all4A50s newbie experience

Well finished the season by coming off; Finally got the bike to where I am comfortable to ride her, started the last lap... second corner with bike on my arse, rear slick not scrubbed in enough, wet track and sliding we did go - broken rearset and gear changer and dented tank.

I realised tonight I finished in 7th place in my grade. This is the same place I finished in my first year of bucket racing and following year I won the grade. Let's hope it's a good sign.

Mods this year and resulting improvements.
Stripped 20 kg of running gear off bike attached Aprillia racing fairing and seat to bike, lowered handle bars, lifted seat by 11/2 inches = better look and mush easier handling through corners and easier to move around on bike (when combined with

Attached adjustable rearsets and rebuilt exhaust = gave 10-15 degree more lean angle.

Re-geared bike by going down two teeth on the front and going up 6 on the rear = 20% change in power delivery.

Increased header pipe by 1/4 inch = 15% quicker acceleration off the line.

Added Power Commander 5 = 5% better performance. Believe I can get more with propper Dyno tuning.

All this has led to a great little machine but still needs work.


I have just ordered an CBR150 top end conversion kit as I am still losing out big time on acceleration to the 150s.

I've decided to wait until the new top end is on the bike before getting it Dyno'd to save time.

The other big thing this year for me is seeing my younger daughter developing a real love for flying around a track. We invested in a set of leathers for her for her birthday and this gave her the confidence to start pushing it. She even managed to cut me off going around a corner!! Despite her sarcastic protests (In other words I can't be seen to enjoy doing a boyish thing) the grin on her face warms the cockles of my heart.

I'm hoping to make it Taupo again this year. Due to the amount on entries for F4 they are going to be running two classes decided on by times, which I would really love to see/race in.

see ya...