The TRX900 Project kicks off

[dandywarhol]

Debris being the operative word. Maybe you're picking up "marbles" on the in lap, keep to the race line when coming in.

[coxylaad]

I am fairly certain the bits on this tyre originated from this tyre.

squashed marbles tend to look like random flattened blobs

[dandywarhol]

I think you're overly worrying - maybe the other litre bikes are opening the taps later?? How does yours compare to the guide I posted - any picking up on the sipes - that's a good indication of suspension performance

[coxylaad]

there is the tiniest lip on the leading edge, but honestly its not worth noting.

my tyres looks like none of the examples in that track day hub article. I used that before but it didnt help as I couldnt match my tyres with a specific picture.

What I do know is its not the 'wet sand look' that the article states is a perfect wearing tyre.

[coxylaad]

track day update.

I really need to start a new thread on this as its not really related to the original post.

anyways I did a track day at Cadwell park on sunday and Monday on the Fireblade.

space was limited to fast group or novice group on the sunday so we chose the fast group, as it had been 2 years since we had been there.

it was a bit irritating to be honest, queues of traffic all over the place. I know its not peoples fault if that's the speed that they are comfortable with, and it was pretty clear we were in the wrong group, even though we are not that fast. But it was difficult to string a few decent laps together without approaching a bike with a closing speed over 70+mph. dangerous. I wont be doing that again

anyways we finished up lapping around the 2 minute mark, and we did have fun. Apart from the last session when my dad tipped off and dislocated his shoulder.
hes ok, got an op in the morning and a 5 week recovery time. he'll be back.


So day 2 we were in the inters group where we normally go, and to be fair it was more of the same. slightly quicker pace but generally very random. The organizers should police these events more and forcibly move riders who are in the wrong group. Some guys must really enjoy blitzing slower riders, and other riders clearly have a massively over inflated opinion of what they are capable of!

We were down to somewhere in the region of 1:57 to 1:58 laps, when Bills rear wheel collapsed and let the wheel attempt to eat the swingarm. game over for him.

So I am left riding on my own. My mate was in the fast group and suggested I move up on the afternoon. I have never ridden in the fast group and was a little apprehensive about it, but I thought why not.

First session out was a bit rushed as I had a rear tyre to fit, I ballsed up the rear sensor for the traction control which disabled itself...first time in the fast group with some very fast riders, and I have no TC to catch me if I balls it up. It wasnt a good session. Its fair to say I got mullered a bit.

I decided to grab an instructor for some tuition - I have never done this before but my theory is that I will be wearing a high viz vest and will have the instructor right behind me, offering me some protection.

So his briefing was the following:
"follow me for the first 2 laps, to get the lines. I will go a bit slower but dont get too close to me, I will wave you past and follow you for the remainder of the session, if I need to show you anything else I will overtake again. After the session park up and come down for the debrief"

fair enough I thought. so we set away, within 4 corners he was about 200 yards up the road and i was seriously struggling to keep up
Once I adjusted myself to the pace it was ok. This guy was confident I could make the corner, so I took a bit of leap of faith and just went with him.

I loved it! I never actually overtook anyone but my pace increased loads over the session. guys were catching and passing me but nowhere near the volume that were the first session. as bikes passed me I found I could lift my pace a little, for a couple of corners before they disappeared.

When we got back the instructors comments were:
1. Your bikes got some legs hasn't it
2. My lines are shit. turning in too early and tightening the corners up.
3. I am not braking anywhere near hard enough

here's the video of said session:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhIXBzdRads


He gave me some pointers and I was about to put them into practice, when this happened:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpY5m62W80s

it turned out to be a knackered battery - Motobatt, with weird screw in terminals had also worked themselves loose. Battery in the bin, new Yuasa in its place.

I am really starting to enjoy riding the blade, its a very forgiving bike to ride, and has so much power. its quite addictive.

Might have one more day on 30th October weather dependent.

[coxylaad]

Just to add, the instructor said
"you never heard it from me but you did a 1:50 at the end there"

that's a 7 second improvement!

[dandywarhol]

Good stuff!

Here's where a rear wheel bearing collapsed at Knockhill this year from 2 cameras

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZgFP8lKTG8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ6BjyDcM48

[coxylaad]

that guy in the black flew quite far!

was everyone alright?

[dandywarhol]

Everybody ok I'm told, shaken and definitely stirred!

[coxylaad]

I think my dad in law has been very lucky!


on a side note have you ever met a guy on your racing travels called Chris Stokes?

[dandywarhol]

I know the name but don't know him Ian

Re. The Knockhill crash, it looks like the Ducato guy felt something was wrong as he'd slowed into the hairpin but it was so sudden!

[coxylaad]

he works for my company, a nice quiet unassuming lad, that held the lap record at cadwell short circuit on a 250 2 stroke

[highlander]

Good stuff!

Here's where a rear wheel bearing collapsed at Knockhill this year from 2 cameras

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZgFP8lKTG8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ6BjyDcM48

Bejesus! Here I was having a quiet Sunday morning browse and now my pants are full of wriggly things ... not in a good way.
Now I think I'll watch the Japan Motogp to calm down unless they have some life threatening crashes today...

[coxylaad]

so getting back to the TRX. as I am now 40.... I am trying to make the bike more comfortable for the road. and I am struggling.

I have pulled the bars up as far and as back as I can take them without clattering the fairing on lock, but there is still too much weight on my wrists.

I have pulled the pegs back down to stock height so I have loads of leg room, almost too much really. so the natural step from here is to lower the seat height. looking at it I have a couple of options:

1. Modify the frame and lower the entire back end - I don't like this as I really like the way there is a straight line from the top of the tank all the way back across the top of the rear fairing. I could make a completely different back end but I am not sure I want to do that. I think the bike hangs together really well.

2. Chop the seat/make a custom one and see if I can take a couple of inches out of it that way. I am looking into this option.

3. Sell it and buy a hipster scrambler. I have to say I have been looking more laid back relaxed type of bike to bimble about on. only thing about that is if I decide I have made a mistake I am screwed as I put so much into the TRX.

maybes I should just rip the bike to bits and build a completely new back end for it.

[dandywarhol]

Sit on the bike with your feet in the usual riding position and hands on the bars. Are you able to lift your arse off the seat without having to put weight on the 'bars? If you can do it comfortably, then you need to do more pressups or go for a TRX Scrambler.
40 years old - jeezus, you'll be getting grey hair next......................................