Help me spend money on my Buell

[Handicapped Racer]

Originally Posted by slowpoke

RK -


HR -
As skill improves, suspension becomes more and more critical.

BAM, I've baited you say exactly that! You, as a newb are on a learning curve, so my ? is, should you in a worst case scenario use that as a guide line to get it done. Participate and when you crash upgrade, No. If nothing else you want a bike that is capable of going much faster than you can. That way as you progress, you can be firm and confident that you are learnig and progressing, and if you do fall, you'd have the knowledge that you just screwed up V thinking was it me, or was it the bike. At that point, you lose confidence or do what i did, park dat bytch in the back of the shop and sell the parts to you guys.

My 04 gsxr 600, made 130+ and i couldn't ride it for shyt, the only track i could go fast at was Road A, i got down to a 33's B4 the new T-12, and before someone oiled the track. This bike was perfect, if felt like a caddy going through 3 at summit, so smooth it felt like the front end wasn't even there, too perfect for no feedback at all. I want to feel the ground under me, I want to feel it drift, that way i know, I've reached my limit.

I perfrerred my 01 over the 04 any day of the week, my forward progression ended on June 12, 2005 with a broken neck. I returned the following yr on the 04 casue some stloe the 01, and the only track i could haul ass at was Road A, No confidence in the machine. So now it's a conversation piece, and every one with that chassis wants the motor but doesn't want to pay for it.

point is we all have different riding styles, I like my bike firm, i want to muscle it, some like it loose, they feel more intuned with the bike. Others like too much trail some like neg trail. Different riding styles produce different needs. So n the end it's bad advice, to say you don't need this cause your slow. Just cause your starting, out doesn't mean his progression is the same as yours. The day it clicks, is the day you need to bike to be capable of handling your new found skill. Not the next weekend after you've wadded it up! " Yeah I'm ready now, I got my penske and got my ak-20's, but now i have a cracked frame, sorry I'll pass.

[slow_honda]

Originally Posted by Handicapped Racer

LOL, how are ya man, Happy new yr!
That bike didn't know what to do with it's self did it?
Your ready for Vir?

Nesba produces some fast riders, i have no worries.

Happy new year to you as well. One of these days I will return but this season I just can't do it.

[D-Zum]

Just because you're a B or I rider doesn't make you slow. If you're a B rider with a few days experience, you're a HELL of a lot faster than your street riding friends who haven't been on a track before...so downgrading a rider's need for suspension modifications based on their NESBA group classification doesn't work for me.

I would like to suggest that the first test to see if new suspension is required is to set the sag...that will say if you can get the bike's stock setup in the proper ball park operating range with it's OEM valving and springs.

If not, then linear springs on the shock and in the forks might fix things. Most OEM springs are progressive rate springs..probably a bit whacky to adjust right to begin with.

After that, it's just up to wants, desires, and budget.

I'm 230lbs out of gear...closer to 250ish in gear, so I just give up right away and have my suspension modified as soon as my budget allows for it.

[Katie785]

my suspension was stock until this year. Yes, I'm 125lbs.... stock R6 is set up for something like 180lb rider.. i could have easily high-sided myself to the moon several times because of it, but guess what? I learned throttle control out the a$$... that's for sure... NOW.. I was given some 25mil kits for the front and a TTX for the rear on my bike plus a SuperStock Markbilt motor to use for the GNF this year. Did it change the bike? YES... did it make me faster ? HELL YES (see: 1:45 to 1:35.01 with the chicane at RA - not just suspension improvements, but PT, and motorwork too)... BUT did it prevent me front crashing? NOPE.. i definitely crashed OUT OF THE LEAD in C Superstock at the finals.... hearing the announcer screaming the fact that you're crashing AS you're crashing is certainly a unique experience. That was the first crash i had due to grip/suspension/outriding of the bike.

If i had to do my parts buying all over again (and if i had any money whatsoever to spend on suspension- my bike is stock again).. I would have gotten it right around when i bumped up to A group. I am positive that the majority of the A riders can out run anyone in the I group (we know this because we chase you down on stock bikes) without "outriding" the motorcycle or getting into sticky situations.

I made it 76 track days before i crashed (and my first crash was ass-packing someone on a straight away in a race - NOTHING to do with suspension) because i never pushed my limits (until i started getting these silly plastic trophies?). I never had a reason to, which is why i never out-rode the bike... I think if you're upgrading suspensions, running slicks and race gas, etc.. you're going to basically crutch the fact that you need to work on yOUR skills. It takes A LOT to out ride a modern motorcycle (think, 06 +). It teaches you skills and lets you feel things at a slower pace that you'll eventually feel at a faster pace with upgraded suspension. Kind of like a pre-emptive feel of what "fast" really feels like.

BUT.. if you have the money and never really plan on being as fast as you can possibly be( bc why does it ever really matter?), then you'll never need those skills you learn on the stock/bucking suspension and why bother going through that stage.. right??? It's only as dangerous as YOU to make it.

[Handicapped Racer]

Originally Posted by D-Zum

Just because you're a B or I rider doesn't make you slow. If you're a B rider with a few days experience, you're a HELL of a lot faster than your street riding friends who haven't been on a track before...so downgrading a rider's need for suspension modifications based on their NESBA group classification doesn't work for me.



I'm 230lbs out of gear...closer to 250ish in gear, so I just give up right away and have my suspension modified as soon as my budget allows for it.

my point exactly, over 240 here.

[jas0336]

Katie, thanks for your input. Interesting to get your perspective and I think you confirmed my point.
Will you be doing Rd Atl again this year. I saw your crew last season but didnt get a chance to meet you guys. Hope to see you out there this season.

[King]

Originally Posted by Handicapped Racer

Really? Are you speaking for yourself, or everyone else? Suspension is key, if nothing else it helps instill confidence. Which is #1 FOR ANYONE.

it's nice to tell someone, a stock set up will get you through a huge part of the learning curve, but, when would that learning curve end? When your 10ft in the air in T-7 a vir cause you got greedy on the gas and that pogo stick you call a shock unloaded the rear end.

Say what you want fun or other wise, people want to get faster, i'd rather go out on a bike that's capable of doing 13's at summit and 29's at Road A, that way during the course of me holding up the B group, I know the only thing i have to work on is me, not the bike.

I also spent 2 yrs somewhat listening to advice likes yours, THE only thing good that came out of it was the missed sick days from work, with a broken hand, hip, an heel and a destroyed 600. I crashed that 98 600 more times in 2 yrs than I've crashed my last 3 bikes.

No thanks, I'll recomend to anyone get your suspension right 1st then got for the other stuff. Best advice, save up do it right the 1st time, if you can you'll spend less money in the end.

I agree and disagree...

Yes....suspension settings are VERY VERY important and should be set b4 you do any form of riding....street track 2up.....anything....

Now as far as "will the stock stuff do it for you?" most bikes nowadays have plenty of engineering for trackday riders and club racers...yes you can out grow your components but you wont be able to find that out if you go to the table thinking "the buell suspension" or any other stock set up is crap.....

ride your bike...set it up...ride it again...and stay with it until you NEED more performance...dont buy it just cause you or someone else thinks its time to buy it.....

just my 2cents

think of it this way....if you spend al that money buying nice things to make you go faster on the 25r and you still get spanked by stock 25r's you prolly spent the $ for no reason

[Ron P]

I'd forgotten about this thread. Anyway, it's a moot point now since I sold the Buell and got a track-prepped CBR600. I fell better since I'm realizing that the Buell was probably going to be a handful at my skill level. Plus, there are a lot more Honda parts out there.