A cunning plan? Or a monumentally stupid idea?

[TonyB]

Listen ya bastid, I MAY have put on a LITTLE weight but there's no need to drag it out on front of everybody on this forum, OK????


If it helps I won't ride so close to you next time.

LOL Maybe thats the answer- lighter cops on Harleys... then they'd never catch me anyway

[slowpoke]

Tony I faced a similar problem after a bit of a "ground...sky...ground...sky" moment myself. After getting a bit too enthusiastic on a freeway on ramp (trying to get a good run on a couple of mates on a 'blade and a ninja) I found out that race tyres, even though they're treaded and road legal, don't handle the multitude of temperature cycles you experience with a street ridden motorcycle. They tend to "go-off" and harden over time..a lesson my 916 and I learnt the hard way!
After experiencing that...aaah..."opportunity for improvement", I made the choice to get my thrills on the track. To that end my missus had been making noises about getting back on a bike so we went shopping for a dual purpose bike. No, not a GS Beemer but something she could enjoy on the road and I could enjoy on the track.
We ended up over budget, as per usual, and picked up an old R1 race bike with all the road gear included. There was a bit of work to do to make it streetable but we've found the Ohlins shock to be an absolute snap to adjust between her road riding (remote adjustable pre-load and ride height) and me wobbling around the track.
Now to the bit you are interested in, due to having blown the budget we were stuck with the road tyres we fitted to the bike, Pilot Powers. While the guys with slicks and tyre warmers etc are quicker straight out of the box the Powers have been great. They are plenty good enough for a Clubman level rider and you don't have to freak out at the sight of a damp track.

[ducatilover]

i might try doing some trackdays when i have the bros650 on the road. good luck with your racing tonyb and id say get some good road tyres so you can go in the wet aswell, and the lack of grip compared to slicks can always be a usefull thing and you can learn to ride your bike faster than most and youll be even better when you/ if you get some slicks

[gav]

So you still going to race the bucket? I understand a RG150 is faster around Ruapuna than your FZR1000
Run road tyres, you don't want the hassle of slicks in Winter at Ruapuna, it rains half the time at club days and the Fizzer won't be too much fun on a cold damp track. Oh, don't forget to put your rego on hold over winter too, Oh, it already is? nevermind....

[TonyB]

Thanks Slowpoke, I appreciate the advice.
As for YOU Gav I believe the point of racing is to get over the finish line first, and he was NEVER going to manage that
Anyway, it wasn't my bike that was being thrashed, it was the idiot riding it! Thats one of the many reasons I want to do this- I must've looked bloody INCOMPETENT out there The only way to fix that is practice, practice, practice.
Yes I'm still racing the bucket. Prepare to be thrashed.

[dangerous]

Yes I'm still racing the bucket. Prepare to be thrashed.

Now that worries me... when you put your mind to it Tony you haul arse well, remember Levels last year? you on a sad proddy bucket me strugling to keep up on a moderfied CB... well till you ended up on ya arse but hey my point is you were riding well and umm... I'm not looking forward to taking you on this year now that your bucket will be... a moderfied

[TonyB]

Be afraid D. Be very afraid.