[BMW_388]

Well, I had an excellent track day with RideSmart - Texas Track Day Motorcycle School @ COTA - Austin TEXAS 12-01-19

This is my compare the K67 to the K46 to the GSXR750 opinions.

This was really a 2 day COTA event. However I was supposed to travel to AutoClub Speedway in Fontana and ride with Steve Weir and his tuning program. The weather was just too bad to travel from Texas to California on a one way drive of 20 hours road trip and then it being thanksgiving weekend on top of that just made it a no go. So, it was to be that RideSmart had an level 3 opening for Sunday even on Saturday at 1pm. I was thinking I am going to COTA. Change my gearing, rethink my tire strategy, and off I go at 3am Sunday morning. Typical Texas weather it was 78 on Saturday and 65 on Sunday. I chose some nice soft tires since these are just short 5-6 lap sessions and I had planned only on 3-4 sessions.

I have been to COTA on my 2013 GSXR750 once. I ran some Michelin tires and back then they came in A B C compounds. I never really got a good feel for the track and ran the best of 2:38’s.. Then in 2015 I got my BMW and part of the purchase add on was a free track day at COTA. I went in 2015 and on that day I ran some Michelin EVO slicks. Hated the tires, hated the temps on the track that day. My best was 2:41’s. Now one big difference between the time of my GSXR riding was I lost my left leg at the femur in a crash on that 2013 GSXR750 February 2014. So the killer of lap times for me was the left right transitions of 3 > 4 > 5 turns. Most of the rest of the track I could handle pretty good, but just having purchased the BMW 2015 S1000RR and just being back on motorcycle with no left leg was quite the experience to learn. So lets get past my left leg issue and move to 2017 event which would be my 2nd time I did COTA on a day in September and of all things the weather was really bad. Cold and damp. I was going to make the best of the day on my still 2015 S1000RR and yet only made 2:41 still. Back Straight speed was really good however at 191MPH. I skipped COTA in 2018, and I really didn’t have a plan to do COTA in 2019, but since I missed California trip I decided to try the BMW 2020 K67 at COTA.

I unloaded off the trailer and first session ran 2:39's in only 3 laps scrubbing the tires in. The session was red flagged due to crash and no restart. In the pits I thought ..wow, that was really easy. The K67 in all its glory of weight and XWORKS power coming off the corners was really nice. I made some pressure adjustments and waited on the next session. Went out and saw 2:36 pop up on my laptimer. Again red flag session, and I missed the restart not paying attention to the announcements. The session after lunch the outside temp was 68F and track temp was up to 90F degrees. I had feared my SC0 was going to tear a bit, and it did but running 2:36 every lap was nice and easy on it. I came in and made some air and suspension adjustments for the last session. Track temp now is back down to 80F, and my confidence in the track layout was good, so I decided to start up front with some experts hotshoe Ben and his buddy on a Duc 1299. Right out the 1st turn, for some reason I passed them really easy into 2.. around to turn 11 I saw some tires on each side of me, late brake into 11 and off into the corner I go first yet again. Down the long COTA back straight into 12, I see those same 2 tires one on each side of me. They were out braking me at first, then I decided to let off the lever and into the corner I go. First again off the corner and around to the start finish, I was amazed my laptimer ticked off a 2:33. This time Ben and mister 1299 passed me on the front straight braking points and off we go into this lap. I catch up to them at 11 and just almost better braked into 11.. but, didn’t get off the corner well, and down the long straight again.. this time I looked at the speed and saw only 177. The bumps are so bad, I was going air born on this line I was running and DTC was max’ed out from the rear tire leaving the pavement so many times. I tried to catch them with braking points, and just managed to catch them again. Off we go to the front straight and once again my amazement continues with a 2:32 lap. By this lap I am actually relaxed at this pace and decided to just make the next lap smooth and low stress. Clicked off a 2:33 and decided my day was done, I had fun…

When you look at the big picture of lap times at COTA with MotoAmerica running 2:10’s to 2:20’s for top superbike guys, and then 2:25’s to 2:30 for the bottom 15-20… I feel really good about my 2:32 2:33’s.. this is my first time there on the K67. I have lots of improvement for the up coming April event now. Who knows, maybe a one legged old guy like me can qualify for a MotoAmerica race in 2020 on my 2020 K67.. Love this BMW motorcycle.


2020 K67 ///M Programmed XWORKS ECU by me
2018 K46 RCK3 / HP Power Kit'ed ECU by me
2017 K46 RCK3 / HP Power Kit'ed ECU by me
2015 K46 RCK3 / HP Power Kit'ed ECU by me
2014 K46 RCK2 / HP Power Kit'ed ECU by me
Thanks to MotoMillion.com for the support and selling my programming
PM me for any tech support and feature details on XWORKS ECU's

EXWERKS Flash Tuning Programming
BMSK BMSX BMSMP BMSO BMW S1000RR S1000R ECU Reprogramming
HandHeld Tune/Flash tool informationM me for now-website coming 2020
EmailM for now-website coming 2020
PhoneM for mobile text or voice
Programming RCK2 RCK3 HP Power Kit 2010-2019 K46
Programming 2019/20 K67 EXWERKS BMWAG flash
Programming Marriage ECU Cluster EWS
Lost Keys Service 2005-2020 BMW Motorrad
Master ASE with L1
Certified Master GM Tech

 

[flyryder]

Well, if you haven't humbled the majority of the members here, then they have a serious problem that makes your leg issue a...well..."non-issue".

"Crikey"...as the Brits would say...

:grin2:

 

[TONE_757]

HELL YEAH! Loved reading this haha. Was like a book, great job. I bet you could really shave more time off them laps with some more adjustments and practice there, already bad a$$ fast though wow. So what I kind of gather the Haynes(I think their called) brakes were not up to the task you think? Also you mentioned the "DTC" kicking in? I thought I read somewhere that once you remove the signals, and rear brake light the bike goes into a true "track mode". Meaning it shuts off ABS and DTC completely, on the dash you can only do but so much.

 

[wfo439]

Well, I had an excellent track day with RideSmart - Texas Track Day Motorcycle School @ COTA - Austin TEXAS 12-01-19

This is my compare the K67 to the K46 to the GSXR750 opinions.

This was really a 2 day COTA event. However I was supposed to travel to AutoClub Speedway in Fontana and ride with Steve Weir and his tuning program. The weather was just too bad to travel from Texas to California on a one way drive of 20 hours road trip and then it being thanksgiving weekend on top of that just made it a no go. So, it was to be that RideSmart had an level 3 opening for Sunday even on Saturday at 1pm. I was thinking I am going to COTA. Change my gearing, rethink my tire strategy, and off I go at 3am Sunday morning. Typical Texas weather it was 78 on Saturday and 65 on Sunday. I chose some nice soft tires since these are just short 5-6 lap sessions and I had planned only on 3-4 sessions.

I have been to COTA on my 2013 GSXR750 once. I ran some Michelin tires and back then they came in A B C compounds. I never really got a good feel for the track and ran the best of 2:38’s.. Then in 2015 I got my BMW and part of the purchase add on was a free track day at COTA. I went in 2015 and on that day I ran some Michelin EVO slicks. Hated the tires, hated the temps on the track that day. My best was 2:41’s. Now one big difference between the time of my GSXR riding was I lost my left leg at the femur in a crash on that 2013 GSXR750 February 2014. So the killer of lap times for me was the left right transitions of 3 > 4 > 5 turns. Most of the rest of the track I could handle pretty good, but just having purchased the BMW 2015 S1000RR and just being back on motorcycle with no left leg was quite the experience to learn. So lets get past my left leg issue and move to 2017 event which would be my 2nd time I did COTA on a day in September and of all things the weather was really bad. Cold and damp. I was going to make the best of the day on my still 2015 S1000RR and yet only made 2:41 still. Back Straight speed was really good however at 191MPH. I skipped COTA in 2018, and I really didn’t have a plan to do COTA in 2019, but since I missed California trip I decided to try the BMW 2020 K67 at COTA.

I unloaded off the trailer and first session ran 2:39's in only 3 laps scrubbing the tires in. The session was red flagged due to crash and no restart. In the pits I thought ..wow, that was really easy. The K67 in all its glory of weight and XWORKS power coming off the corners was really nice. I made some pressure adjustments and waited on the next session. Went out and saw 2:36 pop up on my laptimer. Again red flag session, and I missed the restart not paying attention to the announcements. The session after lunch the outside temp was 68F and track temp was up to 90F degrees. I had feared my SC0 was going to tear a bit, and it did but running 2:36 every lap was nice and easy on it. I came in and made some air and suspension adjustments for the last session. Track temp now is back down to 80F, and my confidence in the track layout was good, so I decided to start up front with some experts hotshoe Ben and his buddy on a Duc 1299. Right out the 1st turn, for some reason I passed them really easy into 2.. around to turn 11 I saw some tires on each side of me, late brake into 11 and off into the corner I go first yet again. Down the long COTA back straight into 12, I see those same 2 tires one on each side of me. They were out braking me at first, then I decided to let off the lever and into the corner I go. First again off the corner and around to the start finish, I was amazed my laptimer ticked off a 2:33. This time Ben and mister 1299 passed me on the front straight braking points and off we go into this lap. I catch up to them at 11 and just almost better braked into 11.. but, didn’t get off the corner well, and down the long straight again.. this time I looked at the speed and saw only 177. The bumps are so bad, I was going air born on this line I was running and DTC was max’ed out from the rear tire leaving the pavement so many times. I tried to catch them with braking points, and just managed to catch them again. Off we go to the front straight and once again my amazement continues with a 2:32 lap. By this lap I am actually relaxed at this pace and decided to just make the next lap smooth and low stress. Clicked off a 2:33 and decided my day was done, I had fun…

When you look at the big picture of lap times at COTA with MotoAmerica running 2:10’s to 2:20’s for top superbike guys, and then 2:25’s to 2:30 for the bottom 15-20… I feel really good about my 2:32 2:33’s.. this is my first time there on the K67. I have lots of improvement for the up coming April event now. Who knows, maybe a one legged old guy like me can qualify for a MotoAmerica race in 2020 on my 2020 K67.. Love this BMW motorcycle.

Great report. Glad you had fun. Thanks for keeping us updated. :smile2:

 

[BMW_388]

HELL YEAH! Loved reading this haha. Was like a book, great job. I bet you could really shave more time off them laps with some more adjustments and practice there, already bad a$$ fast though wow. So what I kind of gather the Haynes(I think their called) brakes were not up to the task you think? Also you mentioned the "DTC" kicking in? I thought I read somewhere that once you remove the signals, and rear brake light the bike goes into a true "track mode". Meaning it shuts off ABS and DTC completely, on the dash you can only do but so much.

so I ran the Hayes Calipers 1500 miles. First off BMW allows a caliper to be used that is a non-standard racing grade caliper and pad on a bike that is 'track' targeted. They ( BMW ) brag about remove the mirrors, remove the license plate in 10 minutes and hit the track. Ok, track day level 1 and 2 is fine. If you are serious to make an expert laptime, like I did try at Cresson, the calipers/pads will fade in 6 laps. I am known to be very good at late hard braking, so quality is very important to my style. I had GP4 calipers on my 2018 that were begging to be on the 2020 so moved them over at 1500 miles. I put some M4's back on the 2018 for now. I also have the Alpha 5.5mm race rotors. I do not like the stainless steel composition that they are made from. I have run BrakeTech Ductile iron and Axis SS cobra's too long and I miss them very much. I will continue my development in January on putting the front forged K46 on the K67 with my BrakeTech Iron rotors I have.

My friend.. .DTC is on a MotoGP bike. DTC is your friend. You dont want to abuse it/misuse it, you want to learn it and love it. The DTC will max out any time your rear wheel leaves the ground and you are on the throttle even at 10%. COTA is just short of a TT scramble track on the back straight and into turn 2 right now. ABS can be shut off in the cluster under RacePro 1 / 2 / 3 modes. I use the rear brake just like most MotoGP riders use the rear brake. Only 2 corners at COTA I use the rear brake, and at Cresson I only use it in 2 corners also.

DTC lack of is for straight liner's. They dont need DTC and they do want to turn it off completely. I am a road racer supporting road racers to the best I can with hardware, and knowledge on how to maximize and use it.

Steve Weir is the BMW North American Support Engineer and specialize in DTC and analog suspension setups. BMW NA supports road racers at the club level and MotoAmerica.

 

[TONE_757]

Ok great information there @BMW_388. Thankyou for taking the time explaining things. I'm no where near the rider I suppose, I have 8k miles on my k67 carving up backroads locally and my brakes never seemed to fade on me. Actually like them, no crazy bite nice an smooth. I love to get insight from riders better than myself as they have the skill to push limits I've yet to reach. Hopefully one day, haha

 

[GJB]

Do you use a thumb rear brake?

 

[A B]

Do you use a thumb rear brake?

? I imagine theres nothing wrong with his right foot.

 

[Tom Bernhardt]

Great writeup. It was nice meeting you, albeit very briefly as I was dashing off to a mandatory rider meeting.

This weekend was my first track day with my own bike. My only previous track experience has been at 3 CSS camps. I just started riding again following a 26-year hiatus - kids and outside investors nixed my affection for risk - less than two years ago, so I am at nowhere near your expert riding level. I was well placed in group 2b - about middle of the pack.

I was a bit disappointed by the amount of track time. First, there were four groups and thus a long time between sessions. Then each session was interrupted by a red flag (lots of crashes). I don't have tire warmers (yet) and thus each first lap+ was necessarily conservative. The red-flag restarts repeated the slowish warming lap. I had relatively few full-out laps during the day. I needed to learn the track anyway, so it wasn't totally wasted. I will bring warmers next time, though it might not make that much of a difference with the long line-up times given the large groups.

The bumps on the back straight affected my bike in strange and disconcerting ways. I had front-end float just about the whole way down. First from the very long power-wheelie coming out of 11 but then continued at high speeds in the pavement bumps/waves. The stability control seemed to be intervening to keep my speed down (only hit a bit over 170), but I knew there was way more power there. Another problem was that I neglected to put a foam spacer into the top of my helmet to enable me enough room to see up at full chin-on-tank tuck. I was up about 6 inches off the tank, which caused a large amount of additional turbulence and probably some lift. It's the little things. I'm glad they're fixing COTA (repaving the problem sections) this winter.

It was a great experience on a big, very fast and famous track. Other than the bumps past 1 and 11, it's an amazing track. I'll do it again in the spring and be better prepared, and hopefully a bit more skilled.

 

[Tom Bernhardt]

Oh, quick newbie question: when/where do you use the rear brake? Given the BMW's linked brakes, I never use the rear pedal, but maybe I should be incorporating it for some circumstances I don't yet understand.

 

[skydivr]

I had heard the back straight was getting really bad...I think all the MOTOGP riders complained about it being unsafe last year.

Appreciate the writeup. I've only been to COTA once, and it never got over 45 degrees during the day (brrr) making it impossible to let it go. Still an epic track to ride because now when I watch MotoGP I KNOW EXACTLY where they are and what they are trying to do.

On my 16 I could not keep up with the expensive ducs down the back straight. I think the 2020 would give them a run for the money, and a HP4 Race would eat their lunch...

 

[skapan]

Tom I think you'll find if you check the owner's manual the rear brake actuates when you use the front, but not the reverse. The rear brake is good for stopping in gravel and when you have an "off track experience".

 

[Tom Bernhardt]

Tom I think you'll find if you check the owner's manual the rear brake actuates when you use the front, but not the reverse. The rear brake is good for stopping in gravel and when you have an "off track experience".

I know that, hence the "linked brakes" preface. I've once used the rear in the gravel when I missed (and bailed) a turn at Vegas, but I saw reference to using the rear on two turns at COTA, and I'm trying to understand why. Where do you use the rear specifically on the track and why?

 

[BMW_388]

? I imagine theres nothing wrong with his right foot.

Let me expand some more history on my health and body. I have raced for 40 years of my 58 years being around to live life. I have won a USA national title, and 4 state championships. I managed to make top 100 classification on WERA at number 67. I left motorcycles only because I was hired by Haltech Electronic Fuel Injection to put EFI on motorcycle engines in 1992. I was the first person to offer EFI on Suzuki GSXR 1100 engines. RES in Arlington Texas was working on the same project and failed for 3 months. I had it working in 30 days. RES was given the solution to the EFI Haltech box and they of course being a lot bigger than me in the motorcycle community got all the acknowledgments about it. Never the less, I sold a lot of Haltech F3 and F7 packages for motorcycles and cars back then. Then I had all the business failures in 2006-2010 with the car stuff. Divorce, stock market crash, depression in life.. stuff just adds up unfortunately. I missed the motorcycles so in 2010 I get back into motorcycles with the 06 GSXR600. Riding that at ECR was like being on a MotoGP bike compared to my 88 GSXR750 back in the day. So I buy one of each. 06 600, 08 1000, 08 750. I had no intentions of developing ECU but as luck would have it, I started working with Woolich Racing on getting the GUI tested for the GSXR.

On to 2013 is where more change in my life would come. I was on an endurance team and we were at Texas World Speedway in March of 2013. I was lead rider and early that morning it was damp and cold. Team captain asked if I wanted a DOT race tire. I said sure, lets at least practice on it. They made some kind of mistake with the rear caliper. The pads were somehow not in place correctly and when I made it to the 4th turn, I touched that rear brake at about 100, the rear wheel locked up, I went forward into the fuel tank, punctured my lung, with several broke ribs, my right foot went into the rear wheel spokes and the wheel decided to start spinning again. My right foot was broken in so many pieces the hospital had no way to fix it, plus I was in a comma for 8 days. When I finally woke up they transported me to McKinney Medical so I could be closer to home. I only stayed there for 9 days. I had to get home and try to heal there. It took me 2 weeks to find a surgeon that would put my foot back together. Everyone wanted to cut my foot off below knee. I told them there was no way I was cutting my right foot off. The doctor I finally found indicated it was a long shot to rebuild my right foot and ankle, but he was willing to try. It worked for the most part after 7 surgeries. I barely could walk, but at least I could walk and still ride the motorcycle. My right foot points outward 10 degrees. So the really bad is that in right corners I drag the side of my right boot so bad, it is ground to my toes. I have to be really careful to lift my foot to the toe area on the rearset leaned way over. I use my heal to press the brake petal.

Ok since I took the time to explain my accident of 2013, I might as well explain my accident of February 2014. I had more surgery dec 2013 on my right foot. The weather was really bad in January 2014, so could not ride anyway. February 19th it snowed and ice. February 23rd it was 70 degrees. My foot was feeling great. Best it had felt since the crash of March 2013. A group of us decided to ride to Indian Bridge. There was about 15 of us, so as usual we leave out of Denton. We were not 4 miles out into the ride and we come up to dead man’s curve. It’s a 40 MPH that a good rider can take at about 100 MPH. The problem on this day is snow gravel. I had no idea in my mind that 4-5 miles out of the city there would be snow sand and gravel all over the curve from the snow and ice on Feb 19th. I hit that gravel going way to fast and then I hit the guard rail. I went over the front of the bike and hit the road sign that points the direction of the curve. The road sign cut right through my leathers at the knee cap like butter. It broke my right leg at the tibia and fibula compound meaning the bones was sticking out of my skin. Compound broke my left arm at the ulna and radius bones and of course broke more ribs yet again. Now one would think I would be in the hospital for quite some time. I was only there 21 days. I got no left leg now, broken up right leg, broken up left arm, cant breath from all my ribs broke.. I said I was not dead yet, get me out of here and let me back on my motorcycle. At the 3 month mark I order 3 type of electric shift systems. I had my GSXR 08 1000 and I was in the process of building a 2011 GSXR 1000 from the frame up when I had my crash on the 2013 GSXR 750. I decided to finish building the 2011 1000 on crutches and one leg in a cast. Left arm had healed by now, so at least I had 2 arms and 2 hands. I brought a Q6 wheelchair and Honda 680 ATV to get around on.

Let me know if you really want to hear how I got into BMW S1000RR in 2015..

 

[z00]

^ should be racing in Isle of man TT seniors bro :x

 

[BMW_388]

I know that, hence the "linked brakes" preface. I've once used the rear in the gravel when I missed (and bailed) a turn at Vegas, but I saw reference to using the rear on two turns at COTA, and I'm trying to understand why. Where do you use the rear specifically on the track and why?

Tom, the 2020 is very good in electronics as long as you can 'trust' your tuner has not messed up the formula's / algorithms for various things like ABS, DTC, wheelie control. People who tune for drag racing, dig racing, 9/10ths roll ons have a different target market than the guy running on road courses turning left and right. I am just saying..

So to answer your braking question.. and I will try not to write a book on it. I posted this picture below long ago when i was the first to get hardware in January 2019 and build a test bench of the 2020 S1000RR BMSO ECU and TFT cluster.

The ABS can be changed alot in Race Pro Modes. You cannot get on a track in sport, dynamic, modes and expect to progress in the operations of the electronics and hardware. In Race Pro 1 shown in the pictures, you can see that ABS can be set to off, or linked ( distribution to rear ) . Typical testing shows today street is 60% 40% front to rear. In the old days it was 100% ( front ) 0% ( rear ) .. some where in between that is rider comfort and actual use of racing. Racers like to brag they never use the rear brake. That is fine for them. Its bragging rights your balls are big and you have no use for a rear brake. I seldom ever use the rear brake on the street. Come to the race track however, and I will find some braking time ( reduction of ) by using the rear brake. The rear brake requires alot of concentration. You are either going to Moto2 slide ways into the corner, or you are going to gently apply enough rear brake to skim the tire so you can feel the reaction of the front pressing so hard into the pavement on maximum front braking. So for me is a skimming effect I am feeling for. The rear tire is not doing alot of work, but, it is telling me how high the rear is off the ground, now much control I have at the time, and it makes me feel good I am going to slow down enough to make the apex.

As to the locations on COTA I used this practice of the rear brake. It was into 11, and into 12. No other corners needed that feel. Both left turns, and it just gave me a reference in the way the rear was moving.

At Cresson it is buzzard neck and rattle snake. Both right corners. Its all about feel and if it makes you think you are doing something that helps in the apex entry.

 

[A B]

Let me expand some more history on my health and body. <snip>..

Crikeys mate you have been in the Wars!

 

[PNorris]

Let me expand some more history on my health and body. I have raced for 40 years of my 58 years being around to live life. I have won a USA national title, and 4 state championships. I managed to make top 100 classification on WERA at number 67. I left motorcycles only because I was hired by Haltech Electronic Fuel Injection to put EFI on motorcycle engines in 1992. I was the first person to offer EFI on Suzuki GSXR 1100 engines. RES in Arlington Texas was working on the same project and failed for 3 months. I had it working in 30 days. RES was given the solution to the EFI Haltech box and they of course being a lot bigger than me in the motorcycle community got all the acknowledgments about it. Never the less, I sold a lot of Haltech F3 and F7 packages for motorcycles and cars back then. Then I had all the business failures in 2006-2010 with the car stuff. Divorce, stock market crash, depression in life.. stuff just adds up unfortunately. I missed the motorcycles so in 2010 I get back into motorcycles with the 06 GSXR600. Riding that at ECR was like being on a MotoGP bike compared to my 88 GSXR750 back in the day. So I buy one of each. 06 600, 08 1000, 08 750. I had no intentions of developing ECU but as luck would have it, I started working with Woolich Racing on getting the GUI tested for the GSXR.

On to 2013 is where more change in my life would come. I was on an endurance team and we were at Texas World Speedway in March of 2013. I was lead rider and early that morning it was damp and cold. Team captain asked if I wanted a DOT race tire. I said sure, lets at least practice on it. They made some kind of mistake with the rear caliper. The pads were somehow not in place correctly and when I made it to the 4th turn, I touched that rear brake at about 100, the rear wheel locked up, I went forward into the fuel tank, punctured my lung, with several broke ribs, my right foot went into the rear wheel spokes and the wheel decided to start spinning again. My right foot was broken in so many pieces the hospital had no way to fix it, plus I was in a comma for 8 days. When I finally woke up they transported me to McKinney Medical so I could be closer to home. I only stayed there for 9 days. I had to get home and try to heal there. It took me 2 weeks to find a surgeon that would put my foot back together. Everyone wanted to cut my foot off below knee. I told them there was no way I was cutting my right foot off. The doctor I finally found indicated it was a long shot to rebuild my right foot and ankle, but he was willing to try. It worked for the most part after 7 surgeries. I barely could walk, but at least I could walk and still ride the motorcycle. My right foot points outward 10 degrees. So the really bad is that in right corners I drag the side of my right boot so bad, it is ground to my toes. I have to be really careful to lift my foot to the toe area on the rearset leaned way over. I use my heal to press the brake petal.

Ok since I took the time to explain my accident of 2013, I might as well explain my accident of February 2014. I had more surgery dec 2013 on my right foot. The weather was really bad in January 2014, so could not ride anyway. February 19th it snowed and ice. February 23rd it was 70 degrees. My foot was feeling great. Best it had felt since the crash of March 2013. A group of us decided to ride to Indian Bridge. There was about 15 of us, so as usual we leave out of Denton. We were not 4 miles out into the ride and we come up to dead man’s curve. It’s a 40 MPH that a good rider can take at about 100 MPH. The problem on this day is snow gravel. I had no idea in my mind that 4-5 miles out of the city there would be snow sand and gravel all over the curve from the snow and ice on Feb 19th. I hit that gravel going way to fast and then I hit the guard rail. I went over the front of the bike and hit the road sign that points the direction of the curve. The road sign cut right through my leathers at the knee cap like butter. It broke my right leg at the tibia and fibula compound meaning the bones was sticking out of my skin. Compound broke my left arm at the ulna and radius bones and of course broke more ribs yet again. Now one would think I would be in the hospital for quite some time. I was only there 21 days. I got no left leg now, broken up right leg, broken up left arm, cant breath from all my ribs broke.. I said I was not dead yet, get me out of here and let me back on my motorcycle. At the 3 month mark I order 3 type of electric shift systems. I had my GSXR 08 1000 and I was in the process of building a 2011 GSXR 1000 from the frame up when I had my crash on the 2013 GSXR 750. I decided to finish building the 2011 1000 on crutches and one leg in a cast. Left arm had healed by now, so at least I had 2 arms and 2 hands. I brought a Q6 wheelchair and Honda 680 ATV to get around on.

Let me know if you really want to hear how I got into BMW S1000RR in 2015..

Madman >

 

[GJB]

My hero ?

 

[Tom Bernhardt]

Tom, the 2020 is very good in electronics as long as you can 'trust' your tuner has not messed up the formula's / algorithms for various things like ABS, DTC, wheelie control. People who tune for drag racing, dig racing, 9/10ths roll ons have a different target market than the guy running on road courses turning left and right. I am just saying..

So to answer your braking question.. and I will try not to write a book on it. I posted this picture below long ago when i was the first to get hardware in January 2019 and build a test bench of the 2020 S1000RR BMSO ECU and TFT cluster.

The ABS can be changed alot in Race Pro Modes. You cannot get on a track in sport, dynamic, modes and expect to progress in the operations of the electronics and hardware. In Race Pro 1 shown in the pictures, you can see that ABS can be set to off, or linked ( distribution to rear ) . Typical testing shows today street is 60% 40% front to rear. In the old days it was 100% ( front ) 0% ( rear ) .. some where in between that is rider comfort and actual use of racing. Racers like to brag they never use the rear brake. That is fine for them. Its bragging rights your balls are big and you have no use for a rear brake. I seldom ever use the rear brake on the street. Come to the race track however, and I will find some braking time ( reduction of ) by using the rear brake. The rear brake requires alot of concentration. You are either going to Moto2 slide ways into the corner, or you are going to gently apply enough rear brake to skim the tire so you can feel the reaction of the front pressing so hard into the pavement on maximum front braking. So for me is a skimming effect I am feeling for. The rear tire is not doing alot of work, but, it is telling me how high the rear is off the ground, now much control I have at the time, and it makes me feel good I am going to slow down enough to make the apex.

As to the locations on COTA I used this practice of the rear brake. It was into 11, and into 12. No other corners needed that feel. Both left turns, and it just gave me a reference in the way the rear was moving.

At Cresson it is buzzard neck and rattle snake. Both right corners. Its all about feel and if it makes you think you are doing something that helps in the apex entry.

Thanks for the very informative reply. I appreciate the help from an expert.

So if I understand, you feather the rear a bit to feel how light it is during trail braking coming from high speed straights into those heavy/slow corners, and maybe even use it to oversteer the corner some? Do you not use it for turn 1 because of the uphill and camber?

At my (far lower) level, I don't imagine I will be using the technique for at least a while. I fear that first time I try it, I'll slide the rear out, panic and then high-side. I'll focus on basics like lines, entry speeds, visual skills, body position and normal braking, and let the BMW software help some with the linked rear.