1198 definitely. You will love it. The Panigale (imo) is very mass market, the 1198 isn't. What could you do to the 999 to get that power?
749r heads and a few other bits at Luigi Moto and and CJS in Bristol. To be honest, I can't afford either option, just drunken track day buzzing dreaming.
Paul is right. Silverstone can be frustrating if you don't possess the latest missile, however track-days are as much about the stopping as they are about the going. Like a one-legged man, every track day has some fat munter on a ZX10 with all the power and no skills.
Bloke who does my tyres is a very experienced track rider. His 675 Daytona runs a standard engine - apart from exhaust/mapping etc. There's a very fast rider on another standard Daytona who's going over ten seconds faster than him round Castle Combe. So he says that he won't mod the engine or upgrade the bike until he's matched that time. Why spend money on the bike when he clearly isn't getting the best out of it as it is? Admittedly the other guy is a very fast club racer but he shows what the bike is capable of so why would you spend money making yours faster when you're not using what its got now? He said he'd rather spend the money on track time and get himself up to speed before he worries about the bike. I'm no expert but if you're riding a track that suits the 999 (?), beating other 999s and knocking on the door of faster bikes but can't get past them, then yes you're ready for a new bike (I wouldn't uprate the 999, I sell it and get something else). If you're getting beaten by other 999s or you're riding track with 180 mph straights and wondering why 200 bhp bikes are spanking you, change tracks and work on getting the best out of the bike you've got. Then change it...
My bike isn't the quickest and I'm certainly not the quickest rider. The extra power can be useful getting by slower riders on more powerful bikes. I for one need to get bolder passing these boys on the brakes.
Go 16 mins in and you'll see my issue. Finally get past him @ 21mins around the outside of Luffield. Only things I remember coming past me yesterday were a couple of Panni's and a Desmosedici. This sums it up quite nicely, it's the final lap of the day.
Best thing for that (if tuition is out) is to invest a couple of days track riding in using the 'wrong' line into corners, i.e. Tight, and experimenting and getting used to what that feels like: braking harder at different points and how the bike behaves. IMHO worth it.
Seems quick enough to me, and faster than I can manage! Remember changing from an R6 to R1 a few years back. Monster power and acceleration on the litre bike compared to the 6. BUT, found myself going slower for about six months until able to use it. Problem was reaching corners at much higher speeds, scrubbing off too much speed and also if you grabbed a big handful of throttle on exit it just spun up at the back. Interesting, fun, but no quicker lol. The benefit of the lower power bike was much more speed in the corners, more useable. Suppose it depends what level your at.
Without being critical or commenting on your lines, you will get far more from just being faster than having more power, given your example above. Power means you can't get on the gas as early; you can't hold the gas open as long: and most importantly you arrive faster so brake earlier. Said as someone who took a 50hp bike around cadwell in 1'50 (race pace) dead, and then a 170hp one around in at best (track day) 1'45....
Go 16 mins in and you'll see my issue. Finally get past him @ 21mins around the outside of Luffield. Only things I remember coming past me yesterday were a couple of Panni's and a Desmosedici. This sums it up quite nicely, it's the final lap of the day. Please feel free to critique my lines, if I don't know what i'm doing wrong I won't get better. Offence will not be taken. I'm consistent at least, virtually all about 2:53.
I had the same issue yesterday on the straights, the more modern bikes would leave me, only frustrating if the same rider was slow around the corners. Personally I'm more interested in cornering and brakes and this where I have been spending the money, some extra power would be nice but not high on my list. Its all relative and there will always be someone quicker, whether its equipment or their skill, just enjoy what you have. Anyone can go fast down a straight, it's cornering that gives me a buzz and I have a long way to go before I can call myself an expert so don't need 70+ HP
doesnt matter how fast you think you are theres always someone faster!! the only way id tune my bike now is to make it more reliable and have the best brakes and suspension i can, than faster, having confidence in your machine in is key!! id rather have a bike i can depend on rather than a ballistic missile which i couldnt control in the bends or on the brakes ( bit like my 1198 really ).
Whenever Ive done a track day, and its nowhere nr as many as some of you guys, Ive always been more interested in the corners and I couldnt give two fucks about the straights and being overtaken. I like to get the corners right. Top end has never been my aim. Corner entry, mid corner speed and grunt out is where I get my kicks. Getting it spot on gives me a semi. Straights? Meh. Its not a race.
