http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v448/jackson_ljj/track2.jpg

First track session with my k4 600 and ouldn't seem to get my posture right and get my knees down. I hanged off half a butt cheek. Ball of my foot on edge of the pegs and heel of my boots stepped up against the heel plate.

After the session, checked my rear tyre. 4-5 mm on the left and 6-7 mm on the right.

Had a hard time trying not to curl around the tank when hanging off especially on right handers. Well the course is small and technical.

Pointers from anyone?



That's me been chased by a 150cc.

You need to get your upper body off more, look past the inside of the windscreen. Also go for a full cheek. Like this:

http://www.gixxer.com/uploads/15_05_2005_Poznan_0820_lille2.JPG

http://www.gixxer.com/uploads/2005_Poznan_1586.JPG

The more you hang off, the lower you centre of gravity, the less you have to lean the bike, the more tracktion you have. This is an older pic where I didn't get the upper body off that, notice how much I have to lean the bike to keep the line - if I'd hung off more I could have gone faster:

http://www.gixxer.com/uploads/0806025b_std3.jpg

I actually got a full cheek off until the crack and I am kinda short at 5'6 as I am Asian.

How do you position your inside feet on the peg when leaning in. I tend to arch my feet outwards with the heel of my boots pressing on the heel plate and ball on the edge of the peg tilted at an angle.

How do you position your inside feet on the peg when leaning in. I tend to arch my feet outwards with the heel of my boots pressing on the heel plate and ball on the edge of the peg tilted at an angle.



I have my foot all the way in against the frame and heel guard, ball on the peg. In the really tight corners I turn it inwards (sole towards the frame) for more grund clearance. The pegs on my track bike are shortened (by asphalt http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif ) so my boots (size 12 American) stick out over them even when they're all the way back.

Try moving your head more to the inside of the turn (this will stop you from rotating around the tank).

Believe that pesky helmet of mine got to go. It got into the way of my race hump when I am looking into the turn. I guess I have to flex my inside arm more and bring my head more to the side.

Any good part of the body to stretch before a track session. I know my triceps and inner thighs ache after a day or 2.

As was said already, looks like your hanging your ass off but holding your upper body in-line with the bike. Try exaggerating your upper body movement to make yourself get out there so you are more comfortable getting off the side. When I first tried this I would bring my head just about inline with the mirror. Also, drop and aim that inside shoulder down into the turn some, these will both force you to bring your upper body out from the centerline of the bike.

http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif No wonder you can't get your body position right, you're probably scared sh**less! Look at that first pic and ask yourself what genius puts a concrete/cinder block wall up in a corner like that?! Who needs AIRFENCE when you've got concrete, eh? http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/idea.gif Christ, I hope that's an optical illusion!

http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif No wonder you can't get your body position right, you're probably scared sh**less! Look at that first pic and ask yourself what genius puts a concrete/cinder block wall up in a corner like that?! Who needs AIRFENCE when you've got concrete, eh? http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/idea.gif Christ, I hope that's an optical illusion!



Holy shit... Didn't notice that at first but DAMN!!! I checked out the track's website (on the banner in the pic) and it looks like it's like that everywhere. Maybe 10 yards of grass and then the wall http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/plthumbsdown.gif

Guess they don't have the same safety requirements in Malaysia http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/plthumbsdown.gif

Here, I'll make this Really easy for ya...Copy what Arron Yates is doing... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
http://www.gixxer.com/uploads/aron_at_fontana.jpg

That's how you should be on the bike...But, there's Nothing writen in stone about what is proper, and what isn't...Get more track time, experiment with different positions, find one that suits you, and accomplishes what you need..

Thanks for the advice guys. Been working on flexing that elbow of mine on street riding. guess I am just not used to my head been too close to the asphalt. Will be getting new tires before heading down for another session. My current tyres' carcass have harden and all the heat cycles are depleted.

Well, FYI, that track is about 30 km from my place and it charges about US$10 per hour.

So you cant have the best of both worlds.

Try to get your head lined up where your mirror would be.

Hanging off the bike is to prevent the bike pushing the tires. The more lean angle you give the less tire you ride on, so hanging OFF the bike keeps the bike more upright. Do what works for you! There are some guys that have messed up forms but are fast as hell.

A general rule is to keep your head over or toward the apex side of the gas cap. If you put your head away from the cap then your leaning the bike too much. You can push the bike more upright to get on the throttle earlier. You dont want to pin the throttle at full lean, especially with a bike with the suspension set up right.

Notice the line of Aarons backbone its parallel with the bike, very nice and smooth

IMG]http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/1174/aronatfontana3wy.jpg[/IMG]

MMMM knee dragging http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I gotta do that one day. I see track days in my near future. Gonna get a full suit in the spring http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/icon_rant.gif

Ok guys. back from another Track session. Too bad there isn't any cameraman so no pics.
Manage to grind the left slider in a hairpin left at 55 miles/hr using Michelin Pilot Powers at Pressure 30/29. Tires take some time to warm but neverthless offer better grip than stock 014. Found that the tyre still have some allowance after grind the slider. About 2-3 mm of chicken strip.

Lesson learnt is that the bike can be capable of insane lean angle but is the rider able to handle it.

Going to get the hang of it. Thank god, Pasir Gudang Circuit is only 22 km away.

Manage to grind the left slider in a hairpin left at 55 miles/hr using Michelin Pilot Powers at Pressure 30/29. Tires take some time to warm but neverthless offer better grip than stock 014. Found that the tyre still have some allowance after grind the slider. About 2-3 mm of chicken strip.




Yep, that's the whole point of hanging off http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif Leaving more grip reserves for the tires. As you can see, you can even lean over further after your knee touches and this while you're probably already faster through the turns than before when you had less reserves http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

On top of that, when you have your knee down, it's easier to control rear wheel slides because you have another support point http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Glad that you tried out the Powers instead of the 014s. It is currently the best street sport tire on the market (although it will be interesting to see how the new Metzelers and Dunlops perform compared to it...). You might want to upgrade to Power Races or even slicks over time as you get faster but as long as you don't have any traction and/or overheating issues with the Powers, just stick with those http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

MMMM knee dragging http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I gotta do that one day. I see track days in my near future. Gonna get a full suit in the spring http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/icon_rant.gif



Look forward to it a lot Mel. When you get to the track you'll wonder why you waited so long http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/bounce.gif And you'll realize how much your riding skills suck http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif No, really, you'll be surpriced how much you can improve on a track. I'd say that each of the first couple of track days you do give you more skill improvement that a full season on the street http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif Seriously...

And yeah, the knee dragging is addictive - at first... Then that's not enough... Then you want to drag elbow - and head http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/rotflol.gif And then you find out that street tires don't have enough traction for you so you buy slicks - but then you also buy tire warmers - and another set of wheels for rain tires - and tools to do your own tire changes because it gets annoying and expensive to get other people to do it for you - and a generator to run the warmers and conpressor in case you can't get a power outlet at the track - and then you'll want a lap timer so you can see how many seconds the new tires cut off... And then you'll want to start racing and from there it just spirals into hell... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/rotflol.gif

No, I'm not addicted - I can stop any time - really - just one more - season... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

My bank advisor hates me, though http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/rotflol.gif

Oh.. I forgot to mention running 150 feet into a gravel trap when I hit a false neutral between 4th and 3rd gear heading toward turn 1. Hit the gravel trap at 65 mile/hr and just steadied the bike, holding onto the front brake lightly waiting for the gravel to scruff off enough speed. When the bike finally stopped, the tyre wall was abt 3 feet away.

Figured that coz of my GP shift pattern, I have to pre-position my toes beneath the shift level when approaching corners. Another lesson learnt. That was a close call. Had 2 buddies who went into the same gravel trap and 1 came out with a dislocated shoulder.

How do you tell if a tyre is overheating or not warmed up enough. I have seen my buddies 014 so badly scruffed up that rubbers are peeling off while mine only show some minor scruffing. I am pumping 30 psi front and 29 psi rear with maybe 31-32 degrees ambient temperature

All Iknow is uninflated tyres will wobble at corners while Overinflated tyres will skid at corners.

I have a full race fairings coming my way too. It's carbon fiber with projector headlights and I got it off a local shop owner who crashed his K4 750. He's gona patch up the fairings and have it painted to a stock Y/B K4 600 colours for me. All for US$600..

Here is a layout of the track.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v448/jackson_ljj/PG.jpg

Oh.. I forgot to mention running 150 feet into a gravel trap when I hit a false neutral between 4th and 3rd gear heading toward turn 1. Hit the gravel trap at 65 mile/hr and just steadied the bike, holding onto the front brake lightly waiting for the gravel to scruff off enough speed. When the bike finally stopped, the tyre wall was abt 3 feet away.

Figured that coz of my GP shift pattern, I have to pre-position my toes beneath the shift level when approaching corners. Another lesson learnt. That was a close call. Had 2 buddies who went into the same gravel trap and 1 came out with a dislocated shoulder.





Good save http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif A lot of people panic and grab the brakes... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif



How do you tell if a tyre is overheating or not warmed up enough. I have seen my buddies 014 so badly scruffed up that rubbers are peeling off while mine only show some minor scruffing. I am pumping 30 psi front and 29 psi rear with maybe 31-32 degrees ambient temperature



Are you on 014s too? Sounds like he's riding harder than you because peeling is quite normal at the track, even with street tires. 30/29 should be fine http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Are you on 014s too? Sounds like he's riding harder than you because peeling is quite normal at the track, even with street tires. 30/29 should be fine http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif



I am running Pilot Powers while he's running on 014 on his K5 1L. Maybe heading of for my next session on 4th Jan...

First off, you can lean you bike more. It looks like your getting your body over, but not rotating your hips. Rotate your hips around the tank. IE.. move right, put your right hip forward. Then turn your outside foot out (point your toe away from the bike). Make sure your arms are relaxed and use your outside forearm to grip the tank.

When I go into a high speed turn, I've got my butt almost completely off the bike. The back of my knee is on the outside corner of the seat. My shoulders are square, and make a straight line to my outside elbow. Think about using your elbows and knees as hooks to hold onto the outside of your bike. I think a little more lean angle, and rotating your hips would let you feel the tri-pod.

Are you on 014s too? Sounds like he's riding harder than you because peeling is quite normal at the track, even with street tires. 30/29 should be fine http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif



I am running Pilot Powers while he's running on 014 on his K5 1L. Maybe heading of for my next session on 4th Jan...



Tyres will also peel more if the suspension isn't working properly.

MMMM knee dragging http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I gotta do that one day. I see track days in my near future. Gonna get a full suit in the spring http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/icon_rant.gif



Look forward to it a lot Mel. When you get to the track you'll wonder why you waited so long http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/bounce.gif And you'll realize how much your riding skills suck http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif No, really, you'll be surpriced how much you can improve on a track. I'd say that each of the first couple of track days you do give you more skill improvement that a full season on the street http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif Seriously...

And yeah, the knee dragging is addictive - at first... Then that's not enough... Then you want to drag elbow - and head http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/rotflol.gif And then you find out that street tires don't have enough traction for you so you buy slicks - but then you also buy tire warmers - and another set of wheels for rain tires - and tools to do your own tire changes because it gets annoying and expensive to get other people to do it for you - and a generator to run the warmers and conpressor in case you can't get a power outlet at the track - and then you'll want a lap timer so you can see how many seconds the new tires cut off... And then you'll want to start racing and from there it just spirals into hell... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/rotflol.gif

No, I'm not addicted - I can stop any time - really - just one more - season... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

My bank advisor hates me, though http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/rotflol.gif



LOL I can't wait. I think I love you http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/bounce.gif muhahahah

Now I just need a garage for all tha stuff.

MMMM knee dragging http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I gotta do that one day. I see track days in my near future. Gonna get a full suit in the spring http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/icon_rant.gif



Look forward to it a lot Mel. When you get to the track you'll wonder why you waited so long http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/bounce.gif And you'll realize how much your riding skills suck http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif No, really, you'll be surpriced how much you can improve on a track. I'd say that each of the first couple of track days you do give you more skill improvement that a full season on the street http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif Seriously...

And yeah, the knee dragging is addictive - at first... Then that's not enough... Then you want to drag elbow - and head http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/rotflol.gif And then you find out that street tires don't have enough traction for you so you buy slicks - but then you also buy tire warmers - and another set of wheels for rain tires - and tools to do your own tire changes because it gets annoying and expensive to get other people to do it for you - and a generator to run the warmers and conpressor in case you can't get a power outlet at the track - and then you'll want a lap timer so you can see how many seconds the new tires cut off... And then you'll want to start racing and from there it just spirals into hell... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/rotflol.gif

No, I'm not addicted - I can stop any time - really - just one more - season... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

My bank advisor hates me, though http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/rotflol.gif



LOL I can't wait. I think I love you http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/bounce.gif muhahahah

Now I just need a garage for all tha stuff.



http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/icon_rant.gif

I know, I have bike stuff all over the house and garage. Plus I have a heated storage room at my parent's farm for winter storage and it's full http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/rotflol.gif My latest addition is a 5' high steel tool wagon with a shitload of drawers and compartments because I got tired of messing with multiple tool boxes that were really too deep to find anything in http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/banana.gif It fits right in between the bikes in the van and makes a great addition to the 10'x10' pavilion I normally use trackside http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wait.gif http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/rotflol.gif

Now where did I put that track pipe, need a fix... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/rotflol.gif

BAck from my 3rd track session on the Gixxer6.

Finally grinded my right knee pluck..when entering a high speed right hander at 60 miles/hr.

After the 1st time, it's easy.. could almost grind every right hander..the weird thing is..now my left hander feel shitty and I couldn't position myself comfortably. am like placing too much weight on the pegs and none on the rider seat during a leftie.

Found the trick to body posture....it's to rotate your shoulder into the turn.. and using the outer forearm as support against the fuel tank.

Hand a fun time grinding down my knee plucks. Going to need replacement soon..

Now all that's left is to work on my straightline braking and gear for each turn before I start taking some timings...Thank everyone for your wonderful hints..

Stop worring about draggin your knees....more important things to work on... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

By the way...60 mph would be considered a medium speed turn...at best.. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Sorry for the over-statement for high speed corner.

Well i came back from yet another track session and progress further..I would say my cornering posture are getting more and more comfortable and natural.

Points to note
------------------
1. Hang off 1 full butt cheek
2. Support outer elbow against tank.
3. Relax the inner forearm.
4. Rotate shoulder into the corner.
5. Rotate head to look into the corner.
6. Listen to the sweet grinding sound of that knee pluck....

I will be working on my braking techniques next..
Hard braking and hopefully a little trail braking..

I have to apologise for the lack of pics. Someday when there is a cameraman around, I post a b4 and after for that last corner.

Meanwhile, anybody notice something weird about Pilot Powers wear pattern? They dun seem to get scruff up as much as the Pilot Race or Diablo Corsa.

Cheerios

Meanwhile, anybody notice something weird about Pilot Powers wear pattern? They dun seem to get scruff up as much as the Pilot Race or Diablo Corsa.




That's not weird - that's just because they are harder... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Meanwhile, anybody notice something weird about Pilot Powers wear pattern? They dun seem to get scruff up as much as the Pilot Race or Diablo Corsa.




That's not weird - that's just because they are harder... http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif



+1

Power Race is a DOT race tire, Pilot Powers are a street sport/track day tire.

I've always wondered what DOT stands for?

I've always wondered what DOT stands for?



(The US) Department Of Transportation - tires and other vital vehicle parts have to be approved by them to be street legal in the US. Something being DOT approved is pretty much like being E-marked in Europe

Thanks

Turn your head more
Eyes level with the horizon
looking through the turn not at the outside
Drop your inside SHOULDER into the turn.
Arms and shoulders loose gives better steering and control inputs.
Concentrate on being smooth
Have fun

Came back from track. Sucks at my right hander. Saved a bad high side when my rear stepped out a feet. freaking weather is giving me heat cramps and my right arm felt stiff.
Sorta forgot abt the turning the shoulder in too..

Nevertheless, it was great fun.. here are some pics..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v448/jackson_ljj/IMG_0495.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v448/jackson_ljj/IMG_0479.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v448/jackson_ljj/MVI_0484_0001.jpg

Taking a chicane left hander (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4hCIR-QXeY)