Safety issue?

[RideLife]

A Guy with a 'Private sale' 600cc track bike brought it into the shop a couple of months ago for something, and I told him at that time, the bike had an issue that made it unsafe in my opinion, and he should fix it before using it.

Today I'm asked to do a service and tyres on this same track only bike, and I see, though he has been to Vic club & MotoTT track days, he has not fixed the issue.
So let me tell you the issue, and please tell me if I am being over the top picky, or if I should be giving him a Stern lecture!

On his bike the front brake lever hits against the faring when bars are at full lock. This causes the brake to come on.
I see this as being dangerous, as if the bike was to develop a 'tank slapper' while on track, and the tyre touch down again while brake locked up, he is just Doubling the problems and increasing the likelihood of a Crash.
While that's his choice, for that to happen while Others are riding around him is unacceptable to me, espeally when he has known about it for Two Months, and he can (or he could pay us to) fix it. (not just an easy move lever fix)
He may not come back to our shop again if I take a Hard line on it, but I rather that than have my mates put at this risk.

Am I being 'over the top', or is it time to give him a Hard Word??
Is the Risk enough to bother You?

Cheers
Racey

[haydes55]

Ring the organisers of the track days and let them know. Tell him the clubs won't let the bike back on the track til it's rectified.

[sidecar bob]

Everything on a bike, racebike or other should be as good as it is able to be, you are correct in being concerned.
If nothing else, print your concerns on his invoice & have him sign it to say he has read & understood the situation.

[Rhys]

30 seconds and no cost and it is fixed !

[avgas]

Clearly the brake lever needs to be removed. This is a race-bike we are talking about no?

[Billy]

A Guy with a 'Private sale' 600cc track bike brought it into the shop a couple of months ago for something, and I told him at that time, the bike had an issue that made it unsafe in my opinion, and he should fix it before using it.

Today I'm asked to do a service and tyres on this same track only bike, and I see, though he has been to Vic club & MotoTT track days, he has not fixed the issue.
So let me tell you the issue, and please tell me if I am being over the top picky, or if I should be giving him a Stern lecture!

On his bike the front brake lever hits against the faring when bars are at full lock. This causes the brake to come on.
I see this as being dangerous, as if the bike was to develop a 'tank slapper' while on track, and the tyre touch down again while brake locked up, he is just Doubling the problems and increasing the likelihood of a Crash.
While that's his choice, for that to happen while Others are riding around him is unacceptable to me, espeally when he has known about it for Two Months, and he can (or he could pay us to) fix it. (not just an easy move lever fix)
He may not come back to our shop again if I take a Hard line on it, but I rather that than have my mates put at this risk.

Am I being 'over the top', or is it time to give him a Hard Word??
Is the Risk enough to bother You?

Cheers
Racey

Absolutely not Alex,

To meet MNZ requirements, The handlebars must be able to remain clear of the bodywork at all times, But the problem being,As there is for the best part no scrutineering taking place, and what is being done is inadequate, The problem will remain, Your best approach would be to mention it in writing to him and advise the GMO of the name of the competitor for them to deal with.

[jasonu]

A Guy with a 'Private sale' 600cc track bike brought it into the shop a couple of months ago for something, and I told him at that time, the bike had an issue that made it unsafe in my opinion, and he should fix it before using it.

Today I'm asked to do a service and tyres on this same track only bike, and I see, though he has been to Vic club & MotoTT track days, he has not fixed the issue.
So let me tell you the issue, and please tell me if I am being over the top picky, or if I should be giving him a Stern lecture!

On his bike the front brake lever hits against the faring when bars are at full lock. This causes the brake to come on.
I see this as being dangerous, as if the bike was to develop a 'tank slapper' while on track, and the tyre touch down again while brake locked up, he is just Doubling the problems and increasing the likelihood of a Crash.
While that's his choice, for that to happen while Others are riding around him is unacceptable to me, espeally when he has known about it for Two Months, and he can (or he could pay us to) fix it. (not just an easy move lever fix)
He may not come back to our shop again if I take a Hard line on it, but I rather that than have my mates put at this risk.

Am I being 'over the top', or is it time to give him a Hard Word??
Is the Risk enough to bother You?

Cheers
Racey

Stick to black text. That blue you have used is fucking near impossible to see when on the light universe background.

[RideLife]

Cutting faring is not something I can do without owner permission. But if it was cut, then brake lever still hits dash with same result.
The issue is more, that despite being told of the danger, He has not been willing to sort it out. (May mean a different brake lever system, or Cut faring and re-aline dash or removing it).
At the moment I have twisted clipon's back into a less comfortable ride position. But tho the brake still touches, it now doesn't jam on as before. Will see if owner can ride with the bars pulled in so far.
Thanks for the useful comments.

[slofox]

It's dangerous. Tell him.

[AllanB]

I like the blue text on black.

Presuming the work you were doing had nothing to do with the brake lever, you could cover your arse by completing he work and making a note re brake lever on the job sheet.

I've had this done for WOF's - car tyre is legal but a note saying they expect it will require changing before the next inspection. It passes at 2.5 mm but won't last 12 months.

[mossy1200]

I had that issue.
I installed bolts into the steering head stoppers to give the bike about the same turn angle as a ducati. Problem solved.

[sidecar bob]

I had that issue.
I installed bolts into the steering head stoppers to give the bike about the same turn angle as a ducati. Problem solved.

At least you only crash when manouvering in the pits when you have no lock.

[Billy]

At least you only crash when manouvering in the pits when you have no lock.

Yea,

Its not as easy to adapt to as many would think AND it's not really fixing the problem, Obviously if the machine Alex is talking about has factory or replica bodywork fitted for the correct model, Its not fitted correctly, It all comes down to personal responsibility in the end now there is no acceptable scrutineering taking place, The stories are becoming more prevelant as time passes, Like the Ducati at Greymouth 2013 that the bottom fell out of the home made fibreglass fuel tank on impact causing a huge fire, Or the machine I checked over here last weekend that has now done 7 events all over the North Island without the sump plug wired, Or the Superlite machine thats homemade rear subframe collapsed at Manfeild at round 2 of the Suzuki series, Is it time for ALL Formula based machinery to go through the same process as sidecars ?????

[scrivy]

Is it time for ALL Formula based machinery to go through the same process as sidecars ?????

OMG!!! Could you imagine all the crying and hissy fits.......

[rustys]

Yes i agree with Alex this is not good and has to be sorted, also as Billy says, no acceptable bike scrutineering.
At times while i have been doing bike checks some of the things you find and see, make you cringe about being out on the track with these guys, at one particular meeting i was doing, two bikes had no rear brakes working, one a socket was still sitting on a nut, three bikes unwired sump plugs, one bikes exhaust pipe bracket was a piece of thin wire, 2 x filters not clamped, and one bike had the problem exactly what Alex is talking about, scares the shit out of me at times, imagine following a bike and a bloody socket flys off and goes through your visor at a rate of knots.
Time to get tougher.