Vintage, not fast enough for Track days?

[RichDesmond]

I don't get using a SV650 on track. It's got the right weight, wheels and tires, but only 70HP??
You corner just as well, but 300 ft later you're left behind.

The SV650 is a GREAT track bike. Set up right they handle incredibly well, are a ton of fun to ride and are pretty easy on tires.
The HP isn't an issue, at a track day it's irrelevant, and if you're racing you'll be in classes with bikes that have similar performance.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Thruxton vs BMW R NineT

Thruxton vs BMW R NineT

Sorry Rich!
Here's a couple retro new bike$ that I'd like to track day. Meanwhile I'll just have to joy ride my GS on interstate off ramps.

 

[bobgroger]

The SV650 is a GREAT track bike. Set up right they handle incredibly well, are a ton of fun to ride and are pretty easy on tires.
The HP isn't an issue, at a track day it's irrelevant, and if you're racing you'll be in classes with bikes that have similar performance.

It's not always the fastest vehicle that wins. I remember watching a Trans-Am race in the 70's. Lots of NASCAR guys there that day, lots of high horsepower american cars. And Paul Newman in a 240Z. He gained about a second a lap on the 2.5 mile 10 turn course, and with 2 or 3 laps to go came around turn 10 in front. Learned a big lesson that day. Fastest is not necessarily quickest. The SV650 is a good enough track bike to have its own class...

 

[limeex2]

I went faster on a VF500F than on my GS1000/1100 with pipes and carbs. Plus it helped me learn not to to rely on HP. But it sounded like a....Honda

 

[LAB3]

Last summer I went to the Quaker City Motorsports Park just outside Salem, Oh for the Vintage Motorcycle Drags. There where quite a few bikes out there, a parts swap meet and camping was included in the entry for the weekend ($30) with a live band on Saturday night. There was everything from an Ossa 125 up to a H-D Panhead powered powered monstrosity with a 12" wide tire on back with wheelie bars. Anyone with a helmet, long pants and a leather jacket could make a run down the track! Looks like they're doing it again in late August this year. https://quakercitymotorsportspark.com/

 

[Carter Turk]

First trackday of the year next Friday & Saturday @ The Ridge. Will be the 5th & 6th day on the bike. Whoop!
Sorry about large pic. 1st time using flickr on a computer, does not seem to work from my Android phone.
OPRT_June_24_2018_Ridge-2373 by Carter Turk, on Flickr

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Excellent photograph with Mt. Rainer in the back ground!

If I had a GS1100E I'd have it on the track.
My 82 GS1100G with it's shaft assembly, steel swing arm and rear wheel with a big steel gear inside, just ain't practical for track.
I'm deeply committed to continuing with my 1990 GSX Katana 1100-R as a track bike, and at 29 years old, it is a vintage bike.

 

[nvr2old]

I went faster on a VF500F than on my GS1000/1100 with pipes and carbs. Plus it helped me learn not to to rely on HP. But it sounded like a....Honda

I road raced a VF500F in a 750 class and wound up on the podium every time. Great little bikes..faster then most people think, and handled so good. Loved riding it. Wish I had one.

 

[Carter Turk]

I'm deeply committed to continuing with my 1990 GSX Katana 1100-R as a track bike, and at 29 years old, it is a vintage bike.

Honestly thought my next bike would've been oilcooled gixxer, always liked the 91 1100.
I'd probably still be riding the Kat too, If I hadn't destroyed the pistons.
The new trackbike is old by todays standards, but only 15 years old.
Didn't think I'd be financially able to make a 21 year jump in technology, but this bike was cheap!

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Another thing we all know is; stay with the same bike so you know it very well, because you'll have fewer crashes and ride better/faster.
Stated by Dovi, Rossi and some other MotoGP leaders in this May 2nd press conference, (go to 23:30 for the question and answers).

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Not your average track day?

Not your average track day?

Lots of fast old guys, with money?

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Woh, my 1990 GSX750F qualifies for AHRMA???

Woh, my 1990 GSX750F qualifies for AHRMA???

Looking at this years AHRMA handbook, my 1990 GSX750F Katana will be acceptable as a GSXR 750 including all my frame mods!!!
Just have to put the 750cc back into it. That's alotto work but interesting, can be done.
No real weight disadvantage either.
Tech inspection will take a close look at my frame handiwork, ? need to pass that.

 

[Carter Turk]

Got my 1st official trackday in on Friday.
Well I got 3 laps in May before my bike blew up on the track.
After wrenching furiously 2 days before to do a head gasket after it froze in the garage over winter with no antifreeze.
5 oil/filter changes, 8 coolant system flushes in the last month. This bike is not street legal, so riding for testing purposes is a risk.
I took it out the Indian Reservation near me where apparently Steve Baker did some testing of his own back in the day, to do a shakedown run to see if everything held together after the whole engine oil mixed with water. Had a slight weep out the back of the head gasket, so I changed that at the last minute.
I screwed up ording it online, waited 5 days for it to arrive, only to find it wasn't shipped or ordered. Ugh.
So I had to 2nd day air it, which was $40 painful.

Probably got 55-60 laps over 7 20 minute sessions.
The bike seemed happy, but the uncertainty the first session to reliability made it difficult to focus on riding.
I went the whole day without missing a shift 1up 5 down which was unusual for me, though I've only ridden the bike 6 day on the track.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

God damn good for you!!!
Just passed on a basket case 77 CB750. Really wanted it for AHRMA racing, but no room for another project.
Will be looking again at the end of summer when owners get desperate to move unwanted bikes.

 

[GregT]

Well done. I'd heard about the Steve Baker test track, lol. Might have been in an interview with a UK magazine.

I still think you were a tad lucky to get away with the freeze-up as you have. We saw a lot of grey imports from japan with condensation and freeze damage from sitting outside for sometimes years before shipping here. Typically the bearing shells, being porous, absorb water - and when it freezes, a blister forms and pops off the bearing surface. The sharp edges of this pit act to strip the oil film - and very quickly, it's stuffed.
The GSXR1000 I stripped post freeze recently, I soaked the shells in methylated spirit to remove any water that may have been absorbed.

 

[Carter Turk]

Well done. I'd heard about the Steve Baker test track, lol. Might have been in an interview with a UK magazine.

I still think you were a tad lucky to get away with the freeze-up as you have. We saw a lot of grey imports from japan with condensation and freeze damage from sitting outside for sometimes years before shipping here. Typically the bearing shells, being porous, absorb water - and when it freezes, a blister forms and pops off the bearing surface. The sharp edges of this pit act to strip the oil film - and very quickly, it's stuffed.
The GSXR1000 I stripped post freeze recently, I soaked the shells in methylated spirit to remove any water that may have been absorbed.

I didn't even know what freeze plugs were, until this happened, being an aircooled guy all these years.
The two trackday control riders who came over to say my day was done, said you're head gasket is shot & airbox is probably filled with oil.
Apparently the ambulance for the trackday was late, so the morning sessions were shortened.
I came into the pits (3 laps) and one of the control riders came in behind saying " holy sht" you're bike is smoking like crazy.
I had no idea at that moment anything was wrong.
Hopped of the bike and cappacino film all over the frame, milky sight glass, spewage in the fairing lower, slippery stuff all over swingarm, rear tire.
They had to send out a brushing vehicle to clean up my mess, though all of it was off the racing line. Guilt for sure.

The airbox was completely dry, but the underside of the gas tank had spewage from somewhere.
When I removed the cam cover, 4 outta 5 freeze plugs were free of their home.
The 5th plug had creeped up to the top, but was still level and in place.
I bought some 22mm Chinese freeze plugs at Oreiilly's Auto Parts, feeling skeptical.
Later discovered the thermosat housing cracked spewing the milk underneath the gas tank.
Also the water pump shaft connected to the oil pump snapped at some point, found that in the sump.

After the repairs, I rode it as hard as I was able to and it survived the day, me included.
Honestly thought a corner worker would be pointing a black flag at me.

 

[GregT]

Was the waterpump seized ? Can't see how that cross shaft could have broken any other way unless it still had ice in the pump when it was started.

Some of those engines used in sidecars use that shaft to drive an external dry sump pump - which is a lot of load - without trouble.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

AHRMA rules?

AHRMA rules?

I've been emailing and phoning members of the AHRMA staff, and got this email from an AHRMA member of the 2nd Generation Superbike rules committee about the eligibility of my bikes, (GSX750F Katana, and CBR600F1) :
"The 600cc are not allowed yet. They are working on a class for it on the future. I'm going to call them about the Suzuki. I see no reason it shouldn't be allowed.
I'll get back to you on that.
Thank you!"

This cool, I have a lot of knowledge and skill acquired the hard way, about how to make a Katana fast.
But I'd rather go smaller, lighter and older.