First day out on the ZX6
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:37 pm
Took the ZX6 out for its first track day at PI today. I booked into the slow group thinking that because it was my first time on this bike I should take it easy. The plan for the day was to use the first session to familiarise myself with the bike, get the suspension looked at by the guys at the circuit, then use the subsequent sessions to tune and try to go smoother and faster.
First session went as expected. There was some adjusting and re-learning I had to do going from the TL to ZX but overall they felt equally manic and fun. I didn't have too much hassle with getting back on a bike after a dry spell of about 6 months, which I was worried about, but did have to make an effort to remember the stuff from Superbike School and not just go hooning into corners and landing hard on the brakes. I also only had one major cramp, right thigh, after trying to tuck in behind the screen down main straight.
Shock setup followed. The back was set up too hard so the tech wound it back and did a minor change on the front. He also suggested that I don't pull the forks down as hard as I did for transport. Might have to invest in a rear wheel holder and back off on the handlebar harness next time. I also took some electrolyte pills to help with the cramps.
Second session was magic. The bike felt great, the lines felt good, I was looking out of corners, counter steering well and overall sticking to the SBK School stuff. I tried to stay in 4th for the twisty bits but it felt that it would've been nicer if there were more than 6 gears as I was missing the lazy rumble of the litre twin. I managed to hit 200 on the straight as my confidence into turn 1 improved.
Then it happened. Mid turn 2 as I was going into the double apex another rider came up on the inside too fast and bumped into me. We both went into the gravel, me sliding down the bitumen first then rolling a few times on my elbows and knees while he (seems to have) landing head first, then tumblling. Another rider pulled up into the gravel trying to avoid us but kept his bike up. The guy who bumped into me looked ok, he was up and moving, but the medics took him to hospital to check on his neck as he had a bit of blurred vision after the crash. His bike (RGV250 I think) looked relatively ok too, no obvious fairing damage or leaks. I had a bruised and swollen pinkie and sore hips and knees but the ZX has a longer list of injuries. The current list includes dented fuel tank, broken fairings, a broken brake lever, and a cracked radiator overflow, scraped left engine cover. Hopefully the list won’t grow once I load it off the van and have a better look.
Overall I guess the day was good. I'm sore but not injured, disappointed not crapping myself and looking forward to the next session (if anyone has a spare set of race glass for a '00 ZX6R please PM me).
I have to get it rideable by the 10th of May for the rescheduled Broadford ride day which could be a challenge as I’m going OS for a wedding in March/April.
Pics to follow later...
First session went as expected. There was some adjusting and re-learning I had to do going from the TL to ZX but overall they felt equally manic and fun. I didn't have too much hassle with getting back on a bike after a dry spell of about 6 months, which I was worried about, but did have to make an effort to remember the stuff from Superbike School and not just go hooning into corners and landing hard on the brakes. I also only had one major cramp, right thigh, after trying to tuck in behind the screen down main straight.
Shock setup followed. The back was set up too hard so the tech wound it back and did a minor change on the front. He also suggested that I don't pull the forks down as hard as I did for transport. Might have to invest in a rear wheel holder and back off on the handlebar harness next time. I also took some electrolyte pills to help with the cramps.
Second session was magic. The bike felt great, the lines felt good, I was looking out of corners, counter steering well and overall sticking to the SBK School stuff. I tried to stay in 4th for the twisty bits but it felt that it would've been nicer if there were more than 6 gears as I was missing the lazy rumble of the litre twin. I managed to hit 200 on the straight as my confidence into turn 1 improved.
Then it happened. Mid turn 2 as I was going into the double apex another rider came up on the inside too fast and bumped into me. We both went into the gravel, me sliding down the bitumen first then rolling a few times on my elbows and knees while he (seems to have) landing head first, then tumblling. Another rider pulled up into the gravel trying to avoid us but kept his bike up. The guy who bumped into me looked ok, he was up and moving, but the medics took him to hospital to check on his neck as he had a bit of blurred vision after the crash. His bike (RGV250 I think) looked relatively ok too, no obvious fairing damage or leaks. I had a bruised and swollen pinkie and sore hips and knees but the ZX has a longer list of injuries. The current list includes dented fuel tank, broken fairings, a broken brake lever, and a cracked radiator overflow, scraped left engine cover. Hopefully the list won’t grow once I load it off the van and have a better look.
Overall I guess the day was good. I'm sore but not injured, disappointed not crapping myself and looking forward to the next session (if anyone has a spare set of race glass for a '00 ZX6R please PM me).
I have to get it rideable by the 10th of May for the rescheduled Broadford ride day which could be a challenge as I’m going OS for a wedding in March/April.
Pics to follow later...
