Well...it finally happened! :crutch: Little Tally Speedway (09/07) But everything is good on my persons. Just a little sore and pretty bruised heal (ball of my foot) Seemed to be fighting the bike through session one.... So I adjusted the new rearsets to work with me better (since I was really having a hard time with footing.) Front end kept wanting to tuck on me and I was really having to push the bars to maintain my lean...... :wtf: This was all on the first session ( "I" Group) After some adjustments.....the second session seemed to be a lot smoother....I wasn't having to fight the bike so much... Until it fought back on the last lap of session 2. T2 was going smooth, was leaned over, holding true and then it happened....the front tucked on me.:fear: I am waiting for Highside photos to upload some pictures so I can see body position, but I feel like either A: My front tire wasn't holding the way I wanted it too (since it was sketchy the first session) or B: I was in the turn with too much speed and too much lean angle. I want to say it was A more than anything. The rear tire was doing everything is was put through....but not the front. So.......for those who were curious. DO NOT use Metzeler K3's on the track :lmao: Just my experience. Haven't broken the bike down yet, but will this week and inspect it. So far, looks like Left Clip-On, Cracked Fairings, Windshield, Frame Slider, Gear shifter, Swing arm (since the threaded nipple-slider snapped off) and my Scotts damper is pointed at 10 o'clock while my triple tree is straight.....got to figure that one out also.
Seems to me from my findings in the past, that if it kept having that low side feeling, because you are carrying more speed in this group, should have added a round or pre load or a couple clicks of compression. I've done many suspensions and a lot have the problem you describe and I add a little of one or the other and it fixes it.
Sorry to hear of your crash man. I have had good experinces with the Metzelers in 9 track days and street use. I use the M5s. I bought a new set and had the supension set up on my bike. My I pace maybe slower than yours maybe thats why i have not had any issues but its been rock solid after the suspension was set up. I have made some mistakes at Barbers and the tires held with no issues. Are you going to keep the K3s and get the suspension checked or go with another brand of tire?
The rear was holding great! I know that it felt planted and I was it concerned with it at all.....but I was really fighting the front end! I will probably go with both routes...... Swapping tyres, and having the suspension checked. I would like to go onto the track after everything is fixed not having to worry about anything. Dont want the thought of wondering if the tyres are going to hold or not running through my mind.....
Gotcha i completely understand. Go with what makes you feel comfortable and gives you piece of mind. I have had other brands but these feel better and give me the most confidence. I have always liked Pirellis then i tried the Metzelers and they felt great. I was then pleasantly surprised to find out that they had been bought out buy Pirelli. My M5s feel just like the Diablo Rosso Corsas. I would buy the K3s from you but i have a new set of M5s on the bike now for my next couple of trackdays. Hey man recover fast get you some tires that inspire the most confidence in you and hope to see you on the track this fall.
Hate you went down man! I was out there in A group yesterday. Red Kawi with green wheels. Hope you heal up fine. Were you hugging the apex of turn 2 or were you off of it a little bit? Just wondering as the first option can cause you to push the front exiting the corner if you get on the gas too early. My .02 on the tires. I don't know anyone that's fast that runs Metzlers. Not trying to bash anyone else's opinion or preference. Everyone must do what makes them happy. Personally though, on trackday tires, I would stick to the big 4 that actually make race tires as well. I have NEVER seen a Metz vendor at the track. Heal up fast man and hope to see you back out there soon!!!
I was hugging the line a bit, and tried to come out little wide.... (maybe) It all happened faster than I could react. And didn't have the go-pro running either! I honestly think that the tyre didn't hold. I will be checking the suspension to verify everything is on the up & up. I saw you out there burning up the track! op: Was talking with some of the A guys yesterday and they said that you guys where playing very nice! That was a complete different story from I group yesterday! I was nearly pushed wide off track twice. he cut me off the line coming off the back straight, and then he parked it.....had a guy ride off track (throwing dirt and grass everywhere) and then jump back on track like nothing happened at nearly the same pace..... Had a guy slow to exit at hot pit while riding the race line all the way down the back straight, and through the turns..... while doing about 50mph.... hahahahahah......was not so friendly out there yesterday. And that was only the 2 sessions I saw.... :thumb:
Booooooo lol I hear ya man i will keep my slow hind parts in I. You are correct though you wont find track side support of Metzelers around here. I should do more track days to be the first to ride Metzelers into A i just need more money to do more track days. But seroious Henry do you think it could be an advertisement thing seeing they use them in TTs. Metzelers just dont get the air time like the other brands? Maybe Pirelli will change that and maybe not.
bwahahahahaha....I don't know that I'd say I was "burning up the track" :lmao: lol. I had fun though. I got to work on handling lots of wheel spin yesterday. I had a great time with great friends. Wish I would have gotten to meet you. I totally forgot to look for your bike in the pits. I group is always a bit sketchy. You have the largest talent variation in that group. It's good learning still though. I hope you get back out there soon man. Falls suck. I had one late spring in the carousel. Glad you and the bike are relatively ok though!:thumb:
Honestly don't know Eric. I just would rather ride with the people who are actually at the track. I can go to them and ask questions and talk over what needs to be done. In tire comparisons, I have never seen a Metz beat out a Q2/3 or a Mich. I haven't ridden Pirellis. I hear awesome things about them. I think the thing to remember though, is that Pirelli owning Metz doesn't make Metz Pirelli. It only makes them a company that Pirelli owns. I would be willing to bet its for a broader market and offering for all levels of street riding. I can't foresee Pirelli making a strong track competitor to their highly successful main brand. To be fair though, I have never ridden a Metzler. I have ridden Michelins on the street and have ridden Dunlop on the track. While I am not one for following the hype, I do think there's something to be said for the fact that Metzlers aren't on many bikes at the track. In this commmunity, if something works and works really well, you'll find people who use it.
I hate the Metzler K3....I lowsided on the street a few years back on my BMW S1000RR....My friend kept telling me they were crap.....If you are carrying any kind of speed then get a better tire....I went to the Bridgestone BT-003 RS...I use the Dunlop Slicks for the track...It is cheaper to buy better tires than fixing a wrecked bike. Remember that Metzler makes a K2 and K1 compounds which add alot of grip....Still the K1 isnt as good at the Q3 or BT-003RS.....
Yup...I had forgotten to look for ya. Was to busy trying to get everything squared away that morning and it blew my mind completely. I am ok.....bike needs some love though. But I guess thats what really chaps me, is that it was the first time I have ever taken it out on the track since I bought it nearly 2 months ago. so.....1st time out on the bike.......18 laps later and I'm already tearing it down and fixing stuff. Guess it happens though! Yup.....I plan on ditching these and going to a tyre I know and trust. Not saying that the Metzeler K3 is a bad tyre.....just saying that it is a bad tyre for me!
I am 100% for confidence in tires being critical. A couple of things to consider though. There are folks who run a LOT faster on Q3's and the tire is not that much better. So unless you are the guy passing everyone in "I" then it is more likely you than the tire. I have crashed 3 times and everyone of them was me, the only tire related one was me going into 5 at Barber on cold tires like they weren't (still my fault) . So my point is look for other items than tires and the bike. There is a decent chance you can improve your line, body position or something like moving around mid-turn. Just a thought, feel free to toss it out :cheers: And heal well and fast.
I hate you went down, the bike looked rough. Good thing you're not hurt too! But, don't blame the tire. Please. I'm not defending Metzler at all, I wouldn't run em, but only one guy was riding your bike yesterday. Rebuild, learn from it and get better! if you need any help just ask!
I will say that my line probably wasn't the prettiest....and will not blame the tyres 100%... Maybe my suspension could have been tweeked as mentioned earlier.... But I feel that if I was on my other bike holding the same speed & line, I would have been just fine. Not trying to make excuses at all....and I know I did learn from it....... All I know is that I was having a lot of front end issues yesterday.....mostly keeping the front tyre planted. Just felt like it wanted to tucked all the time. Maybe it is suspension.....maybe it was just me......time will tell when everything gets put back together, tweeked, adjusted and I get back out there and put her through the ringer again! :getdown:
IF you are feeling 'front tire issues' all the time - that's your bike/tire telling you to 'knock that crap off, or I'm gonna dump you out of spite" and you need to fix it THEN with either air settings/tire, suspension or y-o-u. And don't speed up until it stops talking...the Metz might be a decent tire, but a Q2 or Q3 is a GREAT tire all the way into A, and undoubtedly cheaper...just sayin...