Moto-Brian

I'm over in Austria for work (since Monday) and we did some pretty cool stuff today. All week has been awesome, but today was a hands on deal that was pretty exclusive. We got to drive the KTM X-Bow. Not sure if any of you guys know the details on this car, but it is solely an outside the US vehicle. We do not import or allow the car to be brought into the US. Well, Audi doesn't allow it. Anyways, we got to drive these cars and when I say drive, we hammered them pretty good. Lots of stepped out rears and 3-digit speeds... Austria is bad ass. You can run most the time as fast as your ability allows. The roads are VERY winding in and around Salzburg and around the Salzburg-Ring track where we were for the X-Bow Challenge. Here's a taste for now. I am planning on a few more pics, but this is the only one I could get to fit in terms of size... Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Basically, the wording shows that you are responsible for any damage that you inflict on to our bikes... However, we look at each and every incident and see what happened, who was at fault, whether or not you were acting like an idiot and abusing the bike, etc... We have charged guys for doing some serious damage to the bikes. Crashing while acting like a tool bag and you shouldn't expect anything less. After all, I am the guy at the Rider's Meeting that has to be the asshole and tell everyone that treating the bikes like rental cars is a really bad idea and will NOT be tolerated... If you do get charged for the crash, you will get employee cost on the parts and zero dollars in labor. All added up, you'd pay way less than had you crashed your own bike... Basically, it is all about having fun and we do a great job of amping you all up. We are serious when we need to be, but overall, it is a REALLY great time for everyone. Come on out!! PM me if you have any questions.

You just wanna be cool like your dad!

Since it is Briar Cliff, it will be mostly dirt I would think. Plus, better figure on some fast guys like Browning, Gibson, Burkhart, etc coming on their pit bikes...

See...

Don't they have an event in May? I was thinking of going for seat time. I am going to miss the first two rounds of the WERA NC Region and would like some seat time... Best chance to get me some...

It could easily be different each day. Usually, though - track day noise rules are longer on Sunday. But, it could be that they have a shut it down time agreed upon with locals for Saturday that is shorter than Sunday. Also, they are running a race series the next day and logistically speaking, they could have not been able to retain the EMTs and cornerworkers for the longer period and pull off Sunday... Again, nobody knows and we probably won't. Like what was stated earlier, getting it done on this site isn't productive nor the best way to get things done. Craig's suggestion to contact Todd directly is the best idea and we should push this topic in another direction... So, who's in for the weekend of the 28th? I might be there for that event...

Who are the instructors?

I would doubt he was "shot down" as opposed to probably Nelson has strict rules regarding times they can run events. Meaning, sound ordinances, etc. This is a Moto Series issue and not a Nelson issue. The credits if forthcoming and any refunds if they make sense would be 100% on Moto Series - not Nelson. There should be NO LINK to anything being discussed with the track and the owners. They rented the track for a set allocated time and the fact that the weather did not work out is on Nelson and Moto Series. However, any refunds and credits - the business side of things - is in the hands of Todd. Again, I think if you all got 4 plus sessions in, you should be understanding that most organizations would consider that enough to not do any credits or refunds. I think this is getting a little out of hand and now you have people claiming silly things on both the track and Todd's side. Todd is going to do what is right. If you get to ride all but one session, should a track organization give you a credit for that one missed session? No! It's like racing... If we get past halfway and they throw a red flag, that can be considered a completed race. If it were only 10 laps and you got 6 in, they don't credit you for the 4 laps you missed out on... Point is that I think you guys got enough sessions in and considering the discount received, you probably got more than the average, regular paying customer did. Bottom line is that weather caused the whole ordeal. Nobody can control what Mother Nature does and they can only work around it. Nelson is a track you can ride wet and in some seriously tough conditions. If a clogged drain system was the culprit of a shut down, again... Weather was the root. Getting upset at the track does nothing. It's happened at many different tracks around the world. Look at MotoGP a few years ago... The deal is simple. If you got more than half, you should be happy and move along. If you got less than half, I suspect that once time gets going here, you will see Todd do the right thing. Relax everyone...

Big 4-Oh!

Good points, but what if a guy has the technical skills and experience needed for the street and gets training on the track That's my point... We have seen some SERIOUSLY great street riders come to the track only to be at best, average in the Intermediate group. I then have seen some seriously good track guys that have street cred and experience ride the street and really ride at a level that is equal to the guys that know the roads and yet, they are not pushing. Again, that reserve... Quick story here - There's a guy I know that has been to three tracks he's never been to this year. By mid day, he was running with the top 1/3 of the riders. By end of the day, there were maybe a few guys faster. The idea is that he adapted so quickly to the new tracks that he was fairly quick. Now, is that ability from years of experience? Is it natural ability? Is that the skill level he's developed over the years? I think that you take both riders and place them in an unknown environment and have them run whatever that environment is, you'd see the street rider with track experience shine through and adapt quicker and be faster with much more reserve available. I think the street guy will struggle. Or, do this... Take a track day guy with street experience and the equal of his that has street only. Take them to a neutral road and a neutral track. Take their times. Give them say, 2 hours to learn each place. See what the results are. Again, it is NOT slandering the street only guy. But, think of it this way... You know how to work on your car to do normal stuff like oil changes, timing belts, etc. BUT, if you went to school and knew how to tear a motor down and had that on top of what you already knew, wouldn't it make you better as a guy that can work on motors? Make sense? I think Nick's thoughts are correct and true. I also think there are others that have great feedback. BUT, I am not marking the street only guys as inexperienced. No way. Also, before anyone jumps my case, I have been street riding for a LOOOOOONG time. I got off the street a long time ago also, but I still do a good bit of ridding per year for a guy that doesn't really care to street only ride anymore...

For sure! I think we all have aspects of riding that we enjoy and I too, hate the pushing of it onto others. But, I was simply saying that from my experience from being a so called "racer" I guess and many years as a street rider. I choose race/track for obvious reasons - like why a guy chooses an over/under shotgun vs a pump I guess. Two aspects and two very different thoughts, etc. I agree that you can learn a ton from street riding. Think about this - street riders have to process TONS of information. Deer, road surface, road design, cars, debris, the bike, the passenger, etc. Track guys have to process less, I think, but at the speed and the way they do it, it is equally challenging. Otherwise, everyone would do it and do it above average... To each their own, but I think we are saying the same thing but with a bit more passion towards one idea vs the other. In the end, track riding can only help.

There is luck, there is knowledge and there is a combo of both at times that can effect the outcome. My scenario was taking a new rider period. Both guys ride the street, but one gets track training. You are only going to know your bike more and more the more advanced the training. Trust me when I say that track guys aren't better riders. We see a lot of guys that just don't get it, think they are Rossi and ball stuff up regularly because they THINK they are on the track. It was in terms of reserve. On the track, you develop a reserve and knowledge base that understands your bike more than you can learn on the street. If you think you have harnessed the complete ability of your bike and can ride beyond IT by solely being a street rider, I think that is a false hope. I will say that there are PLENTY of track guys that never get anywhere in terms of learning more. It's sad to say that some guys come and never get anything out of it. Some because they don't try and some because they never got direction and coaching from the school or organization they rode with. I will use the examples as I mentioned before, but again... The idea is that you will excel with more knowledge and street only is going to be limited. Track only as well. You need a good combo of both and you'd be set...

But, see that's the thing... You did one track day. What we are saying is that learning what your bike can or cannot do is easier on the track than the street. If I take two riders. The one rider I take to the track and teach him how to ride his bike better and learn the basics, and the second rider is started on the street and only that, the track rider is going to be a more advanced rider. It's like taking a kid that plays football all the way through high school. I then take a kid that played backyard football. Both at the quarterback position... The high school kid is going to be a better player. Now, of course there are going to be examples of natural ability and such, but on average, experience at a higher level will net better results. What bugs me is that street guys that do a handful of track days think it didn't help them. They are probably right to a degree. But, if you think you can learn as much on the street as you can on the track, that's simply not true. If you took a street rider with 10 years experience and a track rider with 10 years experience and placed them on an unknown road, the track day guy is going to have a higher reserve and handle the environment better... It's simple training. Learn pitching from a major league pitching coach or your dad that played in JV...

If you think you can turn a bike with steering through the bars only, again... At a slower speed you could and you can easily show how countersteering works. BUT, I am saying you need everything. You need input in the bars, you need the lower body to help also. Otherwise, you could run into a 100mph turn and do it w/o leaning off the bike and w/o anything other than your arms. Again, they were turning minimally as you mentioned (It should have been a Keith Code experiment) which means it can be turned with the body, but the arms help make it work in totality. You need them all working together...

Dude! It does, doesn't it? Holy crap, I think you are right! Little stronger with steel tubing, but damn near the exact same thing!!!

I was. KTM and Suzuki money was being offered there. Otherwise, I wouldn't try so hard to be there...

Absolutely. We have to teach street riders to be track day riders. You learn some seriously bad habits when street riding. A lot...

You are both right to a degree. You cannot steer the bike alone with handlebars and you cannot steer alone with your lower body. It takes both. Sure, slow in a parking lot will allow you to steer with just both mentioned, but at speed, it is a combination of everything. Head, arms, legs, etc. It takes them all. Basically, when talking counter steering, it is something we all have done since we were kids when riding bicycles. You've done it forever and now, with a big and heavy machine, it takes more and makes you want to figure it out. Don't. Just ride it. I understand taking basic rider MSF courses and suggest that to absolutely new riders, but what they teach you is not going to give you enough to be able to use on the street in those situations you can easily find yourself in. I also do not agree that you need a bunch of miles before a track day. We have people that are brand new at riding motorcycles and a Novice program will be as helpful as anything and in my opinion, a great compliment to the MSF course and probably should be taken right after. You get the basics at the MSF and the track day allows you to learn the bike and what YOU do that effects what it does. You need to apply input to the bike. It is a gyroscope and wants to sit up all the time. It doesn't naturally want to lean through a turn. Watch a guy fall off - the bike sits up and ghost rides itself straight up and down. You need input to get it to sit on the side and lean through a turn. That takes counter steering and body position and application from the legs... The leaning is also needed. Watch guys that sit straight up and down through a turn. They can make it, but it takes a TON more input on the bars. Through doing that, they stand a GREAT chance of crashing due to the fact that they are not positioning their bodies to transfer and distribute weight to make the turn...

Trust me, that Grattan weekend has some serious money to be possibly made. I am looking at taking the red eye and traveling up to MI SAturday to race Sunday. But, it is a local racer track and the locals will be in force... Having that one day less practice sucks...

Yup, Senior Superbike is where I will be running!

WERA. I may - MAY do some FT stuff to dial in for Nelson rounds with WERA, but not sure. I am really bummed because the first round I am in Austria and the second round is in Grattan and paying both bikes in contingency and I will be in CA!!! Not to mention the points loss... Oh, well... Too old anyways so, I will just hit what I can and have fun.

From the minimal seat time, the front felt somewhat vague vs the Traxxion stuff. The rear was hard to tell with the cold weather and trying the TC for the first time vs the preset maps I am used to. I think the handling was really good, though. It moved a bit quicker and seemed more planted than the previous generation. But, true test was supposed to be the weekend of May 15th, but doubt I can make it due to a meeting in CA...

I will be running both bikes, but I work for KTM so, the shout out is there... Somewhat silly, but thought it was funny... I run the RC8R RS in HWT and maybe a few A Superbike events where they pay. The GSXR will be run in 40 plus and A Superstock or A Superbike when Suzuki money pays... I bought the GSXR because at the time, I could only have a stock RC8R and stock vs this thing is no match...

I got my Jet Black plastics done from Paul and got everything put back together. The paint is AWESOME as usual and the look is stealthy in my opinion... Little less flashy than I usually do, but I like the lines of the newest geny GSXR1000 and think Jet Black highlights the angles and curves. Side: Uploaded with ImageShack.us Front number plate: Uploaded with ImageShack.us Belly pan: Uploaded with ImageShack.us Tribute to a family friend that passed: Uploaded with ImageShack.us And also had Paul paint the wheels Jet Black to match the bike: Uploaded with ImageShack.us Some specs for anyone interested: 09 GSXR 1000: -35 Motorsports SS built motor -Ohlins 30 mm front inserts with cap extenders -Ohlins TTX rear -Galfer Superbike rotors -Yosh EM Pro system with quick shift -Bazaaz Traction control -Graves full Ti shorty system -Vortex clip-ons and rearsets and gearing Pretty much it. Haven't had any real seat time on it other than a VERY cold end of year at Mid-Ohio. Seems very similar to the last one I had, but not really more powerful, but smoother and handles a bit better. Overall, I need to get some time to sort suspension and setup. Hope to get some before I have to race it. But, it is so close, I think it will be good out of the box...