diary of an Endorphin Junkie

Some backstory: I've been trying to purchase replacement windscreens for my SV650 Superbike from Zero Gravity for 5 months now. I've placed orders with multiple dealers, and none of them can get the windscreens from ZG.

( Lots of messy details where ZG contradicts itself repeatedly... )

So right now we stand at 5 months and more than 20 hours of my time trying to get these windscreens. IF I receive them. I really doubt they are going to be around much longer. I need to find another windscreen which will fit, since they are clearly unreliable.

Oh, and the dealer sent me a copy of the e-mail he received from them about the cancellation of the dealer program. So they are liars too.

I've packed up everything in the van for the track day tomorrow. It's very odd -- I spent years packing these motorcycles into that van and I once knew the system so well I didn't have to think. Tonight I did everything backwards, and remembered even more important stuff I left in the RV. Which I can't retrieve on a Sunday evening :(

But I have everything essential in there, and I'm ready to go. I'll be heading for bed very soon since I'll be awake and moving at 5am tomorrow.

After several hours of preparing tonight I'm ready for the upcoming practice and race days.

Swapped the repainted tanks back on. Installed the newly painted fender.

Bled my superstock's front brakes since I didn't like the feel. Sure enough, two really big air bubbles popped out on the right hand side. Rotated the bar and adjusted the lever to give the brake lever more room without hitting the throttle line.

Pulled, cleaned, greased and re-installed the rear brake lever to ensure it moves smoothly.

Bikes are ready. Now to get my head in place.

I spent mine challenging myself, as always. Check out the new paint job on the bikes.

This is what I was doing...

Given that I'm operating on 4 hours of sleep and emotionally just not in it, solid 1:53s in the afternoon and never getting higher than 1:55s even when held up by others seems pretty decent to me.

I think I'm going to skip racing at Miller and see if I can get my head on straight (and catch up on sleep) before the fall rounds begin.

I went out today to sort out the suspension of the superstock bike. After that was done I took 2 sessions on my superbike just for fun. By the final session I was so tired I could barely hold onto the bike, but I set my fastest time of the day. This is the last ride with the #1 plate. Next month a new novice champion will be crowned and I'll be back to running 553 next year.

I got a horrible start and was about 15th into turn 3 (the first real turn at Fontana). I made up a bunch of positions in the first few turns and ended up behind Shandra who was doing very well except in a few corners where it's just not easy to go around (turns 1 and 9). This became a 4-way battle as two other riders joined us. I finally got a good run through turn 1 and passed three of them into turn 3.

I found myself behind the lead novice racer who I could likely have passed, but it was hundreds of yards up to the Neil who had checked out and ran away. Knowing I couldn't make up that much ground, and really wanting to stay upright for this race, I cruised around behind the novice racer and took second place in Expert.

Practice was good but hard work. It was very hot, so I wanted to spend all of my time laying in my car relaxing in the air conditioning, but unfortunately my bikes needed a lot of work.

I spent most of the day testing my superstock bike. I kept running out of front suspension travel, but every time I stiffened up the front, the back would start to cut loose. It became a balancing game. I got a little faster every time, but not by much.

In comparison, my superbike felt wonderful right out the door. I swapped the throttle for a 1/5th turn and that felt awesome too. I actually had to remove some stiffness from the front, but that was it. It just went go.

And I stayed upright all day, no trips on the ground this time -- first time this season. That's a nice change.

This picture was taken one session before my Infineon crash, right about where I crashed. I came through here carrying just a little more bit speed and lean angle and... yeah, don't do that.