Anyone else going to the open practice on Thursday? All day bikes only :twisted:

August 04, 2005


Open Test Session
Bikes Only
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Single Day Event

It rocks! 20 minute sessions. Usually 2 groups. No instructors - just open testing.

Turbo-- I'm going with my buddy that has a built 996. You should come. Show him how it's done 8)

Lucky bastard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Have fun bro!!!!!!!! :twisted:

You can't make it? You sure????

The last 1/2 day practice I went to was sick -- $100 and had more ride time than I could handle. All you need is a track certificate . previous trackday certificate, Penguin, etc...

Can't go. Too busy to close up the business and I'm too busy studying :(

dam. , all I can't wait for is cycleoptions' track day at putnam in september on the klr. that oughta be fun.
last time I could only make it through six sessions and had to sit out the last two because my left hip went out. dislocated one too many times in my days so far :roll: I'm not one for surgeries.

That sucks GNT I usually have to sit out the last couple cause I'm fat and lazy! :roll: At least you had an excuse!

Looks like the weather will be decent. $150 for the day! I can't wait. I'm tempted to throw the slicks on the motard, but I think I will bring them and try to sell them instead. Maybe next time...

Run the slicks!!!!!!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Next time... I need the money. Plus, they SUCK to change. The rear is almost impossible to seat the bead. The beadlock on the wheel is huge and it runs a tube. I hate them! I'd hate to pop a tube tonight and not have a replament :evil:

I'd hate to pop a tube tonight and not have a replament :evil:

tell me about it. I had a cross threaded rim lock wreck the tube (heavy duty tube even) when it spun just last weekend and had to dig out my old stocker tube I used as a road spare just so I could have the bike going till I get some replacement tubes again.
I'm going to always keep one each on hand from now on.

I should learn to keep a spare front and rear on hand too. Of course I need a set for the 17s and the 21/19s... :roll:

We made it back after a successful track day! Too bad I am a dumbass and forgot the camera I borrowed. Left it on the kitchen table. My girlfriend called me when we where about 30 minutes from home. Fucker. ALready running late--Couldn't go back. I had borrowed a nice digital SLR Nikon with a decent zoom lens to try to snag some pictures. Next time...

The weather turned out great. Not too hot. We got a garage spot, so the sun didn't bother either. I split the time between the 954 and the KTM. Had a great time. My buddy almost highsided his 996 out of turn 2, but saved it. He landed on the windscreen and stayed up. That's what he gets for trying to stay in front of a racer chick :twisted:

At least the new Pilots on broke in on the 954 now

Awesome!. You learn anything new this time around?

Yup, lots of guys highside out of turn 2.

Clad you had a good time. Nice to be able to spread the track love between 2 bikes too, huh? 8)

Awesome!. You learn anything new this time around?

I learned I'm fucking slow... But that's nothing new 8) :grn

Nice to be able to spread the track love between 2 bikes too, huh?

Yeah, sort of. It's a pain in the ass to trailer two bikes, and set them both up, and learn the quirks. Especially when they are so different. It was nice to be able to let them cool down a little as needed. And when I got tired, I switched up to the KTM. It's nice except for the monthly payment x2 :evil:

Anyone want to buy a 954? It's real nice... :lol:

I'll pay for your payments plus what we work out for a payment for the price you'll sell it to me for? :twisted:
did that just make any sense :? :roll: :lol:

Ummmm sure.... :roll: Wait , what :?:

It's funny, I'm probably the only one that would be disappointed to still own a 954. I should get my head checked :eek:

Here's some pics of the bikes after we got home. Too bad I forgot to bring the camera to the track...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid180/pd3816093177d73e7f93502821fe06341/f2f0daf5.jpg


954 front - Pilots worked nice 8)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid180/pa297807c6f0b5315697f45511b6bfa55/f2f0daae.jpg

Pilot rear
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid180/pd48a8759c53b0b385972e7256a4fae05/f2f0da78.jpg

Buddys 996 rear - he loves the Dunlop GPs
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid180/p176781215ca69b44bd14aa261af79bc3/f2f0da45.jpg

996 racer dash - gotta have the lap timer
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid180/p49942a1577da72b752118218362c2640/f2f0da0a.jpg

For Turbo
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid180/p289c6ac88551ad92fe1424f1345d0020/f2f0d9d1.jpg

KTM rear
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid180/p22e79ddb5285ebb0d49cc87e18cf53b9/f2f0d99f.jpg

I think I need a heavier rear spring
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid180/p254e0e0c30507ad015e8ea3a7fd9e7ee/f2f0d970.jpg

KTM front
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid180/p5b90fdfb2417519e29f63edc9eaa21ab/f2f0d93c.jpg

I love track days :grn

I gotta fix that date on the camera :x

absolutely awesome.

Thanks GNT. I wish I had brought the good camera. Or that my buddy brought his camcorder. :evil:

I'll have to see if I can get a copy of the video from the last track day. Would be cool to post it up. 8)


I got to ride the 996 last night at our local twisty road. It goes real nice. Pretty good power, nice and skinny chasis, stable as fuck. Brakes suck nuts, and it is soo stable it turns hard. I love the sound. Like a small block V8! It has a slipper clutch too. I was playing with it -- very cool! Downshift and drop the clutch, no worries if you missed the revs a little or a lot. Nice and smooth. The only downside I can see, aside from increased clutch wear, is that a push start is no longer an option. On his 996 , that may turn into a problem -- it has high compression pistons and is pretty cranky. I wonder how long the starter will last. No big deal if you could push start, but a dead fish if you can't.

He loved the 954 - he kept saying it was so fast. Loved the brakes. Thought it was wide like a horse though. Hey you can't win 'em all!