Yesterday I went to Houston to get some tires put on and get fitted for leathers and pick up my rear sets. After deducting a chunk out of my bank account, (yeah, not my credit card, I will not go into debt with this track day thing) I walked out with tires, rear sets and a leather suit. I did not plan on buying a suit, but said to hell with it. I got a Komodo Pro, don't know much about them, went based on the shops recommendation. The suit does seem to have more protection than other suits I saw at the track today, and oh yeah, it is tested, read on.
Today 1/27/06
Well left home at about 7:15, it was raining, got to the track at 7:30 and it did not stop raining until 11:30 am or so, we got on the wet track around 12. First two sessions were wet but went fine, taking it easy and scrubbing the new tires. 3rd session the track is almost dry except for just a few puddles. Coming out of turn 4 hot I went straight into turn 5 to wide and hit a little wet spot right in the crack where the track had been repaired. I saw it and was committed to my line, I felt the front slide out, heard the Arata rear set scratching and then remember tumbling and thinking to keep my head up so I don’t have to buy a new helmet. I came out with a very muddy bike, tested gear, and a minor sprain to my right ankle. Everything else was just fine, and my helmet did not have a mark on it, I guess I was going about 50-60. Got my bike trailered back and washed it off and got back out there and worked on getting my confidence back. The last session of the day was great, I picked up some speed and had a really good time. In all about 5 people went down out of about 25, the only injury I know of is my own.
A friend of mine took these, quality is poor.
These were taken by another rider. This turn 17, and boy is it slick. First time I have ever felt the front and rear sliding around a turn. After taking it a few times I gave up and just started to take it slow there, the guy taking the pic is standing behind a concrete wall, so if you go down that’s what you hit, cause the tires wall does not go far enough. Check the last link, it is a vid and you will see the same turn and the wall, some guys have their arms on it.
Oh yeah about the Arata's, they suck. The left one folded up like, like........., well what ever I tried to straighten it out but it cracked the bracket, I took the stockers with me so I put it back on. They did help keep my bike off the ground though, The only damage was minor scratches to the Tribal Decal, blinker torn off, and a scratched side cover, very small scratch to the Pazzo lever and barend. I had ordered some Woodcraft covers but they did not come in, I guess thats good, cause now I would have a scratched Woodcraft cover. Anybody want to buy a set of rear sets, Ummm, right side only!
In the end I had a great time and will be going back. I was hesitant about buying those leathers, but if I had rented them, I would have had to buy them anyway since I went down in them. All my gear held up really well and did not feel anything except the minor sprain, which I made worse because I continued to ride on it. So what do you guys know of Komodo leathers, was it a good buy?
