2010 ZX6R. The wifes trackbike.

[weeksy]

"I'm calling it a day and not doing the last session"

Me and our boy were watching her battle with Mark on the zx6 who we're mates with, instead of him pulling away, she maintained the gap to him.

I didn't bother packing our kit and she came in and met us with "put the warmers back on"

[weeksy]

Sadly just as her session got called the rain came with a monsoon and that was the end of that.

However it was an excellent day and she had a blast. I met up with some of the usual suspects and the usual banter was in full effect.

I did miss not being out there, but in honesty my heart isn't often in the trackday thing and i end up getting a little bored with myself after a couple of sessions. However i do love the pit banter and seeing the wife enjoying herself.

The ZX6 was as always, well, Japanese and 100% effective.

We did have a laugh at one stage as me and one of the boys were checking the bikes in Fast Group.

Out of the 34 bikes, only 2 of them were none 1000 and 180bhp+ LOL... That's just a bit bonkers isn't it ! But that's how the game is played now.

Only 1 red-flag all day which was brilliant.

[wull]

Just briefly browsed, do you not fancy getting a set of wheels with wets fitted? It’s awesome fun and you won’t be missing out.

As for tyres, always go for pressures hot, start with 32f 30r cold if you’re not using warmers and then adjust after the first session to 32f 30r as they will have raised but just fine tune to get that sweet spot, but if using warmers set them to 32f 30r hot and if using track specific tyres go with what the manufacturer recommends and fine tune from there.

Also, give the S22’s a try, I’ve been using these for the road bike and the occasion track day with the road bike and they are fantastic, don’t even need warmers with these tyres so rock up and away you go, just adjust pressures to suit.

[weeksy]

Just briefly browsed, do you not fancy getting a set of wheels with wets fitted? It’s awesome fun and you won’t be missing out.

As for tyres, always go for pressures hot, start with 32f 30r cold if you’re not using warmers and then adjust after the first session but if using warmers set them to 32f 30r hot and if using track specific tyres go with what the manufacturer recommends and fine tune from there.

Also, give the S22’s a try, I’ve been using these for the road bike and the occasion track day with the road bike and they are fantastic, don’t even need warmers with these tyres so rock up and away you go, just adjust pressures to suit.

I'll let @Welsh Muffin answer.

[Welsh Muffin]

Just briefly browsed, do you not fancy getting a set of wheels with wets fitted? It’s awesome fun and you won’t be missing out.

As for tyres, always go for pressures hot, start with 32f 30r cold if you’re not using warmers and then adjust after the first session to 32f 30r as they will have raised but just fine tune to get that sweet spot, but if using warmers set them to 32f 30r hot and if using track specific tyres go with what the manufacturer recommends and fine tune from there.

Also, give the S22’s a try, I’ve been using these for the road bike and the occasion track day with the road bike and they are fantastic, don’t even need warmers with these tyres so rock up and away you go, just adjust pressures to suit.

To be honest it's a psychological thing, I'm not sure I'd be able to get my head around the fact that I won't lose it whilst going around corners and getting the power on. I was always very much a fair weather biker when I used to ride on the road, now that I only ride on track I have even less experience of riding in the wet!

[wull]

Just briefly browsed, do you not fancy getting a set of wheels with wets fitted? It’s awesome fun and you won’t be missing out.

As for tyres, always go for pressures hot, start with 32f 30r cold if you’re not using warmers and then adjust after the first session to 32f 30r as they will have raised but just fine tune to get that sweet spot, but if using warmers set them to 32f 30r hot and if using track specific tyres go with what the manufacturer recommends and fine tune from there.

Also, give the S22’s a try, I’ve been using these for the road bike and the occasion track day with the road bike and they are fantastic, don’t even need warmers with these tyres so rock up and away you go, just adjust pressures to suit.

To be honest it's a psychological thing, I'm not sure I'd be able to get my head around the fact that I won't lose it whilst going around corners and getting the power on. I was always very much a fair weather biker when I used to ride on the road, now that I only ride on track I have even less experience of riding in the wet!

Totally understand. I’d never ever force anyone obviously but from my experience I like to share it. I find that during track days and even races sometimes in the wet there is less “offs” and “red flags” and depending on the track the level of grip in the wet with the current wets is ridiculous. I think that’s where a lot of the fun comes from because it’s actually mind boggling that you can have that much grip when it’s sodding.

[weeksy]

Coming up to the usual winter decision time. This year the ZX6R deffo need a valve service if it's staying... if it's not, then we'll let the dealer sort that. But one thing i do need to do is whip the wheel out on the back and get it powdercoated to restore it to 100% condition.

I was running the thoughts and ideas by Welsh Muffin and she's now got a choice of 3.

1. Keep ZX6R another year, get serviced and enjoy
2. MV agusta F3 800 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114989473762 ... 0290.m3507
3. 2014-17 GSXR 750.

I'm still not seeing her going to a 1000 and none of the other options really give anything she doesn't have already. If the newer R6 was a better bike then it'd be possible, but it's not exactly jumping out at me as an option. I don't see much point going to a later ZX6R as it's essentially what we have now.

[KungFooBob]

2. MV agusta F3 800 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114989473762 ... 0290.m3507

I bought three bikes from Premier in the 2000's. They were great, but the recession killed them to death. They lost the Aprilia, Bimota and Kawasaki franchises, they rarely have more than a handful of bikes in stock and most of them are dogs when you get up close.

If you're interested in that MV I'm happy to go look for you, but I'd be asking them for some good pictures before visiting yourself.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Sit on the MV before you buy one, I found it uncomfortable to sit on, never mind ride, weird triangular bits that dug into my inner thighs.

[Skub]

2. MV agusta F3 800 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114989473762 ... 0290.m3507
3. 2014-17 GSXR 750.

Looking closely at the pics,there's a bike in need of a Weeksy Wipeover for sure.

[Dodgy69]

Not the prettiest MV I've ever seen.

[Bigyin]

To be honest it's a psychological thing, I'm not sure I'd be able to get my head around the fact that I won't lose it whilst going around corners and getting the power on. I was always very much a fair weather biker when I used to ride on the road, now that I only ride on track I have even less experience of riding in the wet!

Come out in the early wet sessions with the rest of us

[wull]

Get some spare wheels with wets

[MingtheMerciless]

2. MV agusta F3 800 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114989473762 ... 0290.m3507

The MV's rear sets Allen bolts look like they've been unscrewed using imperial Allen keys or maybe a torx bit.

[weeksy]

It wasn't necessarily THAT particular MV 800, that was just on my watch list.

I don't actually think anything will change over winter apart from the service and powder coating wheels.

[weeksy]

I think the MV will be a brilliant track bike, mine really flattered my riding.
They're brilliant but with a 2015 I'd be worried I'd be buying a hand grenade, anecdotally I was told buy a 2019 or newer so you don't get the gearbox or QC issues the previous ones had.
I've seen a lot of MV track bikes with their engines apart in the workshop, the fella there told me they're fine until you hammer them, then it's when not if it goes bang.

Like I said, brilliant, but be prepared for a bill if it happens.

I think posts like this would likely make her reach for the big red button on any deal. The ZX6 does exactly what it does, day in day out, every day, every session. She likes that....i have to admit, so do i....

It's not come up in conversation since we had it, which in itself tells me that the ZX6 will be staying and serviced over winter and another year of campaigns will be upon it. Mostly Silverstone i think but wouldn't shock me if she also manages a Euro.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

If the ZX6 does the job why change it?

[weeksy]

If the ZX6 does the job why change it?

MAny possible reasons really. It's 11 years old, sometimes people just fancy a change, sometimes it's down to wanting something more modern, sometimes it's down to more power/performance/electronics... any number of reasons really.

Not everyone wants to keep bikes forever so sometimes it's just 'lets have something else'

From my discussions with her and my perspective it's "would she go quicker on something 'better' ?"

This year was a bit of a blow-out for @Welsh Muffin in terms of track stuff and she spent 3/4 of it looking for the Mojo she previously had. At Silverstone last year she was chasing me on the XSR900 and we had proper battled with her and a mate Mark, it was epic fun for all 3 of us being quite closely matched in terms of both bikes and riding. But this year with rainy wet days, a problem that required surgery and just not quite getting into her happy place on the bike/track it all just never quite clicked for her out there.
So maybe it's a bit of a change to spice things up, find the mojo and the happy place once again. She got a lot closer to it by the end of day 3 at Pembrey, so maybe all is not lost with the ZX6.... But still, just putting it out there for discussion really.

[weeksy]

In that case then a new bike could be just the job, what about something different, like an MT09 or similar style, I find them easier to ride faster on a track because the riding position gives me more confidence.

I'd be all over anything bigish and naked, but in her world it's simply not happening, she doesn't like the riding position in the slightest, so it won't be happening. It's sportsbike or nothing.

[Dodgy69]

I'd keep it cos it's a track bike Like most of us, track confidence is mainly about grip. Get the best tyres, a nice dry track and all is good.