Finally made it, great 2 days I really enjoyed it. Got back sunday totally knackered. The written test was easy and the whole of saturday went well. I had to weight until 6pm to get the bike to the garages as there was a car track day happening.....unfortunately a porsche gt3 dumped oil all round druids so on sunday we had to take care because there was oil still left. The marshals did a good job cleaning it the best they could.
On sunday had an early start going through the scrutineering, few things to tweak, like add a sharks fin under the rear sprocket, I thought it would be ok because the exhaust comes up under there and would stop any flailing hands getting caught. Still have to do it though...job 1, then I should also grind off some casting webs the are on the frame which stick up, could be dangerous. The bike passed anyhow. It past the noise meter test but I only had to hold it to 5000, I thought it was higher as in the acu manual.
Tyre warmers on! First outing Dave Harviek our instructor led us around to get the feel of the track and see how druids looked...it was still slippery right on the racing line. I noticed straight away the juddering effect on braking... after 20 mins back to the pits. Another thunderbiker Colin helped me through the suspension, he noticed the back rebound was too quick so slowed it down with a few clicks, Then set the front to have stiffer compression....2nd session was annoying I was really getting good, my entry speed in the corners was fast and so I could carry the speed in the corners. Some 600's were too slow going in so would hold me up...tried going round them some of the time, they would get passed me on the straight. I'm not saying Im good but i was trying to keep flowing. My brakes still juddering and spongy..not happy braking. Back in after the session Colin looked at the calipers and noticed that 2 pistons on the 4 pot calipers were not moving! causing drag on the discs...both sides. I tried cleaning one pair and accidently pumped one of the pistons out!!! disaster....fluid leaking...bit of a bummer, had to push it back in and bleed the front brakes...by this time I could'nt do the other side as it was time to go out again. I just took it careful on the brakes and spent the rest of the sessions working on my lines and style, I had to really hang off the bike round clearways as the right side would ground out.
On the last session my kneeslider unstuck itself, not the velcro part but the glue holding it onto the velcro pad. My right boot ground away too.
The bike seem to go ok, it pulled to the redline and didnt miss a beat. Just the carburation need looking at. The power was'nt arm wrenching but progressive. The gearing worked well for the short circuit. Handling..apart from the juddering front, grounding out it held its line, was smooth and I'm juffed the way it behaved.
Dave the instructor said I was doing well and my lines were fine. Overtaking wasnt dangerous, kept my distance but he said I just have to be more forceful. Thats true and I can work on that.
I'm waiting for the on-track pictures.
