First track day on the R done, and the shiny bits are still shiny.

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V4Al said:
Yeah I'm up in the NW suburbs of Chicago, so I'm lucky to have Blackhawk, Autobahn, and Road America all within 2hrs of me. I checked the schedules though and the last sessions this year are weekdays so sad trombones there.

PP wouldnt be tough and Ive been there a few times (only to spectate) and have some great memories there with my dad! Never been to NCM. It looks wild! Does it just have a bunch of different configurations?
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Heeey I'm in Chicago and ride at BHF, RA, and ACC too. I would consider taking the 101 class from Motovid next summer. I start every season with the 301 class. V4 is such a nice bike to ride on track! As you pick up paced you'll def want your suspension sorted. It's helped me feel more comfortable on the bike which has helped me be smooth and pick up pace. We should coordinate some days.
 
V4Al said:
So firstly, much appreciated on everyone's transportation tips. They got the bike there (Blackhawk Farms Raceway) and back, safe and sound. Maybe more importantly, I was able to keep it that way during my time on track which was a blast. Waiting for the pro's photos to be sent over.

1. Novice group obviously, and got passed by plenty of 600's and I think an SV.
2. I was able to pin it in 2nd gear coming onto the front straight twice. I hit a top speed of holyshit-miles-per-hour because I taped up the speedo based on other recommendations.
3. It seemed like I was really fighting to keep the bike leaned over with my inside leg but also my inside arm, pushing the bar down. I understand you don't want to increase throttle and lean angle at the same time, and I'm confident I was just maintaining throttle through the corners. And still she kept wanting to stand up.
4. I felt very safe on the bike though, understanding how much grip it had left and all the electronics in the background. I don't think I would have felt as safe on a $5k track bike. In hindsight, the argument that "I'd rather ball up a $5k bike than a $40k bike" doesn't hold a lot of water to me when it comes to track riding because FOR ME, going down may put me off of track riding forever regardless of bike. It's not like if I wrote off a $5k bike I'd be like "Oh well time to get another one." I guess one day we might find out. For now though, I'm trying to figure out how to bring my kiddo next next weekend but it might be Road America it looks like, which is daunting.

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@panibadboy I'm late to the conversation, but congratulations on doing your first track day, it is a big step.

Not sure if anyone else expressed this sentiment, but your V4R will be a much better weapon on Road America than Blackhawk. I ride a Panigale V2 and thought it was more than needed (or even useful) on Blackhawk. Enjoy!!
 
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mr inkredibul said:
Heeey I'm in Chicago and ride at BHF, RA, and ACC too. I would consider taking the 101 class from Motovid next summer. I start every season with the 301 class. V4 is such a nice bike to ride on track! As you pick up paced you'll def want your suspension sorted. It's helped me feel more comfortable on the bike which has helped me be smooth and pick up pace. We should coordinate some days.
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I'm in! Yeah the 101 class sounds like a good idea. Don't see 2025 schedule up yet though.
 
BTP42 said:
@panibadboy I'm late to the conversation, but congratulations on doing your first track day, it is a big step.

Not sure if anyone else expressed this sentiment, but your V4R will be a much better weapon on Road America than Blackhawk. I ride a Panigale V2 and thought it was more than needed (or even useful) on Blackhawk. Enjoy!!
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I was told this a few times at the track but with the common understanding that the limiting factor in enjoyment was the rider and not the length of the track!
 
Not gonna lie, some of the Laguna lap times I see posted here are seconds off of what we were doing on stock 2016 S1Ks with a chicane setup between 5 and 6. CSS was very helpful, as I'd imagine most competent schools are. Not saying it's the best, but calling it useless is pretty ridiculous.
 
Second track day done aaaaaaaaaand I'm shopping for a lower displacement bike. The R is staying and may get it's mirrors and registration back, but I don't feel like I'm learning any good track riding habits on it. At best, it's a 200hp supercomputing crutch that allows me to not look like a complete knob on track. It's fun but scary fun. Thinking that I can do some real learning on the smaller bike and then apply some of that to the R on a separate track day.

Wish Ducati made 400's 🫣
 
V4Al said:
Second track day done aaaaaaaaaand I'm shopping for a lower displacement bike. The R is staying and may get it's mirrors and registration back, but I don't feel like I'm learning any good track riding habits on it. At best, it's a 200hp supercomputing crutch that allows me to not look like a complete knob on track. It's fun but scary fun. Thinking that I can do some real learning on the smaller bike and then apply some of that to the R on a separate track day.

Wish Ducati made 400's 🫣
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Any liter bike at Blackhawk is a lot. Very difficult to get ahead of the bike. The 1000 and 600 fast laps are pretty close and a fast lightweight isn’t that far behind.
You going to Road America on Monday? That may give you a different view. Not that riding something you feel comfortably in control of isn’t a good idea.
 
bp_SFV4 said:
Book a day with Champ school and ride a R7.
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Still debating between YCRS and CSS for an "off-season" day, but yeah I like how I have the choice of smaller bikes with Yamaha's school.
JSR29 said:
Any liter bike at Blackhawk is a lot. Very difficult to get ahead of the bike. The 1000 and 600 fast laps are pretty close and a fast lightweight isn’t that far behind.
You going to Road America on Monday? That may give you a different view. Not that riding something you feel comfortably in control of isn’t a good idea.
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Nope no RA for me. I like how you put it, getting ahead of the bike. I always felt like my brain was a step or two behind what the bike was doing: I was always reaching turn-in points faster and slowing down more quickly than I had time to prepare for the next step.
 
SuperDomestique said:
Could always turn down the power to low mode
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100% face palm here. I talked about it and thought about it all the time before even the first track day, but never did. I guess it goes to show how overwhelmed I must have been for these first few track days. So much info to take in.
 
V4Al said:
100% face palm here. I talked about it and thought about it all the time before even the first track day, but never did. I guess it goes to show how overwhelmed I must have been for these first few track days. So much info to take in.
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Did my first few track days in low mode. I think it “only” gives you 160 hp. But it does calm things down a lot.
 
Lots of seat time and take trackday classes or schools to learn correct habits. My first trackday was on 2013 1199R and I got passed by a girl on her 250 Ninja. That was a little discouraging but I persevered.
 
SuperDuc29 said:
Lots of seat time and take trackday classes or schools to learn correct habits. My first trackday was on 2013 1199R and I got passed by a girl on her 250 Ninja. That was a little discouraging but I persevered.
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bro i feel that...my first couple weekends was the same for me too on the 1199! Hell, LAST YEAR, on my 1299 was running 2:35 at COTA and was super happy with that! got passed by a lady on 500ninja, 'round the outside! like clockwork...i'd pass on straights, she'd catch me on turns 13-18...overall we were running almost identical times.

Jag
 

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