1st track day

[pjed]

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.

[csmith12]

Rock on! Was at the track this weekend. Only 3 2fiddys Peeps just don't know....

Any other pics?

[pjed]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Rock on! Was at the track this weekend. Only 3 2fiddys Peeps just don't know....

Any other pics?

Totally agree. Think a lot of riders pass on these bikes and are missing out. You can't beat the fun factor, especially for the money. There was another track day the previous weekend and one guy took his street 250 out. Hopefully it'll catch on.

No other pics that I know of. I'll bring my GoPro with next time.

[Jiggyfly]

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.

[csmith12]

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?

[Rexbo]

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.

[cuong-nutz]

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.

[TylersEM2]

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

[sharky nrk]

Pretty neat being able to ride them back to back, probably pretty eye opening.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by TylersEM2

I just have a quick question.

Can an experienced 250 rider beat a 600cc supersport around a track?

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,

[TylersEM2]

Originally Posted by csmith12

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,

So a 250 will be the most fun on a track for a really long time, basically until you learn how to control your bike in every aspect. and then when you get track days down, it would be better to move to a supersport.

[Rexbo]

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!

[pjed]

Originally Posted by csmith12

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?

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.

[pjed]

Originally Posted by Rexbo

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.

The ride felt awkward at first with the bars so high. Especially switching between the RR. I'll definitely want to check out the gixxer shock with the dog bones. Aftermarket shocks for this bike are pretty pricey...I don't believe I've ever seen a used one for sale.

I'll have to look at how you cut the fairing and if you got any extra pics, please send the over

[pjed]

Originally Posted by TylersEM2

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

My lap times on the 250 were about 16 seconds slower per lap than on the 600. Granted, I have a lot to learn and will hopefully get quicker but I'm sure I'll never come close. It doesn't really matter. The fun factor on the 250 is as much if not more than on the 600.

[pjed]

Originally Posted by sharky nrk

Pretty neat being able to ride them back to back, probably pretty eye opening.

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.

[TylersEM2]

Originally Posted by pjed

The fun factor on the 250 is as much if not more than on the 600.

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.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by TylersEM2

So a 250 will be the most fun on a track for a really long time, basically until you learn how to control your bike in every aspect. and then when you get track days down, it would be better to move to a supersport.

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.

[TylersEM2]

Originally Posted by csmith12

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.

One more question!

Would a stock 08+ 250r, beat an AP2 S2000 or a new 370z?

[Alex]

Originally Posted by TylersEM2

Would a stock 08+ 250r, beat an AP2 S2000 or a new 370z?

Not in luggage capacity.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by TylersEM2

One more question!

Would a stock 08+ 250r, beat an AP2 S2000 or a new 370z?

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.

[TylersEM2]

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.

[675Raisinator]

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

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by TylersEM2

Would a stock 08+ 250r, beat an AP2 S2000 or a new 370z?

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.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by TylersEM2

One more question!

Would a stock 08+ 250r, beat an AP2 S2000 or a new 370z?

An S2000 would whoop the Ninjas 250s ass! Hahaha. They tear up the twisites. Now if only they had more torque. lol. I am sure a 370z would do the same but not as nicely as the S2000.

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.

[TylersEM2]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

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.

Like a Martin or Taylor vs a beginner fender or epiphone

And thank you!

Originally Posted by Jono

An S2000 would whoop the Ninjas 250s ass! Hahaha. They tear up the twisites. Now if only they had more torque. lol. I am sure a 370z would do the same but not as nicely as the S2000.

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.

An ap2 is my next car. I want to supercharge one for more low end powaaa

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.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by pjed

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.

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.

[pjed]

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.