track x18

[X7rocks]

this is something i should have made a long time ago....

well im trying to get practice into my x18...but havent ben able to becuase of work and school but im going to be posting updates and anything for the x18 here for now on...ill try to sum things up i guess

right now the bike is not running (cdi has burned out) so im going to be replaceing the entire ignition


race tires are gonna be atleast two weeks from now ( still saveing) but fornt slicks should be arriveing next week


and flipping the pegs will also be happening to trying to get a better lean angle

and being 6 foot i have a little issue with sitting on my bike and trying to get a good cornering angle with the bike..so im going to try and move the seat back with some brackets to try and see if that wil help me hug the bike more instead of haveing my head in front of the bike itself

its probably gonna be a slow build...but ill try to get things situated so i can practice more and try to be more confident on the track :yup:

[doug@xmr]

Before you start cutting, get it running and get some real time on that thing!!!banghead
If I remember correctly last year you were going pretty good around the track.

[X7rocks]

yeah i remember actually almost keeping up (i strongly emphasize ALMOST being able to.)

i just have to get used to the bike and install better tires and im sure i wont be afraid to gun it once i leave the corners
ill try to find a nice tune with the rear shock i have now and see later on if it will help me out any

as for the seat change im gonna see what i can pull up im sure if i just bring the seat back 2 to 3 inches back i can get a better seating position but ill try anything out



oh and doug did i leave my gas tank at sandyhook by mistake??

[]-[owler]

I plan on doing the same thing with my X18. If I beat you to it, I'll post pics.

[Blitz$M.Inc.$]

confidence will make you go faster
your mind is telling you you cant go fast
dont worry about keeping up with the other guys, go your pace and slowly get faster
by day 2 of vir, you will be ballin, we all were
the tires gave me the confidence to go for it

[X7rocks]

thats the thing blitz with my stock tires i feel like one wrong throttle position and i feel like im gonna be a gonner
and saturday im going to go ahead and flip the pegs (only free day i have as far as i know)
at sandy hook my bike didnt run good at all but i tryed getting the bike to lean as much as it can and after my bike stalled out you can look at the sides of the stock tires and see they basically got worn out by 5 laps :(

[X7rocks]

small update got the tire but ran into a issue with my zuma =[ needs a new rear tire i ran into a nail and tryed sealing it buut....wont seal correctly
><

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l305/kman656777/DSCN0322.jpg

[Blitz$M.Inc.$]

what size is on the zuma rear?
these tires are too small to plug so if they get a hole you can put a tube in there
i never had a problem with the front slick but the rear one got a hole and i had to put a tube in
x7, after you ride with the slick, go over it and pick out any debris

[swheels]

I hate for this to be my first post in your thread.But i gotta call it like i see it.
You started a thread on tracking your x18 so far it seems the zuma is your priority.There's nothing wrong with that.But IMO i don't think it's a good idea that you should go bashing other peoples trackbike build thread.when it seems that you can't even get yours off the ground.

I'm not bashing you or mad at you.I'm just saying keep it real.thumbsup2

This one of the reason's i didn't chime in on this thread because i wanted to see how dedicated you was going to be.Before i opened my mouth to say anything.

[X7rocks]

the zuma is the only way i can get to work(and to get money for the bike) so it kinda is a priority when it comes to my only source of transportation and thats what bugs the hell outa me.

i did the math though if i continune to work even with this busted tire on my zuma i should still manage to pay for VIR and for the rear slick on my bike along with a ignition solution i will just have to be on a strict budget until then

today im going to check out the pegs on the x18 and see if theres a area where i can place my seat a bit further back to make it more comfortable to hug the bike

[swheels]

I understand ya. I friend of mind was able to put a tire plug in the rear tire of his x18.It worked great for him.You should be able to plug that zuma tire.It's constructed way better than the stock tire.

[X7rocks]

you would be surprised S :( the tires on my zuma have worse grip then the x18 tires stock when rideing in the rain on my x18 i dont slide allover the place with my zuma i can accelerate and lose grip right then n there almost like im on ice

i have pics i will upload what i was doing int he last few hours

[X7rocks]

here are my pegs flipped

(First photo)

remember there is always room for improvement thumbsup2

(Second photo)

my feet felt much more comfortable once i did this!

(Third photo)


now after moving the seat back the seat was flopping around as seen here

(Fourth photo)


how i solved it (Fifth photo) was through zip ties :)


now this is how my bike sits as off now (Nutty P here. X7 I thought it would be easier for people to see what you're doing if it was right in front of them. But for now you can only upload 5 photo's per post so the last one is still in photobucket)

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l305/kman656777/DSCN0329.jpg

i thought i would have more time but i have to head on to work :( all work no play makes me a dull boy

[FiveStarSky]

was the bike painted white or sanded down to bare plastic? if it was painted, that thign looks dirty

[Blitz$M.Inc.$]

white is hard to keep clean
x7, i dont know if you should trust some zip ties to hold your butt on the bike
you just gotta ride compact

[X7rocks]

yeah its just dirty

and i have two bolts holding the seat fairing in place but the two zip ties at the end of the seat to keep it from shakeing.

[]-[owler]

Hey X7, I'm posting some pictures of my setback mod in my thread if you wanna check them out.

[X7rocks]

im gonna go check it out

[X7rocks]

okay i was able to keep the rear tire on my zuma sealed so that means with combining next weeks pay and this weeks pay i can get the inner rotor and possibly a new ignition( then ill be broke)

i also go the front tire on the rim...its weird if i lose 35 psi it leaks like crazy but ill try some type of sealer on it

[rene13]

okay i was able to keep the rear tire on my zuma sealed so that means with combining next weeks pay and this weeks pay i can get the inner rotor and possibly a new ignition( then ill be broke)

i also go the front tire on the rim...its weird if i lose 35 psi it leaks like crazy but ill try some type of sealer on it

Did you mount the tire your talking about.

The reason I ask is because, when I mounted my tires, I got some soapy water and put some around the rim, and bead noticed it was leaking, so I thought I screwed up the tire. I did some research and found out that if I gave it a couple of love taps with a rubber mallet it would help the tires seat right, and it did. Used the soapy water and checked for bubbles and they were all good. Never mind it was a nail in the tire my bad.

As for your rearset situation, instead of flipping them, why dont you just make you an adapter plate out of 1/8 steel plate. kinda like I did with my aftermarket rearsets. drill two holes for the original mounting bolts and some extra holes further back and higher that would make your rearsets more adjustable.

[X7rocks]

ill see if i can find a steel plate at work that i can use and grind with a buzzsaw or something of that nature

as for the front tire..i think its a big hole cuase it lost air all at once not at a slow rate...i hope the bead seal isnt to bad.

and the tire isnt mounted as of yet =/

[X7rocks]

sorry for long updates ive ben working everyday from 8 am to almost 8 at night no time to put any effort into my bike :(

tonight i asked to be let off around 5 so i can remove the rear tire and install some other peices hopefully get it running tonight aswell.i hope it all goes well with my running issues.

but gotta work to pay for items now Nutty-Rant trying my hardest to make my bike more ready for vir and to pay for vir itself and if i make it..well i hope i get used to the bike better nd can even keep up with anyone

[The Nutty Professor]

Sorry to take this back to the "Z" but what size is the tire? I might have a Pirelli I can get for you real cheap if it's still there?

[X7rocks]

the rear tire is 130/90-10

[The Nutty Professor]

Nope this is a 12 sorry dude.

[X7rocks]

its cool :)

alriiight...i have a replacement spark plug wire. stock just gotta see how it goes well together with the new ignition system.

[Sidewalk]

My experience, take it or leave it:

I am glad I ran crap tires for the whole first season I race. Now I am far more confident on good tires then I ever would be. I got to the point where sliding was a comfortable thing, and now I can carry a lot more corner speed then a lot of my competitors because I don't worry about it. I even run into the dirt on occasion and just ride it out.

Ground clearance won't do you any good if your riding sucks. Fix the rider, then fix the bike (which goes back to my point above).

Soon as you think your bike is what is holding you back, try to learn more from it. Every time I race someone tells me "You know, if you were on an NSR could be way faster" (which may be true) or "That YSR is what is holding you back" yet I can still feel when I miss an apex, or roll on the throttle too early, or brake too much, or something. If I am still making mistakes on a YSR, I would still make those mistakes on a faster bike, so I like to stick with it.

You learn more from a slow poorly tuned bike then a fast well built bike. Forget the slicks, save your money and just ride the shit out of it. When you are comfortable sliding the front and rear, and are keeping up with other riders with similar experience on faster bikes, then think about upgrading.

If you think I am full of it, watch some of my videos on Youtube. I am obviously down on power (everyone is faster in the straights) yet I am faster then half or more of the field in the corners, and I have less suspension potential. And yet I still have a lot to learn!

I give this advice because I am also on a tight budget. I don't have a street bike, or a street car. I have a company vehicle and a $400 van to get me to the track once a month (with my wife and a friend carpooling). I used to sleep in the PT Cruiser at the track before it broke down, so I get not having money. Dumping what little you have into mods to try and go faster is only going to make you go faster by having a lighter wallet, not by being a faster rider.

[FiveStarSky]

yup true to all that, i would get smoked on the straights, but even on my mid i could still hang with the other riders in the corners, specially on the tight corners, they would have to swing wide whil i could still hug the inside.

[Sidewalk]

Brakes are the enemy banghead

[swheels]

That's good advice to a person willing to take the risk of crashing.In i use to live by ride or die.Meaning ride the hell out it or hit the ground tryin to.Some people can't just do that.
With a whole weekend of racing coming up at VIR.There are going to be some reeeeaaaaalllllllll fast guys there and any midbike(xbike) on stock tires trust me i don't care if Ben Spies is riding an Xbike with stock tires.Even he would get lapped atleast twice in a 8 lap race at VIR.The stock tires are the worst things you can try to race on with these bikes.Trust me we all started off racing on these stock tires.There to inconsistent you never know what your getting when you go to replace them.I've went through alot of the stock tires for these type off bikes.I can tell you i've had one rear tire that i thought it was made for a drift car.bluelaugh

It truly would suck to be racing for a whole weekend and be held back because of tires.These xbikes are not like ysr's when it come to racing road course.They start off as the lowest on the totem pole.They take alot out of you when you have to ride themreal hard up against other better bikes.An xbike will make even te best rider go WTF is this SH!.

[Blitz$M.Inc.$]

sidewalk, i agree with half of your statment
i started racing with good tires cause i already knew the stocks sucked
as a newbie rider i slowly pushed the pace till i slipped the rear out at vir
then i sorta rode cautious cause i knew the limit on the tires
then i got the slick and scraped my pegs all the way around the track without finding their limit
so now i got my pegs higher and im ready to lay this thing over and see if it sticks
for me, having better equipment is what gave me the confidence to ride hard
if i put stock tires on my bike now, id be scared to ride it

[Sidewalk]

That's good advice to a person willing to take the risk of crashing.Don't take this the wrong way, but don't race! If you are not willing to crash, stay off the track. It sucks, but it is going to happen. Even Leonard Mellgren who has been racing for at least 40 years on just about every bike under the sun (he actually has a 500GP bike in his collection of motorcycles) still crashes at time. I watched him run right off the track in front of me, and he consistantly beats the fastest NSR riders we have on a stock YSR! In the 8H1 Endurance race last year one of our fastest riders who almost never wrecks went down near the end of the 8 hours breaking a bone. That was the only time I have seen him wreck in two years, and he is by far a top level expert on these bikes with experience on other bikes. That is why we all dress up like storm troopers on the track, because crashing is going to happen.

I do have a tendancy to ride harder then others and crash more for it, that is the risk I take and I understand if you take it back a notch for a little added safety, I respect that decision completely. But you better plan on wrecking (and better plan on having full gear and medical insurance too).

They take alot out of you when you have to ride themreal hard up againstEvery bike does, it isn't just and X bike thing. I tell people all the time that a sprint race on a YSR wears me out more then an hour on my mountain bike, and I ride like an idiot on the mountain bike! You should try a sidecar sometime (180 plus MPH), talk about exhausting!

, having better equipment is what gave me the confidence to ride hard
if i put stock tires on my bike now, id be scared to ride it

I haven't ridden one of these bikes to know the limitations, so I have limited knowledge there. What I do know is that I used to drag knee and hard parts a lot when I first started racing. After working a lot on my positioning and lots of advice I barely even touch a knee down anymore.

[X7rocks]

im at home now exhuasted :(

good advice sidewalk ill put the stock seating position on my bike and take it from there on a rideing position to work on. the rear tire is off my bike now waiting to take the rim and tire to work and to get a chance to try to swap them then ...test the ignition system.

i really hope everything works. im so tired from work im probably going to pass out after typeing this.

[swheels]

Don't take this the wrong way, but don't race! If you are not willing to crash, stay off the track..No i won't take it the wrong way.Because i was in no way referring to myself.LOL Crashing LOL Chief you have no idea.bluelaughbluelaugh Pics of my tires and farings speak for themselves.thumbsup2




I haven't ridden one of these bikes to know the limitations, so I have limited knowledge there. What I do know is that I used to drag knee and hard parts a lot when I first started racing. After working a lot on my positioning and lots of advice I barely even touch a knee down anymore.Well if you ever get the chance to ride one of these bikes stock and think your gonna rip a track up.One advice learn to roll when you hit the ground.LOLOL Even a ysr stock to race is five times better than a stock xbike.Any of the guys that been racing xbikes for while can tell you.

[swheels]

im at home now exhuasted :(

good advice sidewalk ill put the stock seating position on my bike and take it from there on a rideing position to work on. the rear tire is off my bike now waiting to take the rim and tire to work and to get a chance to try to swap them then ...test the ignition system.

i really hope everything works. im so tired from work im probably going to pass out after typeing this.
Kenny your what 6''.Dude you gotta get the bike close to the point you can atleast ride it.Sometimes what works for others might not work for you.Ultimately you have to get the bike to where you can ride it.For example i watched the FIM race this weekend.Jake Zemski was filling in for an injured rider on a honda team.Long story short Jake couldn't do squat on that bike racing on a track that he beat Bean Spies and Matt on.The tea he was riding for was not willing to change the setup to fit Jakes needs.So when their rider comes back to race to.They wouldn't have to start over for him o be comfortable with the bike.If your not comfortable with the bike then you've pretty much lose already.

[X7rocks]

i think makeing a plate to put the foot pedals back a bit more might help...but if i put the seat back to far back that i end up loseing my center of gravity on the bike :/

ive ben thinking of a way to rase the gas tank aswell so my knees dont hit the near tip of the gas tank fairing metal spacers??

[X7rocks]

actually S how tall are you? anything done to your 18 that helped you hug the bike more thats my biggest issue

[swheels]

actually S how tall are you? anything done to your 18 that helped you hug the bike more thats my biggest issue
6 foot.I moved my footpegs back real far and up.I can grab the upper sides off the fairings with my knee instead of the tank.Before if i was going through a switch back section with the stock footpegs setup.My knees would bump the bars almost sending me into a tank slapper.So i wasn't able to make fast movents or i had to back off the throttle some so i could re-position my body.Now i can do it effortlessly and without backing off the throttle

[X7rocks]

ill try to find a slab of hard metal to move them back and probabbly weld a longer shifter

i think that might help??

[Blitz$M.Inc.$]

im shorter but i ride with just my toes on the pegs
that lets my knees cling to the body, i can let go and not fall off
i wouldnt do any crazy body changes so close to a race

[X7rocks]

im sorry for late updates i really am


okay got the bike running,and the rear tire installed on my rear rim it makes the bike look nicer :)

all i need to do is get the carburator fine tuned for the warmer weather and i want to see what my paycheck is right now if its good enough 90 % is going toward V.I.R
then i can add it with next weeks pay (i should have time???)

[Blitz$M.Inc.$]

sounds like your ready to rock
so what are your goals for vir?

[X7rocks]

1.make the bike last more then 5 laps
2.have fun meet everyone from MBN :)
3.try not to crash xD
4. i want to try to be as competitive as i can


i quess my goals are realistic??? :)

[FiveStarSky]

1.make the bike last more then 5 laps
2.have fun meet everyone from MBN :)
3.try not to crash xD
4. i want to try to be as competitive as i can


i quess my goals are realistic??? :)

i only had 2, finish the race and dont crash, i only met one lol

[SoPackedCustoms]

I hope you meet your goals lol

[X7rocks]

well my biggest one is makeing it there to be honest :)

[Blitz$M.Inc.$]

if you only ride not to crash, you wont be that competitive
ride easy in the practice, then go balls out for the races

[X7rocks]

notes taken blitz thumbsup2

[Sidewalk]

im shorter but i ride with just my toes on the pegs that lets my knees cling to the body, i can let go and not fall off

Exactly what you are supposed to do thumbsup2

You should be able to lean over with your hands off the bike and not fall off since your knee is locked into the tank. That is the trap of sliding your ass off by twisting the wrong way. Your hips need to rotate into the turn.

[rene13]

This might help YouTube - riding tips

[Blitz$M.Inc.$]

hey i wasnt lookin at yer butt!
LOLOLOL
i dont knee drag so im not worried about it yet
i can still lean the bike over while staying compact on the bike
if i lowside then my knee being out prolly wont save me

[X7rocks]

oh while looking at my bike last night i sat on it...i was like alright feels more stable..
BUT my knees hit the middle part of the gas tank fairing is there a way that raseing the tank fairing would help my knee get into place better? or should i just put the seat back it in its original place and try to get a run around in the parking lot??

[FiveStarSky]

i dont think i would worry too much about how you sit and what you need to change, just be adaptive, and once you get back from the track, you will know what you need to change.

[swheels]

oh while looking at my bike last night i sat on it...i was like alright feels more stable..
BUT my knees hit the middle part of the gas tank fairing is there a way that raseing the tank fairing would help my knee get into place better? or should i just put the seat back it in its original place and try to get a run around in the parking lot??Hey x7 i really wouldn't stress so much man.The main thing is to have fun!Vir track is less technical than sandyhook and the only spot you really need to worry about is going down that hill.Because you will need to be able to stop.The turn at the bottom is almost a 180deg.It's not a points race just enjoy yourself.I'm just gonna be happy to be out on a gotdam track this year.thumbsup2

[X7rocks]

ill try to adapt to it :) ill do my best to keep up with everyone

[FiveStarSky]

ill try to adapt to it :) ill do my best to keep up with everyone

dont try to keep up with everyone, if your eyes are too focused on the guy in the front, you wont get any closer to him, it doesent matter how manny people are in the race, there are only three people you need to worry about. The guy in front of you, you, and the guy behind you. Pass and Protect.

[Sidewalk]

there are only three people you need to worry about.I would say that as long as a person is in "just trying to keep up" mode then really there is only one person to worry about. You can't improve your racing line when you are zero'ed in on the rider in front of you. Riding your own ride helps you develope the skills you need to keep up. After that, then it is a 3 rider race thumbsup2

[FiveStarSky]

I would say that as long as a person is in "just trying to keep up" mode then really there is only one person to worry about. You can't improve your racing line when you are zero'ed in on the rider in front of you. Riding your own ride helps you develope the skills you need to keep up. After that, then it is a 3 rider race thumbsup2

oh yeah totally agree, watch the guy in front of you, then take advantage of his mistakes, pass, and move on up to the next guy. But you dont want to be playing copy cat

[Unproracer]

Im probably the last guy you wanna hear it from, but what helps me find settle into a track is no brake drills. Ride a few sighting laps, then run a few laps w/o using your brakes, or minimal brake.

Perks:
-Familiarizes you with each turn and appropriate corning speeds, or in general the track layout
-Takes some focus and stress off riding hard, and lets you ride smoother.
-Breaks bad trail braking habits, which are generally worse when your pushing w/o being familiar with the track layout.


If you dont get to race open wheel normally, just have fun with it, and focus more on your form and riding then how fast everyone else is. Usually you'll find someone whos on your skill level, and will prove to be more fun to battle with, then pushing your limits chasing someone faster then you.

Good luck out there man! hope you surprise yourself.

[Blitz$M.Inc.$]

i kinda ride that style of no brakes, cept at the end of straights
i like to stay in second, there is power all through it, and letting off is a nice motor brake too
my mind kinda wanders when im racing, ill think about that corner i just did good at or ill hope i tightened all the important bolts or i wonder how bad i would get hurt if the tire slipped right now crazy_smilie lol
i wouldnt have all that free time if i was braking all the time

[Sidewalk]

For improving your racing performance, you need to use your brakes. The no brake drill is for practice, not for racing. Practice is also the time to work on what corner technique works and which one doesn't.

Something I really want to point out that the engine is not for braking. If you are off the throttle, then you are on the brakes. Don't use the engine to slow you down.

Get all your braking done before the corner. So as you tip it in the corner start getting on the throttle, right away. I was told a long time ago that was the fastest way to ride a small bike, but I tried to ride the other way (trail braking) and learned the hard way that it isn't the fast method. As best as I can I try to get on the throttle as soon as I can in the turn. But the engine is for going, not stopping.

[FiveStarSky]

old CMRA saying, brake untill you see god... then turn.

[Sidewalk]

old CMRA saying, brake untill you see god... then turn.

Doesn't work (seriously). This is what happens when you race like that:

http://algarvetube.com/video/play.php?vid=435

The whole race is incredible, but the last lap was amazing!

[X7rocks]

from what i usually do is cruise around in 3rd gear and down shift to slow down i dont trust my brakes all that much :( but i have made a much better mount for it and it seems way more stable now but i do have to rebleed it so its more touchy

[The Nutty Professor]

old CMRA saying, brake untill you see god... then turn.

Actually it's "Wait until you see God, then brake!" I like to add "When you see him and he puts a thumbs up !Turn! If he shakes his head you still had a couple more feet. If he throws his hands up...it's gonna hurts!!!!

[Blitz$M.Inc.$]

oh thats what that ment
i was like why was he signaling touchdown

[K-Pac]

oh thats what that ment
i was like why was he signaling touchdown

AHAHAHAHAHA bluelaugh

[X7rocks]

lmfao blitz are u this funny in person ?? bluelaugh