After noticing my brakes were fading pretty severly towards the end of races at BHF, I took out the pads and discovered one of them was down almost to the metal. No problem, just go to the trackside vendors and get some. Problem is, none of them had any! ??? :'( :o >:(
Michael Chachare sold me a spare set (even though we were dicing for position in several races both days). Yes, I would do the same for anyone else, but it still deserves a big shout out and thanks.
Now for the warning....
While examining my brake system for possible causes of fade, I noticed my lever was slightly crooked. Close inspection revealed the top half cracked into 2 pieces at the base, where the screw holds it in place. This happened during a parking lot tip over when my bike got hit by someone elses, and there was no other evident damage as it basically landed on the frame slider first. Point is, check your brake lever carefully anytime it possibly has made sharp contact with anything else, or maybe as part of our routine pre-race checks. It scares me to no end to think how many times I was braking to the point of sliding into turn 1 @ 135+ mph with 1/2 the lever cracked.
Only 135? ::)
;D ;D ;D
I never looked at my speedo, which is why I said 135+, just a guess. My best lap time was 1:17.3 on DOT's.
faster man, faster!!! ;D
1:17.3 is smoking fast. :o
I was clocking one of the riders with dredlocks that stick out under his helmet at 1:15's at BHF. I also pitted next to him at Gateway. He is fast and SMOOOTH. He was an amateur, I believe... (i'm sure i will be corrected if wrong)
And if you can't tell I'm joking, please get your hearing checked... The life you save may be your own. ;D ;D ;D
The amateur with dreadlocks is Michael Chachare, yellow/black GSXR # 227, and I got my 1:17's following him. 1:15's are great, He beat me by less than a bike in 2 races :(, by a large margin in 3 races, and I beat him in 1 (ULGP, the money race :) ).
But anyway, the experts on 600's were turning consistent low 15's/high 14's by my timer, so I still need to find a consistent 3-4 seconds at BHF.
I know who michael is, I was at Road Atlanta with him at the Schwantz School. This wasn't Mike. BTW, Sdiver, nice times!
Hey, btw, Mike is a great guy...
Hey Sdiver, what kind of bike do you have that broke the lever?
he's probably talking about Kevin Gordon.
Open your eyes man. It's right there in his signature. Jeeze. ;D
Quotehe's probably talking about Kevin Gordon.
Yeah, and he's an expert, I KNOW there were no AM's turning 1:15's! 1:17's had me right on the AZZ of the 2 fastest AM's last weekend.
Thanks Dave
QuoteOpen your eyes man. It's right there in his signature. Jeeze. ;D
Reading is fundamental, and so is answering to your own name. Golly Jeepers! ;)
One more time for sdiver. Was it the gixxer that broke or was it another bike? tia.
QuoteYeah, and he's an expert, I KNOW there were no AM's turning 1:15's! 1:17's had me right on the AZZ of the 2 fastest AM's last weekend.
Thanks Dave
It had to have been Gordon. Mike's dreads don't stick out noticeably and Mike is fast, but I don't think he's reached 1:15's yet...
Low, consistant 1:18's or high 1:17's will put you in the top of the amateurs.
Yeah, I know I'm just a photo b****, but I thought I'd mention that I had the same problem with a lever this season.
The bike I picked up had been lowsided. I bled the brakes a few times and still couldn't figure out why there was so much slop in the lever. I was going to bleed the master cylinder and replace the lever because it was ground a bit. There it was, a small piece had broken near the part the actuates the master cylinder. Definitely something to look for.
And yeah, Michael is a hell of a guy. :)
Dave-
Sorry, i thought Kevin answered the question, but it was the gixxer. FYI, if the parts guy doesn't have a spare lever for a late model gsxr, you can use one from the 99-01 R6, which is what i did.
If Chachere isn't at :15 yet, he soon will be... and is definitely a TOTAL class act, He's given me TONS of help out there.
1:17's at BHF is pretty damn impressive. Sdiver.. this is your first year racing too right?
Thanks TZ :)
Yes, this past BHF was my 6th weekend (2nd at BHF) of my 1st year, if you count the first 2 (Gateway, RA) when it was so cold and rainy I only ran a couple of events per.
Even though my best was 1:17.3, my average for the sprints was closer to 1:18.5. My biggest problem is consistency, particularly when I'm in front or have a big gap in front of me. Like I said, I need to find a consistent 3-4 seconds to run with the experts.
So....that's why michael was soaking that set of brake-pads in oil ;D
Yeah, Michael is 8) one of my favorite guys to dice w/ AND hang w/ at the track.
QuoteReading is fundamental, and so is answering to your own name. Golly Jeepers! ;)
One more time for sdiver. Was it the gixxer that broke or was it another bike? tia.
Aw shucks. I was just kidding. Please forgive me. :'(