Track my GSA! Have you? Would you?

[DS]

Just curious. I used to do a bit of BEMSEE racing & still keep my eye in by doing the occasional TD on the K4 thou. However, for a bit of fun, I’m seriously considering taking the GSA on a TD next year at some point. I reckon I’d be ok in the Inters at somewhere like Brans Indy, but was wondering if anyone else had tracked theirs or would consider it? If you’ve done one, what was it like? Tyre wear? Brake fade? What reaction did you get (I can imagine)?

 

[Schtum]

I did a BMW dealership trackday at Knockhill on my first 1200 in 2005. There were a couple of old Boxer Cup race bikes out on track and the GS wasn't disgraced by them.

For a while I thought I was having a good dice with a GSXR600 and managed to get past him round the outside onto the Railway Straight but he got me back under braking for the hairpin.
When I came into the pits, I discovered he was actually on a 1000 and the limitation was him rather than the bike.

If I remember correctly, tyres were the original Bridgestone Deathwings and brakes weren't an issue.

I've not be on track on the LC but imagine that on a tight track like Knockhill or Cadwell, it'd be a hoot.

 

[theoneandonly]

done a few TD's on my gs , surprises alot of people how well they go , turn up with your biggest boxes on , camp , strip it all off , and away you go. i have only ever put the crashbars, wally flaps, and lhs footrest down.

 

[Ash700]

I’ve done track day instruction on mine (GSA) and it certainly surprises quite a few other riders. I know they’re a good, all round, bike but on the track it impressed me quite a bit more than I thought it would do. If it’s ridden properly it’s extremely capable considering what type of bike it is and has the added pleasure of being seen to be unexpectedly quick, by others.

 

[er-minio]

but was wondering if anyone else had tracked theirs or would consider it?

I tracked my old 2007GSA a couple of times years ago:
first time at Cadwell Park. I loaded it in the van along with my HP2S as the weather looked shite. I actually pissed down all afternoon and I had a blast going round the track with the GS in the rain.

Second time I did an evening day at Brands Hatch Indy (actually my first time on the Indy configuration) in the inters/advanced group. I was initially a bit worried of being too slow but it went ok.
It was a warm-ish evening and the tyres started losing directionality while braking on the straight after a while, also the brakes weren't exactly happy.

I'm not fast rider by any means, so the above was due to me not riding it well/smoothly enough more than anything.

Brake fade: coming back to the garages after one of the last sessions I almost hit the barrier where the "S" is getting out of the track, as I went to squeeze the brakes and almost nothing happened
Mind you, my fuel strip was completely gone at that time and by my error (wrongly calculated distances) I basically entered the track with a full tank of fuel as extra weight as well.


I've also done a lot of – and generally try to attend every year – the BMW club's friendly trackdays (Robert's days) usually with the other bike.
There is obviously a lot of GSes during those days. A few of them extremely well ridden (David H comes to mind).

Do it, it's gonna be good fun. Especially on an LC.

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I was considering doing it again next year.
I'm growing fond of BH Indy evening sessions.