• Welcome to RCTalk! 🚀

    Join the #1 RC community where hobbyists connect, share, and get expert advice on RC cars, trucks, boats, drones, and more!

    • Friendly & passionate RC enthusiasts
    • RC tips & troubleshooting
    • Buy, sell & trade RC gear
    • Share builds & upgrades

Got my first taste of the track with my bike

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

kwong2001

Hardcore RCTalk User
Messages
3,449
Reaction score
1
Points
173
Location
Pacific, WA
RC Driving Style
  1. Bashing
I got on the track for the first time yesterday at Pacific Raceways. It was with NESBA and was the introduction class. Got two 20 minute sessions in for FREE!

In the beginner class, pretty much the only real rules were no passing unless you're between turn 1 and 2, I didn't have to worry about that since everyone there had a good 20hp over my little GS500. I think most people weren't hitting over 100mph on the straightaway, which was nice since my bike is good for maybe 105-100mph on the straight. Now mind you, the beginner class had a lot of control riders which were basically VERY experienced guys who would show you the lines and help you out.

Overall, I wasn't the slowest rider, there was an old school honda VFR who was slower than me. I actually tried to make a move to pass him. Since he had more top end on the straight, but never hit more speed than my bike, I had to try to make a drive out of the corner. Got up real close to him, dropped it into first, pulled clear of the corner, let the torque of my engine get a small jump, had about 5mph more speed and was slowly reeling him in. Unfortunately, I got shut down by at least 3 sportbikers who passed me and dropped right in front of me DOH!

The first session was fun, but it was much more to get used to the track. The second session was more getting used to riding the proper line. Unfortunately my lines sucked and I was still getting used to the track. I just wish I could have done the full day. The guys running the show said they'd take $125 for the rest of the day, which was $25 off the norm. Unfortunately I couldn't afford it since I gotta buy new tires for the 1:1.

Anyhoo, i'm gonna mod my suspension, brakes, and maybe do an exhaust and jet kit, then try to do some track days sometime in spring 2006. I know my front suspension is INCREDIBLY soft and overly wanted to bottom out.
 
GS500? As in 500cc and you were getting out powered? Man, definitely a different environment that I remember.

Any pics of the bike?

When I was a kid (13-15) I had a Yamaha yz 250cc and I thought that thing flew. Just a few country boys on dried up river/creek beds, no real racing.
 
Yep, streetbikes, which btw, i'm pretty sure I had the smallest bike (engine wise) and most underpowered...lol
 
Yeah, 500cc is kind of small for street. But maybe it will be a good step for you to learn with. Not much point in trying to horse around a 1000cc bike if you can't drive a 500cc bike well.
 
Yeah, that's why i'm sticking with my bike. Hopefully once I get the suspension done and get some serious track time, I could move up into intermediate or at least be good enough to beat some inexperienced guys on bigger bikes in the turns.
 
Thats cool you got to the track. My friend has a Katana 600 and he says that thing flies. I don't know too much about bikes tho, have fun with your bike.
 
lol when I was reading it I was thinking it was offroad and I thought to my self 100MPH in a straight .... sounds unsafe to me. THen I read the post below it and relized it was onroad.
 
oh man I am so jealous, I am serously thinking about getting a 500, was thinking about a 600, but would be too scary, besides, its ok to drop a 500cc bike, they are learning bikes anyway, and thats what they are for, Plus they have SSSOOOO much power, I almost got a HULLUVA deal on a 600 cc honda cbr but it didn't work out I can't wait till I can get a bike, have fun with it and be safe man!
 
Probably like a 700 or 750, I didn't ask nor did I get a terribly good look at it. I just know it was old, maybe late 80's early 90's.

If he really went for it, he'd of pulled on me in the straight, but he didn't which gave me a little hope for passing him...lol

edit: actually, I guess they had a 400cc VFR, that MAY have been it. I know he was complaining about no power on the straightaway.

Bike looked similar to this:
87-vfr400.webp
 
Last edited:
Just wanted to know, I know mine wont make good power below 7k. But once you hit that mark it flys. I've got an 84 VFR750 that is just sitting now that i can't work the clutch anymore. I use to race (just for fun) it at Mile High outside Colorado Springs way back in 84/85 when I could still ride. If you get some pics (or vid) of you on your bike at the track I know we all would love to see them and good luck in your racing :cheers:
 
If I see any pictures of me or the VFR, i'll be sure to post it up. I've been looking on a few local forums for any pictures of me, but haven't seen any yet :(
 
Okay, finally got some pictures, it's not much and I seriously do NOT look fast at all, but whatever. I think the pictures were probably taken just after turn 8 and probably at that point, I was already getting slowed up by the person/people in front of me...they were chickening out going up the hill.

http://studio819.smugmug.com/gallery/940044/1/43066704
http://studio819.smugmug.com/gallery/940044/1/43066709

Oh, and here's a picture of the VFR I, at one point tried to pass on the straightaway before getting shut down by a bunch of faster bikes. I guess it actually was a 750, dunno why he complained about having no power on the straight? Maybe his carbs we out of adjustment?
http://studio819.smugmug.com/gallery/940044/1/43066700

Anyhoo, can't wait for next year, 120-140mph down the front straight on my cbr f3.

http://www.linesthemovie.com/liv2day/[email protected]
BTW, that's a video of Pacific Raceways.
 
Cool pics. So ya didnt get any track time on the Cbr yet? Youll like that bike. Like I told ya before, I had the same one, but a 600 and the smokin joes series. Was a awesome bike.

That floating swingarm on that FZR is sweet. Are the new ones still like that? I think Ducati's are but didnt know anyone else did it. I like that.
 
4u2nv said:
Cool pics. So ya didnt get any track time on the Cbr yet? Youll like that bike. Like I told ya before, I had the same one, but a 600 and the smokin joes series. Was a awesome bike.

That floating swingarm on that FZR is sweet. Are the new ones still like that? I think Ducati's are but didnt know anyone else did it. I like that.

Waiting until spring/summer to hit the track with the CBR. Still need a 1 pc suit, back protector, boots, and gloves...fiddlesticking expensive!

Anyhoo, you're talking about a single side swingarm (think that's what they're called)? MV Agusta has one.
 
Back
Top