| Author | Message | ||
     Gaz |
Just did my first track day = major fun. Managed to keep the rubber side down which always helps. Now it's over I have a few questions. Suspension, what differences to make for the track (XB9R 2003)? The track is on an old US air base (Edzell - Scotland) so it is flat, not too smooth (changes in quality of surface). I'm running the bike as it came stock from the shop. Apart from a Muller clutch upgrade and small cosmetics. It handled quite well. Managed a power wheelie on the first straight (dumping the clutch going into second) and from the first corner to the last the back end was snakin about going in hard on the brakes, but it felt predictable. Looking to be doing another on 18th July so I would like a better set up. Running stock Dunlop D207's but they look a bit ragged now. Should be ok for 18th though. Anything else I should change / modify etc. P.S. I've got a Drummer, 12 Airbox, K&N filter and race ECM sitting here waiting to go on. Not had time to fit them yet. Want to get a before and after dyno run done. Maybe get some head work done in the winter. edited by gaz on June 21, 2004 | ||
| Daves |
Gaz, Did the dealership you got your bike from set up your suspension with you when you picked it up? If not, I would not assume that it is set up right. Go thru the owners manual and set up the suspension. Next thing I would do is get rid of the Dunlops. For the track I would run either some Michelin H2s or Pirelli or Metzler tires. If you can't get those, go to Dunlop 208s. Ride to the edge! Dave daves@h-dappleton.com | ||
| Kaudette |
Fit the new rubber - my Pirelli's work wonderful. Don't forget to scrub them in before track day! Do as Daves suggests and tune the susp to your weight and the track conditions. You should have 0 wiggle on a 9 with the correct settings (even going in late). Try to either team with a more experienced rider for a day to better learn the lines to take or have someone clock you in the twisty sections while testing new lines. The XB's seem to be faster with very smooth riding and carrying a LOT of speed into the corners as opposed to point and shoot on a big IL4. Watch out for the Race ECM & the drummer on the first outing - they really open the 9 up over 4G so if you have some 2nd gear turns be smooth on the power delivery at apex to keep the front planted. It's been my experience that the bast way to learn to go fast is not by having the best bike, but learning the riding techniques from more experienced guys out there and emulating those to the XB's chassis and handling "quirks". Ride safe & have fun! | ||
| Skully |
Gaz, I agree with Dave; make sure the suspension is set up per the manual first. This will become your baseline. Marcus McBain has taken Mark Godfrey's (a fellow BadWeBer) XB9R race bike and upgraded the suspension. Check out this link: http://www.roadracinghelp.com/TechArticle/January/Main.htm Keith | ||
| Gaz |
Ok, just checked the stock settings and as I'm 175lbs and the OM says the bike comes preset to 150 - 180 lbs the settings should be right for me. Having checked all was as per the book apart from the front rebound which was 1 & 7/8ths of a turn instead of 1 & 5/8ths. To qualify my original question, some of you guys who do battle trax etc might know, what type of general adjustments should I be looking to make for track use. I'm not gonna be upgrading the suspension and it will only be for doing a few track days per year, not full on racing. The OM suggests more damping front and rear compression and rebound. Should I just make small increases in damping until I get the best results? Do I need to adjust the preload at all? I dare say with the leathers, helmet etc I must be pushing 180 which is the limit for the settings at present. Is there a better way to set it up, for example using the sag? The track day was awesome, my intention was to get a track day bike this summer. My partner is finishing her bike training today with test to follow and I intended getting a CBR 400RR for her but use it for track days also. She seemed ok with that but that may change if she sees me wringing the last ounce out of her bike. Having used the XB9R for my first day though, I would like to stick with it as it felt good and predictable. Not sure about Kaudette's take on zero wiggle, if the front brakes are up to it and I'm hitting the latest braking point before the corner the back end is bound to be all but totally unloaded. Add to this stomping down 2 or 3 gears, and the back end is going to lose traction. This is not a bad thing so long as I haven't started tipping it in yet. Just my thoughts. Hopefully get some action photo's next time. I was the only Buell running but there was everything from a couple of Super Moto's to an MV Augusta, with quite a few racing bikes too. I was running in the novices though. Thanx for the feedback so far. edited by gaz on June 22, 2004 | ||
| Buckinfubba |
Gaz remember on suspension set up. Your weight will be more than 175 in full leathers and helmet and boots and such and your right near the line. figure out what you weigh all suited up | ||
| Gaz |
Yeh, mentioned that in my post (admittedly it was a bit long). Grabbed the gear and jumped on the scales. Holy cow 198lbs. I'm off to crank the settings up a bit. Unfortunately won't have time to test ride for a couple of weeks as I'm off to work on the rig again. Thanx for making me re-think. | ||
| Gaz |
Is static sag a more accurate way to set up preload settings? I'd rather get it right first time. | ||
| Skully |
Yes | ||
| Henrik |
I guess rider sag would be the more important of the two, but both rider & static sag should (ideally) be in the proper range when the suspension is set up. Sometimes that requires heavier weight springs front & rear though. MC suspension is traditionally set up with quite soft springs. Henrik |
