Some recent track day pics from VIR

[NYCSTRIPES]

Went to VIR with TPM on Memorial Day Weekend, just got my pics in the mail today. It was just too hot to go through them in the Pics of You trailer between sessions, they were cool enough to combine the pics of my bikes onto one disc and give me the track event price from home.

[gottaducati]

cool

[Mike295]

dude u got a dry clutch on that thing?

[benellis]

How different is it going from the TL 1000 to the RC51? does anything carry over? Which do you prefer?

[BurnCycle]

Looking good out there Ken!

The TLR looks almost too good to track.

[NYCSTRIPES]

Originally Posted by mike195

dude u got a dry clutch on that thing?

Nope, a clear window was installed into my OEM clutch cover. A guy on the TLZone.net site makes them for TL's for $75. The OEM cover is plastic, so the conversion is a snap since he does it on a lathe. Just a trick looking part so you can see the clutch basked ALA Ducati...without all the annoying dry clutch chatter.

Ken

[NYCSTRIPES]

Originally Posted by benellis

How different is it going from the TL 1000 to the RC51? does anything carry over? Which do you prefer?

I love both bikes, I have a soft spot for the TLR since its my first v-twin bike albeit this one is my second TLR.
As stock bikes, the RC51 is a much better bike, newer in design with one makeover in the process. The TLR is a 1998 technology bike with lots of rough areas to sort out, never received the attention of the factory and never got any improvements since it was not raced much.
The TLR is about 40 pounds heavier than the RC51 in stock trim. Lots of weight to loose which equals lots of $$ to lighten it up. RC has better handling, better chasis, better brakes and is a smaller profile machine. The TLR is just big...and noticeably heavier. The size and weight of the TLR add to high speed stability and wind deflection. The RC feels like a 750 in comparison.
I have the TLR sorted out pretty well now as a full time track bike, handles very well and I have helped it drop some serious weight. Between the race plastic, race wheels and lots of $$, the bike is actually pretty competent on the track.
It's got plenty of low end torque and power, but the new bikes have it beat in overall HP numbers and speed.

Mine was just an experiment to see if I could get the TLR to handle as good as or better than the RC in stock form. I think I have succeeded in making them equal to this point. Both are good track machines, If I had to choose a full time track bike to race, I would have put the money into the RC first, but mine is just a track day bike and I have lots of spare parts for the TLR on hand. I have a 99 TLR rolling chasis and spare engine/tranny to dedicate to this bike. My choice was a practical one. I have no spares for the RC.

Ken

[NYCSTRIPES]

Originally Posted by BurnCycle

Looking good out there Ken!

The TLR looks almost too good to track.

Thanks Bro, you should take a look at that left side on my bike, managed to bounce the bike of the wall at Pocono FUSA doing about 140...scared the crap out of myself. I took a bad line out of a high speed section and came up short of the exit cone. I was extremely lucky.

That woke my ass up pretty quick.
Ken

[Mike295]

Originally Posted by NYCSTRIPES

Nope, a clear window was installed into my OEM clutch cover. A guy on the TLZone.net site makes them for TL's for $75. The OEM cover is plastic, so the conversion is a snap since he does it on a lathe. Just a trick looking part so you can see the clutch basked ALA Ducati...without all the annoying dry clutch chatter.

Ken

that really is pretty fucking trick. next time u go to the track i definatly want a closer view of it. super neat

[High_Revs_17]

Looks like you might be getting bumped up to Blue according to the 4th pic.

Kudos to the photographer, excellent pics!

[NYCSTRIPES]

Thanks Bro. I had an evaluation ride for Blue Group that weekend, not ready just yet. I need to get off the bike more and be a little quicker in longer turns. I may be taking some personal training next time out to the track.
Ken

Love that RC