Moto-Brian

Pure shit. The Suzuki thing is a myth. They COPIED the SSV and that's about as close as it got. Had a team run them in 2005 in WERA endurance and they failed every weekend... Shit. Buy the real thing...

But this guy is a professional. Just ask him or the riders that say so!

Most likely will not be. Typically, unless you are on a list, you will not be allowed in... But I can get in!! Don't worry, I gotta work and will be out of town. I just thought I would rub it in...

I decided to ask on the WERA forum... Unfortunately, it will probably never get posted on LR's site... http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?t=217896 Basically, if WERA has ever allowed it, it happens as the bikes are on a warm up lap or between practices, etc... They aren't going to allow a camera guy on a hot RACING track. One guy brings up a damn good point - why didn't he just wait between races to cross? They are only 8-10 laps, right? Was this the endurance?

Dude, you know as well as I do... Racing is dangerous enough as it is. Having an ignorant person adding to that danger makes me pissed. If I race at FT this year with Agnes, I will bring it up in rider's meeting. 100% for sure... People need to know. Racers if thinking outside their personal feelings towards the guy will say what is truth - shouldn't be allowed...

I am sure the guy is a nice enough guy. Actually, I think he's sent me some info when I did a few FT events... Cannot remember... But, it isn't his personality, his social skills, nor his friendliness that we are referring to here. His comments are damaging to FT and the safety crew being used. Typically, the safety crew is organized and ran under a company or separate organization other than the racing group holding the event. It may be part of the track or hell, it could be done through FT since they are smaller. Whatever the case, the above comment is damaging IF anything ever goes wrong. Even a hiccup and a crash with no injuries. If I crashed due to avoiding a camera guy... Look out. I get a new race bike for sure. Again, negligence on the part of multiple parties... You sign a waiver for doing something inherently dangerous. Anyone who has raced knows these are pretty much useless at times. Especially useless when what you technically agree on by signing never states anything about accepting of negligence on the part of people other than yourself... I understand the guy defending himself, but the idea here is to look beyond himself and ask the question "what if?" What if he did cause a kid to crash and get killed? What if he did slip and dropped all his camera stuff and tried to pick it up and got in the path of a rider? What if...? It is safety and in this case, it isn't about pot holes, ruts in the grass, tire walls. It isn't about something that is tough to afford and implement in improving safety. It is something that can EASILY be done and improve safety and avoid a possible tragedy...

Doesn't matter. The only personnel that crosses a hot track is the safety crew. Not camera guys. The issue is that these street riders are chiming in and saying stuff they have no clue on. They make up BS excuses like "You don't see them because they are professional", etc. Really? I have been to more races and more tracks than I suspect all of them combined. I have NEVER seen a professional photographer cross a hot track surface. What these guys don't get is that there are access points all around a track. Want a shot from a corner on the infield side and you are currently across from that on the outside of the track? They jump on a scooter and drive to the infield and gain access to where they want w/o crossing. One, they don't carry radios. Two, there are more than one photographer out there and if one gets to cross, why not the others. These idiots think it was a one time thing. It only takes one time to fuck it up and get someone killed. Instead, a slap of the hand and a verbal apology is allowed and it goes forward. Until someone dies, I guess or gets really hurt will it be taken care of. That's BS. I don't care who the organization is or who the camera guy is... It only takes once and the result can be as such that a LOT of people are effected. The safety crew that allowed him out, the organization putting on the event and the track. $5million or so can easily be asked for in a gross negligence situation. If a camera guy is allowed to cross a hot track, slips and kills a rider... Bad news. I call it preventative measures that would be implemented by the racing org. NO ALLOWANCE of crossing a hot track by anyone other than the safety crew. No exceptions... Plus, what constitutes a professional photographer? Is he paid and earning a living solely off this? Is he paying proper taxes and submitting income and expenses like a business does? Doubtful. I'd say he is as much a hobbyist as the racers he is shooting. In the end, he did something wrong. It's how they learn from it that matters. If FT makes it known that it will not happen again and they set a policy that prevents it from happening again, I am cool with that. If they don't and they know it happens, well... Hope they have a good lawyer if it ever goes wrong. May never and maybe they have YEARS of it being allowed and never happening, but what happened at Barber is something that shouldn't ever happen. Shouldn't is a tough word... Prevention is a great word to know, however...

As for mounting, I was thinking of cutting a small hole for the lens to look through on the upper fairing. Nothing more... I know they are all easy to mount, but close to a lipstick style would make it easier than the box style of the GoPro...

Ok, so I have always been superstitious with having a mounted camera on the bike. But, being able to help riders at the track by showing them video is something I have been thinking about. The GoPro is what is available at motorcycle shops and I can get the best price on. However, I think it is cumbersome and hard to mount... I have been looking at Oregon Scientific's ATC3K and ATC5K. $150 and $200 respectively... Also the Tachyon XC for $150 shipped... Sounds that the GoPro is not as great as I thought and the ATC5K has a preview screen for help in mounting and seeing if it is positioned the way you want. No "point and pray" as they seem to say about the others. I want to spend under $200. Anyone with experience with the other two?

You honestly think the 2CT cannot be ridden aggressively? Seriously?

Yep.. Sorry mods - lock her up!

As stated earlier, it is not a law. I know the Highway Patrol has a "policy" that has them follow protocol and run at least marker lights at night. Typically, the Sheriff department follows this same policy. It is an internal deal and most if not the rest of City Police can do whatever they want in terms of lights or no lights. It isn't a law and it isn't something that all do...

Nah. Jeff just helps me out on parts and I run his stickers to get his name out there while at the track. He's a stand up guy and definately a core motorcycle dude. I probably would buy a bike like an MX bike or something for my kid or if I ever would buy a street bike...

That's too funny! I have the same exact Xaus Replica!!! Of course, mine's not in as good of shape... Great minds MUST think alike...

Me too!! Dude, they last forever! Graphic is cracking, but still usable...

It is called the Double Grey. It's what Max Neukirchner was running in WSBK...

Damn! At least I support my friends... whatcha gonna do now? Rub isn't feeling the love from you...

Ok, so it isn't a new kid or pet, but an addition anyways. For all the folks that think the flowers are too much:

Do yourself a favor and buy a good slip-on or full system. The Two Bros are junk. Packing fails soon into having it on and they are obnoxious loud. The reason they are so popular is that they are bought by shops due to being through a major distributor. They get good margins and Two Bros does some cool displays, etc. Overall, nice look and the finish is fine, but the power and the packing and what makes a slip-on a good piece are lacking...

I have a professional article I did on the RC8... It was from last year, though... It's like 8 pages...

Interesting comments on the Dukes... We've been riding them all last year and I think the WOT is true, but nothing terrible. The twitchy throttle response is weird but I think a lot of guys do not understand twins that much. You honestly cannot chop the throttle completely off and then roll back into it. You actually need to add a little when entering turns. Otherwise, it falls on it's face and gives that herky, jerky effect. A hiccup... Handling wise, yes, you drag pegs, but shouldn't drag too much toes if you are up on the toes like you should be. But, I have drug the right side case cover before so, you can drag a toe even if you are up as high as you can go. Twitchy on the front? The thing is so heavy it really doesn't seem to come into play. I really twist bikes and jerk on the bars to change direction so much that I never got that feeling from them at any point. I make it get upset and it behaves like a heavy bike would... Now, I would say it has a chatter issue, but I think that is due to hitting the limits of the stock components more than anything. Braking is actually pretty good. For street pads and the weight, it is actually very well mannered when braking and very stable. You have to watch stiffening it up too much as you can make the front go WAY vague and not work as well as it needs to be. I think I only adjusted sag and rebound in the rear on the one I rode and it did well enough. Bike is a sleeper and can be ridden to a pretty fast pace. I was typically stretching the limits of the bike when getting it into the :37s and faster, but it will run high :38s easily and w/o too much fuss. I think with a little more rear ride height, better suspension and rear sets, it can easily pace out at what a 600 can typically do there. Not as easily in terms of rider input as say an R6 that is very easy to ride fast (light and nimble), but even though a little more effort, it can embarrass a few true sportbikes... It's a fun bike and a great piece. A few things that are weird in terms of bolts, the way you work on it, etc. But, she's a great bike and would make a killer street machine. One of our staff members had the R version and it is truly a better bike in many regards. Pulls harder, has better suspension and seems to run a bit better. Can't wait to try it out after he's messed with it. I only got maybe 10 laps on a stocker, but it was still a lot better than the regular version. Glad everyone had a great time and hopefully, I will be at the next one with KTM. Otherwise, we'll hopefully see some of you Monday.

Ok, need a keyboard cleanup over here... FAK! That is pure sex on wheels, man.

Actually, 7 crashed. 4 at the end of the day...