Nurburgring

[Daz]

Tyres?

Just a couple of quick questions for all the lads that have rode the ring hard on a GS. What tyres did you use? Also what pressures?
A few of us are hoping to ride the ring later this year, but I don't know wether the Tourance's will be able to cope with the extra corner speed. As I have spoked wheels on my 1150 I was thinking of Bridgestone BT020's. I'd appreciate your thoughts on this.

Thanks, Daz.

 

[Paul Young]

Sorry Daz, I can't help much with BT020's on the spoked wheels but they are the tyres I use on my alloys. Excellent when warm & give confidence in the front tyre's grip. Also wear very well - I've just replaced the set I used at the Isle of Man last year - they've been on for 18mths, done around 7k miles inluding around 1k miles around the TT course.

HTH,

 

[forry]

Re: Tyres?

Just a couple of quick questions for all the lads that have rode the ring hard on a GS. What tyres did you use? Also what pressures?
A few of us are hoping to ride the ring later this year, but I don't know wether the Tourance's will be able to cope with the extra corner speed. As I have spoked wheels on my 1150 I was thinking of Bridgestone BT020's. I'd appreciate your thoughts on this.

Thanks, Daz.

hello dav went round last year on pirelli scopions not sure on the tyre pressure they were 36 &42 psi before i left home left the luggage on the bike didn't have any problems .bit of a weave down the finish straight the speedo was showing 120 mph

 

[Daz]

Tyres

Thanks for the info lads. Paul from seeing your TT video I know you were pushing on a bit, so if the 020's can cope with the TT i'm sure they will cope with the ring. Forry to take a fully loaded GS around the ring is very impressive. Are the Pirelli's you used a trail tyre? How many laps did you do and did they show any signes of letting go? Has anyone out there ever put 3 or 4 fast laps together on the ring using Tourance's? I'm sorry if my questions keep going around in circles. What I'm realy trying to find out is, if I turn up at the ring with my usual Tourance's on will I be making a mistake?

Thanks again, Daz.

 

[nleader]

Re: Tyres

Has anyone out there ever put 3 or 4 fast laps together on the ring using Tourance's?

Yes, I have. They'll be fine and you won't be that fast unless you have a death wish. Because the 'Ring is so long, you'll never be able to remember where you are on a first visit. So don't try. Be smart enough to take it easy.

Also, I would NOT recommend trying to do multiple laps without stopping to gather your thoughts. One lap is likely to take you as long as a complete Club race at Brands Hatch. You can't do flying laps anyway and always have to go through via the car park. Just ride it like a road, based on what you can and cannot see. I've done lots of laps on a 916 and did a few laps on the GS last time I was in the area.

It is a public one way toll road, so German traffic laws apply (which is why overtaking should be done to the left of the vehicle you're passing) and your insurance will probably cover you if you aren't racing or pace-making (check the small print). This didn't apply to me when I did proper 'Ring courses on a closed road (not boasting, I was crap) but a public day is likely to be OK.

An absolutely awesome experience, whatever your speed or vehicle.

Norman

 

[Daz]

Hi Norman, thanks for the reply. A lot of what you say makes sense to anyone wanting to ride safely on any road. It's not the out and out speed that i'm concerned about, it's the total length of time spent on either side of the tyre. You've obviously got more track experience than me and so you will be aware of just how unpredictable the tyres become when they get too hot. I have rode sports bikes for the last 5 years so have a good idea of how sports tyres will cope/react in a variety of situations. But thin trail tyres fitted to a bike weighing 210+ pounds is a little different. Questions asked are always cheaper/less painfull than bad experience gained. Now that you've rode the ring on both bikes how did the GS compare?

Once again thanks for the advice,
Daz.

 

[MikeO]

But thin trail tyres fitted to a bike weighing 210+ pounds is a little different.

Daz,

sit down, this may come as something of a shock to you...

Mike

 

[nleader]

Now that you've rode the ring on both bikes how did the GS compare?

I'm definitely not a track expert - more like a complete track wuss with a strong desire to stay alive overriding any desire to lean further than the next guy or go faster than him. At my last track day (GS-mounted) I was regularily smoked by a racer on an ER-5!

The 'Ring isn't a horsepower track. It's about smooth lines and knowing where it goes next. I've got a Metzeler promo video of Helmut Dahne doing a 7min49sec lap on an RC30 - very impressive, and there were other cars & bikes about, too. However, if you're not very knowledgable you can use horsepower to squirt between the bits you're slow in.

So, the 916 was great at the 'Ring - handled beautifully (especially in the wet) and was far, far better than I was. I never felt short of power except when getting blitzed by 'Blades. The GS was also great to ride, but other people were using their excess power to go past on straight bits - you just can't accelerate as fast. Last time I was there, Bob Southgate (Hi Bob) got fed up and p**sed off on his Triumph when he had a chance and I just didn't have the horses in the GS to stay in touch.

Here's a pic of me on the 916 in the Karousel.

Go. Have fun. Be sensible. Get hooked...

Norman

 

[Daz]

Tyres

Hi Mike thanks for pointing out my lack of concentration when stating the weight. I'm sure there won't be many GS's out there weighing in at a mere 240kg. With all the customizing that we do to them it's a wonder they have any performance left in them at all. It all goes to show how well thought out these bikes are. They're tall, heavy and blessed/crippled with a tractor engine that no other company would except, and yet they're so much fun.
Norman, thanks for all your input and advice. Enjoy your riding and stay safe.

Cheers, Daz.

 

[Bramble]

useful? dunno, but good fun

Daz
Not helpful, but I like this........................
I was reminded this w/end of a VHS from Duke called "In car 956". It's Derek Bell driving the Rothman's Porsche 956 - yes I know it's got 4 wheels - but it's a great vid. He does the 'ring in a tad over 6 mins (might be a different track to today's before you clever Gssssers make fun) - and he's only sitting 6 ins from the floor, so he can't see that much. It's worth buying, turning the surround sound up and enjoying.................the shots from Spa and LeMans (" about 240mph at this point") are my favourite.

It's one of those vids I always enjoy after just another glass/bottle of wine/whiskey! But that's a thread all to itself.

Cheers!

 

[Daz]

Bike meet?

Hi Bramble, thanks for the video tip. I noticed that you live in Leek. A few of us local GSers have a monthly bike meet at the Broughton arms in Rhode Heath. If you would like to come along to this months meet, its on Tuesday the 15th arrive around 8. Its always a good night and new faces are most welcome.

Regards, Daz.

 

[Bramble]

Daz, thanks for the invitation.............the 15th doesn't work for me but I know where the Broughton Arms is and I'll look out for future dates on the NW board.

 

[stumpi]

Hi guys,


Have been there too, did 30 laps in a weekend in July 2002, went with the guys you took a photo of Forry, Byrne up tours, I know Simon and Heather that run it. Managed regular sub 9 min laps on my zx6.

The first lap, I thought Sh!t, this place is madness, by lap 5 or so I knew all the blind crests and bends and by lap 10 or so was totally dialled and flying.

David Jeffries ( God rest his soul ) was there, my mate spotted him coming through the barrier as we were waiting for another guy. He was on a big beemer, me on the zx, and I followed him for most of a lap until he got fed up with grinding it away trying to make it go quick. He then waved me past, can you beleive that....
Mind you, I think it would have been a different story had he been on something that did over 120 and actually went round bends eh...

I've raced for a few years, on and off road, Enduroed in Europe and generally done crazy things on bikes but, I love "The Ring" and reccommend everyone to go. It's the best thing I ever did on two wheels. Bar none.

But, as mentioned before, never take a bike onto a track ( or toll road ) without first being fully prepaired to bin it.

 

[Stoney]

2005 opening times attached.

 

[stumpi]

With a bit of help, I've managed to get this 2min snip of my mate and I at the ring.
He's on a GSXR1000, I'm following on a ZX6.

sorry its so small, 100mph is top centre on the left dial.

http://www.xs4all.nl/~daisy/images/ringvideo.asf


Enjoy!