Finally got the new bike ready for track. Most this weekend for 3 days and then Brno a couple of weeks later for 3 days. 6 other 3-day events through the year to look forward to. I’m going to try V02 slicks and have them on the mag wheels ready to go but I’ll probably just use the SP tyres on OEM wheels for the first day. It’s intensive tuition - all day every day - and they usually want you to ride at 80-90% so you can concentrate on technique. I’ll try the slicks if the instructor reckons I’ll be ok on them. The garage needs a tidy up but that can wait. I tried to fit Extreme Components 15mm clip-ons but there wasn’t enough slack on the OEM brake lines. I’ll order some with more offset and hopefully they will be ok. I want them a bit wider and I’ve also got Jetprime switches and QA throttle to go on, along with a CNC 19x18 master cylinder that I want to try based on many recommendations (if it’s no good then it will be perfect on the build I’m doing on my SportClassic Monoposto.
Just finished a great weekend at Most. It’s such a fun circuit. First time on track with the R and I’m so glad I got it. I had checked the coolant (as the dealer didn’t bother when they did the first service) and set it to the low marker. Three days on track and it’s still exactly on the low marker. 8 seconds better than the first time I went to Most but I don’t see any problem getting a few more seconds off that with a clear track and I understand where to improve further and how to do it - all I have to do is actually do it, but I’m happy with small steps. I feel like I’m starting to make progress in terms of technique and the last session was great fun. No dramas or issues and no scary moments. It feels like there’s plenty of time to come off the laps before I’ll start to be pushing past my comfort zone, but I’m happy to make consistent small steps to let me focus on technique rather than pushing too hard before my technique is good enough. First time on slicks as well and I went with V02. Really glad I tried them and I won’t be going back. If any tyre whisperers (with actual experience) want to read the tyre wear then feel free. I don’t think it was too bad. It looked smoother all over the tyre before the last session, where I got held up in the corners during the last couple of laps or so. Absolutely loving this bike and being on track. Brno in a couple of weeks.
Fitted Spider clip-ons (42mm offset as less didn’t work with OEM lines), steering damper support, grips and Jetprime QA throttle and switches. I’ve used the clip-ons with the OEM upper triple - a few mm lower due to the locating lug but I don’t think that will matter. If I can find a good upper triple that fits then I’ll get it. The V4R (and SP/SP2) have a shorter ring nut than the rest of the V4 models so most of the ones I’ve seen advertised will not fit correctly. Next to fit is the Brembo 19x18 CNC brake master cylinder. It will be interesting to see how it feels. I’m told it’s great by the majority of people I have discussed this with. OEM is 16x21 and it felt a bit soft and vague on track. It obviously gets the bike stopped but I’m interested to try something else. If this is no good then it can go on my SportClassic and I’ll try something else. 3 days at Brno the weekend after this one and the following weekend I’ll have 3 days back at Most. Can’t wait!
The 19x18 MC worked fine and I liked the firm feel, but I fitted a 17 RCS instead to get more modulation and prefer it to the OEM. Another weekend at Most since my previous post and I’ve managed to get below two minutes. I think I could easily quite a few seconds of that by not coasting so much as I approach my braking marker and getting onto maintenance throttle sooner. I’ve also found that I now need to be consciously and positively steering to turn the bike quicker as I start to get a bit faster. I absolutely love this bike. So glad I got it. I ordered Pierobon stands and rear subframe and they should arrive soon. No logical reason for doing so… I’m back at Brno in a couple of weeks with No Limits. If I can transfer the same improvements that I’ve made at Most then I should hopefully get into the mid 2:20s. It’s a very different track though.
I haven’t even seen if for about eight months… I should probably check that it still starts… No room in the garage with the bikes.
Well I didn’t get below 2:30 at Brno - 2:31. Frustrating as I expected to make the same progress as I did at Most. I’ve got three days back there this weekend and again a couple of weeks later and I’ll be getting plenty of tuition. Hopefully things will start to come together. Pierobon rear subframe fitted. I like the look and it’s nice to see more of the engine. The new AiM ECU-L data logger has been installed - basically like a Solo 2 DL without the screen. It fits very neatly into the tail unit. I used a roof-mount GPS and incorporated it into the cover. Easy to access, aside from the key being a pain to get into the lock in the lower tail unit due to the Akrapovic… I’ve got nearly 2,600km on the bike now, with the first 950km being on road and the rest on track. I guess I should be doing an oil change. Maybe after this track weekend. I need to clean the brakes as well and I should do this before this track weekend. At the previous track weekend I tried Race A (usually I use Race B). I had a bit of a rear wheel slide coming out of a turn - felt huge so probably several mm… I think Race A gives full power but I also think the power is restricted in first, perhaps different throttle mapping? I’m not really sure if the slide had anything to do with using Race A or it was the tyre, heavy-handed on the throttle, etc. Brno has a few little bumps as well. I need to have a look through the settings later and establish the exact differences between Race A and Race B. I’ve seen fast riders using both modes. I’m loving this bike. For some reason I’m more attached to it than I am to the SP2, which I really should get around to making an effort to sell as it’s not really needed.
