Just some pics from my trackday at VIR on the grand course.
I took the SV650S instead of the 'busa just to see the difference, plus I wanted to ride the bike since I just had gotten it friday.
The grand course at VIR is about 4.25 miles.. HUGE.. takes the best parts of the north course, south course, and patriot course and combines them.... "BUSY" is an understatement.. haha.. I feel lucky already having some experience on the North Course so I only had to learn the other 2 miles of blind turns, decreasing radius, and .. just for kicks.. how about a blind decreasing set of esses.. oh... and lets put them on a severe downhill grade for chits and giggles.
Unebelievable fun! Had it not been for the weather it would have be simpy perfect... and it was damn close even when the temperature hit 102... yes.. thats right.. full leather in 102 temps... plus humidity that you could literally see... track temp. was like 128 or some such ungodly number.. tires felt like, and slightly resembled melted marshmellow after each session... needless to say... tire warmers weren't really a big advantage.. haha.
Anyway.. few simple observations on the SV - vs. - Hayabusa.
The hayabusa's weight would have killed me today.. the last two minutes or so of each session were so hard.. even on the light weight SV.. I felt like it was all I could do to get it heaved from left to right for the tight esses that are part of the patriot course.. I was literally grunting by the end. .. Thats a 380 pnd bike... 480 would have probably put me in the grass... or worse. That could be overcome I suppose if I were in a little better shape... but that would be too much like work..
I think I've confirmed my suspicions that the biggest thing "wrong" with the hayabusa for a track day are brakes... either that or too much damn power... take your pick.. haha I blame the brakes.. just can't whoa it down and you end up losing the advantage you gain in the straights because you have to start braking so much earlier..
whatever... they are both a blast to ride.. I would have been a whupped pup (even more than I am) had I been on the hayabusa.
On to the pics!
I decided I was going to do track days enough to warrant having knee sliders... well if your gonna have em' ya may as well use em.. haha.
<!--EDIT|pure_ego
Reason for Edit: None given...|1122350098 -->
I took the SV650S instead of the 'busa just to see the difference, plus I wanted to ride the bike since I just had gotten it friday.
The grand course at VIR is about 4.25 miles.. HUGE.. takes the best parts of the north course, south course, and patriot course and combines them.... "BUSY" is an understatement.. haha.. I feel lucky already having some experience on the North Course so I only had to learn the other 2 miles of blind turns, decreasing radius, and .. just for kicks.. how about a blind decreasing set of esses.. oh... and lets put them on a severe downhill grade for chits and giggles.
Unebelievable fun! Had it not been for the weather it would have be simpy perfect... and it was damn close even when the temperature hit 102... yes.. thats right.. full leather in 102 temps... plus humidity that you could literally see... track temp. was like 128 or some such ungodly number.. tires felt like, and slightly resembled melted marshmellow after each session... needless to say... tire warmers weren't really a big advantage.. haha.
Anyway.. few simple observations on the SV - vs. - Hayabusa.
The hayabusa's weight would have killed me today.. the last two minutes or so of each session were so hard.. even on the light weight SV.. I felt like it was all I could do to get it heaved from left to right for the tight esses that are part of the patriot course.. I was literally grunting by the end. .. Thats a 380 pnd bike... 480 would have probably put me in the grass... or worse. That could be overcome I suppose if I were in a little better shape... but that would be too much like work..
I think I've confirmed my suspicions that the biggest thing "wrong" with the hayabusa for a track day are brakes... either that or too much damn power... take your pick.. haha I blame the brakes.. just can't whoa it down and you end up losing the advantage you gain in the straights because you have to start braking so much earlier..
whatever... they are both a blast to ride.. I would have been a whupped pup (even more than I am) had I been on the hayabusa.
On to the pics!
I decided I was going to do track days enough to warrant having knee sliders... well if your gonna have em' ya may as well use em.. haha.
<!--EDIT|pure_ego
Reason for Edit: None given...|1122350098 -->
