Advice needed

SteveB · Post by **SteveB** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 3:21 pm

I have a very clean 907 that I just love. The problem is I want to start going to track days. My question is are these wonderful bikes too rare to risk destroying on the track ?

I was going to sell the 907, but now I am thinking about just taking the old beast out to the track and if it goes down it goes down.

I had first thought that I would be nothing but a moving chicane with a bike of this vintage, but after doing some fairly aggressive street riding with people on much newer true sport bikes, I have kept up well so I don't think I will be a total nuisance to other riders.

Do others on this forum ride their 907s or other pasos at track days ? If so what has been your experience ?

I have been on the track for a school with a rented bike and felt much more comfortable than running at speed on the street. I would like to do more but don't know if I want to take this bike. I also don't want to sell it and can't afford a track only bike.

Any comments or opinions welcome.

Thanks

Steve

Finnpaso · Post by **Finnpaso** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 4:23 pm

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA... U have very hard timers there! I know that feeling very well

I have ride my both 750 Paso and 907IE in track but not yet my ST4S. I have fallen in track with 750 and it wasnt so nice to look my beauty after that, but i fixed it next winter very well, that it was then "better, than new"! Iknow exactly, how much it hurt to see damaged Paso..... Anyway, best way to drive fastly is going to track... And not only fast, but also learning how to handle bike! (what U need in normal traffic).... Some advise: Go there, but check tires condition and pressure first! Also all other checks, like oli level and leaks, brakes bads, etc.... Start LITTLE BY LITTLE faster, and come out from track, when it start to feel very good!!! If U stay and try more, normally "shit happens" then!!!! Take pauses and be very careful first rounds, cause tires need to heat to get more grip! If You feel angry, or something feels to be wrong, come out from track and check things!!!! Dont care about faster drivers, cause there are ALLWAYS faster guys, than You are!!!! Anyway U can choose lines and dont care about guys, who overtake You!!!!!! Its not any shame to be slower, than others....LITTLE by LITTLE and then it goes right way

Anyway 750 Paso is different to drive, than 907IE. Both are good, but different! But 750 Paso have awfull brakes compared to 907IE!

Btw, wondering, that U "love Your 907", but U wanted to sell it???? DONT SELL IT !!!! Its very rare bike, especially, if it is in good shape and well maintained....

Antti
750 Paso
907IE Paso
ST4S

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 5:58 am

Steve,

I did my first ever track day on my 750 Paso about a year and a half ago at Kyalami. I was the slowest guy on the slowest bike, but I probably had more fun than all those guys who trailered their exotics with their tyre warmers.

Just go there with the attitude of "I'm here to have fun" and don't worry about the faster guys. Hold your line and be predictable. Then they'll know where your going and just overtake you.

In our case they broke the group in to 4 sub groups by speed (they were originally going to have three groups by speed and a ladies group but most of the ladies there were very fast).

I approached Sunset (medium speed 90 degree right-hander) and was really concentrating on clipping the first cone on the left, everything was lined up for the apex, body position was good, all was right with the world. Until the instructor overtook me around the outside as I left the apex, completely turned around on the seat, gave me a thumbs up and continued off in to the distance. A little soul destroying, but as Finnpaso says, there are always guys that are going to be faster than you.

Just go and enjoy it.

Paul

DesmoDog · Post by **DesmoDog** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 3:08 pm

I've had similar experiences as Paul - the instructor giving me the thumbs up mid corner (when I thought I was FLYING), the fast girl (she was 16 and quite cute to boot) and being the slowest guy out there (in my group anyway).

You really can't worry about being the fastest or slowest guy out there, concentrate on being smooth and predictable. Its a track day, not a race, there's nothing to win and a lot to lose if you crash. Don't use your street riding as a gauge to how fast you may be. Fast street riding is a different world than being on the track - I don't know how many guys I've heard who thought they were fast (on the street) but get a brand new outlook on life after being on the track. (I've never been fast anywhere, so I never experienced that little revelation.

)

I'm not sure I'd do a track day on my 907? Much of that is because I'm not as thrilled with it's "Sport" side of sport tourer as some here are. I spent enough time chasing 900rr's and 916s around to get the opinion there are other bikes I'd rather do that on. But if you're really out just to have fun it should work fine out there.

It all depends on what you're expecting to get out of the day. A brisk ride on the 907 with no worries about cops, cars, or critters? You'll be fine. An opportunity to show those sportbike guys a thing or two? Then you've got your work cut out for you...

Having said all that, one thing you'd have going for you is it's not a sportbike. I once showed up at a trackday on a new (maybe 900miles on it) 996. I hadn't ridden in a while, just wanted to hang ot on my own and get the feel for the bike. Yeah, right. I may as well have had a big bullseye on my back...

Rogero · Post by **Rogero** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 9:36 am

I'd not take mine on a track was my first thought, but then realise I take it to the isle of man TT and ride around the 37 miles over there which must be worse!

Take care and remember it's not a race, everyone who overtakes you will be admiring the 907 as they do! Get some nice cans so they can hear you too!

Rogero

SteveB · Post by **SteveB** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 8:01 pm

Thanks for the input.

After years of racing on 4 wheels, I took a motorcycle school at Mid Ohio and had a lot of fun. I would like to do a few track days a year to hone my riding skills in a more frindly environment than the street. My 907 is the only bike I have that I would consider for a track day. The others in the stable are a Norton Commando (just a bit too old) and a 750 monster (far too slow).

I have no dillusions about being fast. My concerns are more with how aggressive the other riders are with slower traffic. I know to hold my lines and concentrate on my actions, but I was curious to know how often on track days that bikes come together or take each other out due to excess adrenalin and testosterone. If track days are as agressive as most racing I've been involved with I didn't think the 907 would be a good choice.

I also have concerns with my brain fade once the adrenalin kicks in, but I guess it is no worse than on the street.

I was kind of expecting to hear things like don't take something like a 907 on the track, too slow, too hard to replace parts etc.

The comments were encouraging.

Thanks

redpaso · Post by **redpaso** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:37 am

I have not done a track day on my 906 yet but think I will in the new year, just to hear the exhaust note at full scream bouncing of the main straight walls @ Eastern Creek raceway. I have taken my BMW K100RS there a few times & had sooooo much fun that it should have been illegal. I remember taking the long sweeping bend that leads onto the main straight flat out, pegs & toes scraping & thinking I was riding pretty hard when Robbie Phillis (remember him from the '80's World Superbike Kawasaki team) ride around the outside of me & dissappear down the main straight on a ZX-6 with a pillian on board

The next lap I was taken on the same corner by a guy fully hanging off his BMW R100GS - Paris-Dakar :screwy: The BM would buck & wobble a bit through the corners but There was always somebody I would retake down the main straight & whether I was passed or not I still pulled into the pits at teh end of every session with a grin from ear to ear & a story or 2 to swap with mates while we waited for our next turn.

Just take the mirrors off, get out there & enjoy

(If you can get some photos of you on track to post up here that would be great.

)

Rogero · Post by **Rogero** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 10:40 pm

Take the mirrors off ? Looks like a tough job to me...

Finnpaso · Post by **Finnpaso** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 3:19 pm

Nooooooo, if U have original Paso mirrors!!!! Easy to "pull them out", if wires are dissconnected first.... They have such mecanism, that if some hits to them, they "fall".

Antti

Rogero · Post by **Rogero** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 5:41 pm

Thanks Finn, my 907 is totally original.

Apex · Post by **Apex** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:53 pm

Wait!! The 907 mirrors don't pull out--they are bolted in. At least the later 907s are. You need to remove the fairing panels and the nuts are right there. If you have not mastered fairing removal on your 907 yet, it's time to do it. It's not hard at all and for some reason I seem to have to remove mine all the time to work on something. As far as track days go, I have done several and never dropped a bike. That said, 907 parts are so hard to find that I probably would not risk mine. You could buy a roughed up Japanese 600 and use it as a dedicated track bike for far less than the cost of a mishap at the track with your 907. BTW--where in Ohio are you?

DesmoDog · Post by **DesmoDog** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 9:23 pm

Apex wrote:Wait!! The 907 mirrors don't pull out--they are bolted in.

The mirrors on my 907 pop off... they don't pull off very easily (which is good) but they will pull off.

There is a stud that is fastened to the fairing. What does the base of your mirror look like? Mine has three clamp-like things that snap over these studs. Yours has bolts protruding from it??? I'll see if I can get some pictures to explain it better...

qldman36 · Post by **qldman36** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 12:01 am

In my experience sevicing several 907's, mirrors all were 'popoff' style. Easy to give medium size rap with heel of hand at 2 o'clock right hand mirror,10 o'clock left hand[on rim,not glass]. Catch with other hand. Unplug two wires-voila. If plugs behind fairing,pull thru one at a time.

SteveB · Post by **SteveB** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 1:42 am

Apex,

I live between Cincinnati and Columbus.

My 907 mirrors pop off. My fairing is also easy to remove as I have changed all of the misserable well nuts with Dzus buttons. All of the bodywork can be removed and reinstalled in a minute or two.

I agree that I can buy a Japanese 600 for the price of fixing the 907 if I crash it, but the divorce would be much more expensive. If I crash the 907 it is easy to get the funding to repair. Getting my wife to agree to another toy in the garage is another story. I even tried to tell her I would sell my monster and buy a dedicated track bike. That didn't go over very well. She likes it too much and has now decided that the monster is HER bike. I guess it could be much worse, at least she likes my toys.

Steve

Apex · Post by **Apex** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 2:46 pm

DesmoDog wrote:
Apex wrote:Wait!! The 907 mirrors don't pull out--they are bolted in.
The mirrors on my 907 pop off... they don't pull off very easily (which is good) but they will pull off.

There is a stud that is fastened to the fairing. What does the base of your mirror look like? Mine has three clamp-like things that snap over these studs. Yours has bolts protruding from it??? I'll see if I can get some pictures to explain it better...

Craig--

My mirrors have three studs protruding from the base and they bolt onto the inner fairing. My 907 is a 93 (actual manufacture date is July, 1992). If yours is an earlier one perhaps there was a running change--I vaguely remember a discussion about this long ago perhaps on the yahoo group.

Jeff