Track prep for something faster than I'm used to

[TheIglu]

I'm just sitting there, minding my own business when this 2001 GSXR 750 shows up. I'm like "waaaa" and it's like "nah" and then I was like "ehhh, aight".


It's in full street attire right now. Plastics are complete but a little scratched/cracked, so no need to swap them for track duty.

Going to yank the lights and possibly grab an aftermarket nose so I don't have a huge void where the headlight used to be.

Pulled it all apart yesterday. Turns out these things are pretty easy to work on. It has about 28k miles on it. Going to do a valve adjustment, throttle body sync, oil change, air filter, plugs, steering head bearings, etc.

It has some Pilot Power 2ct's on it right now, but I think I'd goey those pigs on the track pretty quickly. I'd like to get a set of nice sticky rubber on there. I don't mind using warmers so race tires are absolutely fine if not preferred. Not sure if I'm going to stick to my preferred Dunlop or go Pirelli/Michelin for this one. I'm sure everyone who sells these brands will chime in and tell me how I should buy their's.

I took out it for a single street ride last year before putting it away. She pulled fine, ran well. Suspension, who knows. It's original fork oil. Original shock, untouched. Anyone ever do a fork fluid swap on one of these? Yes yes yes, bring it to PK, yeah, I know. That's a last resort. This is a budget build for now. I mean really, it's already 13 years old, I'm not dumping a lot into it. If I have to, fine, but in the meantime I may either run it as is for a day to shake it down or just try to do it myself.

It has sliders and a MiG exhaust. Exhaust isn't lined up properly for the rear mounting point, may have to look into that.

Anything else I should be doing with this thing? Never had a "fast" track bike before. Of course wherever I bring this thing, I'll also be bringing my SV.

[loudbeard]

Case covers. Don't be the guy who goes down and oils the track over a factory case cover. Happened yesterday on a bonehead mistake and the guy cost everyone track time.

[TheIglu]

Good call. Should be able to pick up some Woodcraft ones cheap seeing as this thing was made during the middle ages.

[jasnmar]

I'm a fan of doing fork maintenance myself. Assuming it doesn't involve swapping valving parts it's pretty straight forward. If you have 28k on original stuff, it's probably best to change seals and bushings while you're there.

I've never done usd forks, but according to http://kzrider.com/forum/5-chassis/3...rk-rebuild-2-0 it looks pretty much the same as traditional forks.

Hardest parts are getting the fork oil level right and driving the fork seal. For the oil level I ordered one of http://www.amazon.com/Motion-Pro-08-.../dp/B000GZPCYI which is "ok". For driving the seal, so far (a total of 2 bikes) I've been able to find some sort of PVC fitting, that, in combination with the old fork seal, allows me to drive the new one on without ordering an extra $50 tool that I'll use once.

[Garandman]

TTD sells Pirellis at the track at great prices.

Those 750's are impressive, they seem to have a lot more mid-range power than the 600's and really jump out of turns.

[TheIglu]

Suspension, who knows. It's original fork oil. Original shock, untouched. Anyone ever do a fork fluid swap on one of these? Yes yes yes, bring it to PK, yeah, I know. That's a last resort. This is a budget build for now. I mean really, it's already 13 years old, I'm not dumping a lot into it. If I have to, fine, but in the meantime I may either run it as is for a day to shake it down or just try to do it myself.

Looks like PK will rebuild the fork and shock for $344 total, judging from the website. That's a lot cheaper than I thought.... though I'd still need to swap the fork springs over, so add in another $100.

[TheIglu]

Judging by this video of a K4 (same model year), maybe a GPR steering damper should be added to the list....just wait until his tires warm up. Holy headshake, batman!

[Chippertheripper]

Does it have the silly factory one??
Just fill it with peanut butter, if so.

[TheIglu]

Yeah, it does. It has grape jelly in there now, along with a good serving of air, so I'm thinking the PB would be a wise addition.

[Kurlon]

To hell with trackdays after watching that vid... those guys are nuts!

[TheIglu]

To hell with trackdays after watching that vid... those guys are nuts!

Classic Intermediate group antics. Who needs lines or technique when you have horsepower?

[The Snowman]

Probably not what you want to hear, but consider a front end conversion to an 06+ GSXR front end. You get all the goodies, including the USD forks and the radial calipers. You cam also mount set of R6 or R1 mono calipers to it, with spacers.

This is the setup I run on my SV and it's awesome. I got everything, including the front wheel for $700. Unfortunately, I also paid for the cartridge upgrade from PK, which made all the difference and that was more expensive than the sum of all of the parts.

[TheIglu]

It's already got USD forks. Just not radials. Don't need them.

Remember, I'm the guy with the SV that has the stock front forks (internals upgraded) and stock calipers/rotors and have absolutely no complaints on track with them.

[Chippertheripper]

It's already got USD forks. Just not radials. Don't need them.

Remember, I'm the guy with the SV that has the stock front forks (internals upgraded) and stock calipers/rotors and have absolutely no complaints on track with them.

That setup is totally adequate when paired with a bitchin master.
Doesn't have all the glitz and glamour, but I know that ain't your MO.

[OreoGaborio]

Remember, I'm the guy with the SV that has the stock front forks (internals upgraded) and stock calipers/rotors and have absolutely no complaints on track with them.

Word. Emulators & minor brake upgrades is all ya need.

[TrackRat]

I think the cheap set of track plastics that I have listed in the classifieds will fit this. Just tossing it out there.

Have fun! The power increase over the SV should be entertaining.

-Jon

[TheIglu]

I think the cheap set of track plastics that I have listed in the classifieds will fit this. Just tossing it out there.

Have fun! The power increase over the SV should be entertaining.

-Jon

. Plastics are complete but a little scratched/cracked, so no need to swap them for track duty.

No need for them at this point, sorry.

[G21forme]

Case covers. Don't be the guy who goes down and oils the track over a factory case cover. Happened yesterday on a bonehead mistake and the guy cost everyone track time.

Not everyone spends 500$ on covers for a track day.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

[loudbeard]

True but everyone there is paying ~$250 a day, assuming you don't get a cheap auction. When you oil the track, you cost everyone track time. If you can afford to pay for track time, you can afford some decent crash protection.

[Jewcati]

True but everyone there is paying ~$250 a day, assuming you don't get a cheap auction. When you oil the track, you cost everyone track time. If you can afford to pay for track time, you can afford some decent crash protection.

Agreed

[CBR929RE]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RH-Starter-I...item53f8574bf1

[TheIglu]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RH-Starter-I...item53f8574bf1

It's the stator side that takes the brunt of a drop. And that thing does for about $180.

[CBR929RE]

It's the stator side that takes the brunt of a drop. And that thing does for about $180.

well there wasn't one on their ebay page so buy this and get the others at full price

[SVRACER01]

Judging by this video of a K4 (same model year), maybe a GPR steering damper should be added to the list....just wait until his tires warm up. Holy headshake, batman!

if you leave the steering head bearings alone, you shouldnt need a stabilizer
i miss that bike, it was a blast to really twist it. thing went from cruise to plaid in an instant.

[TheIglu]

Got a set of them Pirelli Trackday Slicks waiting for me when I get to Thompson.

Front pads are great shape. Rear pads need to be swapped as they are mighty low. Any recommendations? I usually run Galfer blacks on the back of my bikes for less bite. Sound logic?

Not going to have time to do the fork fluid swap before track time. I'll do that afterwards if I like it on track.

Turns out the steering head bearings in there were smooth and snug still, no play or notchyness. Wheel bearings are also fine though the seals are old.