| Author | Message | ||
     Yktinwi |
I'm 63 and I'm doing my first trackday ever on Monday, 7/13/09 at Road America and I'll be riding my '05 XB9SX. I've set my suspension according to the owners manual for a 185 lb rider. Is this a good choice? If not, what do you recommend? What about tire pressure? Harder or softer than factory specs for the Syncs? | ||
| Rocketsprink |
set the suspension for your weight and leave your tire pressure at the stock settings. You'll gain nothing by raising or lowering the pressure of the tires. Drastic changes in suspension setting will make the bike handle in a manner in which you are not used to, causing only grief. Changes can be made as the day goes on if you feel the need to set it up for more aggressive riding. | ||
| Rocketsprink |
oh yeah. have a great time! | ||
| Froggy |
+1 to what Rocket said. Suspension settings is like a leather 1 piece suit. What fits me great won't fit you. Start with an off the rack size (book settings), then if necessary ask for help and recommendations to tailor it to your needs. | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
id say to drop the tire pressure to 25psi cold | ||
| Rocketsprink |
which tire and why, if you don't mind me asking. These are stock, non DOT race tires. Completely different tire compounds. | ||
| Schmitty |
A good way to check the front suspension is to put a ziptie on your fork leg and slide it all the way up against the seal before you start the session. When you come in check to see where the tie was pushed down to. It should not be pushed all the way to the bottom (too soft) or on the upper half (too stiff). Adjust accordingly. Schmitty | ||
| Yktinwi |
Thanks for the advice/tips. I'm look'n forward to this experience. | ||
| Jaimec |
I asked the coaches at California Superbike School about dropping the tire pressures for a track day and to a person they all agreed it made NO sense. You'll cause the tires to heat up and wear faster, and that won't help your grip at all unless you WANT the tires to break loose and slide. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Whitie is runing the stock Scorpion Syncs IIRC(he's a local) Whitie, I'd listed to what Rocco, and Shmitty say. Being local Buell racers, the know what they speak of. Bilansky's advice is EXACTLY what Rocco said. Run stock pressures. I would tend to listen to those guys who get paid to do tire tests for Buell  Why would you run 25PSI on street tires? | ||
| Jeffroj |
In kart racing, raising tire pressure causes the tires to heat up faster, but dropping psi creates more bite, I would think the same rules would apply to cycle tires. | ||
| Jaimec |
Actually no... raising the tire pressure causes the tires to run COOLER. Heat is generated by tire flex. The more air pressure, the less flex. The less flex, the less heat is generated. Logical when you think about it. I've posted here MANY MANY times how to determine the proper air pressure for YOUR tires on YOUR bike the way YOU ride. Briefly: 1) Inflate the tires to the manufacturer's recommended pressure. 2) Go out for a typical ride of ten miles or more. 3) Stop and immediately record your tire pressures. 4) If the pressure went up by more than 3psi, you didn't have enough air. When the tires cool down, add more air and try again. 5) If the pressure went up by less than 2psi, you had too much air. When the tires cool down, release some air and try again. 6) Between 2-3 psi and you're spot on! | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
I guess I was misinformed on my trackday about having the psi at 25cold.... |
