Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

There's only one day better than new bicycle day...

Get the static sag set up properly ;)

washed and polished the Kwacker yesterday, even the wheels which was horrendous - now it still looks dirty due to the tyres - is it ok to use tyre dressing/back to black on the side walls?

If you are worried about it, little bit of shoe polish brings it up nice and direct and no over spray possibilities.

Get the static sag set up properly ;)

I'm at Bedford Autodrome tomorrow so will certainly seek out the local suspension guru.

Hope you had a good day.

If you are worried about it, little bit of shoe polish brings it up nice and direct and no over spray possibilities.

nice good thinking cheers

That bike looks fast and frightening just sat there

That bike looks fast and frightening just sat there

Not for the faint hearted ;)

Hope you had a good day.

Cheers buddy, still upright and report to follow. #kneedown.

Alright, now home and thoroughly knackered. Clocked just over 300 miles today and that includes travelling over an hour to the track. All in all it was fantastic, I planned on taking it easy and take the opportunity to get familiar with the new bike in a safe environment... Having said that the bike took everything I threw at it and more, and after my first session in the novice group I was getting my knee down no trouble. I'll whore some photos if there's any good ones. Highlights were scaring myself doing 145mph on the back straight, knee down for the entirety of the 180 hairpin and overtaking a GSXR 1000.

The day was an absolute bargain too I think for £75, but ultimately I'm pleased I know how much you can lean and trust the tyres (warm and clean surface of course) and even riding back home I'm noticeably more confident on the road. If you've half considered doing a track day, just go for it, even the tyre warmer crew were friendly.

What did surprise me was the number of offs there were throughout the day, I counted 6. 2 came off on the first lap (sighting) of the day and it was the "experienced" group, what's wrong with people?! I had a couple of squeaky bum moments myself, but stood the bike up braked then leaned back in without much problem.

2nd photo's awesome

Good feeling isn't it :) The feeling on your knee...

So much nicer than the shitty road.

All of the first session I really wanted to get my knee down, then when it first happened I instinctively pulled it up out of terror. It does feel so satisfying, but pretty scary if you think what is actually happening at 80mph for example.

Elbow down or GTFO.

(not me obviously. The whole point of the bike is to keep my body parts well away from the tarmac)

Woo! Sounds like you had a good day. Are bike days as aggressive as I've been led to believe? Any sort of competitiveness, duelling, attempting to outbrake each other into corners is thoroughly frowned upon at car days but I'd heard bike days were very different.

From my one experience I'd say no, albeit I was in a novice group. The sessions were divided into three categories, novice, intermediate and experienced. I really enjoyed the novice group and going out first of the pack about 5-6 people were overtaking me each lap but I was lapping people too. I even had one older guy on a CBR 600RR ever so slightly cut me up, raised his hand in recognition and also found me in the pits to apologies.

The intermediate group was the largest and probably had the widest skill set with people who should really be in the novice group, and the same for the experienced. I did see quite a bit of out braking in the intermediate and experienced groups but nothing that would interfere with your racing/turning in line.

I don't think you'd ever have to worry about competitiveness in a novice group and if you were appropriately in a higher group I don't think it would bother you. The marshals were very vigilant and even called the experienced group in for a Senna/Prost interrogation at one point with a few riders being demoted.

Some days can be, a racer friend of mine did a track day recently and there were 16 red flags, but it is all a bit hit and miss. ACU days are supposed to be good, but never done one, as they are all racers.

Have seen people choose the novice group just so they can overtake more people. Then the marshals do rejig the groups to get equal people.

just did this

for this

Nice work murts, bike is interesting too.

Vespa owners, would the clocks (odo specifically) be in miles or kilometres for a uk scoot?

Seen one on gumtree that'd do the missus but mileage is quoted in km so worried it's an import and possibly difficult to insure.

Ps it's a 2007 LX50.

Being an import is probably the least of your worries when buying a scooter from gumtree.

It should be in miles on a UK scooter, ask the seller if anything import is mentioned on the V5? I've never heard of it being a problem with vintage scooters and insurance but I can see it could be an issue with modern stuff.

Does anyone know if there's anywhere around town that'll sell phone/satnav/generic handlebar mounts & cases? Can't find much info elsewhere - is buying online my only/best option? Ta!

just did this ..........

for this

that really is lovely. its hard to see what its purpose is, but its very pleasing on the eye; and going on a beemer too, xxxx.

well done murtle.

Does anyone know if there's anywhere around town that'll sell phone/satnav/generic handlebar mounts & cases? Can't find much info elsewhere - is buying online my only/best option? Ta!

Are you in London? I've got this one spare that you can have for a four-pack of Guinness?

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Are you in London? I've got this one spare that you can have for a four-pack of Guinness?

I am - that would be awesome! I'm about all day today - will send a PM :)

Some days can be, a racer friend of mine did a track day recently and there were 16 red flags, but it is all a bit hit and miss. ACU days are supposed to be good, but never done one, as they are all racers.

Have seen people choose the novice group just so they can overtake more people. Then the marshals do rejig the groups to get equal people.

ACU days used to be lairy as hell. My 3rd time on track ever was the open practice at Mallory they had every wednesday. Everyone from novice club racers to the boost yamahas of Niall Mckenzie and Jamie Whitham fighting for the same tarmac!

Does get you used to close passing pretty quick.....

Nice job Jambon - Brands Indy used to do track evening in the summer. Great fun for a blast after work!