Is this a stupid idea...?

[Mapoipoi]

I'm at lower level advanced on track days. I'm trying to improve my skills as quickly as possible as I would like to go racing soon

I have decided to forego the usual ohlins upgrade of the 30mm kit, shock, and damper because of the price.

The way I see it, dealing with the mushy stock suspension in combination with good trackday tires such as the Q2s will help me learn bike control much better, improving my raw skill.

Is this a misguided approach? Am I in for some serious crashes/ ridiculous handling? My main fear is that the front will wash out as it will not be able to keep up with what I am doing...

[six2one]

Originally Posted by Mapoipoi

I'm at lower level advanced on track days. I'm trying to improve my skills as quickly as possible as I would like to go racing soon

I have decided to forego the usual ohlins upgrade of the 30mm kit, shock, and damper because of the price.

The way I see it, dealing with the mushy stock suspension in combination with good trackday tires such as the Q2s will help me learn bike control much better, improving my raw skill.

Is this a misguided approach? Am I in for some serious crashes/ ridiculous handling? My main fear is that the front will wash out as it will not be able to keep up with what I am doing...

eh, i would say if you make sure the spring rate is good for your weight and can have someone set the suspension up good (like at the track for example) then you should be alright...

i did many advanced track days with my 2006 zx10 with stock suspension for the most part and i didnt end up dying


edit: i would have been considered lower level advanced as well....most of the other riders are WERA guys

[wattsy_rules]

You want to got racing, but don't want to spend any money on suspension?

Stick with riding it on the road and doing a few track days... You need decent suspension set up correctly for racing or you're probably going to end up in the sand.

[antonn]

it is a the best way to start racing, keep the bike stock and learn to ride fast on a racetrack, unless you are riding it within 3-4 secs of the lap record you would be wasting your money. the faster you get the suspension will behave differently anyway and when you get to within a second of the lap record times it will be very different, ride at as many track days as possible with the money saved and you will be soon passing many ohlins shod bikes, good luck.

[AMRRA12]

Let me ask you this, would you run cheep A$$ $160 Shinko slicks on your $16,000 bike and go out and tear up the track?

Well your suspension is just as important as your tires…. Tires run on the ground suspension holds them there!

[antonn]

Originally Posted by AMRRA12

Let me ask you this, would you run cheep A$$ $160 Shinko slicks on your $16,000 bike and go out and tear up the track?

Well your suspension is just as important as your tires…. Tires run on the ground suspension holds them there!

compare apples with apples! could you safely ride around a track four seconds of the lap record with stock suspension? i have and i can do it all day, can you do the same with cheap crappy tyres? i see so many new riders with high end suspension and bling on their race bikes and they have no idea how to set it up, in some cases they make the bike worse! get down to some consistant times on your stock suspension and when the stock gear is holding you back then replace it, spend time on learning what the suspension is doing and why

[1000RR]

It is somewhat of a loaded question because there is a happy medium between how much money to stick in suspension and one's ability. The bottom line is, the suspension (whatever name is on it) NEEDS TO BE SETUP FOR YOU!! You can have your suspension tuned with minimal cost and not necessarily have Ohlins sitting on there. For example, correct spring in the rear, ride height adjusted properly, the front reworked/valved w/correct springs, etc. This would get you well beyond where you're at now in speed around the track.

But don't assume your current setup is good unless you know what you're doing and/or had someone that does look at it and help you trackside. As you get faster further adjustments will need to be made too... so it's not a one time deal.

An aside... are you OK w/tossing your S1000RR down the track? Serious question. If the answer is no, you might even consider going to a cheaper track only bike. I have known too many folks say they always fear tossing their shiny new bike down the track. This gets in your head and can prevent you from getting fast quickly.

Another aside... good suspension and good tires (setup properly) will also give you confidence. You will go out on the track and know that it is your skill at test, not the bikes technical ability. Same with the concept of buying tire warmers... you'll gain confidence knowing you can do hot/fast laps whenever you want and not wonder when you have warmed the tires up enough to let her rip.

My $.02...

[AMRRA12]

Originally Posted by antonn

compare apples with apples! could you safely ride around a track four seconds of the lap record with stock suspension? i have and i can do it all day, can you do the same with cheap crappy tyres? i see so many new riders with high end suspension and bling on their race bikes and they have no idea how to set it up, in some cases they make the bike worse! get down to some consistant times on your stock suspension and when the stock gear is holding you back then replace it, spend time on learning what the suspension is doing and why

Sure and most of the time you will tell this when you’re picking kitty litter out of you're fairings! You are entitled to your opinion and so I’m I

Comparing tires with suspension and there” importance” is comparing Apples to Apples

[antonn]

[QUOTE=AMRRA12;113495]Sure and most of the time you will tell this when you’re picking kitty litter out of you're fairings!



if you are serious about racing you will be picking lots of kitty litter from your fairings, its an unfortunate fact that if you race hard you will eventually crash, i wasnt trying to undermine your take on this just show a different view, plenty of bikes with ohlins suspension pick kitty litter out of their fairings.
also my opinion is based on my experiences from the early to late 80s most of our good racers started on stock production bikes - no suspension mods, stock exauhst, street tyres, etc this was our most popular racing format in australia, riders like doohan,kevin magee, daryl beatie, wayne gardner etc they all started racing on stock bikes that didnt handle like bike do now

[AMRRA12]

[QUOTE=antonn;113518]

Originally Posted by AMRRA12

Sure and most of the time you will tell this when you’re picking kitty litter out of you're fairings!



if you are serious about racing you will be picking lots of kitty litter from your fairings, its an unfortunate fact that if you race hard you will eventually crash, i wasnt trying to undermine your take on this just show a different view, plenty of bikes with ohlins suspension pick kitty litter out of their fairings.
also my opinion is based on my experiences from the early to late 80s most of our good racers started on stock production bikes - no suspension mods, stock exauhst, street tyres, etc this was our most popular racing format in australia, riders like doohan,kevin magee, daryl beatie, wayne gardner etc they all started racing on stock bikes that didnt handle like bike do now

my point is based on my experiences as well, I have been racing for 11 years in 2001 the fastest lap at my track was a :41 now it’s a :22 (I know I own it) that being said I would not want to ride any bike at 90% + with stock suspension but that’s just me