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Good report @Steven31371 I'm glad you got some reps in. I didn't hit this track day, but a buddy of mine posted this video. Check out some poor chap glancing off the inside curb of T9, around 0:30 in. For those that don't know, there are no good visual markers in this turn and its fast enough to amplify any position/direction errors. Too fast, offline, new geometry, or have a brain fart and it can bite you. As for tires, I don't think I've ever seen a fast guy there who didn't have a strange looking front tire---hot tear, geometry tear---whathave you. At this track, you're hard on the right side, dragging a knee for 1/3 of the lap, all day, and it's an abrasive track. Most people have a good base setup and Big Willow throws a monkey wrench into that, haha. I ran 37 PSI for an SC1 front last time out and only had slight front tearing by the end of the day.
 
RickD996 said:
You need to measure your ride height Steven!

A ride height tool is best, but two, fixed, reference points, will also do. 👌

You'd be surprised what big differences come, from very small adjustments.
Click to expand...

Steven this is the most relevant comment of the day. Take notes. Since you're a big guy you may want to try moving the cg down. Small changes can make big differences. When the set ups right you'll know because the bike will be easy to ride fast and won't wear you out as much.
 
All good advice thank you

It is actually set up well and easy to ride fast, but I made some small changes that messed it up, then put everything back to where it’s in it’s sweet spot after the 1st two sessions…
 
Steven31371 said:
All good advice thank you

It is actually set up well and easy to ride fast, but I made some small changes that messed it up, then put everything back to where it’s in it’s sweet spot after the 1st two sessions…
Click to expand...

It could be wise to measure the height in its current configuration, so that you can set it to the same height when you change sprockets etc. That way you’ll be able to tell the effects of just the gearing change.
 
Was at Big Willow for a coaching day, went backward on time but that’s okay because I was learning. RoadracerX is a brilliant line coach, was funny, we were in the fast group and taking a different line in Turn 8/9 and crossing people up frankly in an unsafe way, though we were trying to signal it and stay clear to be as safe as possible…but by mid day all the faster riders switched to RoadracerX’s line, which IS faster. He did a 1:29 flat on that line. Which I think was fastest lap on the day. Not bad considering he rarely goes to Big Willow.

The one negative was that the track just got repaved and I was very excited about that, but on turns 3 and 5 there were some places on the freshly repaved sections that were so rough they jogged your front tire sideways if you hit them. I called Willow Springs about it today and they said they knew about it and the paving company was coming out 1st week of October to fix it and apologized in a very nice way for the track condition, they seem to be on top of trying to get Big Willow set up right.

In other news, my mega build bike is probably going up for sale soon, new project in mind.

As a relatively new rider whose a bit old to be learning to track ride, I’ve finally come to the conclusion that this bike is hurting my progress more than helping it. It turns like riding on a fly’s back, is INSANELY fast, and grips far beyond my ability, but it’s also a very savage bike…all of which makes it fun as hell and fast as hell, but also harder to learn on. I’ve kinda hit a plateau on it.

So I think I’m going to sell it, let somebody faster than me ride it faster than me, and I’ll do the whole next season on a Kramer or an 8C RC. Then look for a new V4 to play with in 2025.
 
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On another note, tire wear is night and day different on the new track surface. 1st pic new surface, 2nd pic old surface.
 

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Steven31371 said:
Was at Big Willow for a coaching day, went backward on time but that’s okay because I was learning. RoadracerX is a brilliant line coach, was funny, we were in the fast group and taking a different line in Turn 8/9 and crossing people up frankly in an unsafe way, though we were trying to signal it and stay clear to be as safe as possible…but by mid day all the faster riders switched to RoadracerX’s line, which IS faster. He did a 1:29 flat on that line. Which I think was fastest lap on the day. Not bad considering he rarely goes to Big Willow.

The one negative was that the track just got repaved and I was very excited about that, but on turns 3 and 5 there were some places on the freshly repaved sections that were so rough they jogged your front tire sideways if you hit them. I called Willow Springs about it today and they said they knew about it and the paving company was coming out 1st week of October to fix it and apologized in a very nice way for the track condition, they seem to be on top of trying to get Big Willow set up right.

In other news, my mega build bike is probably going up for sale soon, new project in mind.

As a relatively new rider whose a bit old to be learning to track ride, I’ve finally come to the conclusion that this bike is hurting my progress more than helping it. It turns like riding on a fly’s back, is INSANELY fast, and grips far beyond my ability, but it’s also a very savage bike…all of which makes it fun as hell and fast as hell, but also harder to learn on. I’ve kinda hit a plateau on it.

So I think I’m going to sell it, let somebody faster than me ride it faster than me, and I’ll do the whole next season on a Kramer or an 8C RC. Then look for a new V4 to play with in 2025.
Click to expand...

Buy an old 750 Gxr. Has HP but no torque, forces you to learn to carry speed. And when you toss it away cheap to fix.
 
bp_SFV4 said:
Sad because you didn't type Aprilia RSV4 XTrenta.
Click to expand...

It’s on my radar, but if I’m going to spend all next year on a different bike I kinda want to wait and see what comes out next year. RoadRacerX ordered an XTrenta, so I’m kinda interested in his thoughts on the bike when it’s in hand.

Maybe the 2025 Ducati V4R will have that new trick gearbox
 
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Steven31371 said:
Was at Big Willow for a coaching day, went backward on time but that’s okay because I was learning. RoadracerX is a brilliant line coach, was funny, we were in the fast group and taking a different line in Turn 8/9 and crossing people up frankly in an unsafe way, though we were trying to signal it and stay clear to be as safe as possible…but by mid day all the faster riders switched to RoadracerX’s line, which IS faster. He did a 1:29 flat on that line. Which I think was fastest lap on the day. Not bad considering he rarely goes to Big Willow.

The one negative was that the track just got repaved and I was very excited about that, but on turns 3 and 5 there were some places on the freshly repaved sections that were so rough they jogged your front tire sideways if you hit them. I called Willow Springs about it today and they said they knew about it and the paving company was coming out 1st week of October to fix it and apologized in a very nice way for the track condition, they seem to be on top of trying to get Big Willow set up right.

In other news, my mega build bike is probably going up for sale soon, new project in mind.

As a relatively new rider whose a bit old to be learning to track ride, I’ve finally come to the conclusion that this bike is hurting my progress more than helping it. It turns like riding on a fly’s back, is INSANELY fast, and grips far beyond my ability, but it’s also a very savage bike…all of which makes it fun as hell and fast as hell, but also harder to learn on. I’ve kinda hit a plateau on it.

So I think I’m going to sell it, let somebody faster than me ride it faster than me, and I’ll do the whole next season on a Kramer or an 8C RC. Then look for a new V4 to play with in 2025.
Click to expand...

It's a good strategy. I wouldn't mind doing the same.
One of the things holding me back is that the KTM and Kramer are both very special, low volume bikes. Clearly, one would take off all the exotic carbon bodywork and store it (shame, but sensible), but in the event of a crash or even a mechanical/electronic failure, the prospect of waiting on parts and being charged exorbitant prices (with no used parts market) scares me.
Fair, or am I being paranoid? Or do the benefits justify the risk?
 
cl955 said:
It's a good strategy. I wouldn't mind doing the same.
One of the things holding me back is that the KTM and Kramer are both very special, low volume bikes. Clearly, one would take off all the exotic carbon bodywork and store it (shame, but sensible), but in the event of a crash or even a mechanical/electronic failure, the prospect of waiting on parts and being charged exorbitant prices (with no used parts market) scares me.
Fair, or am I being paranoid? Or do the benefits justify the risk?
Click to expand...

They harden those bikes for track use REALLY well out of the box, they come with some spares as I understand it, and the parts that cost more are so track hardened that you’d have to have a catastrophic high side to really cost a bundle to make ready to ride again.
 
baggerman said:
Buy a bike with no electronics. You'll learn faster when your mistakes aren't being moderated by AI.
Click to expand...

This. I am a humble rookie and started way too late for the kind of level I deeply want to reach. BUT I always ride with ALL assistance off. Granted I am far away from top-speed/crazy-lean category but if I ever get there I want to do it “clean” and “pure”. If it is not possible … fine. In fact I will gladly trade my ‘21 v4 with a ‘18 V4 if I find a good/clean deal.
 
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