Added a shiny new sprocket guard
Added 1" longer clip ons
And a touch of bling to the front fender
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
What an awesome race weekend!!
Well DiZ racing fans, I'm finally happy to state that I'm really gaining some serious strides this season.
I had a great set of practice sessions and set my all time best lap time 1:29. I was stoked, I felt really comfortable, my body position was working really well and I jut enjoyed it.
Then my first race came and I nailed it with a career best time of 1:27.831. That's really, really respectable for someone who has only been riding as long as I have.
Race report to follow shortly!
And remember, if you're gonna ride - remember to Twist It!!
-Diz
I had a great set of practice sessions and set my all time best lap time 1:29. I was stoked, I felt really comfortable, my body position was working really well and I jut enjoyed it.
Then my first race came and I nailed it with a career best time of 1:27.831. That's really, really respectable for someone who has only been riding as long as I have.
Picture of me just before my first race on Saturday
Race report to follow shortly!
And remember, if you're gonna ride - remember to Twist It!!
-Diz
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Time to prep my bike for Round #5
Stripping the race skins before I change the oil make a few other select improvements
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Interesting ride today...
I've put a little over 700 miles on the track this season, that's a dream come
true for me. While I have been modifying my track 848 a lot, I thought I might
be moving through my mods a little faster than I really understand them. That
had me a little concerned.
I also started questioning if I enjoy riding my street 848 around Cambridge. So I really haven't been riding that bike very much at all this season. I've got a couple of weeks till my next Loudon round so I really felt like riding today. I got out on the street 848 and really noticed that my riding position has changed. At low speeds the bike felt sluggish, I felt the preload too soft. I made a quick stop home and started clicking the forks. A few twisty spots to fine tune the damper and it felt a lot better.
I got on some nice back roads I enjoy and really appreciated all the training I've been getting from Penguin and other riders. Everything, even the way I scan traffic and make a few plans on the road seems to have improved. I noticed that I was grabbing the bars a little and started reminding myself to only use my hands to steer. You know T&F.
All of sudden it dawned on me, I really love riding. And it's so much more fun when you're riding deliberately. Riding well and using your bike as a tool. Not just letting it take you for a ride.
Can't wait for the 16th to arrive.
-diz
I also started questioning if I enjoy riding my street 848 around Cambridge. So I really haven't been riding that bike very much at all this season. I've got a couple of weeks till my next Loudon round so I really felt like riding today. I got out on the street 848 and really noticed that my riding position has changed. At low speeds the bike felt sluggish, I felt the preload too soft. I made a quick stop home and started clicking the forks. A few twisty spots to fine tune the damper and it felt a lot better.
I got on some nice back roads I enjoy and really appreciated all the training I've been getting from Penguin and other riders. Everything, even the way I scan traffic and make a few plans on the road seems to have improved. I noticed that I was grabbing the bars a little and started reminding myself to only use my hands to steer. You know T&F.
All of sudden it dawned on me, I really love riding. And it's so much more fun when you're riding deliberately. Riding well and using your bike as a tool. Not just letting it take you for a ride.
Can't wait for the 16th to arrive.
-diz
Sunday, July 14, 2013
No races in July. Back on track in August
Even though I'll be traveling and won't be able to race, it hasn't been a slow few weeks at all.
I've been having trouble loading the pick-up by myself and the last track day was a real eye opener. None of the people I normally ride with were around and everyone was really divided off into their own clicks. I tried a few times to get some of the stronger guys to help me get the Ducati into the bed of the truck and they just goofed around and never helped.
How do I improve this? Offer them beer and BJs? I don't think so! I bought a new van and I'm converting it to carry my tools, gear and bikes. I've already installed the winch and set most of the 1/2 inch plywood. Once that is done, I strip the stands back out and install grey low pile carpeting.
This will be so good for many reasons. I've got all the parts to install a shore power hookup and have a/c power, I've also started laying out all the parts for a house battery and power inverter. I've purchase a battery isolator and plan to wire that who system during the evening after work this week.
Once that is all done, I've got to start preppy the racer for her next LRRS round!!
Can't wait to tell you about all the server I'm doing since this is just about her half way through the season check-up.
Remember, if you're ride - Twist It!!
-dana
Trimming out the van and getting it ready for the races
I've been having trouble loading the pick-up by myself and the last track day was a real eye opener. None of the people I normally ride with were around and everyone was really divided off into their own clicks. I tried a few times to get some of the stronger guys to help me get the Ducati into the bed of the truck and they just goofed around and never helped.
How do I improve this? Offer them beer and BJs? I don't think so! I bought a new van and I'm converting it to carry my tools, gear and bikes. I've already installed the winch and set most of the 1/2 inch plywood. Once that is done, I strip the stands back out and install grey low pile carpeting.
This will be so good for many reasons. I've got all the parts to install a shore power hookup and have a/c power, I've also started laying out all the parts for a house battery and power inverter. I've purchase a battery isolator and plan to wire that who system during the evening after work this week.
Once that is all done, I've got to start preppy the racer for her next LRRS round!!
Can't wait to tell you about all the server I'm doing since this is just about her half way through the season check-up.
Remember, if you're ride - Twist It!!
-dana
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Is this 'Sexting?'
Have you ever met Peter Kates?
I swear this guy is the 'Bike Whisperer'.
When I was struggling with 1:34's at the track he dropped over to my paddock to see if he could help me out a little. He noticed that I was reaching the end of travel on my front end because my zip ties were left at the bottom. Asked me to drop the bike off of the stands and then the next few moments were really interesting to watch...
He bounced my cycle like it was a basketball...
Next, he began adjusting the preloads, dampers and recoils, Stuff was clicking like crazy and he just said, "tell me if that feels any better after your next run"
In my next race entering the turns without shedding so much speed seemed so much easier and I started to really 'Like' turn 3!
I did a quick check of my laptime and I was running a consistent 1:31. That is a terrific improvement,
Pete made one more set of adjustments before my next race and I brought my lap times down to 1:30s. That's a really respectible time for a Novice.
After Round #2 finished, Peter brought my bike home with him to GMD Motosports. This is his company and his gig is refining bike's geometry and doing serious suspension modifications.
James, who is an awesome racer who also happens to work at GMD send me this tease photo yesterday.
I swear this guy is the 'Bike Whisperer'.
When I was struggling with 1:34's at the track he dropped over to my paddock to see if he could help me out a little. He noticed that I was reaching the end of travel on my front end because my zip ties were left at the bottom. Asked me to drop the bike off of the stands and then the next few moments were really interesting to watch...
He bounced my cycle like it was a basketball...
Next, he began adjusting the preloads, dampers and recoils, Stuff was clicking like crazy and he just said, "tell me if that feels any better after your next run"
In my next race entering the turns without shedding so much speed seemed so much easier and I started to really 'Like' turn 3!
I did a quick check of my laptime and I was running a consistent 1:31. That is a terrific improvement,
Pete made one more set of adjustments before my next race and I brought my lap times down to 1:30s. That's a really respectible time for a Novice.
After Round #2 finished, Peter brought my bike home with him to GMD Motosports. This is his company and his gig is refining bike's geometry and doing serious suspension modifications.
James, who is an awesome racer who also happens to work at GMD send me this tease photo yesterday.
Pic of the new triple clamps for the 848
If you're gonna ride, remember to twist it!
-diz
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