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Went to my first ever race meeting on Sunday, went up spur of the moment with a mate on a 86 VFR800.
Road up from Newcastle and went via the A68 which as I found out is awash with speed cameras.

The road up was excellent and it was an enjoyable two hour ride, I found that doing 100 miles on the Falco and then having a little walk round a petrol station is the best way to go.

Knock Hill is a funny meeting to go to for your first one as you can only ever see a bit of the track at anyone time because of the terrain, I was stunned at the speed of the guys racing and realised just how brave they are.

The guy we went to watch eventually got a third place podium his last race on a R6 so I was pleased for him.

255 miles all in, but I realised one thing I couldn't keep up with the VFR he was either braver or better than me at riding but the Falco is heavy there is no getting away from that and on the really twisty bits he had me, long bends and flats I was with him all the way, all in all I am glad did it.

Tonyunn wrote: but the Falco is heavy there is no getting away from that

Sir was actually riding the lighter (and more powerful) bike

VFR 800

• Dry Weight: 218 Kg
  Wet Weight: 240 Kg

Falco

• Dry Weight: 190 Kg
  Wet Weight: 222 Kg

Aren't blue Falcos the slowest ones they built?

it is hard to imagine, a 1986 VFR which looks so small in comparison, whatever way you look at it he had me beat all ends up, the back skipped at 80 odd miles an hour and that was it for me, thought bollocks to it, I need to get home in one piece and that was that.

Tonyunn wrote:it is hard to imagine, a 1986 VFR which looks so small in comparison, whatever way you look at it he had me beat all ends up, the back skipped at 80 odd miles an hour and that was it for me, thought bollocks to it, I need to get home in one piece and that was that.

Absolutely - I'm sure you've "proved it" in the past - no point in riding beyond what you are comfortable with on the day. We're out there to enjoy ourselves not to prove we're heroes on a one-way-mission to oblivion.

The Falco does carry its weight quite high (especially when I'm on it) so perhaps it can feel heavier than a lighter bike

Geometry is also a big factor. The Falco is superb at the fast stuff but I find it a bit awkward in the slow corners. It was I thought, improved considerably by dropping the yokes down the forks a few rings.

At the end of the day the ability, confidence and on the road possibly foolhardy bravery of the rider makes much more of a difference than the relative abilities of the machines.

No prizes for riding beyond your comfort zone so well done for not being drawn out of it.