Yamaha to race...

Not sure where anyone has stated that the rider isn't the biggest factor in this sport?? However, your comments are read to sound as if Josh is better than Tommy because he doesn't use the traction control. That's silly. They are both great riders and in fact, I would wager that they are as close as two top riders can be. BUT, realize that one rider may be better due to the way they understand set-up, the way they race the bike, the way they manage the race they run, etc. There are factors that make a rider better than the others he faces. It's like saying that Jorge and Stoner are better than Rossi. I'd disagree with that as I feel that Rossi is a great set-up guy and obviously has the accomplishments that over time will prove to be unable to be either equalled or exceeded. But, if you look at race wins in the last two seasons, he doesn't look good on paper. Get my point? Josh is awesome. Tommy is awesome. They are the head of the series with Blake a close third. But, considering that Blake is always a factor and the fact that he is younger with less seat time, my feelings are the same when thinking Mladin and Spies. Ben was great and we saw something and witnessed something that is uncommon. He came in, learned from one of the best and beat him. He then excelled beyond what Mladin has accomplished and that's amazing in the short period of time. Tommy and Josh are veterans that are not going to get a MotoGP ride. They are too old and honestly, not as good as they could be or should be. That's not a slam, but if you think Josh could beat Spies head to head, I would take that bet and start cashing checks... It is the rider and to the tune of almost 90% in my opinion. I have seen riders that can win on piles of shit bikes and when they actually get a great bike, they actually go slower. They are not used to stuff working and ride it so loose they cannot go fast on something well setup. That's ability working for and against. Tommy and Josh are awesome, they are winners and they both are probably the fastest SB racers here in the States. But, just don't confuse using traction control and on the Yosh bike as being below the skill level of a guy on a Graves R1. That Graves bike is technologically advanced and moreso than I think you realize. They have some really trick bits on it and some unobtainium pieces. The rules are bullocks in AMA - it should be like WSBK and allow the factories to really advance the machines and technology. But, they do not. Under the current rules package though, there are still plenty of cool pieces that get allowed and developed by the teams. Tommy would go as fast as he has on the R1 if he had the seat time Josh has on it and Josh the same if on the Yosh bikes... It's more about the teams when it comes to the bikes than it is on the rider riding them. The rider is going to excel on whatever top shelf team they ride for. Some teams do not prep and develop as well as others. Love Jordan and have a good buddy that works on the team, but I honestly think that they are a step behind the Yosh guys and it shows. BBoz would do better on a Yosh bike than the Jordan bike. That's the team and the tools they have available... Graves and Yosh are pretty equal... Anyways, you are saying what we are all saying. You just have thrown out a few things like Josh not riding the TC and Tommy using it and saying or hinting that makes Josh better. You also hint at stating the Graves team is not as good as the Yosh team and that's not true at all... Just pointing out what I am referring to in my comments... Obviously, it is all an opinion and simply that...

Some of us might be just a tad above arm chair quarter back when talking on this topic. Also, some of may possibly know a tid bit here and there about what goes on.

Guys, the bikes all have traction control. Some racers use it a little, some a little more and some not at all or at the minimal they can set it. Watch MotoGP. Some guys you can hear the TC kicking in more than others. Just because one rider uses it and another doesn't isn't something to use to say one is better than another. It's riding style and what they prefer. Watch Tommy. He's smoother than most. Josh is more of a loose rider. Doesn't make one better than another.

Also, Bert - if you don't think the graves bikes aren't trick, you need to look closer. Oh yeah, they all use similar electronics. The R1 is a turd unless built and tuned to the extreme and the graves boys have it dialed. The Suzuki is for sure trick also, but between it and Yamaha, they are close in terms of R&D and development. Not discounting josh one bit. But the top 5 guys are really good. My feelings are that Tommy and josh are class leaders based on seat time and overall experience. Guys like Blake will get better and when you weigh the fact he has less time and less knowledge, he's actually a bit better.

Not so at all. All those guys are so close on ability that it isn't a good argument. Jason is an awesome racer for sure. But to say he is that much faster than the field is silly. Did he just decide after all these years to drop the hammer? Or, is he still kick ass and is just in a slightly better bike? I'd say the latter. As for Hayes, he wouldn't beat the top ten in the SB class in an R6. Look at the times. Ain't gonna happen. I'd also wager that Herrin, Eslick and DiSalvo for example would be VERY close in times on all the same bike. Look at the fact that the talent pool is pretty damn deep. Chaz Davies was a top 5 guy here against the same pool and he is top 3 in WSS. That says something. Te base of the argument needs to be the bike and not the rider. If the bike has an unfair advantage, it needs to be equalled out. Equal then leaves it to rider ability. As I mentioned, if Jason still wins on equal footing, it's him and not the bike. Make sense?

Actually it is. Look at the trap speeds and you will see the Ducs have an advantage. Plus, the power difference off the corner, etc. When you have Jake coming from 12th to first, you have issues. Jake's a kick ass rider, but Eslick couldn't have done that... PJ, Holden and DiSalvo are/were crushing it. Same with Daytona and that is VERY dependant on the draft... If there are privateers in the back of the pack on Ducs and not doing great, then the same can be said of the I4s. Is the Suzuki and R6 really that good if only 4-5 guys are up front on the model? That's not a good argument. The pros are compared to the pros and the privateers are compared to nothing, really. Not a slam, but we are talking Jason and Jake vs say, Eslick and Herrin and adding in PJ vs say, Westby and West, etc... We aren't going to compare Joe Average vs Herrin... The rules are simple. Keep it level as much as possible and do not let the bike weigh in on the results. As mentioned, it should be rider and not the bike. God Bless the AMA for adding different brands, but if you have something dominating, it alienates the other brands and the fans that support them. The Buell is a great case in point. As mentioned, they were blasting past bikes on the straights. The handling was off vs the I4s and therefore the difference wasn't as much. Here, the Ducs handle well and have more power. Plus, the power is different and it effects how the racing goes. The rule change only levels stuff. It isn't Duc vs the Big 4 - it is AMA making sure the racing is as level as they can make it. People bitch for sure and I am sure that the top teams were complaining, but you can also see why... I think it is great and I think it will show that Jason and Holden are great riders deserving of better rides. They will still win and charge to the front - even with the changes. That's what it is about - the rider...

Just remember that Ducati hasn't had a package that has been this dominate for years. They are inconsistent in that regard. They develop a 130 hp stock bike and no matter what you guys may believe, when compared to the I4s, the power delivery is different and the starting point is not the same. Truth be told, it really shouldn't be allowed to compete against I4 600s... But, in the coming years, the Big 4 will develop better bikes as usual and Ducati will play catch up for a few years until this happens again and we do the same dance. My opinion is that 5 pounds is pretty minimal and honestly, means the I4s are pretty damn good...

I know theya re going to look at future dates, but haven't heard anything conrete yet. There most likely will be, though!

Yes, was runnign between the two at the last Mid-Ohio. Was short time so, I am going to run just the Zook at the twilight... If the weather looks favorable enough...

Possible. For sure if no rain. Probably just the GSXR. RC8 suspenders are off getting cartridges...

Remove them before riding! Oh, and do not corner low!

Not suggested as you really should drill them off the bike. Tighten to spec and then mark the areas for holes, but guys that drill on the bike tend to have marks where the drill rubs the fork tube bottom or they take a bolt out and put the top caliper bolt on the bottom and then they have issue with the holes not where they need to be. Take them off and drill 4 + holes on each bolt unless like the fork pinch bolts that never come off, etc... DO NOT drill banjo - not required and you definitely do not want to knick a pin hole in one... No race organization requires that... I mean, you can take the ghetto way and do it on the bike, but you really should remove and do them right. You get a better angle most the time and better holes and cleaner...

That's not true at all. It's a matter of bigger loss. Fairings or engine cases? Exhaust canister or wallowed frame hole? Under fairing sliders are the shit. The will protect what regular sliders are designed or thought to protect, but not have the negatives like we discussed...