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Chuffster · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 1:20 pm Post subject: Mini Twins

Next season (2006) I aim to be campaigning my SV650 in one of the Mini Twins championship series. Bought the bike in 2005 and have been out on it five times now. Riding a small capacity twin is definately not the same as an in your face 4 cyclinder bike. So far practice has gone well although development over the winter will be undertaken. The brake callipers are going to be stripped an re-built. The body work is going to be repaired and sprayed. The bike should be Kawasaki green with some black. This should make it look very distinctive. I need to try and move the fairing slightly, I keep grinding the right hand side and have now put various holes through the fibreglass which shall need to be repaired. To move the fairing I shall need to have the exhaust pipe routing reworked. I believe that this is permissable but shall clarify with the rulebook before I go down that road.

DavidH · Spam Lord Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 294

Are you going to do the Bemsee series...Rookie champion in waiting??

I'm forming a new team for next season (which actually means I'm re-spraying the bike!) and we will be known as 'Smokin' Haddock Racing' Evil or Very Mad

The bike will be black with silver and yellow decals. Too many complaints this year about not being able to recognise me because of being on a blue Timitwin like lots of others!

DavidH
MiniTwin #87 ....or whatever I get allocated next season!

Chuffster · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 2:31 pm Post subject:

Not decided yet but pretty sure I shall be going the Bemsee route. The latest coming out for next season seems to have upset a lot of people, no National boys in Mini Twins! As for rookie of the season, who knows. I shall be making an effort, lets just hope I don't tread on too many toes. Got a lot to learn I believe.

I am hoping to do that 1 day Bemsee course to get the licence sorted, dates apparently announced in November. Lets hope it is not snowing like this year!

The theory for the bike is that it will be black and Kwaka Green so it stands out from the crowd. Have to agree with the fact that there were too many blue bikes out there this year. Saying that, there probably wont be any next year as everyone will do the same as you.

Will be working on it soon as I really need to do something with the bodywork to try and get some ground clearance. opefully will get a track day or two in early next year, that gives me time to prepare as well as more time for the wrist to heal.

Big problem for me next season will be getting Fridays off. I may need some help to get myself a space in the paddock from someone. Have the van and caravan all set and ready to roll. Myself and Justine are already looking forward to some paddock life, learnt a lot from Wal, John and yourself this season and really enjoyed the evening company after racing. Roll on next season, paddock life is as good as the racing.

DavidH · Spam Lord Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 294

Well all i can say from my experience is that track days don't prepare you for that first (or second or third or......) race. Surprised

i only ever did a few track days so wasn't starting as a 'quick' rider (is such a thing really exists) but I certainly lost loads of places and time during the first few meetings through lack of race craft i.e. being able to overtake someone who is just that bit slower, defend a line, and generally get used to wheel to wheel racing at silly speeds. Still not that good at it, but improving round by round. Unfortunately it didn't stop me being mugged by the RedWine git for a point in the last round at Brands!!! Grrrrrrrr.....

...and yes, paddock life is a real bonus I wasn't expecting. What's your speciality? Wal is the chef and van provider, Kim/Pam/Jacqui are the logistics co-ordinators, Jon is a spanner specialist, and I bring the parkin!!

DavidH

Chuffster · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 3:50 pm Post subject:

I have tried to use the last couple of trackdays to prepare for racing where I have basically been running in the fast group with other racers. I know they are not on mini twins, well some were but I thought I would stick it up some bigger boys. I have practiced a few death defying overtakes on Brands Indy circuit deliberately to see what its like. So far so good. I know its not the sort of thing you should do on a track day but I had to try.

Learnt a lot this year, I can ride in the wet and apparently quite well according to Franki Chilli! Enjoyed my time at the ESS despite the rain. Shame I was on tyhe ZX7 but I had wets for that which I do not have for the SV.

I had not been on track for three seasons due to lack of finance but have enjoyed my time this year. Most days have been wet, i seem to be fated. So I have spent a total of about 5 hours on the SV now, not a lot but its a start. 54 second laps round the Indy last time out with constant traffic I felt was not too shoddy. Problem really was bodywork, I have ground a few holes down half its length.

As for paddock life, what a great party atmosphere on Saturday nights, so glad I have witnessed it this year. Met some great people as well, obviously you lot who are like a little family but I seem to know loads of people out in the paddock een in the different classes.

As for speciality, have to think on that one. Her ladyship is good at cooking but no good at spannering although she shall be receiving lessons. I like my tunes and will have the stereo aboard. I dont mind helping out with mechanical stuff, after all, if you have someone along like Martin you can learn loads as well.

DavidH · Spam Lord Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 294

54s round Brands is quicker than me and Wal! It would also place you straight in to top half of the field. Should be interesting next season. You'll stand a good chance of the Rookie crown if you can keep that pace up in a race and be consistent at the other tracks. I wish you all the best and look forward to scraping paint with you....'cos you know its going to happen!!.

Chuffster · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 5:00 pm Post subject:

I can't wait for the paint scraping, my paint will stay on, having a pro job done same as Martins was until he binned it. Same guy is going to spray my fairings up. Just got to cut them about a bit first to try and create some clearance.

I am looking forward to next year. Getting off the stat line the first time should be intersting to say the least. Aim is to finish race one, even if its last and then progress. Still trying to work out how you get an SV round Brands in 51 secs as they did in the MRO rounds.

Have you worked out the new format at all? Looks like we will not be in a 650 V 400 shootout anymore. Is that the way you read it?

DavidH · Spam Lord Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 294

Unfortunately it does like we will only have 2 races per day which is a real shame.

The bike is about to have some surgery. JHS are going to put the later cams in plus it needs new tensioners ('cos the are rattling like f*$k!). Will get it set up on Jame's dyno. Going to work out how to get the rear shock off and then send it off to Steve Jordan for a refresh. As for the bodywork....I'm having a go myself.

Roll on the New Year!

ps got a new job in a different part of the company. Laughing

....perhaps as well, the old part just announced a 22% reduction in workforce Crying or Very sad

Chuffster · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 10:27 am Post subject:

I agree, looks like only 2 races a day on the mini twin. Really don't want to go down the road of getting a different bike to compete in a different class as well, well not yet anyway, who knows in time.

Sounds like a bit of engine work for yours. i may well get mine checked over to see what anyone says. The guy I work with is friends with someone in SDC so I am going to pick his brains. Apparently my bike was built in a hurry - 3 days flat to turn it into a racer and race.

The shock is not actually that difficult to remove but you will probably need help. You either need one of thos abba stands or some way of supporting the bike from the subframe (eg hoist). Can be frustrating lining up to put back in. I changed out one on my ZX7 basically on my own. just needed a mate to do the last bit with me which was the lining up of the shock and getting the bolts in to hold it in place.

Sounds like you may have made the right move on the work front, maybe a close call there. Getting laid off is not good at anytime but especially bad at this time of year and in the current economic climate.

Not sure where you are actually located but if I can help with the bike in anyway just shout. I am in Dartford now, believe you are somewhere in Essex but not sure.

If we dont catch up before next season I am sure we shall then. Send my best regards to your wife.

DavidH · Spam Lord Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 294

Thanks for the advice and offer of help. one of the other Minitwinners (Gossy) said to prop the bike up on axle stands under the footpegs. I guess that takes all the weight off the shock much as a hoist would. I'll have a go and if it goes tits up then I'll be shouting HELP!!!

Chuffster · Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 11:19 am Post subject:

Doing that would have the same result but its nowhere near as safe, especially if you are going to leave the bike for a while. If it comes off you will land up with the bike squatting down on the ground and its not so easy to get up from there I can tell you. Fortunately, the SV is a lot lighter than a ZX7!

Offer of help is there if you want it, more than glad to be of assistance.

DavidH · Spam Lord Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 294

I reckon axle stands under the footpegs and a tie down round the subframe and up over the beam in the garage to stop it toppling over....sorted...ta.

Chuffster · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 10:27 am Post subject:

Sounds like that should do the trick David. You should be able to use the tie down to move the bike just right when putting the shock back in so its just a case of slamming the bolt in as opposed to trying to wiggle the bike with one hand and getting the nut in with the other.

Just as a matter of interest, aren't there any suspension places nearer that you could get the shock revamped at?

DavidH · Spam Lord Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 294

Possibly, but Steve Jordan is a man I can trust and is at all the rounds for help and set-up. I reckon that relationship and his undoubted generous nature will be worth the cost of postage.

Chuffster · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 2:45 pm Post subject:

I hear you David and sort of agree. I personally probably would have gone to a suspension specialist like Setup engineering in Wandsworth. I don't really know exactly what Steve can do but no doubt I shall soon find out. He set my suspension up on the SV and the (now smashed) 636 and I have to admit, i am very happy with the setup that he did.

That will be something that you need to do when the shock comes back - set it back up as to how you want it. May be worth taking the current settings before you send it away to give you a good starting point if you are going to do it yourself when its back in the bike.