New Era Racing

[Strika]

Went up to Winton yesterday for a test day. I had altered the set-up and wanted to try some new pads, as well as learn the "NEW" Winton circuit.

I had not ridden up there since 1996 way before they extended the track. So i figured it would be a good opportunity to sort out a few niggles and make sure those new Valter Moto rearsets, were pefectly set-up for me.

I arrived just before 10 and signed on and set-up. I changed the front pads, the gearing, and made sure the rearsets were as close as i could get statically in the pits.

I rolled out of the pits and onto pit lane for my first session. As the first part of the circuit was the same as the old circuit, and my tyres were nice and warm, i got stuck straight in and got off the gas as soon as i entered the circuit. I was taking it a little easy on the brakes as i was bedding in some new pads, and didnt want to glaze them up. I

I hit 4th gear and started braking about 20 meteres before my usual braking point. I squezed the front lever and felt the reassuring solid feel of my lever............but nothing.........it wasn't slowing down............the lever was solid but there was no friction

I banged it back to third to try and slow it some. then started using a little rear brake, it wasn't slowing (ever tried to stop a bike with just the back brake, it aint fun), I was getting closer and closer to the edge of the track, I had already missed the turn point.

Just when i thought i was screwed the front brakes started to bite. Then they locked solid . I managed to let them off before it spat me off thankfully, but by this stage i was in the dirt

I tried to slow it some more grabbing second just before leaving the track. It was then i realised that at this speed and rate of decceleration, I was going to head smack bang into a CONCRETE WALL. Arrgggghhhh!

I had no choice, so i backed it in sideways on the rear brake, and laid it down in the gravel trap. Even doing this we only stopped 3 feet shy of the barrier.

I came down hard on my left side. (for those who know me 1.sorry and 2. you will know that this is the shoulder that i only just had fully rebuilt )

I picked my self and the bike back up and had a look. A few bent bits but no biggie.

Managed to do another four sessions after a repaired the bike with a best of 1'35", which is a loooooooooong way off the pace. But I was unable to use the brakes much as the shoulder would colapse under hard braking

Closer inspection of the old injury has reavealed a small fracture around where the screws were removed from the last rebuild. And a now back in place but was dislocated clavicle. Ouch!

Good news is i am feeling mint apart from a little pain, and i will be ready to style it up for the Winton Round on the 25th Of sept.

The New Valter Moto rearsets peformed really well, and did not even bend in the crash, let alone break

[dave#3]

Found another photo too of the last round. Sorry to hear this practice wasn't quite so good.

Any ideas what happened ? Not bled properly ?

[Strika]

thanks for the pic. I think that was early on in one of the races. I dispensed of those around me bar 1 by the flag

the brake issue wasn't a bleed isssue, as it was only a pad change, and it wasn't the gumby beginners mistake of not setting the pistons back against the pads either. I had solid lever on the race stand in the pits, and after the crash still had a solid lever. It was just an unusually slippery pad to start.

Once that initial film was off them, they worked a treat. Better than any pad i have ever used on that bike. They just didn't start life as grippy as even a standard new pad. It may have something to do with the fact that they have a high carbon content in them. Dunno, but they are good now and thats all that matters. Hurts a bit though.

[Maty10]

Sorry to hear about the tumble, hope all is well.

[Strika]

Thanks Maty,
I am fine, even went for a little road ride this arvo with Dangerous Dave Bit sore but ok. Main thing is it wasn't a riding fcuk up persay, but more machine error, so it hasn't dented my confidence at all. I still have full intention of being fit for Winton in 3 weeks. Wanna come n pit crew??????

I need some cute umbrella Girls too Calling Gig n zzr_angel

[smek]

good to hear you bounced back. that's a cool photo, go the old bikes

[Maty10]

Love to, but that weekends my old man's 50th and sister's 21st. Thanks for the offer though.

Been a damn long time since I was in the pits of a supers race, my uncle used to be in the B grade supers back when I was knee high to the proverbial.

[Strika]

Love to, but that weekends my old man's 50th and sister's 21st. Thanks for the offer though.

Been a damn long time since I was in the pits of a supers race, my uncle used to be in the B grade supers back when I was knee high to the proverbial.

God I hope I didn't race against him

[Maty10]

Chris Burns on a "popup light" katana, sponsored by Mick Hone. Raced between 80 and 83 I guess

[Strika]

Phew thank god, well before my era

[Strika]

i gave myself and early mark and a gold star today and knicked outta work at about 2.30 to spend some "Quality" time with the race bikes.

Here is the latest idea, although this is also subject to change without notice

After seeing a pic of a 1995 F1ZX6 on the internet last night, I have decided that a black frame and swingarm on my racers will look trick. So today I pulled everything apart.

The body work off my No1 racer, Fairing upper/lower, ducktail, tank and gaurd, was pulled off and taken down to the painters for prep and painting. It is going to be totally Kawasaki Green, except for the belly pan which will be matt black. Apart from Number boards obviously.

I then took the body work off the spare bike (Miranda's old one) and painted number plate boards on the fairing upper and both sides of the ducktail, then drilled the required drain holes for the belly pan. So next race meeting, unless the new fairings are ready will be run with Dark Purple, almost black fairings.

At the same time I was doing all this i also removed the swingarm from the spare bike, and put the spare frame in the jeep to take to the powder coaters thursday. (anyone know of a good powder coater local to spotswood/williamstown????)

So eventually I will end up with all green body work with a black belly pan and black frame and swingarm. Very sim to my 2005 636 funnily enough.

[Strika]

Painted the spare frame in a dummy run today. I just did a roughy to see how it would come out. Wanted to make sure i got the right colours and finish before i went ahead full steam and changed both bikes. here is a pic, as said, take no notice of the dags, or runs, i will do a proper job on the others.

[HemiDuty]

Yeah I think they will look way better. I can never decide between black and silver frames, but changing the factory look is the way to go.....

[Strika]

Well what i thought would be a lot harder job than it looked, turned out to be exactly that, but not for the reasons i originally thought

The calipers bolted up perfectly. Only problem was I couldn't get it to bleed up, till I discovered that the LH caliper was pissing out fluid. Obviously a fecked seal
So off to the wreckers again in the am to swap it over Here is a pic of how they mounted up. As said before K2 GSXR1000 calipers will bolt directly to the fork legs of a ZX6. With modified bolts only.

[HemiDuty]

Hey man, will they bolt up to a 96 ZX7R as well? And are they better than the standard ZX7R Tokico 6-pots?