Anybody ridden a flat track bike?

Bongolia · 01-08-2009, 12:57 AM

This is not big in the UK, but a small race series has been running for a year or two.

I really like the look of some of the bikes. Minimal. Some of the old school ones look great too

Anybody ride these

MountainLion · 01-08-2009, 12:59 AM

use ta... 1978 YZ125

KiLeR650 · 01-08-2009, 01:01 AM

Those fat front tires are dead sexy.

Bongolia · 01-08-2009, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KiLeR650

Those fat front tires are dead sexy.

I guess they don't steer so fast with that tyre?

KiLeR650 · 01-08-2009, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Bongo

I guess they don't steer so fast with that tyre?

Hell if I know. They seem to be OK at controlling power slides. Which, btw, are also dead sexy.

Bongolia · 01-08-2009, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KiLeR650

Hell if I know. They seem to be OK at controlling power slides. Which, btw, are also dead sexy.

Power slides are the new wheelies.

Spode · 01-08-2009, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Bongo

I guess they don't steer so fast with that tyre?

Flat trackers don't steer with the front wheel, they steer with the throttle!

My USAF roommate and I co-owned an old Ossa flat tracker back in the mid 80's... Used to run it out at Mike Kidd's track north of Ft. Worth back then.

Huge fun, but I haven't been on one in over 20 years.

dtsv650r · 01-08-2009, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Bongo

I guess they don't steer so fast with that tyre?

Ya steer 'em with the throttle and hell yes they're fun to ride - DO IT

tonto · 01-08-2009, 05:41 AM

I'm planning on going to a few of the meetings in the u.k this season, it looks like a lot of fun: http://www.shorttrackuk.com/news.html

Pete Boast, the guy who runs these meets managed to get Chris Carr over to race here at the end of the 2008 season, he won of course.

WoovsHoovs · 01-08-2009, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Bongo

I guess they don't steer so fast with that tyre?

"Scrub with the fronts and steer with the rears"

jonpcovington · 01-08-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Bongo

I guess they don't steer so fast with that tyre?

You countersteer with that front tire, you steer with the rear.

Bonsai Elephant · 01-08-2009, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Bongo

This is not big in the UK, but a small race series has been running for a year or two.

How well do you know Essex?

Original opening day poster from 1928.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiki

Motorcycle speedway
High Beach within Epping Forest was the first British venue for motorcycle speedway, on 19 February 1928. The track was behind The King's Oak public house, and drew large crowds in its early days. The track was closed when a swimming pool was added to the pub's grounds after the Second World War, though enthusiasts and veterans still gather at the site every year on the nearest Sunday to 19 February. The remains of the track are still visible, in the grounds of the Epping Forest Field Centre behind the King's Oak.

I was there for the 70th anniversary - many ancient speedway bikes, quite interesting to say the least!

I imagine they will be having another meet there 15th Feb.

There is speedway regularly at the Essex Arena still.

Donkey Hotey · 01-08-2009, 07:14 AM

This whole thread is 205 and so is this picture I'm gonna' post, but since you asked.

I own this, though I haven't actually ridden it yet. I bought it with a decaying fiberglass tank. I'm afraid to run it with polyester leeching into the fuel. I understand that hot polyester resin is hell on intake valves & guides.

The bike was built in 1972-73 with an early Trackmaster frame and a Barnes rear wheel & brake setup. The fork is Ceriani, the wheel & brake are early CB750. Yes, it's street legal which is why I bought it.

I just bought a gorgeous, 2-into-1 chrome exhaust for it. It snakes out of the head, under the engine and just pokes out as it passes the footpeg bracket. I'm hunting for the right tank. It needs more than the 1-1.5 gallons most flat track bikes have. I'm leaning toward a Norton Commando, current 4.5 gallon Sportster or a re-tunneled XS750 tank. I'm also collecting components to update the front brake. It's going to be a twin disk setup but with a Barnes hub, twin Airheart Razor disks and twin Airheart calipers.

Motomedic · 01-08-2009, 07:43 AM

"Twist the throttle to the stop.....
Turn left!

If you smell hay, turn left HARDER!"

Advice given to me right before my first ever flat-track race.

It worked- I survived to finish 4th!

(best finish ever!

)

WoovsHoovs · 01-08-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motomedic

"Twist the throttle to the stop.....
Turn left!

If you smell hay, turn left HARDER!"

Advice given to me right before my first ever flat-track race.

It worked- I survived to finish 4th!

(best finish ever!

)

That's funny right there & props to a damm good finish (if more than 4 racers....

)

01-08-2009, 12:57 AM	#1
Bongolia ^OP stop acting Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Hong Kong Oddometer: 15,198	Anybody ridden a flat track bike? This is not big in the UK, but a small race series has been running for a year or two. I really like the look of some of the bikes. Minimal. Some of the old school ones look great too Anybody ride these __________________ A pariah on the farm

01-08-2009, 12:59 AM	#2
MountainLion Drawn by Boyfriend Joined: Feb 2007 Location: N. California, Delta Territory Oddometer: 36,719	use ta... 1978 YZ125 __________________ All I wanna do is be more like me and less like you. Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain, and most fools do.- Benjamin Franklin ¿¿¿

01-08-2009, 07:43 AM	#14
Motomedic Beastly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2004 Location: Spokane Oddometer: 1,851	"Twist the throttle to the stop..... Turn left! If you smell hay, turn left HARDER!" Advice given to me right before my first ever flat-track race. It worked- I survived to finish 4th! (best finish ever! ) __________________ Feike Said James to Red Molly, Now Nortons and Greeves and Indians won't do- they don't have a soul like a Vincent '52

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01-08-2009, 05:41 AM	#9
tonto Son of a preacher man Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Zombiestan Oddometer: 1,265	I'm planning on going to a few of the meetings in the u.k this season, it looks like a lot of fun: http://www.shorttrackuk.com/news.html Pete Boast, the guy who runs these meets managed to get Chris Carr over to race here at the end of the 2008 season, he won of course.

01-08-2009, 07:14 AM	#13
Donkey Hotey De Jo Momma Joined: Aug 2005 Location: 20 Mule Team Trail (Palmdale, Ca) Oddometer: 8,704	This whole thread is 205 and so is this picture I'm gonna' post, but since you asked. I own this, though I haven't actually ridden it yet. I bought it with a decaying fiberglass tank. I'm afraid to run it with polyester leeching into the fuel. I understand that hot polyester resin is hell on intake valves & guides. The bike was built in 1972-73 with an early Trackmaster frame and a Barnes rear wheel & brake setup. The fork is Ceriani, the wheel & brake are early CB750. Yes, it's street legal which is why I bought it. I just bought a gorgeous, 2-into-1 chrome exhaust for it. It snakes out of the head, under the engine and just pokes out as it passes the footpeg bracket. I'm hunting for the right tank. It needs more than the 1-1.5 gallons most flat track bikes have. I'm leaning toward a Norton Commando, current 4.5 gallon Sportster or a re-tunneled XS750 tank. I'm also collecting components to update the front brake. It's going to be a twin disk setup but with a Barnes hub, twin Airheart Razor disks and twin Airheart calipers.