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Well kids, I went ahead and took the next step towards my goal of receiving long term disability at my company. While most at work know that I am mentally ill, my latest purchase of a 2000 GSX-R750 says to the world that I am a sick person.

Now don’t get your self twisted in a bunch, I am still “Safety Sue” at heart. Nothing has really changed, as I have always enjoyed speeding on my collection of motorcycles. I decided last march that I wanted to start doing track days. For all it’s worth, track days are just for fun and I don’t look at it as a skill improvement project. Track days are just for fun, and I want to have a good time.

After my crash (see the immortal crash footage on AB’s Blog) I decided that the crash was due to suspension not being properly setup. It does not hurt that I was pushing way too hard and trying to keep some wimpy ZX-6 moving with my big ass on it. It’s all the suspensions fault, and I know that I was not to blame.

My 2006 budget plans where finalized between me and the SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed… the wife in other words). The budget included $10,000 for my crazy Track Day project. With the ink on the 2006 budget still wet, I started my search for a track day bike.

AB will tell you that I have spent way to much time thinking about a Track Day bike. I started off with the idea of a Used 600cc. But after the crash, I decided that the 600cc is a bit under powered when many at the track are on 1000cc. Add to that I am a “Freak of the Buffet” and a 600cc is just a bit to “Small” to keep up with the big boys. I considered an Aprilia TUONO, and even drove AB’s Millie before it was broken into pieces.

In the end, I focused on a 750cc bike, with a consideration of a 900cc (CBR929 or ZX-9). I started posting requests for photos on the WERA message boards, and started to plan a long drive somewhere to get a race bike. At this point, this is when Allan Ackney stepped into the picture.

From my posts on the WERA board, Allan came across my interest in a GSX-R750. Since Allan had a used 2000 model and wanted to upgrade to newer bike, I was a perfect target to pawn off his old ride. Now don’t think it is some bad bike that is one step from the grave. The old ’00 GSX-R750 pulled 138hp to the rear wheel on pump gas. At least that is what was on the sheet of paper he showed me. But inside the file folder was a host of documents, which spoke of someone to cared about the Mechanicals of the bike.

So after a short demo ride around his neighborhood, I was hooked. I checked some things out on the internet, and decided this was the bike for me. It had some work to be done to fix it up, but the foundation of the bike was sound. This is a race bike and had all the important parts: Yoshimirua RS-3 Titanium Exhaust, Power Commander, Penske 8981 rear shock, Race Tech re-valved front end with 0.95kg/mm springs and race bodywork that is already scuffed in. The pot was sweated by a set of pit-bull stands (Front and Rear), a box full of spare parts, an extra set of wheels, and other parts (Almost a complete bike in parts to be honest).

I am now an owner of a well used race bike, and in the “Afterglow” of a new-to-me motorcycle purchase. I am spending money like there is no future. Several Sets of new race compound DOT tires, New Frame Sliders, Case Sliders, Swingarm Sliders, Grips, and other small parts. But the biggest investment will be in the suspension.

I talked about the suspension not being up to snuff. Even before the bike made it to the garage of the beast, I had an e-mail going out to Penske to figure out what spring to put on the bike. Tim at Penske recommended a very stout 575lb spring, Being their normal range is 400lb to 500lb, this was defiantly a super human spring. I then contacted race-tech and got a recommendation for a 1.15kg/mm front spring. Since they make only 1.1kg/mm and 1.2kg/mm springs, this is achieved by buying both springs and using just one. What a marketing deal as I get to buy BOTH springs and double their profit.

I located a Race-Tech suspension guy in Phoenix, AZ and will be taking the whole bike to have a full work over on the suspension. I am hoping that all this work creates a better bike for me, and allows me to achieve that “Feel” that I believe I can learn.

So there it is, I am spending away my life savings on a new-to-me ’00 GSX-R750. I don’t think I will get beyond track days, but it will still be fun to go and run around the track.