Use it or lose it

[j2]

Since Dayn was kind enough to give us moped racers our own spot, I think we should post something..I am curious what bikes I can expect to be up against. I plan to race a moby, polini 65 with the usual doppler goodies. I also will be bringing out my za 50 maxi with a polini kit, and a magnum with a gila kit and motomatic pipe. I'll try to get some pics of the moby build as it comes along, frame is off being powdercoated.

[rivethead]

I plan to race what ever spare bike you bring out and have not previously loaned out to someone else.... keeping n mind that I should be kept securely at the bottom of the priority list.

[jstephenson]

That's a good question. I know people like to keep secrets on what they are building. I personally will be building whatever i can afford at first, and then later building something better. Kinda leaning toward an av7 build since I have all the parts for at least a decent bike. Not going to be super fast but it'll save me money to build one that is.

[j2]

I guess if you were taking it super serious you would want to keep your tuning tricks secret. I'm trying to get some general info on what types of bike we can expect. Its all in the nature of friendly competition at this point. I hope it stays that way!

[jstephenson]

I'm not super serious about whatever I build at first, but you won't know anything about the next bike. That's for sure. Once its out there it will be open for questions of course, because I also don't believe in secret race tech, kinda annoying. The open exchange of information is a good thing.

[nerdspeed]

If my experience with the old racing in Ohio or the Polini Cup rounds I raced last year is any indication, your tuning tech doesn't need to be that high tech / top secret. Sounds like the tracks for PNWSRA are at least as fast as Atwater. So for building a bike, I 'd probably recommend nicer, stickier tires, and a standard tuned set up: Kit, carb, pipe. After that, whats most likely going to win races is your own riding ability and confidence. If you've never raced before take time to set up the ergonomics on your bike and also think about reliability. Also, 'time management' is not that sexy a thought, but very important for racing. Far, far too often have I (and many others) scrambled to finish a bike at the last minute, usually for some dubious upgrade, causing me to be either too tired or stressed out to enjoy the fun of racing, come race day.

This helmet was too small for my fat, sweaty face.

[j2]

Good solid advice. sRs and I pulled a couple of 4 am nights before a race to get his bike going and were dog tired come race day. a good nights sleep is not over-rated. that said..I still think there will be more than a few racers that are surprised how quickly race day will be upon us.
What tires do you like for mopeds for the track?

[nerdspeed]

I love Michelin M29S 's. Not the easiest to find, you may have to contact a distributor. Also, I know 2.25-2.5 x 17" full slicks are available, via the Phillipines for Honda Wave circuit racing. ...Some Thai company makes them in two states of softness. I never owned a pair, but they do exist. Bridgestone Battlax 's exist in a 70/100x17" full slick for GP 125 class bikes, but the depth and overall profile would be like riding on balloons, they might work, might not.. also, expect to pay $120 per skin.

[naz]

There are actually some better profiles available in the Battlax 's tires a hard to fine 80/90-17 and 90/80-17 tires. Frog's racers kids use them.

[j2]

I am going to run mb5 forks and wheels on the moby. Disc brake , better forks and battleaxe takeoffs from the cb 160 guys are only 20 bucks a piece!
I have hutchinsons on the magnum. I haven't ridden it enough to decide how I like them. I certainly wont be spending 120 dollars per tire. i am too cheap for that.

[nerdspeed]

Any links for those CB 160 tires?

[j2]

I get them from the local shop here, vicious cycle. they are 18 inch for the mb5 wheels though.

[jstephenson]

I can't find 17" slicks that are thin enough to fit on a moped rim. I've seen slightly wider tires, but not quite the same. Still $120 a pop though.

[naz]

some folks from the polini cup recommended and started running Heidenau tires.. K56 I think is the number comes in 17" x 2.50" and 2.75"

[jstephenson]

Well, P-town has a Heidenau account and that's what they run on the scooters for the most part. I was looking at the IRC NC53 and the Funzy tires. I've used the NC53 for a while and I really like them but there are some others I would like to try as well.