Midlanders invade North Wales (Loads of pics...)

KLR600 · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Karma :

(This post contains loads of pictures of the Midlanders riding Anglesey track and will probably get bumped a lot when they all get home to see it, I only got half the story of the weekend because I've had to cut my days riding short to go to work so I'm sure the guys will fill you in on anything I missed)

Seeing as the Welshside is always so blinkin quiet (!) I took a gander at the Midlands section of the forum the other week to find that they've been planning a ride up to Anglesey to do a trackday and some of them were coming up a few days earlier for a bit of an exploration. Naturally being a local of the North Wales roads since I got my licence 5 years ago I was keen to show them the best roads and save them wasting their time on the boring touristy stuff.

There was originally a few of them coming up on Thursday to ride around a bit on Friday then head over to the track for the Saturday trackday on the coastal circuit but as is the way with these things only Colin1 and Salty21 actually managed to get up on the Thursday so we arranged to meet for the following Friday morning. Being in Wales I was expecting to wake up to rain and wet roads but suprisingly I was greeted with sunshine and dry roads, perfect conditions to show these guys around. We met in Betws Y Coed at 11am and promptly headed out to the Evo Triangle on the A5. I was a little pushed for time as I had to get home for 3pm to get to work on time so we didn't get any pictures on the triangle which is a shame as it's a really good circuit with a mix of every kind of road you'd want!

We then dropped back into Betws for a quick fuel stop and headed out over the A5 towards Bangor so we could ride the Llanberis pass. Salty21 was liking the A5 and it's relatively new surface so we stopped for a few pictures:

Colin1 pulling into the layby for the pictures:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/IMG_6674.jpg

Salty21 having a blast in the mountains!:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/IMG_6688.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/IMG_6703.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/IMG_6704.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/IMG_6716.jpg

We then carried on down the A5 to Bangor and stopped off for a burger at BurgerKing (Damn Colin, I just realised I never got any change from that burger!!) and then over to Llanberis where some other bikers pointed out the chopper coppers eye in the sky which is when we all slowed right down and were very well behaved... Embarassed

Colin1 and I both had some lairy moments on the pass, I forget the details of Colin's (I'm sure he'll fill you in, something to do with a tractor if I recall...) but I almost managed to stuff myself into the back of a car when a sheep decided it wanted to play on the road, it was a good test for my avoidance skills which seemed to work pretty well on that occasion!

Anyhoo I needed to shoot for work so I left Colin and Salty to ride back to their campsite and arranged to meet up with the rest of the guys at the circuit on Anglesey the next day.

Well I rolled up to the circuit a few minutes before 9 to be greeted by a bunch of very tired and wasted looking bikers crawling out of their tents and a nice light drizzle hanging in the air, the mood wasn't exactly enthused Laughing

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/IMG_6969.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/IMG_6989.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/IMG_7011.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/IMG_7017.jpg

Colin1 leading the pack!:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/IMG_7031.jpg

Camera envy? Me? Nah.... Embarassed

Here's a few more pictures:

The bikes and Mac fixing his rearset:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/IMG_7905.jpg

This guy was flying in the fast group and was overtaking everyone, anyone have any idea what bike that is? It said Kawasaki on the tank:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/IMG_7535.jpg

This bike sounded lush with the Termi's:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/serenaur/IMG_7383.jpg

For the camera dudes - I took all the pictures with a Canon 450D. The road riding pics were shot with the Canon 18-55 IS kit lens, the pictures of the bikes in the pits were shot with my a Canon 50mm F1.8 prime and the pictures of the guys riding the track were with my Canon EF 90-300mm. I discovered that panning at 300mm is really really really hard without a mono/tripod so that'll be my next purchase I think! I could of done with a slightly longer lens for some corners and proper trackside acces would of opened up a million more photo opportunities so I need to figure out how to do that for next time! Feel free to leave C+C on the pictures. I've watermarked them out of habit as I'm getting fed up of people stealing pictures and sticking them all over the net and not giving me credit for them (no one on here, other people I've taken pictures of).
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Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

Good photos, shocking to see Colin's bike with fairings on for once.

The fast guy appears to be riding an ER-6N with a different frontend on it.

DynaMight · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Karma :

Pictures came out good, I always find my pics get better throughout the day once you find the settings and get into the panning groove a little more.

Using a nice low shutter rate at 300mm aint easy if you're on the bottom end of the scale lenses and if you're taking pics a friends etc you want a large success rate, so I tend to stick with 1/320 for panning shots and 1/500 for oncoming etc shots, still gives a good amount of motion blur but fast enough to get a good enough success rate.

When the wife takes pictures on my trackdays I stick it at 1/500 and they still come out pretty good even for the panning shots!

I still love playing around with slow shutter speeds, the pics do look fantastic with a really slow shutter speed, you just need to get used to the delete key Smile

I know what you mean about lens envy. Little green eye'd monster comes out when I see someone with a lens longer than my arm Smile

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salty21 · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Karma :

cracking photo's there mate, you have somehow made me look better than i am Laughing

. The rain held off for all sessions but really came down as soon as we got back to the tent's after the last one. last night was shocking for camping and pretty much everyone apart from me ended up with puddles inside there tent's. for some reason mine was nice and dry lol but was near impossible to sleep with hurricane wind's and rain pelting the tent which is why i came home today instead of tomorrow Rolling Eyes

.

everybody managed to keep themselves and their bikes in 1 piece after you left Thumbs Up

not really got much else to say as you were there for the most interesting bit's.

let us know when/if you get some leather's sorted and we can arrange anglesey again as i know you were itching to get on there Laughing

---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) Sad

----90 pan euro ST1100 ' Shocked

' ----02 CG 125 Smile

94 CB400 Super Four ---- 2000 VTR SP1 (sold) ---- 08 ninja p8f(sold, meh) ----05 CBR600rr Smile

rac3r · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

^^ Agree the fast guy seems to be on an ER6 by the looks of the frame and tail Wink

Very, very good pictures there, and some awesome bikes. Looks like you guys had some good fun Thumbs Up

PS that Ducati looks mental Cool

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colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

Great pics. Great weekend. As it turns out, trackdays arent scarey, they are fun. As is hanging out in tents with people you have met once or twice before.

We were very lucky with the weather. The forecast all week was rain for our trackday, possibly with clear weather in the morning.

As it turns out it was pretty much dry the whole trackday. Funnily enough, it started to rain, just as we got back to our tents after the final session of the trackday ! Couldnt have been timed better.

My confidence really grew throughout the day. Following Nick as a pace maker really helped me.

After leaving the guys at welshpool, I had intended to to newtown to crossgates, but it started raining, and i popped into maccies to sit it out. It rained quite a while so I decided to go back the craven arms way instead. By the time I was nearly home, I was getting a similar confidence on the road, as I had on the track.

Unfortunately, about a mile from home, my old electrical problem once again had reared its head. I got home, but the battery is now flat. This probably means fried alternator coils like last time, so I've put the battery on charge, and will be checking coolant levels and oil levels tomorrow, then maybe buy a multimeter, to see if the bike charges the battery when i rev it.

On my way back, my reawakened confidence and enthusiasm for the bike, made me think i'd be out on it a lot more, but looks like a bit needs doing, but i shd get it done soon while there is still summer left.

Once again, thanks to rob and lee for some great pics, particularly rob with shots that look professional standard to me and thanks to everyone for the company. I'm also pleased with my excellent shot taken with lee's camera of him with the knee-down practise device Smile

I did get 50p change for robs burger, and I'm sure I gave it him. Well pretty sure...

I havnt watched the onboard vid from my ride and lees ride yet, but im looking forward to it Smile

Also thanks for Marjay for his post about california super bike school and their stages. I even printed out an extract from his post, to read and re-read.

I might pm him, as he may not see this thread

I pretty much followed them when i was doing my trackday sessions, and it helped me a lot.

Oh and thanks again, to Rob for showing us those roads in Wales. I didnt try to keep up, but Lee did and said something about usually only riding that spiritedly for short bursts of about 10 minutes. Good practice for him for the trackday. I couldnt help wondering if the helicopter that later appeared after the spirited riding, wanted to see rob and lee in action first hand.
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KLR600 · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Karma :

MonkeyKnuckle · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Karma :

Great pics, I really like those first few mountain shots.

Colin - My friend is looking at buying a TT. Anything they should know/look out for before buying?
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colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

Yes with TT600s there is a big difference between a 2000 model, and a 2001 model. The 2000 model has power at the very top of the rev range, but very little mid range.

He needs to get a 2001 or later. You do get bikes registered in 2001, that are 2000 models, so he needs to go by colour scheme. The bikes which are all one colour, are 2001 and later. The bikes which are two colours, for example yellow and black, are 2000.

I recommend TT600s. You can get one for £1200 if you watch ebay for a bit and are patient. I tend to think the kind of people who own them, are less likely to have given them a hard life. The engine isn't quite as good as the jap 600s of similar age, but with depreciation, the triumphs are now half the price of the jap 600s of similar age.

I'd recommend a test ride before buying, to see if he likes it, and to check there isnt anything obviously wrong with it.

If he is thinking of spending much more than £2000, he might want to look at a different bike.

The main thing is dont buy the first one you see, have a look at a few. Some owners will try to hold out for prices that are way above the market rate.

£1200 is reasonable, £1500 for a mint one. I've seen them go on ebay for £1000 or less with a bit of damage.

They have good brakes and suspension, but for a similar price as a bandit.
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MonkeyKnuckle · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Karma :

Cheers.

It's actually a girl and she will need to restrict it, have you heard of any problems with restricting them or anything?
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colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

The way triumph suggest restricting them, is with a throttle stop, which seems like a great way to restrict to me. You just cant turn the throttle as much as you would on a unrestricted bike.

I dont know how much the throttle stop is.

As your mate is a girl, another reason TT600s are good, as they are easy to ride when a bit short.

I'm 5ft7, and marjay who has the speed four which is a naked tt600, is even shorter than me.

So TT600s are a great choice for the shorter rider.

One thing to mention, if the person is a new rider and wanting to ride restricted.

One thing I would say though, as with any sportsbike, the front brake can easily lock the front wheel, causing the bike to go down.

It took me ages to learn to just use the back brake at low speeds, ie 10mph and below, and use the front brake at speeds 10mph and above.

I damaged quite a few fairings in this learning process. Hard braking is to be avoided for quite a while.

In some ways, the front brake is more dangerous than the throttle. I dont know a way to restrict the power of the front brake so just treat it with caution.
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colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Mac_Black · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Karma :

There's actually quite a bit to fill ya'll in on I think, concerning track and home going stories, including my own bout with a sap tree Embarassed

I'll get on it later, I'm keen to find out where to see the official photo's as I think I may have been caught with the back end sliding a few times under power, which felt very cool.
But whoa KLR, these photo's are very trick, some skill there man, very impressed, I hope you don't mind me using that shot for the avatar Rolling Eyes

That was perhaps my favorite as an action shot.
Glad to meet you anyway dude, I have to say the company for the weekend couldn't be beaten.
Total success Thumbs Up

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Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

No Limits photographer is Pete Wileman. Pics seem to be up on his site:-

https://www.trackdaydigitalimages.com/ang11-07-2009.html

All the best

Keith
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KLR600 · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

virus · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Karma :

Great pics KLR, nice work.

Mac, gutted on your off, but at least you didnt bin it on track and ruin the rest of the day.

I noticed kenny on the cbr, and jay on a blue gix, but was that gaz on the stealth gixxer with the white nosecone in the pictures?

im liking nicks headlight covers aswell Laughing

Cheers
John
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owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

(MAC_KALIBA)
Yeh full points for you John, but no I did'nt bin it, happy to say I had a dispute with a face full of tree and a stone wall immediatly after but still came out top dog Cool

Sloppy braking on an easy corner and just got fixation, straight through the sappling then caught the rocks which sent me and Elisha skywards and I landed with allot of shake but carried on..
The righthand hanger was bent so I kicked it back into place and the gear linkage was stripped of the thread it was using on the lhs so I tightened it up and re-adjusted, I don't know how the kick on the sidestand got bent but I guess I caught a toe full of rock... fuck knows how I kept it together, oh shit I'm posting as Nick here.. ohwell.
It's a good excuse to replace the reasets with the real deal, to be honest the way they bent suggests the quality is just shite, not to mention losing the rear brake pedal on track Evil or Very Mad

gazc666 · Derestricted Danger Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Karma :

hi guys glad you all had a great time, as did i !!! it was a brilliant day . fairplay to you klr your pics are outstanding m8, how much would you charge to do a full day at a track m8 as seriously thinking of doing another one asap, will let you guys know in advance as you might want to come along if it suits, anyway colin and lee is there anychance you could upload you videos from the day would be good to see !

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

generally, i dont think the official photographers pics are as good as robs, but here is a nice sequence of a low-side

https://trackdaydigitalimages.com/110709nbw/index2.html
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salty21 · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Karma :

salty21 · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Karma :

oh and i for one would be very interested in another trackday whenever. preferably somewhere smooth and predictable though with a decent level of grip as im still a learner Thumbs Up

let me know when your ready for one Thumbs Up

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04 NSR 125(sold) Sad

---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) Sad

----90 pan euro ST1100 ' Shocked

' ----02 CG 125 Smile

94 CB400 Super Four ---- 2000 VTR SP1 (sold) ---- 08 ninja p8f(sold, meh) ----05 CBR600rr Smile

gazc666 · Derestricted Danger Joined: 15 Jul 2009 Karma :

colin i cant believe that guy was a motorcycle insructor laugh out loud! lee as soon as we make a decision i will let you all know hoping for donnington mate !

ram_doom · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Karma :

Great pics; I'd love to make it up there on the bike some weekend, before the summer's finished. If the weather's any good that is.
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