the bb trackday thread.
Discussion
moanthebairns said:
I wounder how much of that is down to fear of binning your road bike. You must back off and possibly even be a little tense whilst out on track.
I know I would be. I know I ride an utter shed so maybe that's not the case for all.
Obviously it's different with my old sI know I would be. I know I ride an utter shed so maybe that's not the case for all.
tter of a bike but once out on track any thoughts of backing off because it's a road bike disappear. To be honest I wouldn't want to crash whatever I was on anyway.moanthebairns said:
I wounder how much of that is down to fear of binning your road bike. You must back off and possibly even be a little tense whilst out on track.
I know I would be. I know I ride an utter shed so maybe that's not the case for all.
Of course, there's an element of that and I only got half a day in before it hammered downI know I would be. I know I ride an utter shed so maybe that's not the case for all.
But, and it's a big but, id built it up in my mind that it was going to be amazing and that I'd love riding it, but I just didn't
I didn't push as hard as I would on my zx6r, but I didn't get blown away by it being any better even at a moderate pace
Also, I barely ride it on the road, so the idea would be to turn it into a track bike but the cost of doing so was flipping loads
My rough draft budget would have to be something like this ;
£650 Track fairings and tank cover
£750 slipper clutch (899's don't have one for some reason)
£450 rear sets
£200 chain and sprockets to reduce rather long gearing
£200 brake pads and lines
£350 crash protection
That's knocking on £3k before I consider the price of running it compared to Japanese bikes
I'm booked into another Ducati day at Silverstone in a couple of weeks, so I'll see how I feel after that, but if I'm not convinced, it makes a rather expensive trinket to have sat in my garage to barely get used on the road
I appreciate track time isn't all about lap times at track days, but I reckon I'd be quicker on my zx6r
graeme4130 said:
moanthebairns said:
I wounder how much of that is down to fear of binning your road bike. You must back off and possibly even be a little tense whilst out on track.
I know I would be. I know I ride an utter shed so maybe that's not the case for all.
Of course, there's an element of that and I only got half a day in before it hammered downI know I would be. I know I ride an utter shed so maybe that's not the case for all.
But, and it's a big but, id built it up in my mind that it was going to be amazing and that I'd love riding it, but I just didn't
I didn't push as hard as I would on my zx6r, but I didn't get blown away by it being any better even at a moderate pace
Also, I barely ride it on the road, so the idea would be to turn it into a track bike but the cost of doing so was flipping loads
My rough draft budget would have to be something like this ;
£650 Track fairings and tank cover
£750 slipper clutch (899's don't have one for some reason)
£450 rear sets
£200 chain and sprockets to reduce rather long gearing
£200 brake pads and lines
£350 crash protection
That's knocking on £3k before I consider the price of running it compared to Japanese bikes
I'm booked into another Ducati day at Silverstone in a couple of weeks, so I'll see how I feel after that, but if I'm not convinced, it makes a rather expensive trinket to have sat in my garage to barely get used on the road
I appreciate track time isn't all about lap times at track days, but I reckon I'd be quicker on my zx6r
Trouble with the 899 is it isn't bestowed with the best components and is a road bike first and foremeost. To make it into a decent track bike requires a fair bit of effort. And trust me, you definitely don't want an 1199 and 1299's require susbtantial modifications to perform well on the track. You need to decide if you like the way a Ducati rides or whether you're on one for the perceived cache. The 1299 isn't that much different to the 899 despite the additional power. Its Ohlins suspension is pretty crap on the S model and the rear unit on the base model is appallingly bad. Yes, you get autoblip and adjustable everything but don't think that they will ever feel as razor sharp as a well set up Jap bike. Never going to happen. But if you like the way they ride/handle and can adapt, they're great at what they do well and can be a real weapon in the right hands. As long as those hands aren't holding a Frothy Cappamochachino
Edited by Steve Bass on Thursday 2nd June 14:46
Steve Bass said:
graeme4130 said:
moanthebairns said:
I wounder how much of that is down to fear of binning your road bike. You must back off and possibly even be a little tense whilst out on track.
I know I would be. I know I ride an utter shed so maybe that's not the case for all.
Of course, there's an element of that and I only got half a day in before it hammered downI know I would be. I know I ride an utter shed so maybe that's not the case for all.
But, and it's a big but, id built it up in my mind that it was going to be amazing and that I'd love riding it, but I just didn't
I didn't push as hard as I would on my zx6r, but I didn't get blown away by it being any better even at a moderate pace
Also, I barely ride it on the road, so the idea would be to turn it into a track bike but the cost of doing so was flipping loads
My rough draft budget would have to be something like this ;
£650 Track fairings and tank cover
£750 slipper clutch (899's don't have one for some reason)
£450 rear sets
£200 chain and sprockets to reduce rather long gearing
£200 brake pads and lines
£350 crash protection
That's knocking on £3k before I consider the price of running it compared to Japanese bikes
I'm booked into another Ducati day at Silverstone in a couple of weeks, so I'll see how I feel after that, but if I'm not convinced, it makes a rather expensive trinket to have sat in my garage to barely get used on the road
I appreciate track time isn't all about lap times at track days, but I reckon I'd be quicker on my zx6r
Trouble with the 899 is it isn't bestowed with the best components and is a road bike first and fooremeost. To make it into a decent track bike requires a fair bit of effort. And trust me, you definitely don't want an 1199 and 1299's require susbtantial modifications to perform well on the track.
I Like my ZX6R to be honest, and if I do ever replace it, it'll be with a modern ZX10R track bike probably
I was just a bit disappointed as I'd expected my 899 to be mega, as it's a cracking road bike
Since starting track days this year, I barely ever ride my Ducati on the road, and I suspect the wife could find plenty to spend the sales price on around the house. At least that'll get me brownie points for more time away on track days if nothing else
graeme4130 said:
Steve Bass said:
graeme4130 said:
moanthebairns said:
I wounder how much of that is down to fear of binning your road bike. You must back off and possibly even be a little tense whilst out on track.
I know I would be. I know I ride an utter shed so maybe that's not the case for all.
Of course, there's an element of that and I only got half a day in before it hammered downI know I would be. I know I ride an utter shed so maybe that's not the case for all.
But, and it's a big but, id built it up in my mind that it was going to be amazing and that I'd love riding it, but I just didn't
I didn't push as hard as I would on my zx6r, but I didn't get blown away by it being any better even at a moderate pace
Also, I barely ride it on the road, so the idea would be to turn it into a track bike but the cost of doing so was flipping loads
My rough draft budget would have to be something like this ;
£650 Track fairings and tank cover
£750 slipper clutch (899's don't have one for some reason)
£450 rear sets
£200 chain and sprockets to reduce rather long gearing
£200 brake pads and lines
£350 crash protection
That's knocking on £3k before I consider the price of running it compared to Japanese bikes
I'm booked into another Ducati day at Silverstone in a couple of weeks, so I'll see how I feel after that, but if I'm not convinced, it makes a rather expensive trinket to have sat in my garage to barely get used on the road
I appreciate track time isn't all about lap times at track days, but I reckon I'd be quicker on my zx6r
Trouble with the 899 is it isn't bestowed with the best components and is a road bike first and fooremeost. To make it into a decent track bike requires a fair bit of effort. And trust me, you definitely don't want an 1199 and 1299's require susbtantial modifications to perform well on the track.
I Like my ZX6R to be honest, and if I do ever replace it, it'll be with a modern ZX10R track bike probably
I was just a bit disappointed as I'd expected my 899 to be mega, as it's a cracking road bike
Since starting track days this year, I barely ever ride my Ducati on the road, and I suspect the wife could find plenty to spend the sales price on around the house. At least that'll get me brownie points for more time away on track days if nothing else
On the road, 600's are hard work as they need their necks wringing to make progress, something that can feel tiresome after a while. On track however, that's exactly what you want, keeping it up high in the revs and pinging it around everywhere.
The Duc motor in the 899 is a bit of a misnomer however. It's a twin but has very little mid range punch yet doesn't have the top end whack of the 1299. So at road pace, lovely. At track pace, not so much. My mechanic has one and as much as I've ridden it, I can't seem the get the point. There's bugger all power to drive off the corners like a normal Duc and it feels slow and lethargic to steer, despite him fitting BST wheels etc.
hebegb said:
Steve (B) - have you by any chance tried a 959 as yet , purely out of interest and in a comparative light to both the 899 , in one direction and the 12 , in the other ?
( No reason other than idle curiosity - cheers ) .
No, not even seen one here as yet. problem is here in JHB we lose about 18% of the bikes power due to the altitude so even a thou feels a bit meh.. Subsequently, given the small price differential, very few 848/899's are sold.( No reason other than idle curiosity - cheers ) .
The 12 is stupendous in terms of power but the chassis/suspension seems to struggle with the grunt which is borne out by a few of the pukka fast boys here getting the 1299 for racing then dumping them due to ill handling that all the KTech in the world won't fix.
Steve Bass said:
hebegb said:
Steve (B) - have you by any chance tried a 959 as yet , purely out of interest and in a comparative light to both the 899 , in one direction and the 12 , in the other ?
( No reason other than idle curiosity - cheers ) .
No, not even seen one here as yet. problem is here in JHB we lose about 18% of the bikes power due to the altitude so even a thou feels a bit meh.. Subsequently, given the small price differential, very few 848/899's are sold.( No reason other than idle curiosity - cheers ) .
The 12 is stupendous in terms of power but the chassis/suspension seems to struggle with the grunt which is borne out by a few of the pukka fast boys here getting the 1299 for racing then dumping them due to ill handling that all the KTech in the world won't fix.
The only real benefits I saw where that the engine isn't so lumpy in traffic at low rpms, the slipper clutch is nice to have as the 899 doesn't have one, and the wider fairings protect you from the wind more. I wasn't interested in one, but even if I was, I'm not sure I could live with the look of the exhausts that the UK model gets and it's big money for the underslung option (iirc about £4k inc bodywork for it)
I got invited to the Ducati trackstar thing last week, where we got to try a 959 and a 1299S on track at Silverstone. I didn't really get to try the 959 well as we were in a lead group and it had just been drizzling. The 1299S on the other hand nearly ripped my bloody arms off. Really fast and quite physical to ride hard. Not sure I'd want to have £20k in a track bike though. I've no idea about it's cornering as I was blown away with how fast that thing picks up speed
hebegb said:
Steve - where next - anywhere decent for biking ?
John - No.
Thanks .
Yes, apparently so.John - No.
Thanks .
I don't think we have a BB correspondent in the country but I do know there's a KTM and Ducati dealership in this particular city.....
Expect to land around the 4th of July and will check in then..
hebegb said:
moto_traxport said:
So, mates still not responding to texts & emails about feckin' anyone or anything, NW200 on telly, far too much to drink, moved the semi-dismantled heap of an R1 to the centre of the garage earlier today just to concentrate the mind.
Just booked 20th August No Limits Snetterton for the BB mid-Summer shin dig. Seemed logical.
See you there chaps!
Excellent news Jon - not fancy the double with us - the 20/21st Sat and Sun .. couple of quiet shandies ( when in Rome etc ...)Just booked 20th August No Limits Snetterton for the BB mid-Summer shin dig. Seemed logical.
See you there chaps!
on the Sat night ..? Either way , miles off but good call
and Sebo !!
Will sort out somewhere for hangover juice on the Saturday night.
I am after some track related advice...
Ive now got an RC8 which is my pride and joy. SORNd it at the moment and keeping it off the road, but I am really not getting on well with on track.
Been to anglesey donnington and back to anglesey on it.
Im not slow, but Im struggling with confidence to ride it really hard and enjoy myself, I always find myself short shifting to the gear above coming out of corners as Im paranoid of high siding, and then getting passed accelerating out of corners because I am in the wrong gear. Im very happy on the brakes.
I also find it hard work turning it when dropping the tyres down to track day pressures. I am using M7RRs which are better tyres than I am.
Ive had confidence issues since I binned it at oulton last year on a different bike.
Its not an easy bike to ride at the best of times, but I love to to bits.
Im thinking of getting some race fairings for it, maybe putting a bigger sprocket on the back to shorten the gearing, and buying some supercorsas and turning it into a more dedicated track bike.
Option 2 is to sell it and but a track read fireblade/japanese bike for 4-5K which is likely to be easier to ride.
Any one got any ideas?
Ive now got an RC8 which is my pride and joy. SORNd it at the moment and keeping it off the road, but I am really not getting on well with on track.
Been to anglesey donnington and back to anglesey on it.
Im not slow, but Im struggling with confidence to ride it really hard and enjoy myself, I always find myself short shifting to the gear above coming out of corners as Im paranoid of high siding, and then getting passed accelerating out of corners because I am in the wrong gear. Im very happy on the brakes.
I also find it hard work turning it when dropping the tyres down to track day pressures. I am using M7RRs which are better tyres than I am.
Ive had confidence issues since I binned it at oulton last year on a different bike.
Its not an easy bike to ride at the best of times, but I love to to bits.
Im thinking of getting some race fairings for it, maybe putting a bigger sprocket on the back to shorten the gearing, and buying some supercorsas and turning it into a more dedicated track bike.
Option 2 is to sell it and but a track read fireblade/japanese bike for 4-5K which is likely to be easier to ride.
Any one got any ideas?
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