After putting on just over 1500 km's running the bike in, I changed the oil, took the mirrors and number plate holder off, threw some old slicks on and headed out to todays test day held at Manfield to start shaking down the Richard Leong Racing/Hewitts Motorcycles ZX10R
I got to the track and there were only 5 bikes, and a handful of cars, so they scheduled us 1/2 hour sessions, sweet, plenty of time to make suspension changes!
1st session: I put in 5 laps in and came in to change the gearing and stiffen the suspension up front and rear.
2nd session: I started to feel comfortable on the bike, but still took it easy all day as it still has the original fairings on.
I was timed at a 1:10.8 early in the session. So after only 8 laps on the track I'd already beaten my personal best around Manfield, and on a STOCK bike to boot, sweet
3rd session: Stiffened the suspension up yet more and put in more laps. I noticed the brakes fading and the rear shock going off about 5 laps in. I was still bottoming the forks out under brakes. I did manage one near perfect lap, it was not timed, but it felt a lot faster than the laps I was doing 10's.
4th session: I put on another tyre as I'd worn the other rear past the wear dots, opps. I maxed out the suspension onto it's hardest settings at both ends. I was still bottoming out the forks and the rear shock was crying enough after 4 to 5 laps (the bike started snaking out of the corners, esp higgans) and I managed to wear the rest of the rear out in one session as the overheated standard shock was transferring much of the force straight to the rear tyre.
There was no point doing any further sessions after that since I was maxed out on the settings. So I loaded the bike with the satisfaction of knowing I'd already beaten my previous best time around manfield.
Observations on the ZX10R.
After going one tooth down on the front sprocket, and 2 teeth up on the back, I was still not hooking top gear on the track. Once we get that sorted, acceleration will improve.
I can get on the gas WAY earlier on this bike than I could on the 9 and brake WAY later! I loooooove slipper clutches
I was braking real late with the back stepping out just a little as I banged it down the gears, the back would come into line at the apex just in time to open the throttle, she would then just hook up and buggar off, I was astounded at the levels of traction I could get on rooted tyres past their wear dots and the tightness of the lines I could hold.
Fuel injection and the throttle control it brings just plain rocks!
Items arriving next week to install for the MotoTT track day coming this Friday.
Ohlins rear shock.
Stiffer front fork springs.
Braided brake lines.
And maybe a gearing solution, possibly a 520 conversion kit.
In all, it was a really good shake down me thinks.
A special thanks to Richard for securing the parts needed for the upgrades and to Hewitts for letting me use their workshop and assisting me. They are a great group of guys and really helped me out big time.
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Originally Posted by kiwifruit
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