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Lessons Learned
'Tis me again
Just returned from a great track day at Thruxton Circuit. Man, is that a fast track! This track time has taught me a lot about my R11S. The main lesson is that it is not a track bike. I cannot praise it enough as a road bike, but it's limitations are shown up on a race circuit. Even with the short GS arm and rear shock preload jacked up, the valve covers were still touching down too easily, and when it happens, it's not nice. Entertaining though for following riders, who tell me that the magnesium produces lots of nice sparks. The second thing is you really notice the weight when trying to muscle it around. But I do have to say that it was supremely stable in the longer sweeping curves once I had got the damping adjusted right. I'm talking nearly max lean angle at 110mph. Superb. But for future track days I will be sticking with my NS400.
This being a BMW organised track day, they had their test fleet available for rides, so I took out a standard S with the standard long paralever arm just to remind me of the difference. Boy oh boy, I thought I was riding the R1200C custom cruiser. It made me realise why I had fitted the GS arm.
Regards
Andy
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Pipe & Slippers
[This message has been edited by Andrew Stemp (edited 06-10-2000).]
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