took the FJR to SOW

Mojave954 · 06-14-2008, 08:02 AM

A bud of mine was putting on a track day but I couldn't attend the full day. New job, no AL, but we do have flex time. SO, taking advantage of that it was into work early out early. WSIR is about 6 miles from my house. SO, home, gas, changed into leathers and down the street, as it were.

Got there and made contact with my bud, we chatted and I taped up the FJR. Shame you can't disconnect the headlights easy. Price we pay in the ST world. Anyways I ask for a C group sticker. Don't want to screw up anyones ride in the B group. Its late in the day and plenty of people are packin' up to go home anyways. I lay out for the first track session. Pull up to the grid and the flag men recognize me and goes, "what is this?" Tell them what the deal is and he laughs. YES, the bags were still ON. I set out. Need to get the jitters down on the first session and some heat into the tires. First couple of laps I notice everyone lined up along the walls. Yeah, people want to see the FEEJ in action. The bike handled the track surprisingly well. Though the pics here don't show it you can get some amazing lean angles with the bike. I got one or two peg scrapes and the toe sliders hit many times. didn't want to go to far cause this my daily commuter and my baby. Absolutely love this bike. So pushing it to its limits was not in the cards. You can get up to about 100 in the main stretch at SOW on of these before you lay it into turn 1. Took that with no problem, turn two was at 30-40 mph which is RT 90, 3 and 4 are no biggie, standard turns, turn 5 is an uphill head for the last cone and lay it on its side RT hander, this is where the peg scraping occured. More then sure the corner worker heard my screams of enjoyment, up through the chicane, around the bowl. Here you have to becareful cause on the soft suspension bikes you will bottom out, then down the back stretch through another chicane and some more rt and lefts to the skid pad, which you see here. The limiting factor was the tires. Metzlers got a little greasy with the heat in them.

The FJR would beat the 600's down the stretch and give the ltr bikes a run for their money into turn 1. Only losing cause the rider is a chicken sh*t.

The second and third runs were sans bags. Once the first run was complete people were coming by the control rider tent to check her out.

Everyday track bike? No, But it was great to have her out there and be able to just see what she could do.

47 miles in 3 20 minute track sessions. Can't beat that with a stick.

maxib · 06-14-2008, 09:16 AM

Thanks for posting this, and for my resulting grin

I can relate!

I get lots of funny looks when in leathers on my ST1300. Someday I'd like to take it to a track too. Other than the suspension (which is my summer project) these bikes are remarkably capable as DrHall, you and I know. They just look funny out there!

Regarding the lights...could you pull a fuse so the tape doesn't bake on the lens, or was the circuit including something that required to be on?

Did you get any questions like "What kind of BMW is that?"

Hammer · 06-14-2008, 09:19 AM

Nice.

Another member here rode his FJ on the track. But you look faster.

seamus · 06-14-2008, 10:26 AM

Yeah, but that member got his to wheelie, IIRC.

DUX · 06-14-2008, 12:43 PM

Looks sweet! Gotta love seeing the passenger backrest as you go around the track!

I think it was on the "other" Honda site, but someone posted a video of an FJR being ridden hard through a closed development that was under construction. Very impressive machines!

DrHall · 06-15-2008, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer

Nice.

Another member here rode his FJ on the track. But you look faster.

Hammer

Awesome Mojave!!!

It is a riot to flog these things on a track or some twisties!
I do miss mine... I will get the Multi on a track soon, though it has no where near the thrust potential of the feej.

Mojave954 · 06-15-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxib

Did you get any questions like "What kind of BMW is that?"

No one asked that questions but did get some about the handling, passenger comfort, WHY THE HELL DID YOU BRING THAT THING, and several more. Had more compliments about the poeople on the track either trying to catch me or watching how it handle through the corners and the acceleration down the straights.

06-14-2008, 08:02 AM	#1
Mojave954 GONE PLAID! Join Date: 12-18-2006 Bike(s): 08 FJR, 08 R 1200 GS Posts: 902	took the FJR to SOW A bud of mine was putting on a track day but I couldn't attend the full day. New job, no AL, but we do have flex time. SO, taking advantage of that it was into work early out early. WSIR is about 6 miles from my house. SO, home, gas, changed into leathers and down the street, as it were. Got there and made contact with my bud, we chatted and I taped up the FJR. Shame you can't disconnect the headlights easy. Price we pay in the ST world. Anyways I ask for a C group sticker. Don't want to screw up anyones ride in the B group. Its late in the day and plenty of people are packin' up to go home anyways. I lay out for the first track session. Pull up to the grid and the flag men recognize me and goes, "what is this?" Tell them what the deal is and he laughs. YES, the bags were still ON. I set out. Need to get the jitters down on the first session and some heat into the tires. First couple of laps I notice everyone lined up along the walls. Yeah, people want to see the FEEJ in action. The bike handled the track surprisingly well. Though the pics here don't show it you can get some amazing lean angles with the bike. I got one or two peg scrapes and the toe sliders hit many times. didn't want to go to far cause this my daily commuter and my baby. Absolutely love this bike. So pushing it to its limits was not in the cards. You can get up to about 100 in the main stretch at SOW on of these before you lay it into turn 1. Took that with no problem, turn two was at 30-40 mph which is RT 90, 3 and 4 are no biggie, standard turns, turn 5 is an uphill head for the last cone and lay it on its side RT hander, this is where the peg scraping occured. More then sure the corner worker heard my screams of enjoyment, up through the chicane, around the bowl. Here you have to becareful cause on the soft suspension bikes you will bottom out, then down the back stretch through another chicane and some more rt and lefts to the skid pad, which you see here. The limiting factor was the tires. Metzlers got a little greasy with the heat in them. The FJR would beat the 600's down the stretch and give the ltr bikes a run for their money into turn 1. Only losing cause the rider is a chicken sh*t. The second and third runs were sans bags. Once the first run was complete people were coming by the control rider tent to check her out. Everyday track bike? No, But it was great to have her out there and be able to just see what she could do. 47 miles in 3 20 minute track sessions. Can't beat that with a stick. Attached Thumbnails

06-14-2008, 09:19 AM	#3
Hammer For Sale Join Date: 12-17-2006 Location: Indiana Age: 39 Bike(s): 05 Suzuki 600 Posts: 4,884 Images: 1	Nice. Another member here rode his FJ on the track. But you look faster. __________________ SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES. NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS

06-14-2008, 10:26 AM	#4
seamus is feelin alright Join Date: 12-13-2006 Location: Rocket City Age: 34 Bike(s): 1KRR; VFR; FMX650 Posts: 5,444	Yeah, but that member got his to wheelie, IIRC. __________________ Ducit Amor Patriae Richard Herald, The Gentle Giant The nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools. --- Thucydides

06-14-2008, 12:43 PM	#5
DUX Join Date: 12-28-2006 Age: 37 Bike(s): '07 R1200 GSadv,'04 RC-51 Posts: 655	Looks sweet! Gotta love seeing the passenger backrest as you go around the track! I think it was on the "other" Honda site, but someone posted a video of an FJR being ridden hard through a closed development that was under construction. Very impressive machines! __________________ Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire. -Reggie Leach

06-14-2008, 09:16 AM	#2
maxib Join Date: 12-18-2006 Location: MN Age: 57 Bike(s): 02 CBR954RR 05 ST1300 Posts: 1,004	Thanks for posting this, and for my resulting grin I can relate! I get lots of funny looks when in leathers on my ST1300. Someday I'd like to take it to a track too. Other than the suspension (which is my summer project) these bikes are remarkably capable as DrHall, you and I know. They just look funny out there! Regarding the lights...could you pull a fuse so the tape doesn't bake on the lens, or was the circuit including something that required to be on? Did you get any questions like "What kind of BMW is that?"