Motorbikes

[Rossco]

Wow mate looks awesome. Thats class!! Does that top picture have an old Vauxhall Cavalier behind the BMW!? Classy!

[TheForce]

don't know if it was called an Cavalier in the UK, but it was an old Opel Omega, they tried to keep up with the M5 and almost went off (the back broke out) in that same corner...

[Alastair]

Looks brilliant Force, what a blast. Always good to see some nice cars there too I guess.

[Senna]

Exceptionally cool mate

Hope the weather worked out fine for you. This thread makes me want to start my motorbike lessons ASAP.

Let's hope you didn't go off the track there as much as you do on Forza.

[charlesr]

Looks like you need some suspension tweaks dude, unless you were drifting the bike on purpose. Bit too much rubber damage for just 2 laps. Looks impressive though

[TheForce]

Looks like you need some suspension tweaks dude,

you can say that again, it's too soft at the moment, but I try to get an appointment before my next track day with HK suspension (suspension and set up specialist) to get the setup for the bike right for my weight and for track days.
on the first 2 laps I was sliding in one specific corner on both wheels, feels nice but is not something you really want to do on a bike (unless your name is Valentino Rossi...)
And ofcourse , these are the Bridgestone BT015 tyres, not bad, but so far they haven't given me the confidence like the Michelin PP did last year, but after these I will go for the new BT016 or back to the trusty and proven Michelin PP 2CT tyres ..

[TheForce]

Exceptionally cool mate

Hope the weather worked out fine for you. This thread makes me want to start my motorbike lessons ASAP.

Let's hope you didn't go off the track there as much as you do on Forza.

yeah, weather was perfect all day, saw lots and lots of amazing cars on and around the track, you should really try to go there once, I know you're gonna love it.

LOL, nah I stayed on the track for a change !
maybe because I didn't have an annoying fly following me around the track all the time like I have in Forza ....

[Womble9]

you can say that again, it's too soft at the moment, but I try to get an appointment before my next track day with HK suspension (suspension and set up specialist) to get the setup for the bike right for my weight and for track days.
on the first 2 laps I was sliding in one specific corner on both wheels, feels nice but is not something you really want to do on a bike (unless your name is Valentino Rossi...)
And ofcourse , these are the Bridgestone BT015 tyres, not bad, but so far they haven't given me the confidence like the Michelin PP did last year, but after these I will go for the new BT016 or back to the trusty and proven Michelin PP 2CT tyres ..

Nice pics back there, I really MUST go to the ring this year .
If the stock settings on your Blade anything like those that have come on most of my new bikes (ranging through FZR1000, '98 R1 and 2x Gixxer Thou's (1x K2 and my current K5) then I'm sure you'll manage to make some big improvements especially considering the good press the new blades getting re stability and user friendliness.
Tyre wise have you ever tried the Michelin power race? I tried them and found them superb, getting 2 cadwell track days (one with 6 sessions the other with 7, both in advanced group) and got nearly 1500 miles from the rear which I was well impressed with. The reason I ask is as when the 2CTs came out I fitted a set and entered the 2006 Cannonball bike run and didn't rate them as highly (confidence wise more than anything) as the power race and whilst I realise that tyre choice is pretty personal a couple of friends that have tried them have been impressed with them too .

[TheForce]

never tried the Michelin Power Race tyres, but I had something simular, I had a set of BT02's, amazing tyres, but I often go to the Nordschleife, and it's 170km ride to get there everytime, those tyres are not really meant for trips like that, but they are perfect for track days. I found the Michelin 2CT's a very well balanced tyres for normal trips and for track days.
Still considering to get an extra set of those new BT03's for when we go to Assen and Zolder.

Nice action pic's btw ! The Suzuki K5 is an amazing bike ! and IMO much nicer then the Gixxer K7 and K8....

[Womble9]

never tried the Michelin Power Race tyres, but I had something simular, I had a set of BT02's, amazing tyres, but I often go to the Nordschleife, and it's 170km ride to get there everytime, those tyres are not really meant for trips like that, but they are perfect for track days. I found the Michelin 2CT's a very well balanced tyres for normal trips and for track days.
Still considering to get an extra set of those new BT03's for when we go to Assen and Zolder.

Nice action pic's btw ! The Suzuki K5 is an amazing bike ! and IMO much nicer then the Gixxer K7 and K8....

Yeah to be fair if you were / are to be doing any real sort of "getting to a place" miles then they may be a bit inapropriate and something of a more "all round" tyre could well be better suited. Glad you like the pics and as for the K5 I've got to (suprise, suprise) agree with you, it's fantastic, does everything I could ask of it and whilst I was looking forward to the K7 coming out when it did I was quite disapointed, yak!! Hopefully the usual 2 yr re hash will occur and the K9 will be worth a look, if not I may well consider a blade myself as whilst I'm not 100% keen on the looks function wise it really does sound like it's set a new standard in usability .

[Eps]

The perils of a fender-ectomy: While replacing the sprockets and chain on my FZR, I must have scraped/cut my forehead on my licence plate (now mounted direct to the rear subframe) about 5 times. Argh!!

[Shinebi]

Eps, is that a '92 model there? I own a FZ600R '88 model (red , blue & white).

Apparently, the FZXXXR has only been released in Italy and Japan, as the name differs only slightly (unlike FZRXXX). Mine was said to come from the circuit, a make of +/- 1000, but it's now parked for over 5 years now due to shorting out and having to replace almost every electronic piece. Mechanics are still perfect though... It is really a dreambike isn't it? S-turns at 30 km/h, almost flat with ease....

I've almost finished rebuilding a two-stroke racer from '73. I'll post here again soon as the project is near completion.

[Eps]

It's a US model '93. Interesting to hear your good experiences with the FZ series; most people I know with one have characterised them as underpowered. Handling on the FZR is definitely up to scratch though, even if it's a bit overweight for its size (as I found out the other week when I had to push it 3 miles uphill...)

[charlesr]

Had my brakes fixed (pistons seals gone, so pistons getting stuck = random braking). So much better now. Went for a blat and it felt good as new. First time I've leant it over that far in ages too. I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to the angle of dangle (after an off a few years ago - before that, I was right up to the edge...).

[Alastair]

A years worth of experience and lots of nice warm weather has seen me starting to really lean the bike now. I need to find a nice long well surfaced left hander though as I'm much more confident going that way. Roundabouts are obviously perfect for the right handers but I'm just not as happy going to the right.

Have managed to knock about 1cm off my strips in the last month though, maybe only have .7cm left (on the rear). Think that's quite respectable on a stock suspension SV