R1200GS Track day tool.

[patzx12]

A few pictures of 2 trackdays last month. The 2 days were dry amongst a sea of rain that month.
The Venue:
Mondello Park, great place well organised and run by a nice team. High safety standards and loads of marshals. Great instruction for first timers in the beginners group. Its a real chill out place switch off the phone relax and enjoy a day of petolheadism.




The Bike:
My well thrashed and blown up 05. This was a spare bike I had to press into commuting duties after I sold the Adventure.
Funny thing is it runs perfectly, powerful and the smoothest GS I have ever ridden.
I has a full system and small wheels wearing Dunlop Qualifiers. The wheels seem to suit this bike. Its a non ABS and as such is very light.
Top yoke is home made form billet and a mini screen to get that lovely wind blast.
Perfect bike for trackdays, just the right amount of power and superb handling.
The Rider:
Me, quite a lot of track day and Nurbergring experience and zillions of fast road miles, I do not have a racer mentality and I am not bothered about lap times, I just enjoy blowing off the cob webs a few times a year without the hassles it can bring on the public highway.
Arrival:
These days I always trailer the bike, I leave home at 5.30AM and also I have to bring tools, kettle, grub and my support team of 1.


Cont:....

 

[patzx12]

Watiing for the off, always a bit of nerves on the first session (about 20 minutes).
First session is usually bad and I think I have forgoten how the ride a bike, but the secret is smoothness and little use of the brakes, start slow and gradually build up. warmed up tyres are a must.
I was in the intermediate group for the first day and the fast group for the second, I prefered the fast group there were some really good guys out there and it was great to watch the action from the best seat in the house.

Some guys go too fast to soon. I had a laugh the first day, first session 2 lads on R1,s or the like just had to pass out the GS straight away only to fall off in front of me, both of them!

 

[patzx12]

I ride smooth and use the higher gears to avoid a down change errow which would result in a dropped valve (been there done that).
I know I can go faster but I never fully commit to a corner, thats my safety factor.

 

[earthmover]

Nice one!
Have done three sessions at Oulton Park on mine, (would be rude not to, it's only down the road) and have just booked for another on the 28th of this month.
I just harden the suspension a couple of clicks and go for the fun of being able to explore mine and the bike's limits in a controlled environment. I'm not fast enough to stray out of the novice group, nor brave enough! I always keep my mirrors on too, so that I can keep an eye out for wannabe's that think they have to pass the lardy bike in front, despite not having the ability to do so safely.
I had a brilliant day last time I went, playing with a bloke on a Buell. Nothing silly, just each of us took it in turn to lead around the track.
Gets that last bit of wear out of your tyres too!
Mark

 

[GS TRV]

respect for giving it a bash

I took my GS to the Ring but found it a frustrating tbh so went back the following with double the bhp and that was a party

 

[patzx12]

I am trying to continue but having difficulty compressing the professional photogrher's images.

 

[Packer]

Some guys go too fast to soon. I had a laugh the first day, first session 2 lads on R1,s or the like just had to pass out the GS straight away only to fall off in front of me, both of them!

Yes, I've seen that scenario as well.

My 1150 isn't powerful enough for the track. Still great fun, especially overtaking what should be faster bikes on the twisty bits but frustrating when some of them catch you and overtake on the straights only to brake way too early at the next corner and upset your line.

 

[Packer]

I am trying to continue but having difficulty compressing the professional photogrher's images.

Upload them to a free Flickr acount and then embed links with the little mountain/yellow sky icon on the message construction(?) screen. Easy to do and you can choose the size to link to on the Flickr site.

 

[patzx12]

Thanks Packer, I am on it.

 

[Peak]

Looks like great fun and always wanted to take my 1200 on the track! Earthmover, who's organising the one at Oulton on the 28th?

 

[earthmover]

Earthmover, who's organising the one at Oulton on the 28th?

No Limits.

www.nolimitstrackdays.com



Mark

 

[Peak]

Thanks Mark I'll check it out, see if I can convince a few mates aswell....

Sorry for the hijack patzx12

 

[patzx12]

I am testing flicker:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43582875@N08/4008614235/

 

[patzx12]

More Flicker, does it work?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43582875@N08/

 

[patzx12]

Nicely munched tyres.

Bike back to touring duties.

Also my wife,s sweet Kawasaki, the bike I would like to Track day.

Hope you loked

 

[Dee Tee]

More Flicker, does it work?

Not for me . Password needed.

 

[patzx12]

Fixed (I think)

This is a clip from last year on standard wheels, same bike.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PHct-r_8Al0&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PHct-r_8Al0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

 

[Stewart H]

That looks like great fun

Stewart

 

[Scottishbmwbiker]

Flicker works fine for me

Great pics