Tag Archives: pilot

2014 Yamaha R6: The Journey to a Dedicated Track Bike

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First: Why the R6?

There’s the simple answer, and then the slightly more in depth. The simple: I like Yamaha.  I used to go to the track on my 2009 Yamaha R1, but quickly learned that I wasn’t actually learning with all of that power.  It was simply too much to really get a good grasp on what makes a good track rider.  For instance, I could simply put the bike in 3rd gear for the entire track and run my maximum pace.  That’s great if you want to shoot down the straights and pretend you’re good, but I wanted something a bit more manageable.  Something that I could switch gears on throughout the track, that I could brake and accelerate, and that I could flick around a little more crazily…also, something that was a little lighter on consumables like tires, oil, brake pads, etc.

So I knew I wanted a 600.  My end-game is to race.  I may have even been a bit hasty with the 600 as there are plenty of 300-500 race classes that are more noob-friendly, but 600 is where I landed.  I am a long time Yamaha fan, so the R6 was the obvious choice for me personally.  The other 3 Japanese 600s are also great options of course, you can’t go wrong with any of them, but Yamaha holds a special spot in my heart.

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The First Track Day

I kind of surprised myself with how quickly the R6 route presented itself.  I signed up for a trackday in May 2015, but only got the bike in April.  So I was fully prepared to do one last trackday on the R1, even bought some new tires (which still sit in my guest room unused!).  Anyway, the Florida rain kicked in, like usual, and delayed the day until June.  This just happened to give me enough time to get my 600 mile service in, get my “New Bike Package” installed, including Core Moto stainless braided brake lines, Engine Ice coolant, Motul RBF600 brake fluid, and Motul 300V oil.  I was all set, but unfortunately I didn’t have time to replace the tires, so I used the stock Dunlop Qualifiers that came with it.

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It was mostly successful, I had to push a little harder to match my R1 lap times at JenningsGP, but I eventually did, and pushed those stock tires pretty hard (or so it seemed).  The big take-away was that I definitely made the right choice.  The R6 was a joy to ride at the track, and left room for improvement and also was forgiving enough to accompany some mistakes along the way without punishing me for some overuse of the throttle.

What’s Next? Stay Tuned!

I will be documenting the journey from showroom bike to track weapon as I progress on the R6.  Stay tuned and feel free to add any questions, suggestions, or input.  I’ll try to be a little more active from now on 😉

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Up next: Track day 2 on the Michelin Pilot Supersport Evos, and first time with tire warmers.

Shark Helmets: Impressions From AIMExpo 2014

I first tried on a Shark helmet at the 2013 AIMExpo and immediately became interested.  I was in the market for a track/sport helmet that I could use day to day with good degree of comfort without sacrificing safety.  I thought I would be most interested in the Arai Corsair V but just wasn’t impressed after trying one on.  The inside felt very hard and didn’t seem like it would be comfortable over an extended period of time.

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Shark Race-R

Then I tried on a Shark Race-R.  It was both light and extremely comfortable.  The XL fit my head shape perfectly, snug but comfortable.  Additionally, the padding felt plush like a pillow.  Between the weightlessness and the liner, I simply fell in love.  At $649 MSRP, it is a bit expensive but is still cheaper than the Corsair V and is a top quality helmet. Another distinguishing factor is the 2.2mm thick shield.  It is noticeably thicker than most other brands and gives confidence that it will stay intact in the event of debris hitting at high speed or on impact.  Other top brand shields start to seem a bit too thin after experiencing the Shark.  For a street/track helmet with more focus on street, the Speed-R is also a great option.

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Shark Speed-R

Like the Race-R, the Speed-R is a top tier helmet with a few extra street friendly considerations. Foremost is the built in sun-visor.  A slider on the top of the helmet pushes down a tinted internal visor that resides within the shell when not in use.  As someone who often rides over the transition from light to dark and has to decide which shield to attach constantly, this would be a welcome option.  There is not as much aerodynamic plastics on the Speed-R, and the helmet is a bit heavier, but still very light.  Both the Race-R and Speed-R have DOT and ECE 22.05 certifications.

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Shark Raw

And finally, the last helmet that I focused on at the Expo was the Raw.  The aesthetic is great and looks like a fighter pilot helmet.  It is the type of helmet I’d love to wear when riding my supermoto on the street, but I also feel I’d need to acquire other matching gear to really fill out the look.  Unfortunately, as fun as this helmet is, it is not as comfortable as I hoped.  The goggles and lower plastic mouth cover put pressure right around the nose and seem like they’d bite in and become more uncomfortable over time.  I just don’t think the sacrifices necessary would be worth the look, yet a part of me still wants one of these just to have on display.

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Conclusion – It will be my next helmet!

If it’s not obvious, the Shark Race-R or Speed-R will likely be my next helmet purchase.  I can’t express enough how great the helmet felt to wear, and I would love to be wearing one at my next track day to boost confidence (I currently have an Icon that runs a bit loose and lifts at high speed, which is a bit unnerving).

Do you have any experience or impressions with Shark helmets?  Let us know all about it, or your personal favorite helmet, in the Comments section below.