Back in the shop

ther is no DSSA for v4, that was for twins

Steven31371 said:

They really don’t need to because the core of their setup is the trellis frame, which you don’t need on a V4 because the engine is the frame. They already sell the subframes and swingarms for the V4’s. And you can source a standard WSBK tank or an OEM tank and all the other components to build out the bike.

So you really don’t need a ‘kit’ from them, just the subframes and swingarm, the latter they have both extended SSSA’s and DSSWA, for the V4 already, though it would be nice if they just made a turnkey complete kit.

I think the way to go with them to essentially make an over powered Kramer is to do their 1299 or 1199 engines kit with the gas tank and electronics sorted etc. That would be a hell of a bike, nearly the lightness and agility and precision of a Kramer, with way more power.

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I would gamble that a stock 22+ PV4 will be easier to ride than an X85R. Your current bike is difficult to ride because it’s been modded to death. My 22 PV4 is probably the easiest bike I’ve ever ridden 600 or 1000

at speed on track a liter bike will always be more physical effort to ride then a bike with 50+ hp less

It’s not the physicality of my bike, I’ve actually made it easy to ride from that standpoint, and I’ve gotten into pretty good shape…with all the rotational mass reduction and geometry changes etc. it’s not difficult physically to ride.

The problem is twofold:

1. It’s so absurdly fast that I am overwhelmed on it all the time, that’s also what I LOVE about it because it makes it fun. It changes direction better than any bike I’ve ever riden, it pulls harder than any bike I’ve ever riden, it brakes harder than any bike I’ve ever riden, and grips harder than any bike I’ve ever riden. But all this conspires together to make it so that it’s so fast that my inexperienced ass can’t muster up the balls to ride it at its limits or anywhere near that. Because I didn’t progress to this bike, I jumped right in.

2. A simple low side on this bike would cost 6 to 10k to repair lol, and no matter how much I ignore that it’s there.

The result is that coming into a braking zone the speed then deceleration is so strong that I’m just holding on and not breaking down corner entry, line, roll speed, and lean angle. At mid corner I’m rolling at speeds on the low end of A group but leaning less, not utilizing the whole tire. On corner exit acceleration is so hard that I don’t get on the gas early and hard enough.

Bottom line, I want to get faster, much faster, but this bike is WAY too much sensory input to do that. As a novice rider I didn’t understand that, as an intermediate rider I do now.

It is set up really well so I could just keep it, switch to a roller bike that’s dialed down enough to work on form and skill, and I may just do that, I’m not holding my breath that the bike will sell for a price I’m willing to sell it at in this market.

But I’m also ready for some new toy to work on if I’m honest.

The Kramer/RC 8 looks like it's a smaller bike... being a larger lad don't you think that will be a hinderance?

timwu12 said:

The Kramer/RC 8 looks like it's a smaller bike... being a larger lad don't you think that will be a hinderance?

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Nah, I’ve sat on one, feels fine, you don’t really know until you have a bike on track how it’s going to feel on track, but I felt pretty good sitting on it.

Now I’m leaning toward keeping my current bike, and getting a Kramer Evo2 R though, something the opposite of my bike but that will still turn as good as my bike.

Steven31371 said:

Nah, I’ve sat on one, feels fine, you don’t really know until you have a bike on track how it’s going to feel on track, but I felt pretty good sitting on it.

Now I’m leaning toward keeping my current bike, and getting a Kramer Evo2 R though, something the opposite of my bike but that will still turn as good as my bike.

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Thank you!

Steven31371 said:

Nah, I’ve sat on one, feels fine, you don’t really know until you have a bike on track how it’s going to feel on track, but I felt pretty good sitting on it.

Now I’m leaning toward keeping my current bike, and getting a Kramer Evo2 R though, something the opposite of my bike but that will still turn as good as my bike.

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That's the ideal solution.

I was surprised how roomy the Kramer GP2 RR is - everything felt like it was in exactly the right place. It's a pretty cool bit of kit.

Get yourself one and then make me jealous by telling me how awesome it is.

Made a few adjustments on the bike.

Went back to the VultureBike tank extender, and raised the footpegs, I can pinch the tank a bit better that way, had to adjust the linked on the shifter to raise the shifter peg up to accommodate the higher footpegs.

Also got around to putting on the Kraatech steering damper bracket. Very easy to do and adds piece of mind that I’m not gunna brake the steering damper loose from the frame if I pay the bike down.

I also changed the IMA triple tree eccentrics back to the stock 30mm offset from the 26mm where I had it.

The IMA triple tree was one of the 1st mods I did on the bike, before I did the Pierobon extended swingarm and the Superleggera wings. The bike just felt unstable in the front end and I was hoping that the additional offset would stabilize it a bit, and it did ‘somewhat’.

Later I added the swingarm. I think the smaller offset combined with the longer swingarm was too much, also those superlegerra wings actually made the biggest difference to front end stability.

Took the bike out for some canyons runs and it does seem to flow better through back to back corners with the 30mm versus 26mm offset, but I want really know until I’m back at track in couple weeks how she feels at speed.

I also moved the bottom wings into the high downforce position, because my next track day is at Big Willow at Willow Springs, which is counter intuitive for that high speed track, but nearly the entire lap you are into downforce speeds on long sweepers, and the scariest part of that track a wheelie trap at lean on turn 6…you are going over a rise at lean at close to 100 mph, the wings actually do help to keep the front end down there.

Sounds like you went full circle haha

spooky said:

He passed me into a bend and buggered off out of sight down the back straight on his back wheel with a passenger on the back... He makes it look effortless.

One of the instructors told me he rode pillion with Troy at a track and when he checked the bike after to look at the stats he'd done 58 degrees of lean angle...

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I was on the pillion with him on Mugello, man that’s an experience . One lap wheelie, one lap sliding, one lap fast! Totally in control, 2.06 with me on the back on a standard S1000rr.

shifter still looks very low, very far from your foot peg

KarlKani said:

shifter still looks very low, very far from your foot peg

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Took that pick before adjusting the linkage and moving slightly up

As for distance, I wear a size 12 US boot lol

I read the whole thread. Wow!

@Steven31371 about your next bike -- I am lighter than you, 160 lbs dressed up and with a latte in my tummy, and my V2 feels just right. I rarely ride track, and haven't taken the V2 to track yet, but have a feeling it will be right at home. With Akrapovic slip on and a Deussen tune, it's very lively, although doesn't rev as high. If you are considering a V2 I'd love to share more of my observations.

I had a Tuono before, and found to be an excellent track bike. Easier ergos, excellent handling, and the harder you push it the better it goes. Oddly, the Tuono was a better track bike whereas the S1000RRs (I had 2017 and 2020) were better street bikes. The Tuono (at least the 2018 I had) was easily tunable. The cat was in the can so a sub-$1k for a full system-equivalent.

SuperDomestique said:

Sounds like you went full circle haha

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Pretty much lol

Adjusted the shifter arm again today, happy with where the footpegs and shifter location are now.

The big news is the my Discacciati Index finger brake came today. So I took off the IMA thumb brake and replaced it with the Index finger brake. Very easy job because I had all the plumbing ran from the IMA setup and was able to move a few things around to get everything to fit up. Not totally happy with the tube running to the reservoirs but it’s functional for now until I get some more Tygon tubing that I can cut into longer pieces and route things a bit better.

I kept the second IMA rear master cylinder mounted near the right footpeg and the Discacciati MC at the handlebar works well with it. Happy about that, saved several hundred bucks and a lot of extra work.

You’ve fitted it above the clutch lever?

spooky said:

You’ve fitted it above the clutch lever?

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Yes, just sitting on the bike it felt good using both leavers that way, tomorrow I’ll test ride it with gloves on and see

Ride safe Steven, looking forward to your analysis as always.

Scooter brake setup the clutch is always above the brake