Not to get anyone pissed but what is the rule this year on bellypans. Can you still ride without one and be fined? Or come back when you have a belly pan? I had a buddy ask that question and was wondering the same.
Put a belly pan on. This year we will be much less nice than last year - first offense will be a fine, after that it will get unpleasant...
Ok so what you're saying first offense there will be a fine and you will be allowed to race. And the second time you'll not be allowed to race. Right?
No - I'm saying "Put a belly pan on. This year we will be much less nice than last year - first offense will be a fine, after that it will get unpleasant..." I don't know what the second offense will get yet and with any luck we won't have to decide. Can it keep someone from racing - yes depending on the circumstance surrounding their non-compliance. Can it be another fine - yes depending on the circumstance of their non-compliance. This is one of those deals where using some common sense and working with riders will be necessary.
You wouldn't believe the number of people who think they are a waste of time. BTW have been compliant since 02-2000.
Yeh, my first time on a track was this year. We had someone go down on TGPR with anit-freeze. I found it on the back stretch and almost went down, I didn't really know what it was when I hit it, and I was thinking me and the TLR were all that, begging for traction....ha-ha. When we came in, Opie went out on a GSXR, and he looked like he was doing the "two step boogie" they had to shut the track for while and everyone changed lines for the rest of the day. All in all, very bad; and the culprit split from the track immediately. Taught me a lesson, and everyone else as well.
I don't mind the bellypan, IF I could get it to not drag on the ground and rip a hole in it in about 3 laps. That's why I had a roaster pan zip-tied to the frame downtubes at the GNF; my $250 Sharkskinz lower had disemboweled itself in short order the last time I tried using it. I've mounted it to the bike twice and both times it's gotten holed in no time. And no, dinking with the suspension AT ALL to accomodate the bellypan is NOT acceptable. That means no adding ride height in the rear, etc. Maybe I'll just paint it black so the hole doesn't show....
Yes I have noticed that the Skinz pan for the FZR400 is a little too big. I use the stock lowers modified to contain fluids. The trailing edge of the right side kept dragging. Finally I drilled a hole in that area and zip-tie it to the frame. It pulls it in closer and doesn't drag anymore. I don't know if that will work with the Skinz pan or not.
Pop the whole thing up a mm or two front and rear and it will feel the same and you'll have more ground clearance and go faster - if you are dragging a belly pan then you have to be dragging other stuff too - which slows you down...
At the GNF on the first lap of the Clubman race I blew up my precious big bore EX motor. Broke a rod which proceeded to go round and round tearing three big holes in cylinders and crankcases. Needless to say my bellypan immediately CAUGHT about 4qts. of oil and water. Where I am going with this is, the bellypan probably saved my a$$ since I was going down the back straight at over 100mph and didn't fall down in my own goo. But, almost as important to me is the fact that it didn't take the next two hours to clean the mess off the racing surface thus allowing the racing action to go on. Put a belly pan on your race bike. It may be your a$$ it saves. Dean
don't know how much the fine is but for less than $100.00 i will build you a custom pan to fit the bike. www.theplasticdr.net
belly pans are a MUST!!!! or BUST!!!! or is it(being defensible): depends on how you define "BELLY-PAN"...
