Ok, many people have had a go at me over the years for going a little quicker on the road then they think I should and have said, if you want to find out what riding is all about go track.
I'm not talking about my mates here that all know me well and that have ridden with me in the past, but I'm talking about those who think they know me and have suggested all kind of things over the years.
As you know (if you're a regular visitor to KB) I did my first track day a few weeks back and by booking too late ended up in the fast group. I didn't mind at all and really enjoyed being in the fast group and had a lot of fun.
I learnt a few things though. In fifteen minutes of full throttle riding and full on the brakes at the end of Pukekohe's straight leading into the hairpin, things do get rather hot. I can see high rates of wear on tyres, discs, pads and peg feeler bolts. So one really needs a dedicated track bike and of course a sponsor otherwise the bank balance is going to get hit pretty hard.
I have ridden my K6 fairly hard on the road over it's 33,000km life which I traded a K2 for after riding it 35,000kms. But, on the road things get a chance to cool down for various reasons.
As mentioned in my post on my first track day, after two sessions, the scorpion logo on my exhaust went black around the edges and started melting away and I blued my front discs somewhat under very hard braking at the end of the back straight. I never felt out of my depth and was comfortable on the track. It's a real buzz and your fifteen minute sessions go real quick.
Yep, I did enjoy it and going hard out was really cool. You get a good work out as well as your bike. I appreciated Puddy allowing me to tuck in behind him for the first 2 laps to get a feel of the track and the right lines as track riding is a little different to road lines.
At the end of it all and thinking over that day.... I still prefer road riding over the track. That's not to say I won't do any more track days.
Why is this, you might say? I think it's all about the unknown, that every corner is not the same, that it's always different, unpredictable, dangerous, even though track days are certainly that when on the ragged edge.
I prefer a rapid run on a well know long curvy, technical piece of road then a full on blast around a track. Both are a lot of fun, don't get me wrong, but road riding has that extra element. Can't quite put a finger on it. maybe it's you just don't know whats around the corner and you need to prepared to take evasive action, or change your line becuase of a patch of seal or dead possum.
Your reactions have to be spot on and in some ways you have to concentrate a lot more when you up the pace. I dunno, there's something about riding a decent road on a bike. It's always changing, nothing is ever exactly the same.
The 1400 is actually a great track bike but maybe would be even more fun on a more technical track as the back straight on Puke limits the bike somewhat. I thought riders would pass me a lot quicker but the 1400 managed to get off the clock at an "indicated" 260kmh. It's fast but I've sat at off the clock speeds between Taupo and Napier for sustained periods anyway and of course other areas where it's been 'safe' to do so, so speeds not the issue.
Road or track... each to their own I say. For me, road has it over the track but maybe a session on Taupo or Hampdon may have me changing my mind.
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Originally Posted by White trash
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