Moto-Brian

So, used to be "KTM-Brian" due to working as the Area Manager for the region. Well, with a heavy heart, I decided to move on from KTM and start a new and exciting adventure with none other than Ducati North America. Pretty much same gig, but with a much more passionate and sharply focused street and race brand. Been a crazy couple of weeks. However, Ducati has already shown me why it was the right decision. Super organized and very sharp when it comes to doing business. In any case, new name, but same dude. I'll hopefully still see you all at Mid-Ohio.

Actually, no need to cap extenders on 04/05 models. Flush on forks is correct. How many MM is the washer stack? We only used a stack to keep the ride height threads in as much as possible on the shock. I will try and find eye to eye and you should be close.

Correction. Raising the front is not putting the GSXR on it's nose. The idea is you are adding trail which the Zooks need badly. Stability isn't the issue. You raise/add trail for handling. The feedback and the ability to get the bike to make direction changes especially while on its side is key and why you need to do this. As you get faster, you will notice this. Early stage track day riders typically will not toice this, but if the correct geo numbers are put into place, it is a world of difference. From the OP's sig, I suspect that he has a pre-2004 GSXR and will need to do the old school raise the rear, drop the front based on the chassis... If he tracks the 04 like in his pic, he needs to raise the front and use spacers to raise the rear slightly.

I am changing careers and need to change my user name. Wanna keep it similar, but change it... Can someone hook a brother up? I assume Ben is out or something as I PM'd him a few days ago...

Yes, Amherst. It's our tech base and they handle any issues I have... The next one? It will be red so, we will see...

It was trying to put me on the ground at Putnam all weekend. We ran it on the dyno and the tranny was trying to upshift from 3rd to 4th when under load, but would surge (Felt like someone was ramming your rear tire the whole time while leaned over to give an idea) as it wanted to ghost shift, but never would. The guys in tech services at KTM figure it to be something in the transmission as we had an issue right before VMD and replaced the shift star. I had a few false neutrals at VMD, but not the surge issue. Then, at Putnam it started and got terribly worse by Sunday. So, it was up at Amherst waiting to be worked on and in the meantime, we had some issues the tech guys needed to be working on and the bike was sitting. Missed race after race and track day after track day. I have some changes coming and had to take it back up to turn the unit in. They will fix it and it will be for sale and will be an awesome machine for someone. There are spares and add-ons I didn't remove and will help whomever gets it if they race it or track it some way...

Really wish I could have caught at least a few of the races after Putnam. But, bike was down and I just turned it in so, I doubt I get any more races or even laps in this season... Good luck, guys and above all, have fun!! Be safe!!!

I'd have to see in person, but you will see the shifter move up or down easily. Just make SURE you have enough threads in the collar. Don't leave a small amount of threads as it can break apart. If you run into that situation, take #17 out and pull #2 off (I would suggest taking a sharpie marker and making a straight line through #2 and the shaft it pulls off of for reference as to how much you turned it) and turn it down 1-2 notches. That will allow you to have enough threads if needed... You should be totally fine to make small adjustments without worry. I would also suggest silicone on the locking nuts and the collar to avoid the nuts loosening and loss of a shift linkage...

False neutrals can be from a few things. Tender foot as noted. Can be due to a shifter not in the right angle for your foot movements and personal settings. It can also be worn shifter forks. Doubt that, though. In my personal opinion and do not take this wrong - you need to get a lot smoother on your shifting transitions. They are fairly harsh and a lot of times, rushing the shifting can cause you to mis shift or get it in between gears. Pull the clutch - DO NOT TRY AND FORCE THE SHIFT - and use the brakes to slow down and get it into the gear you need. It's something we tend to run into at times. The RC8 is notorious for them...

Huh? You are saying that if a guy is traveling that far that he shouldn't be wanting to ride a premier track like Mid-O, but rather, a lesser quality track like Grattan? I'd kind of disagree. While I like Grattan and feel it is very similar to Mid-O, the pavement and such isn't anything close to the quality of Mid-O...

Who had all the RC8s? I think I saw at least three. Two stockers and an RS...

My black socks I run or the Fox Racing bright green ones?

Tards are fine at Mid-O. Best in the intermediate group however based on speed differences. But, work and run great. Camping is allowed as mentioned. They don't supply electric, etc though unless you've got a garage and can run from the 110 there. As for what to do, there is a mall in Ontario just maybe 15 minutes away. The area in Lexington is nice, but no real things to do. If they like cycling, there is an extensive bike path they can jump on in Lexington just off 42. Cool for kids also as it is all paved. That's really the low down. Best months? When sunny, temps above 60 and no chance for rain. Track isn't wet friendly. One of the best tracks in the US and will challenge even the most advanced riders.

In. Will be doing some giveaways that even non-KTM riders will dig. Like a unisex sweater.

Bring it! I'll practice my dance moves pronto. Eh, what am I saying? He probably has to watch his kids, knit a sweater, cough when the doc asks, etc... There would be a mile of excuses.

That sucks, brother. Keeping him in our thoughts for a speedy recovery. Hit me up on his shirt size and I will see what I can send you to give to him to maybe brighten him up a tad...

Shit, I have been doing this for 18 years and I still have no idea what I am doing. I learn new things every time I am out there to some degree. Or, I still ask questions to better myself. But hey, 6-7 months? He's a fucking rock star at this stage! Rossi ain't got shit on him!!

Excuse #150... And counting... Decent rider? Here's a tip. It's like the ol' saying "I've been doing this for 'X'# of years..." Well, you've been riding a whole 6-7 months and now consider yourself a decent rider. You also are essentially telling us that with that amount of seat time, you really don't need the MSF course at this stage. Back to the quote. Yes, you can have a number of months, years, decades of experience. BUT, if you have been doing shit wrong all these years and developed a bunch of bad habits, it isn't a good thing. But hey, whatever the next round of excuses are, cool. You still need an MSF course. You have absolutely no real idea of what you are doing. You can blab about us not knowing you, that you work 15 jobs and are an armed Ninja with the CIA or that your boss is screwing you at your job and will not allow you to ever leave or that a nail is ingrown and you cannot shift right so, you missed the last class... Whatever, man. It's your life, several on here have tried until we have been out of breath. You roll to your own drum. I bet you are a hit at the office and the local Rally's where you can talk about bikes and everything you've read.

Actually, I do know you. Let me say, I know your type. Yes, I assumed it was your first ride. Yes, I assumed it was within a short series of miles. Yes, I assumed it was the first time in an area by which you were not comfortable. HENCE, why I suggested an MSF course STAT. I suggested that very early in your amazing time here at OR. In fact, several others chimed in and suggested the same thing. You are a stat, my friend. A stat that says people who do not listen and do not take the initiative to learn and excel, will be simply a stat of someone that fails. You failed. Simple as that. You didn't try and better yourself and came up with excuses. Tons of excuses. So, in my mind, you are a typical rider that falls into a set category for me. It isn't your fault per say, but you landed right where I suspected you would and will end up most likely where I forecast you will. Stay tuned! As far as treating you like you are 12, remember, hot stuff, I was offering a lot of help and then it progressed into a deal where you acted like you knew everything. I'm not the only guy that realized that. The issue here is that you seem like you want to go roundy, round with me and the industry and even how bikes work or need to be ridden. I am here to tell you to let it go and yet you cannot stop. You just now asked me to let it go, so I will. You're hopeless, dude. Everything that happened to you could have been prevented had you decided that this is something new, something dangerous if done wrong and taken a course. You decided to jump in with both hands on the electrical wire and into the pool. By the way, my son is 13 and will be riding an RS125 soon. He is practicing on an NSR50 and I can tell you one simple thing. He knows he needs to learn stuff before I will allow him to go on to the big track. I can also tell you that he understands what I am telling him and I would be willing to wager a STUPID amount of money that I can put him on that RS125 right now and run him and you through an obstacle course and have all my money on him to make it through vs. yourself. Take that as an insult, but the reality I am trying to paint here is that he is practicing and LISTENING to what I am helping him with. He's calculated, makes his moves with purpose and is doing very well. You need training, man. You don't know shit and what you read isn't real world experience. Once you figure those things out? You'll get it and you will advance. until then? You're going to fall over at 10 mph...

Holy two year old thread, Batman! I've learned a lot in the last two years on here and while riding. Even though I have been riding for 20 plus years now... The thing is simple. We are all supposedly enthusiasts. Some of us enjoy this sport more than others. I think I am too passionate about this sport and sometimes, it gets me in trouble. But, I want to give a nod/wave to a fellow enthusiast I am hoping is as passionate about MOTORCYCLING and not what they look like or how they are perceived. In the end, I wave because I hope this. A lot of times lately, I have seen a lot of riders that are just riding. Maybe they are new, maybe they are angry, maybe they are just not paying attention or maybe they aren't as passionate. Wave if you want. If you wave to me, I wave back. I initiate the wave more than not and if they don't wave back, it doesn't bother me anymore... This is a sport of passion and enthusiasm. Some have it more than others, I think...

Brn and Pokey... Go back and read the thread about the MSF course and how we initially TRIED to help this kid out. We all suggested great things, tried to educate the guy and above all, collectively tried to grow him into this sport. But, the dude knows it all. Everything. He reads a thread, he knows everything about a set topic. He doesn't listen and is typical of these guys that get into the sport, know it all and crash. He has crashed doing things that are very much the norm for those that have zero experience. He's had a 250 for less than a year I think and has crashed it doing a VERY easy turn at a speed that IF he had taken the MSF course, wouldn't have happened. But, he hasn't. He hasn't grown as a rider. It shows in his responses, it shows in the shape of the bike, etc. He wants a 750 because he thinks it is a good highway bike and not "too big". He isn't even close at understanding the results of his low ability and a 130 hp bike that doesn't weigh much more than his 250 did. In fact, you are talking less than 50 pounds difference, but about 100 - YES, 100 hp difference!!!! We have tried to help. We have. It has looked like we shit on the guy only because he comes on here and does what he does... He's going to be a statistic, man. That's the shame of it all...

Here we go.. Dude, I understand OTDP. I sorta know how things work in the industry - especially at the dealer level. You got taken for full blown retail. Had you shopped a bit, you could have scored $3999 plus minimal doc fees and tax for your county. A person buying used doesn't pay doc fees, they don't pay license fees, etc. They pay a tax and that's it. So, in essence, the fees are a moot point to be made. As for your "verified stats", 700 people voted. Want to take a guess as to how many 250 Ninjas were sold new in 2012 alone? Let me know when you get that number... Now, add in the number of years that bike has been around. Now, take the number of entry level riders per year that apply for license. All that adds up to a fairly large amount of "new riders". Take the number of riders that take an MSF course you were so hesitant to do or made enough excuses to fill a room as to why you couldn't. I'd say the number of "new rider crashes" are in proportion to the number of people that do not get any education as to how to ride a motorcycle. Your stats are skewed and really, a sign that you really don't understand what the motorcycling society as a whole really is. The bottom line is if you want to compare brain pans and this industry, I think you might want to get studying as soon as possible. $3k is fair to start with. Move along. Don't try and make this more than it needs to be.

HUH?!?!?!

No, no... Not an expert at all. Well, OK, I am an expert at peeling paint off slower riders running around a track apparently acting like they are looking for an exit with a McDonalds. Nah, it's all good. I tried PMing Hob, but apparently, I am too much of a dick to respond to. So, if you ever talk to the dude, tell him I am not sure what I did to piss in his Wheaties, but didn't mean to piss him off... As for the OP? Well, I think his posts throughout the site speak for themselves and trust me, I am hardly worried about a guy that crashed at a slower speed than if he had simply forgot his kick stand wasn't up and fell over... After all, it is a statistical fact that new riders are going to crash so, they should buy one already crashed and scratched so they are less upset when the inevitable happens...