Track Prep

[nickjpass]

So I'm running through the rules, regulations and such. I plan on running novice.

here are the regs

anyway.

1) to safety wire my oil filter, could i drill a whole in the nut that's welded onto it?

2) I'm gonna have new tires (@csmith12 if you could suggest a pair? )

3) anything else I should blatantly safety wire or get ride of?

4) will they have a problem if i have a ziptied speedometer?

5) will they have a problem with my exposed cables and such? I can't be the only naked bike they've seen?

6) for the drain plug, they suggest i use a silicone sealant or rtv. just along the gap where the bolt meets the pan?
most of my questions could be answered by them but i dont wish to hassle them too much

thanks dudes

[nickjpass]

https://www.ninjette.org/wiki/Detailed_List

[snot]

Use a hose clamp on the oil filter, then safety wire the clamp.

[nickjpass]

Originally Posted by snot

Use a hose clamp on the oil filter, then safety wire the clamp.

[adouglas]

If your filter has a nut on it then it's probably a k&n and if that's the case then there's already a hole in the nut. Depending on your bike you may need to drill a hole for the other end of the wire.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by nickjpass

So I'm running through the rules, regulations and such. I plan on running novice.

here are the regs

anyway.

1) to safety wire my oil filter, could i drill a whole in the nut that's welded onto it?

2) I'm gonna have new tires (@csmith12 if you could suggest a pair? )

3) anything else I should blatantly safety wire or get ride of?

4) will they have a problem if i have a ziptied speedometer?

5) will they have a problem with my exposed cables and such? I can't be the only naked bike they've seen?

6) for the drain plug, they suggest i use a silicone sealant or rtv. just along the gap where the bolt meets the pan?
most of my questions could be answered by them but i dont wish to hassle them too much

thanks dudes

1. What snot/adouglas said. If you need a pic, mine is like that right now.
2. Do you have a tire preference? If not, or even maybe if you do... give Q3's a try. They are great tires for spirited street and track riding from N-midpack A group. Commuting, not so much. And only $240ish a set and maybe you will get the $40 rebate too.
3. Remove anything that is easy to take off. Think about like this... if you go down, will you be glad that you spent that extra 5-6 mins to take off the mirrors?
4. You can zip tie just about everything but your engine into the frame and oil bolts.
5. They should have no issue with exposed cables as long as they are secured. 1001 uses for zip ties.
6. Yep, just around the seal point, same deal with the fill cap. I recommend smelling your finger after rtv use.

[nickjpass]

Originally Posted by csmith12

1. What snot/adouglas said. If you need a pic, mine is like that right now.
2. Do you have a tire preference? If not, or even maybe if you do... give Q3's a try. They are great tires for spirited street and track riding from N-midpack A group. Commuting, not so much. And only $240ish a set and maybe you will get the $40 rebate too.
3. Remove anything that is easy to take off. Think about like this... if you go down, will you be glad that you spent that extra 5-6 mins to take off the mirrors?
4. You can zip tie just about everything but your engine into the frame and oil bolts.
5. They should have no issue with exposed cables as long as they are secured. 1001 uses for zip ties.
6. Yep, just around the seal point, same deal with the fill cap. I recommend smelling your finger after rtv use.

thanks !!! I was thinking the q3's too. looking forward to all this

[Alex]

/moved to ninjettes at speed

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by csmith12

4. You can zip tie just about everything but your engine into the frame and oil bolts.

and the gas tank

[choneofakind]

Can confirm. Taking off mirrors and lights helps a ton. You can just tape then, but removal is simple. Parts can't break if they aren't there!

Have aftermarket rearsets/levers/bars? Bring as many spares as possible. I should have brought extras. Luckily Chris was able to spot me a lever, I was able to run the stock rearsets, and my shift lever/clutch lever was able to be bent into useable shape. But I will have xtras next time.

[Sirref]

^ yea extras are good, I forgot to bring mine I could have helped you out as well if chris didn't have the parts.

I think next time I'll have an extra bike hahaha

[nickjpass]

all very helpful. I hope having a nude bike won't ruin my fun

i have some spare levers, but that's all. i guess i could always get some spare pegs and such off of ebay

i plan on removing the side stand since i can do it without grinding it off haha

i have A mirror. A. comes off with one bolt in seconds. don't even have signals or lights on yet so i'm set with that too.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by nickjpass

all very helpful. I hope having a nude bike won't ruin my fun

speaking as someone who tracks a naked bike, it won't

[nickjpass]

OOO Spare helmet. That should be important!

[nickjpass]

How much gas?

4.8 (4.7 useable) gallons in tank.

I really have no idea...if i had to guess I'd probably get 30mpg.

[Sirref]

just bring a can full of it, no harm in having extra

[nickjpass]

I'll probably just say F#!$ it and bring 10 gallons bahahahah

[Sirref]

I guarantee that that is overkill

btw, worst case scenario you can siphon some from your car
tracks also tend to have gas pumps around

[nickjpass]

will i need inspection, registration, title, anything of the sort?

[Sirref]

none of that crap
just pass tech and ride

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by nickjpass

I'll probably just say F#!$ it and bring 10 gallons bahahahah

On a 600, a safe bet is to have a full tank when you unload in the paddock and a spare 2 gallons. If you bring more for a "just in case" thing, just put it in the tow vehicle at the end of the day.

In the grand scope of things, I try to never transport gas. I buy it on the way to the track and put what is left in the tow vehicle before leaving the track. It's smelly, the containers are prone to leaking and such. It's all to easy... In the N group, you will not be burning though your tank if your bike is running properly.

[adouglas]

You do have safety wire pliers, right? Don't do it by hand.

Wiring is easy and a fun way to pass those long winter nights. I wired a bunch of stuff on my bike just 'cause I was bored last winter.

You can drill bolts easily if you get a 1/16" cobalt bit (important). They come in packs because you're going to break 'em. You won't find them at Home Depot or Lowe's... go ebay or amazon. A jig is good if you care about being neat... (moto-D sells the one I used).

If you've never done it, don't wait til the last minute. A little practice is a good thing.

Having just done my first track day, I think I did reasonably well with choosing what to pack. You don't need your whole garage, but I did find that the tools I brought came in very handy.

Tools
Bring what you need for the accessible fasteners on the bike. Generally 8, 10 and 12mm box wrenches, a few sockets, a ratchet, a set of hex wrenches and an appropriate screwdriver. I also brought the big sockets for my wheels because I bought tires at the track.

Off the top of my head, I used all of the above plus....
Torque wrench
Big breaker bar.
Magnetic parts tray.
Vise grips!
Safety wire and pliers
Loctite
Zip ties!
Nitrile gloves and a box of shop rags. Cleaning stuff for your hands and the bike.
MAINTENANCE MANUAL
Paddock stands
Good tire gauge
Source of air (bicycle pump for me)

Something to sit on while you work on the bike (my carry-with-me toolbox doubles as a footstool). Something to lie on is also nice.

The list looks big but really isn't.... it's just the contents of an ordinary toolbox.

I wound up using most of what was in the toolbox, including things I didn't think I would. I was also able to help out Chris "I forgot my toolbox again" Smith in a pinch. You'll be surprised at what loosens up due to vibration. When I got home to swap the bodywork back out, every single fastener was looser than it should have been.

What I brought but did not use: WD-40, magnetic pickup tool (bring it anyway), inspection mirror (ditto), picks

The only things I should have brought but didn't: A rubber mallet (or deadblow hammer) and wooden wedge to spread my brake pads during wheel swap.

[choneofakind]

Don't take off the side stand unless it is an issue with scraping. It likely won't be on a zx. Just zip tie it up. Or a lot of groups surprisingly don't require that and let you have a mobile side stand.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by adouglas

I was also able to help out Chris "I forgot my toolbox again" Smith in a pinch.

Man.... you guys have been a saviour in the paddock for me. Kevin (Seti) my track buddy who almost always goes with me, usually brings the toolbox, cooking supplies and other little things.

[choneofakind]

Bwahaha I brought the tools this time!!! But I kept losing my Allen wrenches! Those durned 5mm ones are the worst.

Also, those cinder blocks were the best idea my dad had. The ez up didn't budge!

[choneofakind]

Also, going with a group is the best thing ever. Like we've hinted, if someone forgets or needs something, you borrow it and keep the group going. Kinda becomes a community thing. Chris forgot his tools, I needed a bar and had to straighten out a lever, Ben needed a bolt to secure his gas tank and some RTV. We needed some extra fingers to get Chris's master link wired better, etc. It happens.

Bring a buddy! It's also a really great way to have an emergency contact at the track who can help clean up your junk if anything terrible were to happen. What happens to your trailer and car and whole paddock setup if you're alone and wreck bad and have to go to the hospital?! Things like that. Bring a buddy, even if the only intent is for them to be your pit bitch and help get you on and off the stand and take pictures. they'll love the experience too.

[nickjpass]

Solid tips.

[nickjpass]

Thoughts on running a clip style master link ?

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by nickjpass

Thoughts on running a clip style master link ?

It's fine if you safety wire it.

[nickjpass]

The gas tank fell and hit my head.... Ow

[adouglas]

ATGATT

[choneofakind]

...but really.

[nickjpass]

I bumped the bike on accident lol it smashed my head into the handlebars bruises on both sides xD

[adouglas]

Mechanic wear for Nick

[nickjpass]

Kneeled down on a soldering iron.

[adouglas]

This gets better and better....

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Sirref]

god I love that movie

:salute:

[nickjpass]

I failed to mention that this isn't the first time I burned myself with it, or the multiple cuts I got. LOL

[nickjpass]