Roebling Road - ST track Day Report

[Cidman84]

Yesterday, April 3rd, I did my first track day at Roebling Road near Savannah Georgia. So maybe some of you would like to hear about my impressions of using an ST for track duty. I have a 2005 ST3.

The event was provided by US Desmo and was well done and organized. There was only 1 red flag the entire day in the advanced group. Two or three yellows but nothing major. The guy in the red-flag situation went off the track and hurt his hip and leg, but hopefully will be okay and recover.

SUSPENSION SETTINGS as follows: compression damping 2 1/4 turns out from all the way in - Rebound damping 11 bumps or clicks out from all the way in - Shock preload 3 notches up from softest - The front forks are non- adjustable - just the proper sag for my weight (175 lbs). I found the suspension to be pretty stable and well planted. Next time, I may go up 1 notch on rear preload.

TIRES: I changed from pilot roads to pilot powers and I really like the powers better. They are very sticky and warm-up time is pretty quick. However, the the turn-in is much quicker than the pilot roads. You just don't have to work as hard to get leaned over on the powers.

Being my very first track day, I started out in the white group and the first session was very relaxed. We started out slow just to learn the track and progressively picked up speed behind a control rider.

In the second session, I rode with the white group again, but at your own pace. By the middle of the second session, I got my knee down a couple of times for the first time and it is amazing how fast, but yet still very much in control you go once you find the lines.

After lunch, I road 3 sessions in the green (middle group) and steadily but comfortably picked up the pace. And by the end of the day, I was able get my puck down for 5 or 6 seconds at a time. Wow, what a feeling and very stabilizing as well. Because once your puck is down, your right where you want to be, and I just stayed very neutral on the throttle through the rest of the turn.

Overall, the ST's are pretty decent on the track. I passed just as many as passed me in the green group. I was even able to pass a GXSR (probably a 600) at the end of the straight going into the first turn and I never saw him again. However, take your center stand off. I left mine on and I was scraping it on left hand turns, so I had to be careful going left. Right hand turns were not a problem. Also, the ST3 is good for about 136 or 137 mph. After that, you are pretty close to the rev limiter and running out of track at Roebling.

All in all, the best thing about a track day is that you really get to know the capabilities of yourself and your bike in a controlled enviroment and it was fun. Personally, I would never ride like that on the street.

[NCRick]

Wish I could have met you! I was riding in the White group with my tennis ball yellow 748 with my #148 on it. I was also out there on a friends 996 with a control rider vest on. I saw a guy railing around the track quite well on some kind of red ST, I wonder if it was you?

I was out playing with my friend who just got a new to him Suzuki 750 track bike (former team hammer)

What a nice day!

[Cidman84]

I was on a black ST3 with white tape, black leather pants and a red and white Dainese jacket.

In the second session (white), a yellow 748 and a control rider were the only riders that passed me when I was behind some lap traffic. That must have been you?

[NCRick]

The yellow 748 was likely my buddy Pico. He was going faster than I in the AM, I was working with my steering geometry and my friend on his first ever bike with clip-on bars. Pico is a perennial white group rider who is faster than 80% of the green group guys. My bike has the race numbers on it. Picos is just a stock colored yellow bike that is a good bit faster than my racy looking bike. His is a custom 853 and mine is a stock Ebay 748 motor. Pico is a great guy and he is so happy when I ride in that group as we spend most of the time play racing. I had nothing for him on that morning. That track is my nemesis anyhow.

Webman from Speedzilla was there in the red group. Those guys are FAST! they were leaving big smoky darkys exiting turn 8. I do ride the red group but just as fodder for those guys to pass!

[vduc]

You're making me jealous, Roebling Road is one of my favorite tracks. I started doing track days and racing there. Really miss it since moving to Texas nearly 2 1/2 years ago.

It's a nice flowing layout, always had fun there. Even in the rain when the sealer strips are slick as snoot. By any chance did they repave it?

[NCRick]

No repave yet, soon is the latest rumor. I like all the patches! The tar snakes got a bit slick in the heat of the afternoon.

We were there in the rain in October, it WAS rather unpredictable from a traction perspective.

The lack of run off makes me skeerd!

[vduc]

It's a whole different track in the rain. I took my all day race school in the pouring rain, so rain/wet track is second nature to me. On a 60HP 750SS or Aprilia RS250 it's fun, it would probably scare the ... out of me on my Aprilia RSV 1000.

If you want to be "skeerd" get pushed off T9 (? last turn going on to the straight) going 3 wide into it during a race. I was in the grass weaving around till nearly to the flagman. Learned an important lesson, don't leave the inside so open...

[Cidman84]

I have no other experience to judge by, but for me, Turn 9 at Roebling is crazy fast. By the end of the day, I would look down at my speedo coming onto the straight and I was at 105 mph. I'm guessing the first part of that turn is 85-90 mph.

I can't even imagine going off the pavement there????

[Cidman84]

BTW Rick, the fastbikephoto pictures are up and I noticed a few nice ones of you on your yellow 748. Your were wearing a white helmet, right? I'm on the black ST3 with white tape.

Are you going to go to Kershaw in May?

[NCRick]

White helmet, red and white leathers.

Yes to Kershaw! Also headed to VIR on Sunday. Hope to see you at Kershaw. We will have our hands full. I am bringing 20 of my Suzuki Bandit buddies for their first track day.