Some track day prep questions

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Feeling the same with my set up. There seems to be a plateau with the V4 if they’re not set up to one’s liking. Double check your fork height and might be worth looking into dropping the forks for easier turn in. That’s where I’m headed. Won’t be able to test it until mid-Sept…

Might also be worth A-B testing your R to the SP2. While the R might feel more rapid, you actually might be faster on the SP2 just due to the more relaxed engine and easier to adjust damping. EC2 can let you dial out brake support to get more into the travel without adjusting preload so the bike turns better while trail braking.
 
I seem to have hit a mental block.

Working on body position means I’ve gone from using 54° of lean to anywhere between 40 and 44° of lean.

Unfortunately, I seem to have a bit of an issue using the large amount of available lean that I have gained. I’m guessing that I’m not feeling secure on the bike for some reason. It’s not so bad on fast corners but on slow corners I’m having problems, going slower and I feel myself holding onto the bars, which is a really bad idea. It basically feels like I’m scared to lean the bike over even though I am leaning it over so much less…

It’s probably inaccurate to say I’m scared of leaning the bike because I know what it’s capable of and I have leaned over a lot more. Probably more to do with leaning myself over, if that makes sense.

I need to stick my knee out more – getting that down again would give me a point of reference and probably instill some confidence. Keeping my vision forward is probably another thing. My technique and body position have improved significantly and yet I seem to have lost confidence in the turns.

It’s more noticeable at Most than at Brno. Most is far more technical, with quite a lot of relatively slow and tight turns.

Preet much all in my head and infuriating.
 
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If you can, rent a pitbike and practice. If not an option, take one on one tuition.

It's not a mental block per-se, just need to practice or someone to show what's possible at speed
 
I'm confused. Why would changing body position cause a loss of ten degrees? Were you pushing the bike underneath you and that accounts for the loss as you move your body further inside? The really important thing is the impact in lap time. If you're going about the same then you've gained 10 degrees of lean angle to be used further. Which is a really good thing. It's a little weird getting used to being way off the inside. Your brain needs to readjust that's all. More seat time.
 
panibadboy said:
If you can, rent a pitbike and practice. If not an option, take one on one tuition.

It's not a mental block per-se, just need to practice or someone to show what's possible at speed
Click to expand...
That’s something I was considering for this winter. There is a local indoor pit bike place. As you say, it’s probably just a question of time. I’m still very new to this.

The reason I described it as a mental block is because I absolutely know that it’s not a problem, but I’m still fighting it
 
baggerman said:
I'm confused. Why would changing body position cause a loss of ten degrees? Were you pushing the bike underneath you and that accounts for the loss as you move your body further inside? The really important thing is the impact in lap time. If you're going about the same then you've gained 10 degrees of lean angle to be used further. Which is a really good thing. It's a little weird getting used to being way off the inside. Your brain needs to readjust that's all. More seat time.
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No, I’ve gained lean angle. A lot. When I was a bit more off the bike, I improved lap time. Now I am more off the bike with less lean angle I am losing some time, which is frustrating. Logically, I should be confident in carrying far more entry speed and maintaining more momentum because of how much more lean angle is available. But that’s not happening.

As you say, being more off the bike probably feels weird and it’s just a question of repetition and getting used to it, but it frustrates me logically because there is no reason for me to feel that way when I know what a huge safety margin I have.

I’m braking later and it feels absolutely fine. The speed on straights or sweeping bends doesn’t worry me either.

Being slow through the turns obviously robs me of momentum but the bike is quick so I can accelerate hard to the next turn, which isn’t necessarily a good thing – on the first day at track this weekend someone decided to try and overtake me out of a turn and hit me. A bit of contact on the track made me a bit nervous though - body to body contact is a bit disconcerting. His instructor apologised and I managed it.
 
Oh, and I’ve learned two more things this weekend. Firstly, don’t forget to unplug your tire warmer… Secondly, it seems like I can only buy a pair and not just replace the front one. Idiot.

Fortunately, a lovely chap at the track has loaned me a front tire warmer. It’s an expensive mistake.
 
spooky said:
Oh, and I’ve learned two more things this weekend. Firstly, don’t forget to unplug your tire warmer… Secondly, it seems like I can only buy a pair and not just replace the front one. Idiot.

Fortunately, a lovely chap at the track has loaned me a front tire warmer. It’s an expensive mistake.
Click to expand...

Capit sells singles of all of their warmers.

miKaniK moTo

mikanikmoto.com mikanikmoto.com
 
bp_SFV4 said:
Good reason not to go TT if they don't sell singles as replacements. Maybe they can repair it.
Click to expand...

I’ll have to find out. Obviously at the track at the moment and it’s the weekend. Not the first dumb thing I’ve done - won’t be the last. 🤣

The warmers are great though - my fault and nothing to do with the product.
 
SuperDomestique said:
Also check your tire roll out (circumference) and calculate trail and adjust accordingly. Especially if you’re running slicks and different brand to stock. Can’t hurt.
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Hey do you have stock bar width? I don't have a single bike with the stock bars. Minimum 1 inch wider (total) to about 2. And I'm 5'10'', 180 pounds and not particularly feeble. Anyway may not just be trail you should change. Angle of the bars relative to the head centerline changes leverage also. Just a thought.
 
I think he has problems reaching the bars as-is. Wider may not help. Moving them back, offset so they're in the middle of the forks instead of in-front may, which would also change steering feeling.
 
baggerman said:
Hey do you have stock bar width? I don't have a single bike with the stock bars. Minimum 1 inch wider (total) to about 2. And I'm 5'10'', 180 pounds and not particularly feeble. Anyway may not just be trail you should change. Angle of the bars relative to the head centerline changes leverage also. Just a thought.
Click to expand...

I actually don’t have an issue w bar width/angle/offset. Bautista, Martin, etc all run stock bars from the photos I’ve looked at. In order to get better ergos, I’m going w raising the bars like how Honda did w the new Fireblade with my thinner top plate. Will gain 10 mm with it. The stock angle is good for holding the bars properly like a screwdriver. Less angle would cause you to get your elbows out even more. Less offset also doesn’t necessarily mean they are closer as you’ll have to run them w less angle and due to rake basically make it a wash. I test fit some 15 mm offset bars and they were maybe 1-2 mm higher. Plus you have to futz around w new lines….
 
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