April 24th, 2012, 05:42 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Paul
Location: Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100, 2006 Yamaha R1, 2006 Kawasaki ZZR600, 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R, 2017 Kawasaki Z900 Posts: 320
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1st track day
I had my first track day yesterday with the 250. This was my first day of the year and I took it out first before going out on the ZX6RR. Definitely a learning experience…spent the first few laps trying to find the right gear, the right braking points and getting used to the power band. At first, the bike kept getting out of shape but after I started to carry more corner speed and smoothed out my corner entry it felt a lot better. Leaned over dragging a knee, it still felt twitchy. It didn't take nearly the effort to ride as the 600 and I was able to do a lot of laps on it.
Going to try to focus on the suspension for next time. The front didn't feel too bad but the rear needs some adjustment. Saw the gixxer shock mod but I'd like to actually add some rear ride height. Also, even with the Woodcrafts, the clip ons felt way too high. Saw another member here cut the fairing in order to drop the bars which looks like the only way to go. Overall, I'm very happy I bought the 250 and turned into a track bike. It made the track day much more fun and I think in the end it'll teach me a lot about corner speed and make me faster on the 600. If only there were other 250s at the track...I can see how racing one is a blast. |
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April 24th, 2012, 05:53 PM | #2 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Rock on! Was at the track this weekend. Only 3 2fiddys Peeps just don't know....
Any other pics?
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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April 24th, 2012, 06:10 PM | #3 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Paul
Location: Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100, 2006 Yamaha R1, 2006 Kawasaki ZZR600, 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R, 2017 Kawasaki Z900 Posts: 320
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Quote:
No other pics that I know of. I'll bring my GoPro with next time. |
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April 24th, 2012, 08:16 PM | #4 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Shon
Location: Columbia, sc
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki ninja 250 Posts: 132
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I agree.......I think a lot of riders pass on the little Ninja because it's "only a 250".......little do they know!!! The potential of these bikes is so high.
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April 24th, 2012, 09:10 PM | #5 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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What load setting did you have the stock rear on? I ran mine on 4 day one and then on 5 day 2. I liked 4 better. What did you feel needed adjustment?
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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April 24th, 2012, 10:31 PM | #6 |
CVMA / AFM / M1GP #250
Name: Steve
Location: Los Angeles
Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r, 2011 Zero S, 2009 KLR 650 Posts: A lot.
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I will have dogbones for sale shortly to bring the rear of the bike up and put the gsxr shock to good use. And thats my bike with the cut fairings, dropping them helps so much!
Glad you had a ton of fun on both bikes, and didnt crash out! Now take your bank account, and steadily empty it. |
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April 24th, 2012, 10:37 PM | #7 |
RIP Alex
Name: Cuong
Location: Houston, TX
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '10 250r, '09 265r Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 2
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I love my 250 You'll grow to love it even more once you keep riding it. The rear suspension sucks. The front isn't so bad.
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HalfFast Racing Team Serving Greater Houston Area Riders:WFO Riders MotoHouston HPC CMRA Ride Smart Fastline Lone Star Track Days |
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April 24th, 2012, 11:14 PM | #8 |
TylersEM2
Name: Tyler
Location: Washington
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): None yet Posts: 58
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I just have a quick question.
Can an experienced 250 rider beat a 600cc supersport around a track? Or is it almost impossible because the supersports are built for the track. What made me think of it was the top gear episode where the girl drives a van around the Nurburgring almost as fast as Jeremy drives a sports car. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KiC03_wVjc
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Stanced 02 Civic, Check! 08+ 250r, ...Not yet... |
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April 25th, 2012, 05:16 AM | #9 |
Fighting Texas Aggie '05
Name: Neil
Location: Hutto, TX
Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): '07 ZX6R, '08 Versys, '09 250R Track, '93 F2/F3 Track Posts: A lot.
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Pretty neat being able to ride them back to back, probably pretty eye opening.
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April 25th, 2012, 05:19 AM | #10 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Assuming equal rider skill and equal track.... in general no. The fun part comes from really really late braking and insanely quick flicks into the corners. End result is thrillingly aggressive lines through corners that the bigger bikes normally can't take without their butthole slamming shut and looking like this,
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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April 25th, 2012, 09:47 AM | #11 | |
TylersEM2
Name: Tyler
Location: Washington
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): None yet Posts: 58
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Quote:
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Stanced 02 Civic, Check! 08+ 250r, ...Not yet... |
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April 25th, 2012, 09:52 AM | #12 |
CVMA / AFM / M1GP #250
Name: Steve
Location: Los Angeles
Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r, 2011 Zero S, 2009 KLR 650 Posts: A lot.
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Riding the 250 is no different than any other bike except that you subtract the huge straightaway speeds. It eliminates the huge braking zones and power slides that you get with a big bike, at lets you focus on perfect cornering, which is ultimately what gets you fast lap times. Big bikes can overwhelm you with having to manage too many things at the same time, 250s simplify that.
Once you get the basics on a 250 and perfect them, all you learn after that is how to manage more power and more braking. I know of several people who have raced 250s for 10+ years and still have a blast! |
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April 25th, 2012, 02:28 PM | #13 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Paul
Location: Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100, 2006 Yamaha R1, 2006 Kawasaki ZZR600, 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R, 2017 Kawasaki Z900 Posts: 320
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I had the preload cranked to 5. Some sections of the track are pretty bumpy so I'd like to mess with damping to see if I can get it smoothed out while leaned over.
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April 25th, 2012, 02:33 PM | #14 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Paul
Location: Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100, 2006 Yamaha R1, 2006 Kawasaki ZZR600, 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R, 2017 Kawasaki Z900 Posts: 320
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Quote:
I'll have to look at how you cut the fairing and if you got any extra pics, please send the over |
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April 25th, 2012, 02:37 PM | #15 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Paul
Location: Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100, 2006 Yamaha R1, 2006 Kawasaki ZZR600, 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R, 2017 Kawasaki Z900 Posts: 320
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Quote:
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April 25th, 2012, 02:41 PM | #16 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Paul
Location: Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100, 2006 Yamaha R1, 2006 Kawasaki ZZR600, 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R, 2017 Kawasaki Z900 Posts: 320
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Getting on the 600 for the first time from the 250, I felt like I was on a rocket...LOL. Especially with the quick shifter. But it was a lot more work and much shorter rest time on the straight.
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April 25th, 2012, 03:25 PM | #17 |
TylersEM2
Name: Tyler
Location: Washington
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): None yet Posts: 58
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That is all taht truly matters though, in my opinon. When i get one i want to learn really good on the street, and maybe take one of the experienced rider courses, and then go to some track days. The fun factor is all that really matters to me, and not having the **** scared out of me would be ideal.
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Stanced 02 Civic, Check! 08+ 250r, ...Not yet... |
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April 25th, 2012, 06:57 PM | #18 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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I wouldn't say it like that 100% but yea, if that is your goal to move to a bigger bike. I still very much enjoy my 250 simply for the corner entry speed among other things.
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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April 25th, 2012, 08:49 PM | #19 | |
TylersEM2
Name: Tyler
Location: Washington
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): None yet Posts: 58
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Quote:
Would a stock 08+ 250r, beat an AP2 S2000 or a new 370z?
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Stanced 02 Civic, Check! 08+ 250r, ...Not yet... |
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April 25th, 2012, 08:58 PM | #20 |
ninjette.org dude
Name: 1 guess :-)
Location: SF Bay Area
Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 7
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Not in luggage capacity.
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Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered) |
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April 25th, 2012, 09:02 PM | #21 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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ummmm hahahahaha, I am totally going off previous experience here but I would have to say no again. For a given skill level, properly setup cars can outcorner a bike. In honesty, I have no experience with these cars or their performance potentials. I am not your guy here.
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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April 25th, 2012, 11:31 PM | #22 |
TylersEM2
Name: Tyler
Location: Washington
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): None yet Posts: 58
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Alright, I guess I should have been more specific in some areas, and less in others. hhaha. but I totally contradicted myself by saying it's mostly about the fun, and then asking another question about which is faster. haha.
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Stanced 02 Civic, Check! 08+ 250r, ...Not yet... |
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April 26th, 2012, 07:20 PM | #23 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Zander the Expander
Location: Houston, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Kawasaki 250 (Track scooter) 2012 Triumph Daytona 675 Posts: 153
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focus on your riding with the 250 for a while before you dial in all these suspension adjustments save money and headache... the rear shock is def bad but just click it up a bit
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April 26th, 2012, 08:27 PM | #24 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: .
Location: .
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14
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Worry about what the rider can do more than what the bike can do. In the right hands, any bike can be fast.
That's something that people switching over from driving cars often have trouble understanding because of how little it actually takes to drive a car on the road vs the skill it takes to operate any vehicle at the edge of its ability on the track. It's like a good quality musical instrument. In the hands of a beginner, it will sound okay; better than a low quality instrument, but not a whole lot. However in properly skilled hands, that good quality instrument will shine and sound beautiful. Conversely, the highly skilled musician will sound better on the low quality instrument than the beginning musician will sound on the good quality instrument. |
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April 26th, 2012, 09:24 PM | #25 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Jono
Location: Memphis, TN
Join Date: Sep 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Triumph Street Triple, 2009 KLX250SF, 2003 Suzuki SV650S (Sold), 2006 Ninja 250 (Sold) Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
But like choneofakind, said it comes down to rider/driver skill. Doesn't matter what the vehicle is capable of if you can't make it do what it can do. |
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April 26th, 2012, 10:16 PM | #26 | ||
TylersEM2
Name: Tyler
Location: Washington
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): None yet Posts: 58
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Quote:
And thank you! Quote:
And thanks for not flaming! On most forums people are usually like 'stfu, you're dumb' and after looking at my questions, they were kind of pointless. hahaha. So thank you for the positive vibes. I dig this forum.
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Stanced 02 Civic, Check! 08+ 250r, ...Not yet... |
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April 27th, 2012, 05:27 AM | #27 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Isn't that the truth! After 6 sessions and the 7th session being 25 minutes... Oh my gosh, pushing the 600 over from near full lean in the chicane vs pushing the 250 over when your tired. World of difference and feels like work instead of the thrilling fun we should be having.
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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May 24th, 2012, 06:59 PM | #28 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Paul
Location: Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100, 2006 Yamaha R1, 2006 Kawasaki ZZR600, 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R, 2017 Kawasaki Z900 Posts: 320
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Did another track day on Monday and got a lot of seat time on the 250. Main reason for that is that my brand new, 8 cell lithium ion battery totally fried in the ZX6RR. Right on the first lap, the throttle felt twitchy. By the fourth lap, the battery went on/off a couple times then everything shut off. The manufacturer said it could have "over-volted" due to a faulty regulator but I've never had any issue till I got this battery. Anyway, they're sending a replacement free of charge.
Got more comfortable on the 250. I started to get on the throttle a lot sooner and dropped 2 seconds off my lap time. Actually, the shock on the bike this time felt fine, it was a little unsettled on bumpy parts of the track, it was the front that I think needs focus. There are a couple double apex corners where you're dragging knee for a while and there were a few times I had to left off the throttle because the front felt like it was pushing. Wonder if this could be due to insufficient rebound. The front comes up pretty slow when you bounce it. Definitely didn't inspire confidence. I'm running completely stock forks with the preload adjusters showing about 2.5 lines. I was going to set the sag at the track with the shop that runs the events but was told the typical 35-40mm may not work. Since these forks are smaller and may have less travel, the normal 30%-35% could be a different number. I need to go to school on the forks…anyone confirm the ideal sag number? Is the stock spring sufficient for a 200 lbs (with gear) rider? Any other tips (changing the fork oil, etc…) to get more out of the stock forks? I've got an extra set of gold RR forks laying around but unfortunately, they won't fit. |
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