Setting up for first track day

Hope everyone is off to a good new year!

I am getting ready for my first track day on my PV4 next month and trying to setup the bike for myself.

I adjusted foot controls to a good comfortable spot wearing track boots. After that, I lowered the brake and clutch master cylinders to make it easier to get to the levers with racing gloves (had to remove the guide pins on the handle bar).

I also changed the OEM clip on angle, but I’m not sure if it’s recommended or not. I opened the angle a bit making the bars a bit more straight. What are the pros and cons of opening/closing the angle of the handle bars? Also, is it safe that I changed the angle by lowering the clip one to avoid the guides? (photo below)

I'd say you want the bar angle to be comfortable when you're leaning over with you arm bent and you have an ice cream cone grip on the bar. Make sure you can turn from stop to stop and not hit the fairings or bind up any cables or hydraulic lines. Posistion of the bars relative to the fork, in-front of or at the mid-point can effect how the steering feels, but I haven't experimented with this.

Loose the Rizoma mirrors though, don't just tape them. Another user here had a drop and it transferred enough energy to break the front fairing stay. The OEM mirrors are designed to snap before that can happen.

Thanks for the reference on the bar angle and great advice on the mirrors, I hadn’t thought of that!

I did the same thing with my bars, just be mindful that the damper is connected to the right bar. You don't want to bottom the damper out using it as a steering stop.

Forewarned said:

I did the same thing with my bars, just be mindful that the damper is connected to the right bar. You don't want to bottom the damper out using it as a steering stop.

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Thanks, I did notice that. I still have about 1/4 inch left before it hits the eyelet.

Bars forward indicate weight forward, are you tall? Good to make the effort and adjust the riding position, but the next question is have you set the sag for your weight?
Also if you are new to track riding see how you go in sport mode, its ok up to a moderate pace. But if you find its too soft switch to the race B map. Its very easy to get lost in the setup maze but the stock maps are fine until you are really fast. Other than that tire pressure is the single most important adjustment as these bikes eat tires through cold tear like you wouldn't believe

DV4 said:

Bars forward indicate weight forward, are you tall? Good to make the effort and adjust the riding position, but the next question is have you set the sag for your weight?
Also if you are new to track riding see how you go in sport mode, its ok up to a moderate pace. But if you find its too soft switch to the race B map. Its very easy to get lost in the setup maze but the stock maps are fine until you are really fast. Other than that tire pressure is the single most important adjustment as these bikes eat tires through cold tear like you wouldn't believe

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Thanks @DV4.

I am 6'1' (185cm) bars a bit forward felt a more natural to my wrist angle. My bike is a base V4 and I will be installing an ohlins rear shock soon and getting it setup correctly for my weight etc. If the shock does not arrive before the track day, I planned to get the stock suspension setup by the local track suspension guy the day of.

Regarding the map, I have the Deussen tune, and I plan on riding in sport with the engine low or med at most for my first day. I am not new to track days but haven't ridden on track in 10+ years.

beanz690 said:

I also changed the OEM clip on angle, but I’m not sure if it’s recommended or not. I opened the angle a bit making the bars a bit more straight.

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if you are tall, they need to be opened up full way out

enjoy the trackday, bars's angle will be the last thing you think about on that day

panibadboy said:

if you are tall, they need to be opened up full way out

enjoy the trackday, bars's angle will be the last thing you think about on that day

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Lol I bet. What triggered all this was sitting on the bike with my track gear on and I noticed that with boots and gloves I had a hard time changing gears and reaching the brakes without hitting the levers. So I started adjusting everything to make it feel more natural for my body. I have to go out and ride to confirm, but so far everything feels much better now.

beanz690 said:

Lol I bet. What triggered all this was sitting on the bike with my track gear on and I noticed that with boots and gloves I had a hard time changing gears and reaching the brakes without hitting the levers. So I started adjusting everything to make it feel more natural for my body. I have to go out and ride to confirm, but so far everything feels much better now.

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I think ALL of us here can relate to first track day excitement dude! I wish you all the best, and when you are done, come back here and share what you learned and loved my man!

Jag

Forewarned said:

I did the same thing with my bars, just be mindful that the damper is connected to the right bar. You don't want to bottom the damper out using it as a steering stop.

Click to expand...

I take back what I said... Yesterday I tried locking the steering column, but it would not lock because the forks were not able to turn enough to clear the lock. The steering damper was indeed acting as the steering stop although it looked like it has a bit more travel it was already at the max.

beanz690 said:

I take back what I said... Yesterday I tried locking the steering column, but it would not lock because the forks were not able to turn enough to clear the lock. The steering damper was indeed acting as the steering stop although it looked like it has a bit more travel it was already at the max.

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You have to get a steering damper support bracket to solve that problem. They're around $75.