Mid-Life Rider

I got out to the track three times in the summer of 2007 to Pacific Raceways near Seattle. Twice with the 2-Fast School, once with the folks at Puget Sound Safety. I’d been to the track before on my FJR . . . what a huge difference on the SV.

A couple of bits . . .

I spent a few bucks with Barry, the Dunlop Guy, who set up the sag and damping. What a huge difference that made. I had previously put in elka in the back and race tech in the front, also a big difference maker, but getting it set up by someone who knows what they’re doing . . . a great $40.

Both the outfits i mentioned run a good operation. Very different in more ways than are worth counting. What i would say is that if you haven’t been to the track, go. If you go, spend a few extra jollies and do the school part. The class sessions may or may not be useful, but following someone around that knows the lines, and then having them follow you is worth what it costs and then some.

The SV1000S is a wonderful track bike. The slim profile and bags of grunt make it a real sharp instrument in the corners. For my own reasons, I hold the top to about 105 - 110. Something to do with being 51 I suppose. Lap after lap, guys would blow by me mid straight on their Gixxers or whatever. By the tip in point at the end of the big straight, i was back on them, and by mid corner usually all over them. And those were the fast corners. In the slow stuff, the open classers have nothing on the SV.

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Tags: PacificRaceways, 2-Fast, Puget Sound Safety, Suzuki SV1000S, Motorcycle, Track