Track Day - Ducati.ms

NYSport · Oct 6th, 2009, 8:19 am

My friend and I went to NJMP Lightening course yesterday (Absolute ran the event, nice job). We were the only non-sport bike guys there, although quite a few Ducatis were present. Well the Hyper performed better than I anticipated. After the first session I decided to bring the bike to a suspension guy and have him measure the sag etc. The first thing he did was suggest that I take some slack out of the throttle, HUGE difference

Then he added a little pre-load both front and back, again HUGE difference. The front was moving around in some of the corners, not too much but enough to notice. After the adjustments it seemed like a completely different bike, much more solid, it inspired confidence. It didn't notice too much change in the rear-end but then I'm not too good at sensing what is wrong just that something is wrong.

The Pirelli guy stopped by our pit area and looked at my rear tire, he suggested a little more dampening after assessing the wear pattern on the edge of the tire. After the next session the wear pattern was very different, it changed from areas of more and less wear to much more even wear. Again nothing that I felt but none the less an improvement. BTW, look for a replacement for the Corsa lll

The quick right-left combo was where we really excelled. Man that bike turns fast

. Anyway by the end of the day the Hyper was dialed-in much better than when I started ( I guess that's the point of this post).

The only difficult part of riding the Hyper on the track was during braking. Man those brakes are good but regardless of how hard I held on with my knees I couldn't stop from sliding up the tank. And trying to turn left on an off-camber/late apex turn when you are unsettled is not a good feeling. I compromised by slowing sooner and with more gradual brake pressure. I never touched the rear brake during the day.

I did take the advise that I read here to use 30/30 tire pressure and it seemed to work fine. After the first session it took a reading and it was 34/35. Not too sure how accurate that is because I waited a few minutes before checking the pressure. Next event I'll rent tire warmers, there was a noticeable difference in grip after the first lap or two. (BTW Happy Birthday Charlie).

ADHD · Oct 6th, 2009, 8:43 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYSport

My friend and I went to NJMP Lightening course yesterday (Absolute ran the event, nice job). We were the only non-sport bike guys there, although quite a few Ducatis were present. Well the Hyper performed better than I anticipated. After the first session I decided to bring the bike to a suspension guy and have him measure the sag etc. The first thing he did was suggest that I take some slack out of the throttle, HUGE difference

Then he added a little pre-load both front and back, again HUGE difference. The front was moving around in some of the corners, not too much but enough to notice. After the adjustments it seemed like a completely different bike, much more solid, it inspired confidence. It didn't notice too much change in the rear-end but then I'm not too good at sensing what is wrong just that something is wrong.

The Pirelli guy stopped by our pit area and looked at my rear tire, he suggested a little more dampening after assessing the wear pattern on the edge of the tire. After the next session the wear pattern was very different, it changed from areas of more and less wear to much more even wear. Again nothing that I felt but none the less an improvement. BTW, look for a replacement for the Corsa lll

The quick right-left combo was where we really excelled. Man that bike turns fast

. Anyway by the end of the day the Hyper was dialed-in much better than when I started ( I guess that's the point of this post).

The only difficult part of riding the Hyper on the track was during braking. Man those brakes are good but regardless of how hard I held on with my knees I couldn't stop from sliding up the tank. And trying to turn left on an off-camber/late apex turn when you are unsettled is not a good feeling. I compromised by slowing sooner and with more gradual brake pressure. I never touched the rear brake during the day.

I did take the advise that I read here to use 30/30 tire pressure and it seemed to work fine. After the first session it took a reading and it was 34/35. Not too sure how accurate that is because I waited a few minutes before checking the pressure. Next event I'll rent tire warmers, there was a noticeable difference in grip after the first lap or two. (BTW Happy Birthday Charlie).

Funny, I was at Thunderbolt yesterday with Tony's Track Days. Nate Kern was there with the new BMW S1000RR. Very interesting motorcycle. A fast guy told me to use 29/29 cold. The Pirelli guy said that the successor to the DCIII should be ready for purchase by the end of the year. Hopefully, It's cheaper than the outgoing model!

I bought the Hyper and my RC51 but rode the RC51 all day. As for sliding, try Tech Spec: http://www.techspec-usa.com/overview.html I have it on my RC and Hyper.

froggert · Oct 6th, 2009, 9:26 am

i think i was pitted a few spots down from you with my gold 1098. the track surface was definitely cold early in the morning. what group were you in?

freezer16801 · Oct 6th, 2009, 10:50 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by froggert

i think i was pitted a few spots down from you with my gold 1098. the track surface was definitely cold early in the morning. what group were you in?

I tried to do this day, but it was full for absolute. I was on the waiting list, but never got the opening. I ended up running pocono the day before instead.

It sounds like the wear pattern on the rear was rebound wear. Also, it sounds like you were gaining too much pressure. If you were gaining 5 lbs. a few minutes after reaching the paddock, you were likely over 8 while on the track. You will start to see similar tire degredation as the rebound wear that you saw. Basically, the tire will start to overheat and melt with too little air.

The DCIII is a great tire. I don't know why you'd want a replacement. I've tried many others and always come back to them. I use them in the advanced class on my track bike and then take them off to run on the hyper for the street.

ADHD · Oct 6th, 2009, 10:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by froggert

i think i was pitted a few spots down from you with my gold 1098. the track surface was definitely cold early in the morning. what group were you in?

Me or NYSport? If me, I was in yellow. I should have moved to blue when Tony asked me to. Oh well, I still had a blast!

ADHD · Oct 6th, 2009, 11:02 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by freezer16801

The DCIII is a great tire. I don't know why you'd want a replacement. I've tried many others and always come back to them. I use them in the advanced class on my track bike and then take them off to run on the hyper for the street.

Freezer, I think he means Pirelli is introducing a successor to the DCIII tire- that's what the Pirelli tire rep told us. And I agree, the DCIII rock!

Are you coming to Lightning this weekend?

ADHD · Oct 6th, 2009, 11:11 am

Freezer, what are good pressures for DCIII? I've seen/read anything from 32f/34r cold to 29f/29r cold.

froggert · Oct 6th, 2009, 11:34 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADHD

Me are NYSport? If me, I was in yellow. I should have moved to blue when Tony asked me to. Oh well, I still had a blast!

oops, i meant nysport. i was over on lightning with absolute.

Caidly · Oct 6th, 2009, 12:19 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYSport

(BTW Happy Birthday Charlie).

THANKS!!

Glad you had a good time. Don't "rent" tire warmers. If you need some, you can borrow one of my sets.

NYSport · Oct 6th, 2009, 12:28 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADHD

Freezer, I think he means Pirelli is introducing a successor to the DCIII tire- that's what the Pirelli tire rep told us. And I agree, the DCIII rock!

Are you coming to Lightning this weekend?

ADHD you are correct. I love the DClll. But the Pirelli guy said they are moving away from the dual compound tire because of transition area wear patterns.