Taupo Track Day 30th Nvember

[Anonymous]

#2300

You guys might be getting bored with my track day reports, but I keep them coming in the hopes that I might persuade some of you to come along one of these times.THEY'RE SO MUCH FUN!!!Went to Taupo today, even though the weather forecast predicted rain around midday.  It never happened, and we had a ripper of a day!  I went down with a mate from work and his brand-new GSXR750, and we both rode in the medium group.  He was lapping about 4sec quicker than I was due to... oh stuff it, he's a better rider.  I could out-brake him and out-drag him in the straights, but that 750 is magic in the tight stuff!  Partly due to to the fact that it's 40kg lighter and about 4 feet shorter.Anyway, more about the brakes on the K1200R.  They're amazing!  I was regularly out-braking the litre bikes, nothing could come close.  I guess the monkey-motion front suspension combined with the bike's 4m length makes for some formidable braking forces.  The servo assisted brakin gsystem worked a treat, but the ABS kicked in a few times when braking over bumps.  You just have to remember where the bumps are - problem solved,So, who's coming next time?  Alex? you showed an interest once.  Des?  You're definitely in.  Neko?  You'd be deadly out there!  There was a guy on a  clapped-out K100 flying brick that looked like it was just hanging together, and he was having a ball!  There was also one of the organisers on his k100 (in much better shape) who was giving pillion rides.  We owe it to the marque to get on the track!  Who's with me?Dave

[Dave Ross]

#8804

I may be fitting knobblies tomorrow onto the 1150. Next time new road tyres go on I will consider it again. Keep up the report, I always like to hear about this sort of thing.

[Xan]

#8805

I want to ride the new Taupo Track, as I've ridden the old track only (and only twice).I can't easily make a commitment to attend the Taupo Track day because I will need to stay overnight.I am not an early bird like you  🙁 and I need to get to Taupo the day before the Track day.

[Jim Young]

#8806

Nice report Dave, keep em coming and who knows I may come to one of these track days.The last time I rode Taupo track it cost me a lot of money !!!!!!For 2 years I had resisted all efforts by Experience BMW to try out a 1200GS as I was very happy with my 1150GS but half a lap on a 1200 made me go in the next day and order one  😎

[Les Howard]

#8807

I could be interested , depending on dates etc. When is the next one ?I work shift work so i get to work some weekends and some i don`t. CheersKevin.

[Anonymous]

#8808

The next MotoTT dates for the new year are:http://www.motott.co.nz/26 Jan (Sat)29 Feb (Fri)4 April (Fri)16 May (Fri)Just got some photos back from the photographerGood fun!Dave

[ROBIN MOSS]

#8809

Hi Dave.Keep the track reports active, great photos and if you don’t mind I'm going to use the second one for riding tips. Your body position is good and displays good upper body position and a clear visual of the physics behind transferring forces to the tires.  A riding friend won't do twisty roads, his K 1200 RT falls over in the corners, "too heavy" I can't help but feel a little sorry and intend on giving him some subtle riding instruction. My problem is that I have just got back to serious motor bike riding and consequently will struggle to convince my friend of why he thinks his bike falls over in the corners. My credentials are in Motor Racing and after 35 years I have moved on to more leisure pursuits. However the dynamics and physics behind cornering are no different between cars and bikes. During my twenties I worked in the UK for Bruce McClaren Can-Am, Bruce McClaren was light years ahead of his peers and many a long night was spent discussing the theories behind the forces developed during cornering. On returning to NZ I completed an engineering degree and completed my masters on this very subject. The passion is still very active and hence when I see photos like yours my analytical brain kicks in.One of the saddest sights is those crosses marking fatal accidents that happen around corners and if you look at where they are positioned and have a little knowledge of the entry and exit of a corner, most did not need to happen. It would be so good for every driver, especially the young, be motorbike or car to attend some driver instruction on a racetrack. I recently went on a BMW ride, first one and as a point of interest was alarmed to see the very poor basic understanding of riding a corner. Unwittingly every rider was closing down his options should the unexpected happen. For those that read this please don't think I'm encouraging break neck cornering speed, that’s not my intention for a second but if you know what is happening between you and the road and what causes it then there is never a need to say " my bike is just to heavy and it is to much work for twisty roads".I have often rubbed shoulders with the motorbike boys at Ruapuna, the cars share the same practice and track days and all the bike guys love to talk and encourage good riding skills. Since owning my bike I have had one day at Ruapuna, bike was only 1200Km's old and so it was at a very sedentary pace, no body minded and I received loads of encouragement and help. Taking a car into the first kink of the main straight at Ruapuna and then into turn one is so technical and at 130 mph you need to scrub of from the 100 mtr board 80 mph, there is so much happening great fun, how those guys on Motor Bikes do it is something to behold. While having coffee before work this morning I was thinking about it and trying to convince myself that I'm now to old and the Beemer will never get in there, then I decided to check the weather on the net and had a glance at the forum, noticed you track report and hence got tempted to send you a post of encouragement. I hear you say "never to old" I have totalled a couple of race Cars in this corner and don't like the thought of making my R 1200 RT decidingly second hand, in the new year I just might have a try.Last Sunday I rode to Akaroa via the Volcanic Plateau road, an awesome stretch of tarmac and had for company two guys on Suzuki's, hell bent on showing the RT a clean pair of heals, while the RT would be no match on a track, for these guys they could not shake me off and when arriving in Akaroa and pulling up together at the same cafe I was paid a huge compliment. We joined up for coffee and this mid 20's to 30 guy, "Kerry' said to me, "I was thinking during the ride that this sedentary Beemer touring bike is impossible to loose, when you poked your nose inside me on one corner I thought he is playing with me, holly Sh--t do these things handle. When you pulled your helmet off and all those grey hairs revelled your age I thought growing old has got to be good fun". It was fun talking with them and I encouraged them to take there bikes to Ruapuna for a track day, do it on a track, every thing is going the same way and loads of room for run off. Don't get your kicks on the open road, too much can go wrong. Truth was that they new very little about what they were trying to achieve and hence it was not break neck stuff. However I felt guilty about practicing what you preach, and for most of the ride kept myself just beyond a threatening distance. Sometimes age brings on memory lose.  So keep up those track reports and keep encouraging people to attend. Thanks and regards. Leigh.

[Anonymous]

#8810

Wow Leigh, sounds like you've had an exciting career!  I don't think I'd want you and your RT behind me on a twisty road either!  Thanks for the encouragement, but I am still developing my skills, and you're right that the track is an excellent place for it.  Like I said, I was in the medium sessions, and though I was advancing through the group, there were still quite a few faster than I was.  I would love to hear about your experience at Ruapuna when you're able to get there next time.  Looks like their next club day might not be until February.  If you care to read some other reports with some more photos, you can look here:http://forum.bmwor.org.nz/index.php/topic,638.0.html  (Pukekohe)http://forum.bmwor.org.nz/index.php/topic,594.0.html  (another Taupo)Cheers,Dave

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