Yes that’s a bit more bike dependent. It keeps the ratio between wheelbase and ride height similar if you raise the rear as well which helps with the turning but it also affects the thrust off of the rear. If the rear is too high it makes the bike wheelie loads so you can only do it with certain gearing or grip levels. Pretty much everyone is raising the front but the rear varies a lot more. Hicky for instance on the Gen 3 BMW drops the rear right down until just before the turning becomes unmanageable. It’s surprising since If you have too much squat it wheel spins.
I do love it when you talk sense. Most of the gen3's we've seen that are going anywhere quickly are set up like how Daves says above
I discovered on Saturday that my Cold Tear issue was down to my pressure gauge been 4 PSI out. I couldn't understand how i needed to be running so much lower than everyone suggested and had to just keep lowering and lowering. I had 4 pressure monitors borrowed from other TD'ers at Mallory all lined up so I could check which was correct and which needed to be in the bin.
Thats potentially an expensive gauge error! I had a new lad doing pitcrew a couple years back who gave me 2.5bar instead of 25psi in the rear. I got halfway around Oulton Park and highsided on the chicane!!
36.2594 PSI!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah, it's now in the bin, luckily for me it's just cost a few early tyre retirements.
I know it's a bit late now but I check mine against the tyre guys gauge every now and then if his has been calibrated.
So, Brands Indy evening session yesterday. Rooted road tyres, no warmers, no stands. Very well behaved trackday on recent TD standards. What I can say is, pulling the forks through has improved the bike so so much. Definitely a positive move. Was taking it easy as I was having a lot of movement from the road rubber and very little feedback from the front tyre. Raising the front has however for whatever reason highlighted that the rear sets aren't in the place I'd like them to be. The hand to foot ratio seems off and I was also running out of ground clearance. Weird that moving the clip ons has brought this to my attention. The ABS isn't coming in as early as it was.. but it's still very difficult for me to work with the system in place. It's just way too intrusive and doesn't like braking with any kind of lean at all. Once I relaxed a bit, the bikes really intuitive to ride, wonderful chassis. I turned the TC up to 5 deliberately on a friends advice to learn the characteristics of the TC. Essentially leaning on the TC and feeling how it behaves. I can report it's awesome. You can literally smash open the throttle to the stop on corner exit. You 1000 riders have it easy! Gearing was fairly out for Brands. Definitely going to change this. Unfortunately adjusting the chain didn't change the issue's I experienced at Donington with the QuickShifter which again reared its head. Sadly this time the 'cut' wasn't in such a good area of the circuit. I exited clearways at full chat, just short shifting at about 12krpm at the pit entrance fully cranked over, as I clicked up a gear, the motor again cut all it's power.. this was then followed by a sudden surge of full power which nearly put me over the bars. I decided to call it a day after that as that's the third? time I think this has happened now. Won't be riding it on track again until I've replaced the QS for a Lohman or similar now. It's just not worth it. All in all a great way to spend an evening. Struggled a bit riding without warmers. I've hardly ever ridden on track with road tyres and especially without warmers so it takes some getting used to understanding when they're ready to lean on a bit. Still feeling a bit 'wheel barrow'ey' on it and a bit wooden. But it's good progress for me and I'm a relatively slow learner of bikes. I did have the timer running. Michael Neeves did a 50.08 on his long termer on SuperCorsas. I did a 53 flat last night on four day old battered road rubber without taking any risks - I only got my knee down twice. So I'm very happy (despite the fact a 53 is nothing special). Despite the slight negatives above, i'm genuinely over the moon with this bike. So much so that it may very well end up in track/race clothes at some point.
Good write up bud! Apart from the quick shifter and getting rid of the abs what else would you say needs doing on these?(for track)
Thanks Phil - different riders pick up on different things don't we.. but for me.. ABS removal. Pads & Master Cylinder replacement. Quickshifter. Pull the forks through (free). The above are musts for anyone who is half handy in my opinion. ABS removal especially for anyone who's raced as we tend to have different braking characteristics to most trackday riders generally. Harder initially banging in to the brakes which the abs hates. If you are more progressive like a lot of TD riders are you'll cook the brakes which is why my discs are blue. We are also harder on quickshifters - generally clicking down a gear the moment we hit the brakes to maximise engine braking. If I was going to convert this bike to a track bike/race bike. I genuinely think I could race it half competitively with just the above and rearsets - perhaps clip ons (optional) also. Oh and track tyres - naturally. You're a racer/ex racer from memory so I'm sure the above is all fairly obvious to you
Would you suggest putting the forks through the bars more? I've looked for information on this forum but can't find any info about it..
I was a brands yesterday but left when Tricky @RickyX went. Had to leave, otherwise I would've asked about the forks
@Advikaz Do you think the quickshifter issue may have been because you kept tension on the gear shift for too long when changing gear? I have found you just have to tap the lever up and down for smooth shifts and if I put too much effort on the lever the engine cuts then the bike lurchers forward on release. Rearsets in the correct position for you might help with the standard shifter. Just a thought.
Thanks Ad there’s some very good info there, the reason I ask is one of my good pals is about to get one and he’s unsure what needs doing as he’ll race it! When I took my stock R1 on track for the first time I had a long list of things that needed sorting to race! First on the list was the ABS, rear shock was far too soft,needed mapping badly to get rid of the on/ off throttle response,and a few other bits and bobs(brakes etc) so it’s interesting to hear you’re feedback, especially as you didn’t mention suspension! I know you’re a very experienced rider so I shall be following you’re feedback! Will you race it or is it mainly for the road/ odd trackday?
