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Got a New Bike!

4K views 40 replies 13 participants last post by  Felixthecat 
#1 ·
Hey everyone so for the last month and a half I've been on the search for a new track bike since I blew mine out at Laguna Seca this year. And yesterday I picked my new track bike up and I'm pretty happy with what I got and that is a 2012 Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R! I went down to San Luis Obispo to pick it up from a fellow ZX6R member. The motorcycle was fully loaded with after market parts I was looking for specific to track riding, literally didn't have to buy anything for it. On that note there is things I WANTED to buy for it which at this moment will only be CoreMoto SS Brakelines from MotoMummy(good package deal there) and some MadscientistMoto brake and clutch levers! Also currently in the process of painting from a hideous orange to a matte black paint.

Just got this bike and I already have it apart haha.
 
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#2 ·
Just kinda wanted to update this with what I e done to the bike since!

Well first thing I did was paint the bike it was an ugly Home Depot apron orange. I couldn't stand it so I went to my local Home Depot and bought matte black spray cans! Looks way better now!



After that went out and bought some CoreMoto Brakelines and installed those! I think for the 07-12 model the SS brakelines are one of the best upgrades you can do to it!

After that I saw I swap my old speedodrd from the 07 model to the '12 model so I did that!

Soon after I did some small stuff like get Dzeus fasteners from out good buddy PainfullySLO(make life easy), got the ECU flashed by Schnitz Racing, bought a Zero Gravity Corsa Windscreen, and gave changed my brake pads to EBC EPFAs.

Currently I have replaced the front fork springs from .95 kg/mm to 1.10 kg/mm and the fork fluid from 5wt to 7.5wt. Tomorrow I will be taking the rear Ohlins Shock over to Kyle Racing and having them install a new rear spring and have them refreshen the internals.









Don't think I need to do much more because my skill level isn't up there to push this bike to the limits.
 
#4 ·
TrackDays, TrackDays, and even more TrackDays!!! Jk my goal is to get my racing license through AFM by 2018. This upcoming year hopefully has. A lot in store for me, (graduating with my Associates, getting into police academy) should take up almost the whole year. Plus I want to be able to get into A group before I get my license if I'm not in A group then I won't attempt to get my license. I just feel like I'd be a hazard if I'm not able to get to speed.
 
#7 ·
What's the thread? I wanna read it! I might've already seen it but don't remember.

I tend to agree with you Felix though just because I've been in a few races where there were a few racers that really shouldn't have been there....call me a selfish dick if you want, but when you're 10+ seconds slower than the next slowest guy and about 30 seconds slower than the leaders it can be a hazard. When I raced with MRA this summer at HPR, I lost out on a possible 4th place position because of a back marker that was insanely slow. I mean I'm not that fast and that was a new track for me and even I lapped her after like 5-6 laps! At that point it's just like putting a novice rider at a track day in the advanced group. There is a reason pretty much every track day org has groups based on skill level. You'd think racing should be at least the same if not more strict. In professional racing there is generally a 7% or maybe in some cases 10% rule, meaning in order to qualify to even be on the grid you have to lap no more than 7% slower than the pole position time. There is good reason for this.

The way I looked at it is simply in that I didn't want to be last. So I checked lap times from races at tracks that I've been to and looked at the people that finished towards the bottom. When I realized that my lap times during track days were at least that much or better, I decided it was a good time to start racing and that's what I did. I think out of all the races I did so far I only finished last (in my class) once, which was my very first race ever at a track that was unfamiliar to me and I finished only a couple of seconds behind the guy that was 2nd to last....who happened to be my buddy and it was his first race ever as well :D
 
#8 ·
That's where my thinking is, I don't want to be a hazard to people that are much more experienced, luckily I've done a trackday at all the tracks that AFM goes to except Sonoma Raceway. I think you just gave me what to look for SBK. Once I do a trackday again at Buttonwillow, Thunderhill East, and Sonoma Raceway I will look at my lap times and see where they comepare to the lower guys. If I'm not even close then I will be doing more TrackDays!( darn right hahaha)
 
#10 ·
Here's the specific snippet that he posted about it.


Overcoming excuses
Over the years I have heard countless excuses from people about why they can’t race. Here are some of the highlights:
I’m not fast enough/don’t ride well enough – I hear this one a lot. My counter is simple: I got faster by racing. When I first started I was slower than most people on the track but I learned quickly, I had to! Nothing will teach you to ride more proficiently quicker than getting out there on the grids and mixing it up with people who are also learning. That’s right. The people you will start out racing are all in the same boat as you; a desire but not a lot of experience. You will be on an even playing field.

I’m waiting until I hit xx.xxx laptime – This one comes from the track day riders a lot. What they don’t realize is that they will hit that goal and surpass it much more quickly when you are racing. The spirit of competition will push you hard and you will become faster quickly
 
#12 ·
Been working on the suspension this last 3 days and well since I did the front I thought to myself "just to the rear so it's all new!". At that point I took the rear shock off and today I took it to Kyle Racing in Sand City. Talked to the tech that was going to do all the work and he said no need for a new spring just a refresh of the suspension. Which that included new oil, new gas or nitrogen(not sure what they use), and cleaning of all the internals.

At this point I went home and waited for the phone call saying that my rear shock is ready for pick up so I cleaned the inside of the swing arm and the back of the engine that I usually can reach.



After that I started to prepare the wheel for install which to me means cleaning the wheel spacers of all the old grease that is on them and putting new grease.



After that cleaning the old grease off the axle and again putting new grease on it. Cleaning the area where the axles go through. Decided to clean the sprocket as well since it's dirty with chain lube and dirt from my trip into the dirt at my last track day haha.


Then bam got the call from the shop so then I went and pick it up so I can put everything back on.


Found that these spacers where on the bike Shock already so I just installed them back. If I remember right it raises the tail end and helps with tip in??


Torqued everything down for the shock and because I wanted to be a little nit picky I had to make sure that the hydraulic preload handle was at the same angle that the exhaust comes out of haha



And then I finally was able to just sit back and look at my beautiful baby!



 
#15 ·
I got their before most mail companies pick up so it might have been one that I was looking at when I was in their shop lol. There were a boat load of ohlins products waiting for something to be done to them.
 
#17 ·
Well I did the fancy axle switch where you stick it through the left and it comes out from the brake side and that made the process so damn easy!!!! I got in the first try in less then 15 seconds!! If I have issues later with those then I will do it! The front is always easy too
 
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#18 ·
Well the other day I picked up some vortex clipons with the long bar for an awesome price!!!



Had the time to install them today and I'm very happy because now I can use the not cut in half(somewhere around there) throttle tube on the motion pro quick turn throttle! Very happy about this because I didn't like that one it was too small for my big hand!

On that note doesn't anyone have the instructions or torque specs for the vortex clip ons?? Second question I want to get some bar ends for these clip ons as I do not like the plastic tips does any one know which ones I would have to get for it to work?
 
#21 ·
My woodcraft clip ons also had the plastic ends which I didn't like either as I got a lot of vibration through the bars. I went with woodcraft bar ends weighted much nicer and they are a compression fit into the bar. I'd bet these would work in yours as well. I can get an internal bar measurement if you need later tonight when I'm back near the bike.

https://www.woodcraft-cfm.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=16-5299B
 
#22 ·
Not much to update in the cool parts category but I have swapped out the springs from .95 kg/mm( too soft) to 1.10 kg/mm racetech springs(too stiff) and then now to 1.00 kg/mm sonic springs. I'm pretty hopeful those will work way better then the other two as it's in the middle and if it is too light my suspension guy said that I could have 1 1.0 kg/mm spring on one leg, while in the other I could have a 1.10 kg/mm spring to make an average of 1.05 kg/mm setting so I should be covered!

Have only have one trackday since the season started at buttonwillow February 19th I believe and my next one is march 26th at Thunderhill raceway east course(3-Mile version) with some people from this forum! Should be a fun one since it won't be too hot predicting a small amount of rain as far as now. Northern California has a tendency to have rapid climate changes so who knows what we will get! 20% chance of rain right now. After that day I'll be at the West course of Thunderhill (2-mile) April 8th and planning to hit Laguna Seca April 29th as well! It's a Saturday which is rare!!

Recently have gotten some free room in the account and will be planning to get my AFM racing license in the middle or near the end of the season which is roughly august/September ish.
 
#24 ·
Little update:

Had a trackday this past weekend, weather was in the mid-upper 50s with a slight rain in the morning and after 3. Had a blast out there at one of my favorite tracks Thunderhill East. First session out after the sighting laps I pushed a little two hard coming out of a corner and had the rear step out a little, came off the track at that point. Track started to dry and I started pushing a little harder and started gaining cofidence because the D211 GPAs slightly suck in cold and wet lol. It wasn't til about the 3 o'clock session that I had the rear come out on me again when going into turn one which is a really fast paced turn coming off the main straight! After that one happened I called it a day since it looked like more rain was coming! Overall great day. Oh and I had Dave Moss do my suspension and looks like everything is coming out fine now!

Unfortunately no video since I thought I forgot them but the were actually just under the seat the whole fucking time! Do have some nice pictures though!






Any constructive criticism about my position will be great lol
 
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#28 ·
Little update:

Had a trackday this past weekend, weather was in the mid-upper 50s with a slight rain in the morning and after 3. Had a blast out there at one of my favorite tracks Thunderhill East. First session out after the sighting laps I pushed a little two hard coming out of a corner and had the rear step out a little, came off the track at that point. Track started to dry and I started pushing a little harder and started gaining cofidence because the D211 GPAs slightly suck in cold and wet lol. It wasn't til about the 3 o'clock session that I had the rear come out on me again when going into turn one which is a really fast paced turn coming off the main straight! After that one happened I called it a day since it looked like more rain was coming! Overall great day. Oh and I had Dave Moss do my suspension and looks like everything is coming out fine now!
One of my buddies from here in Oregon went out to that trackday. He was on a blue R6 with EDR stickers for headlights.
 
#26 ·
I got them from dripping wet, email the guy about the 2009-2012 Headlight Decals and he will send them to you! No I will say they dont fit perfectly which causes it to wrinkle in certain spots or I just fucked it up myself not sure hahaha. In pictures they look great!
 
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#31 ·
I was just there yesterday (April 8th) at the west course. As far as right now I don't think til June a two day weekend at buttonwillow I believe.
 
#34 ·
Yea it was so awful I almost backed away from the bike just cause of that lol. Then I remember I can buy rattle cans lol. But it was too good of a deal to pass up lol. Funny thing is my best friend who went with me to pick it up told me if I don't buy it that moment that we would be going to the bank so he can pull the money out to buy it himself hahaha
 
#35 ·
There is a couple cheap days for sale right now on BARF lol
 
#36 ·
So for anyone that has read and kept up with my bike purchase and build knows I've put some money into it since I bought it last year, unfortunately I am going to have to sell the motorcycle after my track day weekend in June. Life has hit me financially in the ass and I need to put a down payment on a car and I cannot afford to keep the bike along with its payment while having a car payment and insurance as well! If anyone is interested let me know but won't be for sale until after June 18th. Will make a for sale thread then.
 
#41 ·
So a little update, will be keeping the motorcycle. My dad and I made an arrangement about the pickup truck that is just taking up space at the house. I am currently getting it tuned up so it can run like new once I start driving it again! All this means is that I can keep the bike and keep doing Trackdays! My next track weekend is already scheduled for September 16-17 at Buttonwillow Raceway Park and I believe some fellow ZX6R members will be attending. But before I can get to the track I had to do some things to the bike as I have had suspension issues since the beginning of this year! It was something so dumb that was messing me up, but I learned from it and now I know! What happened was since the sonic springs I bought(1.0 kg/mm) were longer than the oem ones there was something I had to remove to make up for th excess length, thus why they sent me 4 washers with the springs. Those washers are meant to replace the top white spacer in the 09-12 forks, 2 at the top of the spring per fork. The piston rod(the thing with the rebound and dampening adjusting screws) sits on top of the washers. This finally made sense to me when I took the sonic springs and the oem springs to Mike at Kyle Racing who is a suspension guy at Trackdays around here and he explained to me what the washers were for. The reason why I never replaced them before was because I thought well if the oem didn't come like that why do I need them for?? So I just literally swapped springs. Well this gave me a chance to get that issue fixed and replaced the fork oil, which I did and damn did that oil look dirty only after 5 Trackdays!! I went from 7.5wt rock oil fork oil to 7wt Maxima Advanced Racing fork oil(its cool because its blue!!). Also installed nee tires, went from the Dunlop GPA D211 tires to Dunlop GPA Pros, we will see how much better these are! everyone says they are great!
 
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