Burning rubber with theKing of wheelspin FJ

[FJTillDeath]

Okay, yes Im 19 and i want to have fun with the FJ..inexpensively..

So I would like to ask, for how long would you have to burnout with an FJ before the tire pops? How long before you do serious damage to it?

I would like to go racing with the FJ, but have no racing skill and so am too chicken shit scared to try gunning it on the local track we have? any tips to go about getting over myself other than just doing it? Ive heard I should get a dirt  bike and practise on one since they in themselves are awesome fun to ride although the cheapest one I could find cost twice as much as my FJ and I am still busy paying it off - 3 qaurters done..(Like I said im 19 - and I dont have rich parents)

Im just really tired of having to wind the FJ through traffic, I want to release and have fun with it and experience proper riding

[andyb]

Doing a burnout isn't really proper riding.

That said, blowing a tire can cause some damage to a whole number of things.  Depends on how much tread you have and the surface you're on for how long it'll last.  If you overrev the motor = damage; overheat = damage; hesitate on the clutch = damage; hook up and flip right over (!) = damage in spades.... and so on.

Take it racing.  The proper place for hauling ass is a track for a number of reasons like safety and sanity, but also because they have proper clocks and that makes improving a huge amount easier, you can see your weak spots.

Even the great racers started someplace.

[FJTillDeath]

I get what youre saying, only problem with the local race track is that they often have a part of it blocked off and closed. It forms part of a normal road route so they cant close it completely. Its really annoying because halfway through the track there are a pile of tires with a gap wide enough for a bike tp scrape through which means id have to race in sections, other problem is during early hours the track is monitored by the cops which means people can only race on it after 5 and in winter it gets dark around 5 30. the track has no natural lighting as its only used a couple times a year for day functions but when it is open to the public poeople have a blast!

But I will take ur advice as I would prefer not to damage the FJ and go around the track in sections even if i start off slowly.

Will try take pictures of the track although it used to be world famous back in the 60s. Will figure how to mount my camera on the bike and then go for a proper spin when I feel comfy

[racerman_27410]

picking those rubber balls off the bike is a bitch..... small burnouts are recommended but not necessary for a good launch. The FJ weighs enough to get plenty of traction.


KOokaloo!

[Arnie]

Just curious..... Is this "used to be famous track", Kyalami, by any chance?
And its local ?  You lucky sod.
Most people have to travel for hours to get to a track and then pay real money for a track day.
Many have no track of any kind within a reasonable distance and get to travel day(s) for an hour or two of track time.
If you want it bad enough, you'll find a way.

Arnie

[FJTillDeath]

Just curious..... Is this "used to be famous track", Kyalami, by any chance?
And its local ?  You lucky sod.
Most people have to travel for hours to get to a track and then pay real money for a track day.
Many have no track of any kind within a reasonable distance and get to travel day(s) for an hour or two of track time.
If you want it bad enough, you'll find a way.

Arnie

Unfortunately its not the Kyalami, I have to travel a few hours to get to it but its well worth it from from what I hear.
The race track we have is in East London South Africa, you can try google it but Im not sure if you will find it as it hasnt been famous for years. to take the bike around the course at full speed would take atleast 2 min easily.

The track was used in the early 1960s (1960 - 1963 if i remember reading correctly) for the world grand prix (it was used as a national track for racers all over the wold but like i said that was many years ago. Lack of funds have seen the track slowly go down  and plans are drawn up to demolish it but the ;locals do not want to lose their heritage. From what it seems it may not be as great as kyalami but its still greayt

[FJTillDeath]

Its called the prince george race track 3.9km (2.4miles) there is a vid on youtube with a 1000 gixxer on the track but my work banned youtube so I cant link it, it shows on google though

Heres the overall layout might look familiar

[rktmanfj]

GPL 1965 Round 1: East London

This one? 

[axiom-r]

I would like to go racing with the FJ, but have no racing skill and so am too chicken shit scared to try gunning it on the local track we have? any tips to go about getting over myself other than just doing it? Ive heard I should get a dirt  bike and practice on one since they in themselves are awesome fun to ride although the cheapest one I could find cost twice as much as my FJ and I am still busy paying it off - 3 qaurters done..(Like I said im 19 - and I dont have rich parents)

Im just really tired of having to wind the FJ through traffic, I want to release and have fun with it and experience proper riding

My advice would be that if you are scaring yourself you are doing it wrong.  Ride according to the abilities you have and you wont get hurt.  Go on the track (I am assuming you will be alone since you are concerned about the cops..) and enjoy riding without the concern of cars and other obstacles.  You will get the chance to go faster and have some fun.  But only go as fast as you can while still feeling comfortable.  Going faster than your ability is not how you learn. You learn in incremental steps one at a time.

Also- I would only do a burn out when my rear tire is ready to be replaced.  Do your first one with the front wheel against a wall or a parking stop. You will see cord showing through long before it pops.  On second thought I wouldn't ever really do a burn out.....  then again I am no longer 19!

Cheers- be safe and be smart you'll never regret that!

tim

[JMR]

If you get it into 5th gear not to long. You will also deform the back part of the front render from the heat off the pipes. And burn the paint off typical 4 into 1 exhaust about 6" down from the head.

[terryk]

It would be a very good investment to go to a training event run by a solid school. The variables are cost, school reputation, time out on the track practicing your new skills and the one on one time spent with an instructor. I had a very positive experience with Reg Pridmore and his school, http://www.classrides.com/

The instructors were great and they step right in to help you with your riding style and skills. I was impressed and learned a bunch, and I have been riding on the streets for over thirty years.

Do take a class if you can afford this, money well spent. If the cost is too high join a local sport bike club, try meetup.com for one in your area. They have free clinics, training sessions and tons of group rides. Just avoid hooking up with those who want to race in an irresponsble way on public roads, you will recognize them by watching one of them being loaded onto a life flight helpicopter.

[FJTillDeath]

If you get it into 5th gear not to long. You will also deform the back part of the front render from the heat off the pipes. And burn the paint off typical 4 into 1 exhaust about 6" down from the head.

Has this happened to anybody else or can it be confirmed?

I will take everybodies advice and not push myself to points where I feel uncomfortable, the track in the youtub e video is indded the track I speak of, nothing THAT fantastic I know but its the closest fun I have as its literally a 3 to 5 minute ride from where I stay.

That being said, I have a normal digital camera. When I acquire enough skill I would like to race on the track seriously and post a video for everyone. Is the camera I have sufficient? Where and how should I mount it or what camera should i get to suit this purpose?

[terryk]

There are a number of things to consider.

1) Mount, quite important on a motorcycle. - I like the Pedco Ultraclamp, high quality, versatile. Here is a link, very high ratings on Amazon.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=pedco+ultraclamp&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=17753054034688323619#

2) Camera - Personal decision. I like my little Panasonic DMC-TS2 very much. More than a purpose built camera.  Here is a link to cameras and mount reviews for your consideration.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/hero-camera/

3) Format and editing and noise and color and white balance - Not all editing software are equal and can do the job. Youtube only takes certain formats. Conversion is a pain sometimes. Cameras may limit record time in certain formats. You need to be careful here. Noise - the Panasonic has a noise suppression mode, critical in a motorcycle video. You can always over dub a sound track, this is pretty cool. Also, they sell foam to suppress wind noise as most purpose built cameras have an issue with too much wind noise in recording the video that is hard to suppress during an edit. Lastly, color quality and white balance means a lot on a motorcycle. See video below made with a purpose built motorcycle camera, note poor white balance issue, I returned this camera due to this problem. The music used here is Johnny Cash, late in his career.

Palm Springs Ride Yamaha Warrior