Just finished up my first race weekend on my pit bike (Piranha Daytona 1504v).
I've tested it on the track about 5 times before the race and it seemed to be working really good.
Went out to race practice and within 3/4 laps in my throttle stuck wide ****ing open while coming into a sharp left hander... grabbed a handful and went flying over the bars landing and sliding on the pavement. I was probably going about 40-50 miles per hour.
If you never high sided a mini I don't really recommend it. I was wearing full leathers and really good race gloves. I went into the pits and tried to figure out what the hell caused it to stick. Took apart the carb and the slide was totally stuck (Keihin PE28 mm carb). We pulled it out and inspected and put it back in and it slide up and down perfectly WTF. Put it back together and went back out on the track (after putting the rest of the bike back into working order). I broke my left handgaurd, bent bars, lots of dirt and mud on the bike since it eventually slide off the track.
Then the throttle sticks again... this time I was ready for it and killed it without incident. Took it home and worked on it at 3am that night and racing starts by getting to track at 7am.
I think the problem was the spring for the return was getting bound up and stuck. I reshaped the spring a bit and tested it by turning the throttle 100 times and it worked perfectly. Still didn't trust it though.
Went out to track to race (1st race ever for me mind you). I am hellaciously sore that morning from the crash. List of things that hurt, my right foot, both of my knees, my wrist. Once I got moving though I started feeling okay.
Took the bike out 1st practice and it is working good. That practice is asphalt only. The 2nd practice was dirt with jumps and asphalt. There the carb started bogging after the dirt section but seemed to clear fairly quickly once I got back out on the asphalt for a bit.
1st race was dirt and asphalt. Good start but I'm the only mini out there it's all big bikes and me. So it didn't take long for them to pass me. 1/2 way into the race the bike just starts bogging like crazy and no power and pull off the track and push it in.
2nd race is all asphalt and all minis. Got a great start, and hung with the 2 lead guys for the first 3 laps and we are having a blast. The the chain snaps coming into the back straight. Luckily didn't chuck me off the bike. Again DNF the race.
3rd race is moto 2 of big bikes vs. my China crap good start and hanging with the back guys then the bogging starts again after the jumps and dirt. It clears after I come to a stop and I get back going good and finish the race... pretty close to last place though ugg.
4th race when I get to the line after the warmup lap the bike is leaking gas all over the place and they let me go anyway after routing in a catch can. Then the things bogs to **** after the start and dies another DNF.
Ready to throw this bike in the dumpster. I am whining but that's racing. I did however test quite a bit to make sure I had reliability, and I felt I did. On race weekend it just all went to hell. Probably will just buy a new carb since sticking throttle and gas spilling all over the place is an unacceptable risk.
I am not the best mechanic in the world so at the end of the day it's probably all my fault. I just want to race and ride. I was feeling pretty confident against the minis and holding my own against some CRF150's and the guys were giving me respect for going out there on a China and going hard.
Oh well just gotta fix it and test it and get out there again and stop *****ing. I am really glad I have some decent gear cause otherwise I probably would be a lot more that just a bit sore. I also own a fitness center and work out a ton so being in good physical condition and a former gymnast might of helped. I did a nice dismount and crashed fairly gracefully if that's possible.
CRASHING SUCKS. I was totally energized on race day but when I got home after the races I nearly collapsed with exhaustion. I think it was a combination of the crash, no sleep, stress, and adrenalin.
Can't wait to do it all again though what's wrong with us
couple of crappy pics I am in black #15
I've tested it on the track about 5 times before the race and it seemed to be working really good.
Went out to race practice and within 3/4 laps in my throttle stuck wide ****ing open while coming into a sharp left hander... grabbed a handful and went flying over the bars landing and sliding on the pavement. I was probably going about 40-50 miles per hour.
If you never high sided a mini I don't really recommend it. I was wearing full leathers and really good race gloves. I went into the pits and tried to figure out what the hell caused it to stick. Took apart the carb and the slide was totally stuck (Keihin PE28 mm carb). We pulled it out and inspected and put it back in and it slide up and down perfectly WTF. Put it back together and went back out on the track (after putting the rest of the bike back into working order). I broke my left handgaurd, bent bars, lots of dirt and mud on the bike since it eventually slide off the track.
Then the throttle sticks again... this time I was ready for it and killed it without incident. Took it home and worked on it at 3am that night and racing starts by getting to track at 7am.
I think the problem was the spring for the return was getting bound up and stuck. I reshaped the spring a bit and tested it by turning the throttle 100 times and it worked perfectly. Still didn't trust it though.
Went out to track to race (1st race ever for me mind you). I am hellaciously sore that morning from the crash. List of things that hurt, my right foot, both of my knees, my wrist. Once I got moving though I started feeling okay.
Took the bike out 1st practice and it is working good. That practice is asphalt only. The 2nd practice was dirt with jumps and asphalt. There the carb started bogging after the dirt section but seemed to clear fairly quickly once I got back out on the asphalt for a bit.
1st race was dirt and asphalt. Good start but I'm the only mini out there it's all big bikes and me. So it didn't take long for them to pass me. 1/2 way into the race the bike just starts bogging like crazy and no power and pull off the track and push it in.
2nd race is all asphalt and all minis. Got a great start, and hung with the 2 lead guys for the first 3 laps and we are having a blast. The the chain snaps coming into the back straight. Luckily didn't chuck me off the bike. Again DNF the race.
3rd race is moto 2 of big bikes vs. my China crap good start and hanging with the back guys then the bogging starts again after the jumps and dirt. It clears after I come to a stop and I get back going good and finish the race... pretty close to last place though ugg.
4th race when I get to the line after the warmup lap the bike is leaking gas all over the place and they let me go anyway after routing in a catch can. Then the things bogs to **** after the start and dies another DNF.
Ready to throw this bike in the dumpster. I am whining but that's racing. I did however test quite a bit to make sure I had reliability, and I felt I did. On race weekend it just all went to hell. Probably will just buy a new carb since sticking throttle and gas spilling all over the place is an unacceptable risk.
I am not the best mechanic in the world so at the end of the day it's probably all my fault. I just want to race and ride. I was feeling pretty confident against the minis and holding my own against some CRF150's and the guys were giving me respect for going out there on a China and going hard.
Oh well just gotta fix it and test it and get out there again and stop *****ing. I am really glad I have some decent gear cause otherwise I probably would be a lot more that just a bit sore. I also own a fitness center and work out a ton so being in good physical condition and a former gymnast might of helped. I did a nice dismount and crashed fairly gracefully if that's possible.
CRASHING SUCKS. I was totally energized on race day but when I got home after the races I nearly collapsed with exhaustion. I think it was a combination of the crash, no sleep, stress, and adrenalin.
Can't wait to do it all again though what's wrong with us
couple of crappy pics I am in black #15
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