Small bike - Big track

[Kurlon]

After three years racing on kart tracks, in small parking lots, etc, I finally got a chance to run the CRF70RR on a full size track...

Thats right, thanks to the open-mindedness of the Fishtail Riding School crew, I got to flog my mini at NHIS, on the track proper yesterday.

Based on my gearing, and the reports of a couple people following me down the front straight, I got to leg it out into the 80s, possibly over 90mph. More fun though was running that kinda speed through the bowl. I couldn't answer the big bikes on the front straight, but it had plenty of corner speed to keep people honest everywhere else.

So, I'm now hooked. Checking the LRRS rules, it looks like I'm only legal for Motards. I'm thinking of doing the two day Penguin school next year, and getting my license. At the very least that means I can run practices on LRRS race weekends if I want to pony up an entry fee. Compared to the costs for running at 106 Race Park down the road ($50 a night) thats not all that steep, and I had MUCH more fun running at speed compared to the tighter kart track. If I really like how things work out, I can start tracking down something a little bigger (I'm thinking RS125, etc, something down on power that really emphasizes corner speed, ala my 70. A big part of the grin factor was being able to just flog the thing for all it's worth in a few spots.)

I know I can't be competitive with 15hp, 12" wheels, and a top speed under 100mph. I'm more interested in having the option of running at speed, so I guess the real question is, would I be safe for the other riders?

Racers, would you be upset with my bike on the track?

[OreoGaborio]

I won't knock it till I see it.... but my gut reaction is I can't immagine a more miserable way to make a dangerous activity even more dangerous to yourself & others.

And that's coming from an EX500 racer

Any idea of your lap times?

[Doc]

Ummm yeah.. What he said.

YOUR NUTZ! Get a proper sized bike and MAN UP!

[smf]

+2. what pete said (and i've only got a few more HP than an EX )

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

not really a good idea,

you like the track, now get a track bike.

it makes as much sense as going to a go-cart track with a 600 superbike.

[Pittenger5]

Or riding an EX around loudon

[Kurlon]

No idea on lap times, being a 'street' track day any timing/etc was strictly prohibited. I also never did a full speed lap thanks to traffic, rules for the day prevented any passing in the curves for me. I'd love to find a time when I can run either in the clear, or at least be allowed to pull up beside/pass if possible in the curves while being timed.

I can say I felt faster through the technical sections (aka the majority of NHIS) on the 70 than my ST3 that day. I wasn't up to the same pace as I ran in August on the ST3 at the Ducati / Penguin track day though.

http://www.x386.net/TTR/media/06Rebu.../HPIM0409a.jpg

That's the machine in question. Wheels and front suspension are from an NSR50, the forks have been reworked (gold valve emulators, springs, new damping rods, polished internals). Rear is 7 inches longer than stock to accommodate the wider rear wheel, giving a 4' wheelbase. The tires are Sava MC31s, soft compound, intended for Metrakits. I'm running a different motor now, 151cc with a 4 speed, putting down 14hp as setup yesterday, once I swap pipes and get the carb sorted it should be in the 16hp range.

And as far as 'manning up' well... all I can say is I can't get over the fun I had yesterday on that 70. My ST3 pulls MUCH harder, but it just didn't quite match the grin factor of that small machine, even in traffic with full size bikes.

That said, if it's not going to be safe, I'm not going to do it. Hence this post to see if this is really that numb an idea or not. Do you really think I'd set myself up for open season like this if I wasn't still riding the high from yesterday? : )

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

the closing speeds on some parts of the track are going to quite diffrent.between your bike and some others. most people will get by clean. some wont or cant. the closing speed is diffrent someone can really get hurt.

There are some folk on the track that dont ride fast nor smoothe and the are constantly taking other people out.

[Kurlon]

he closing speeds on some parts of the track are going to quite diffrent.between your bike and some others. most people will get by clean. some wont or cant. the closing speed is diffrent someone can really get hurt.

Ok, that's a pretty damn convincing argument that I can't counter. So much for that plan then... Track days it is then I guess.

[Paul_E_D]

I don't think many trackday orgs would even allow it. Fishtail has a really mellow pace/crowd. Most other orgs will probably not allow that bike. As others have said, closing speeds will be insanely dangerous at times. I sincerely doubt you broke 80mph on a 70cc four stroke...

An RS125 is the best idea you've had yet!!! If you get serious, let me know, I have a "little" knowledge in that area.

[OreoGaborio]

An RS125 is the best idea you've had yet!!! If you get serious, let me know, I have a "little" knowledge in that area.

Understatement of the month

[Kurlon]

I sincerely doubt you broke 80mph on a 70cc four stroke...

Actually, in a vintage class chassis you can ping 85mph with 72cc and some hefty head massaging on this style motor. (8hp)

My bike is far being that aerodynamic, but it's also not 72cc any more. Currently it's 151cc, dyno confirmed 14hp with it's current pipe, 15hp with a borrowed pipe (which I finally got one of for myself), and once dialed in should be in the 16s in current trim. I did the math to determine speed at 10k RPM and 11k RPM in top gear with the gearing I put on specific for NHIS based on primary gearing, gearbox, chain, rear wheel diameter, etc and it puts me at 80mph if I can hit 10k, 88mph if I can hit 11k. Down the front straight when I came through 12 clean the motor would tach out audibly, peak HP is at 11k on this machine, so I'm conservatively estimating 80mph. I had a couple runs down into 5 where I got a good run through 3 and 4 before to setup a nice 4th gear sprint to peak RPM (Had to back off as it was floating valves at that point just before turn in) at which point I was able to keep it hammering up the hill right near peak RPM. I also know of a a few street legal mini-motard machines that regularly do GPS verified runs up to 80 with less ponies than I'm packing.

I'd love to have gotten radar or some other confirmation of speed, but again rules of the day prevented it.

My main goal in seeing if it'd be feasable was to extend my enjoyment of the bike. I've got 3 years in massaging and dialing it in, squeezing every last ounce of power and handling I can out of it. It's an engineering challange with the added fun of riding occasionally. This was it's biggest venue yet and it's made me crave more with it.

I don't have the budget for a second machine right now, and to be honest I dunno if I wanna split my engineering time between two different bikes. I've already got a dirt version of this bike that gets the red-headed step child treatemnt, even the ST3 gets ignored at times 'cause I just enjoy this bike too much.

Net result, closing speeds would make it unsafe, and I can accept that. That now puts the onus on me to find a way to get safe time on the track outside of LRRS. I know there are a ton of similar output midsize motards around that'd love to hit the track, I may have to look into organizing a track day on my own for us mini freaks. Or if Fishtail will have me, I'll keep showing up as my wallet allows. I'm hooked, that will not be the first and last showing of the 70 at NHIS... but I won't be on the track if it's not going to be safe for me or other riders.

edit: "I am in the USGPRU raffle... should the stars align I'll have a RS125 to try."

[OreoGaborio]

88mph if I can hit 11k.

... when this baby hits eighty-eight miles per hour... you're gonna see some serious shit.

PS, a sorted EX500 in Production Twins trim goes for about 1500 bucks. now THAT is some dirt cheap fun.

[Paul_E_D]

You can probably run your mini with the USCRA events at Loudon. They have a class or two you may be allowed to race in.

OK 80mph from a 150 I can believe. btw, if you like your bike, I wouldn't run Loudon very often. It eats singles for lunch. nevermind an air-cooled 70 punched out to 150...

[Kurlon]

You can probably run your mini with the USCRA events at Loudon. They have a class or two you may be allowed to race in.

OK 80mph from a 150 I can believe. btw, if you like your bike, I wouldn't run Loudon very often. It eats singles for lunch. nevermind an air-cooled 70 punched out to 150...

Checked, looks like displacement and distinctly modern plastic relegate me to the 'Modern Singles' class, but that's mainly Yamaha SRXs. With no displacement limit, closing speeds would again be a hazzard.

I just need to start a 'Screwball Inappropriate Bikes' series... yeah, thats it...

[Kurlon]

... when this baby hits eighty-eight miles per hour... you're gonna see some serious shit.

PS, a sorted EX500 in Production Twins trim goes for about 1500 bucks. now THAT is some dirt cheap fun.

Yeah, someone told me mini racing was cheap racing too... my wife doesn't even laugh at that theory any more.

I bet I'm sleeping on the couch tonight just for broaching it on a forum that she doesn't read.

[RyanNicholson]

theres no such thing as cheap racing haha i dont care what bike you're on...it just depends on how fast you want to go....money is speed

[OreoGaborio]

theres no such thing as cheap racing haha i dont care what bike you're on...it just depends on how fast you want to go....money is speed

i only spent about 200 bucks last weekend... came home w/ a 1st place trophy, too

And I've spent 85 bucks on tires since the beginning of last season. and haven't even put em on yet

[RyanNicholson]

i only spent about 200 bucks last weekend... came home w/ a 1st place trophy, too

And I've spent 85 bucks on tires since the beginning of last season. and haven't even put em on yet

lol ok, you've lost your speaking/typing privileges...

congrats on the 1st tho!

[OreoGaborio]

Thanks

[Doc]

No offense meant by the "man up" comment. Mini's just don't belong on the track with bigger bikes. (as has been noted).


Now if enough of us could get into it maybe they would do a "Mini race" in the future.

I have an XR100 that I would love to minimotard.

[Kurlon]

Now if enough of us could get into it maybe they would do a "Mini race" in the future.

I have an XR100 that I would love to minimotard.

I'll do the leg work if someone points me in the right direction. I know just in the pits alone there are a ton of machines that could run, and I know of a good chunk of machines already setup elsewhere just looking for a venue. If some of the SEMRA or OYL crew shows up...

[Paul_E_D]

They're looking to drop classes at LRRS, not add them. Just a heads up.

[highsider]

Don't listen to what all these uppity racer-types say, you rock the XR.

Just think what people said about riding a dirt bike on the track 20 years ago.....

[trackdog]

They're looking to drop classes at LRRS, not add them. Just a heads up.