Author Topic: Man Down! (well, my knee anyway!!!) (Read 5051 times)

PitterB4 · « **on:** October 02, 2005, 10:27:19 PM »

The proof!

Well, I have to say the the M4, Icon, Metzeler, Shell Rotella T, Gimbel, #398 Suzuki team did a helluva job yesterday.

Seriously, I had a FANTASTIC day at the track(Pocono's East Course) yesterday. I highly recommend a track day to anyone who likes to make their bike hustle. You'll be amazed at what your bike is capable of! My track season is over for the year but I hope to get 5 or 6 of them in next year.

Dragin' that knee was the most addictive thing ever. I had been trying all day. My racer friend was watching me around the biggest sweeping curve and said, "you know if you just stick your knee out about 3 inches, you'll scrape it." I scraped the second lap (after my tires warmed up of course) of what was unfortunately my last session and every lap thereafter.

Some other photographic evidence:

Melted M1:

Hammin' it up before a session:

Thumbnail from the pro photog who was there:

Future Rossi:

Home safe:

12sdrag · « **Reply #1 on:** October 02, 2005, 10:42:14 PM »

good job.

FreediverGa · « **Reply #2 on:** October 02, 2005, 10:48:19 PM »

Hey B4 what pressure were you running on the track and what speed were you running when you dragged your knee? I want to put my knee down for the first time on my B6 really bad!

PitterB4 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 02, 2005, 10:56:50 PM »

Pressure: 29/29

Speed? No clue. I peeked at the speedo a couple times on the back straight (~115 indicated hitting the rev limiter in 4th) but never in the turns. I'm just focused on the exit (and often the big dumb liter bike slowing me down

). If I had to guess at my exit speed on that corner, I would say 60. That's a total guess though. If someone told me it was 40, I'd believe them.

Thanks, JR!

FreediverGa · « **Reply #4 on:** October 02, 2005, 11:02:21 PM »

Is that same pressure you run on the street?

How did those M1's hold up and how was the grip during your whole track day? Did they get slick when the rubber started to role off the tire like is was in the pic? I'm about to put them on my B6 for the first time. I've heard nothing but positive things about them!!!

Where did you get the Suzuki stickers on your wheels?

Red01 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 02, 2005, 11:54:37 PM »

How much did the used knee sliders cost you from ebay?

PeteSC · « **Reply #6 on:** October 03, 2005, 01:47:32 AM »

Naw, Paul, NESBA has one scuffed 'loaner' pair of knee pucks they lend out for pictures!

Good going, Rob!

tomacGTi · « **Reply #7 on:** October 03, 2005, 02:17:45 AM »

Hey Rob, now you can upgrade to titanium sliders for mad knee draggin skillz.

werd.

-Randy

PitterB4 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 03, 2005, 09:01:17 AM »

Unfortuntately, no sparky pucks allowed!

I was about ready to go the Ebay route if I didn't get a knee down soon!

The M1s were awesome. Guys are getting 4-5 track days out of a set, I think. Mine will be mixed street and track so I'm not sure what to expect. The hotter they got, the better they stuck. I broke the rear loose once or twice but that was me trying to correct bad lines in the morning when it was cold. I was in a beginner group with rules that you could only pass in the straights. I was down about 2:1 in HP to most of the other bikes so I had to set up passes at the exits of turns and got my lines screwed up a couple times.

The funny thing about them is the profile. I think I was laying it over pretty good all day but I have a much bigger chicken strip on the back and a smaller one on the front than with other tires. There's no real edge on the rear - the tread just seems to keep wrapping around. Sorry for the overexposed pic but...

Pressure - I'm not very adventuresome with tire pressure. I think the frame sticker on the B4 calls for 29/34. I'm usually right around there. I do bump the rear to 35 or 36 if I'm commuting.

PitterB4 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 03, 2005, 09:03:41 AM »

Oh the rim stickers... that was an ebay find. He's always got them on there. He has bike and tire manufs. I could have gotten Metz stickers if I wanted.

Maniac · « **Reply #10 on:** October 03, 2005, 09:26:45 AM »

Congrats, Rob!

gsxr400 racer · « **Reply #11 on:** October 03, 2005, 09:46:53 AM »

Quote from: "Red01"

How much did the used knee sliders cost you from ebay?

PitterB4 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 03, 2005, 10:44:36 AM »

Quote from: "gsxr400 racer"

Quote from: "Red01"
How much did the used knee sliders cost you from ebay?

You've never seen those adds on Ebay??? They are a riot!

"Look like a stud, even if you're a squid. Impress your friends. Wow your girl. Buy my trashed sliders for the cost of new ones!"

Landry · « **Reply #13 on:** October 03, 2005, 12:31:43 PM »

Cool beans!!

Maniac · « **Reply #14 on:** October 03, 2005, 12:48:51 PM »

You can also buy tires with the chicken strips worn off as well, and I've even seen scraped up frame-sliders on there with 'impress your girlfriend'.