Morgan Park Raceway With A Daytona 675R

 

Following on from the last post, we managed to track down some Metzeler TD Slicks from Motorcycle Tyre Warehouse - where I got a 1 hour lecture on all things tyres from the owner - and got those fitted up.

I also managed to get the new bike trailer better set up with a tool box, new spare tyre mount and deleted the silly centre channel and replaced it with the tyre chock we were given with the purchase of the Daytona. Not as awesome as my preferred enclosed trailer but a much more affordable and quite adequately usable setup!

I had to work the weekend of Will's first track day, so couldn't stay but I managed to ride out to Warwick for the Saturday to lend a hand with him settling in. The bike passed scrutineering straight up, so it was on with the tyre warmers and waiting for his first session. We were very glad of the warmers as well because the weekend only topped out at about 16C.

He decided on doing the Red Group which is the slowest group, just to get a feel for it.

It seemed to be going well and as he felt more comfortable he moved himself to the Green Group (second slowest). His lap times were getting better, initially being in the high 1:40s then slowly dropping to the low 1:30s according to his SpeedAngle.

He got down to 1:28 for the weekend. ASBK SuperSports do 1:15 around here.

He was having such a good time that he decided to stay for the Sunday session! I had to go home for work so left him to it. By all accounts he had a great day and learnt a lot from the other riders around him in the pits. He moved up a level again to Blue Group (2nd fastest) on the advice of those around him. 

He did have some trouble with the generator for the tyre warmers. It cut out randomly a few times on the Saturday then wouldn't start at all on the Sunday.** Luckily those awesome folks around him sorted him out with power for his warmers! 

Thanks Mike!

I must say, I have found everyone at these track days to be super friendly and helpful, which makes for a great day out. 

Here are some of the photos from the pro photographers over the weekend.

They certainly make him look fast.....and he probably is for his experience level. 

It must nearly be my turn to have a go on it?

Cheers.

** The following week I went to work on the generator, draining the tank to find lots of small rust particles in the fuel. More particles came from the fuel tap strainer so I bit the bullet and pulled the carby off, pulling all of the jets and cleaning them with a wire, then blowing the whole carby out. I finished it off with a new spark plug and a fuel filter. Thankfully, she fired straight up and ran sweetly.

Rusty crap.

Little filter.

New spark.

Pre - clean up.

Tracking Towards The Track

W.T.F. am I babbling about now I hear you ask?

 Well, as regular readers would know, both of my kids have been riding motorcycles for the last year or two. I can’t understand why because I certainly didn’t encourage it while they were young…… mountainbiking, yes but not motorcycles. I’d  like to think they are keen on the challenge of using a mode of transport that requires the use and the co-ordinated use of both feet and both hands - both of them seem to be interested in how to do it better, not just how to be “proficient” - and I think they have seen the fun and satisfaction that Steve and I have derived from riding over the years.

Will especially seems to like going fast (as any young bloke does) so I have encouraged him to take that pursuit away from our crowded and run down roads to the track where at least everyone is going the same way. We did another track day about a month ago and Will had a ball. In fact, so did I. 

Adding to the fun factor is the fact that everyone we have come into contact with in the pit area has been super friendly and helpful. Not something that we have encountered in all of our hobbies/pursuits unfortunately.

So, Will has been on the lookout for a dedicated track bike for the last few months. We have looked at a couple but thought they were a bit suspect, having been crashed and to our eyes, bodgily patched up. So when he initially showed me a Triumph Daytona 675R that was advertised with some crash damage, I dismissed it. Not to be deterred, Will phoned the seller and found it was an older gent who was getting out of track riding and so selling all of his track gear with the bike. Even better, he sounded genuine and honest about the bike.

We went to have a look, with a strategy to maybe talk him down on price. Once we looked at the bike, spoke to Ian, the owner, and saw all of the gear he was throwing in, all thought of trying to squeeze him on price evaporated. It was a steal as it was!

So, “we”* are now the owners of a 2014 Daytona 675R with a mere 29 000km on the clock!

It has had a low side but the damage is limited to a scuff of the right fairing panel and the tip of the exhaust pipe. 

The “R” version of the 675 comes standard with Ohlins suspension front and rear plus Brembo brakes. The 2013-onward model 675 is the 3rd generation Daytona and has fixes for earlier model issues like overheating and oil cooler failure, so we are hoping for a trouble free run.

As I said earlier, the previous owner threw in all of his track gear which included tyre warmers, a generator to power said tyre warmers, various extension cords and power boards, GB Racing engine covers, front and rear race stands, a front wheel chock for the trailer, two GoPros with tethered mounts and all of the road gear just in case “we” want to put it back on the road. All up, at least $3000 worth of extras.

We have ordered a set of race bodywork through  Ian Moore Track Toys and will get it decalled up by Hawtt Decals (his wife) who does some amazing work. I have it booked in for a suspension refresh at Ride Dynamics (who did my Tuono suspension refresh) next week. We will need to sort some tyres too as I don’t think either of us are up to doing justice to the Pirelli Corsa SC1 slicks that it is currently fitted with.🤨

It is a sexy looking bike that has the bark to match and Will can’t wait to ride it. In the mean time he can’t wipe the grin off of his face. 

This should be fun……

Cheers.

*Will really - but I’m hoping he will let me ride it.