I thought I'd try pitbike supermoto.

[garth]

And I thought I might as well put a little write up on here for anyone that is interested.

It's cheap for racing. Matchams is £40 for race day which is 2 x 15min warm up / practices and 4 x races. The series I have just dipped my toe into has fairly strict regs to keep costs down. Control tyre, standard 140 engines, C90 exhaust, rear shock maximum of £140rrp etc.

You can pick up a 2nd hand bike for about £500 ready to race. I paid slightly more and bought new because I wanted to build it.

I'm only doing this for fun, I don't see it as serious racing, good hobby though and some of the riders are bloody quick!!



First race I had to start from the back of the grid (10th this time, normally more bikes so I'm told) as I haven't got a transponder yet. Not much to report, I was being a little held up by another rider but that's my own fault for not being aggressive enough. It took me about 8 laps to get past, I picked up a couple more places and finished 7th.

Second race I got my act together a little bit more, still had to start from the back of the grid though. I passed the previous mentioned rider on lap two with a bit more aggression, and seemed to be going a lot better than race 1, I could run the same sort of times as those in 3/4/5th. I got 5th place, but then went very sideways into a corner, put the power on again and I'd got a puncture, which explained it!

Game over, but I know with a few tweaks to the bike (decent rear shock) and a lot more track time to figure out lines etc I can be much quicker. Still fairly pleased that I improved from how I started, but there's got to be more to come!

Few pics.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1n60tPm4z9E/UeQIntDNrPI/AAAAAAAACzs/fHz0mPz1tsg/s720/IMG_6411.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sdm2jbonBao/UeQJSzuXLOI/AAAAAAAAC5U/yxh3dw90obc/s640/IMG_6641.JPG


and plotting an overtake, I actually went down one too many gears and used the back brake = slidey slidey

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Xfm0ipeYASs/UeQJNRMXnpI/AAAAAAAAC4k/EOz2po6UlzY/s720/IMG_6629.JPG


Edit: one from a different circuit, where I was having a better day, more on the pace - lean angle looks a tad more!

https://oi42.tinypic.com/dfap1h.jpg

[Conzar]

HMMM looks a lot of fun, might have to try this!
____________________
Current ride: ZX6R 636 ------- Previous:KTM EXC 450 Supermoto --- ZX6R B1H --Hornet 600--CBR 600--SV650
11:05:35 Rob Fzs: i just wanna own an rd350 valve before they send us to war with durkadurkastan

[G]

Nice!

Odd question; how much pressure do you get on your wrists?
I seem to have knackered wrists, which causes me problems off roading and big-bike track riding.
While they weren't great for karting, were fine for minimoto. I suspect I'll also have problems on a pit bike, but hoping it might be ok.

Have they get a forum etc where you see the bikes in that series for sale? If I got one (way, way too broke this second), was looking at one of the more restricted 140 class bikes - just for maintenance if nothing else!

[garth]

[shereen]

Looks fun! How fast do those things go?
____________________
"The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn't understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had"

[garth]

[Deano]

no wrist pressure G, look at the bars there almost shoulder height in the pics. there not physical at all to ride so you concentrate more on the riding, I was doing 50 lap stints whilst fat and didn't work up a sweat at all.
____________________
Dean Stone #777
EMRA 2012 final standings, Formula 600s 3rd, Superstock 600s 3rd.
www.triplesevenracing.co.uk: www.ljmotorcyclerepairs.co.uk www.gettaylored.co.uk BN RaceScience, Now officially run out of money to carry on racing

[G]

I think minimoto was good because my arms were at such a different angle - and thus you don't really use your arms when braking.

On big track bikes I tried to make a point of gripping the tank with my knees, but even extended slightly enthusiastic road riding in the last couple of years has caused me problems .

Will have to give them a go at some point, still.

[suburban myth]

[garth]

[D O G]

[suburban myth]

Anyone know of any venues in the midlands, specifically Nottingham-ish where there's a league/bikes for hire?

[garth]

Thought I'd give this an update, the day after my second race weekend and I'm a bit achey...!

This time was the first time I'd had a transponder, and what a difference it makes for tracking your progress.

First 15 min qually session I was a bit rusty having not touched the bike in a month, I qualified 8th out of 13 with a 45.3 second lap, which was a little slow, but not so bad. The grid ranges from absolute lap record of a 39.something to 48s, really. The two that can do 39s are BSB/BSS riders, so silly fast. The general time for third is around 41, I reckon. That's my aim.

Second qually I improved by 0.9 to get a 44.4 second lap, but so did everyone else and I was lower down the grid, 9th! I fell off in this session, only a low side, nothing bad.

First race, disaster. Third corner, held my position, lowside. Back end just came round, cold tyres. Sat in the middle of the track, bikes flying towards me, stone cold last. Got back on, finished 9th, lap time improved. 43.7.

Second race, bit of a lonely one. Improving again, 43.3.

Third race, good one this one. Couldn't quite latch on to the two people in front of me, they had a little more pace, but I really was trying. Improved again, 43.1. Quite pleased in this race, I did 8 laps in a row within 0.4 of each other.

Last race - The final. I managed to catch and pass the two people I was struggling to keep up with the previous race, I started 8th and finished 5th with a 42.9.

Chuffed I got in to the 42s, though there is more to come.

The problem I have is I'm still running bog standard suspension. Everyone else has reworked forks and fancy rear shocks. When I change direction my front wheel comes up in teh air, and it rebounds as fast as it compresses. Next on the list is a DNM rear shock, thicker oil and spacers in the front forks, then I'll see if I can break the 41s and get closer to the podium.

[G]

Nice results .... now it gets expensive .

[garth]

[garth]

Might as well update this again. Third attempt was on Sunday. I qualified 4th for race one, changed some settings and went slower, 6th for race 2. Fell off in the second qualifying, landed pretty heavy and my arse hurts now. Melted and scuffed my new bright yellow plastics and mullered the heat wrap.

Race one I got a good start and I was holding 3rd for the first 3 or so laps, but I then got passed and held and finished fourth. Not too bad. 42.7, but the track wasn't as grippy as last time. Less than a second from the podium, but I still need to lose a second. Pretty confident I can do that with more track time.

Race 2 I got a shit start and something didn't sound right. Third corner the chain jumped off the sprockets and jammed the wheel up. Turns out the bearings had collapsed in the rear wheel. Game over, meh, that's racing.

I haven't really played with the suspension settings yet so think I might book a practice day once I've repaired it.

[daffy]

looks fun and cheap, which tracks do they race on?

[garth]

[SteveZZR]

Just been poked this way as a cheap form of racing and must say I fancy a go already!!

You got a link for more info?

[garth]

https://matchamspitbikeseries.co.uk/

[bladerunner]

Ok...now your riding to the limit of the bike....nice learning curve by the lap times so far.......your sorting the suspension......you really are learning and doing it the right way...but now your ready for an extra couple of easy bhp seems you already got the riders bit between aggression and smooth lap times sorted so now the battle starts......mostly with a bit of heat wrap and some new plastics ...a tatty race winner always looks cool by the way . I always prefer function over form anyhow!
____________________
Current bikes...cbr929, KDX200's, Rd125lc mk2, RGV250's

[Red Devil]

Are you still doing this mate? Looking to get involved myself this year between race rounds.
____________________
Thundersport Pre-National Sport 600 2014 #92
EMRA Roadstock 600 2013 - 3rd
www.facebook.com/MattJohnstonRacing