khp
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Posts posted by khp
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Here's one for Balistic and other mechanically knowledgeable persons:
When I did Level 1, our classroom seminarist (Andy Ibbot) argued that we should try to keep the suspension in the mid-third stroke.
Being an engineer, I asked him why? - Andy argued that the suspension was more compliant there there and I asked again why?, because as long as we don't hit the limits of the shock (so that the spring/dampers are still working) I cannot see a reason that the shock should be less compliant in the outer parts of the stroke, than the mid-stroke.
I could see he struggled to find an explanation that would satisfy the engineer in me after the second why, so for the sake of the overall training I let it pass. I think understand what we are trying to achieve by being in the mid-stroke, but I didn't find the explanation to be well founded.
So, can anyone explain why the suspension should work better in the mid-third stroke than the outer part of the stroke (still assuming that we don't hit mechanical stops like top/bottoming out)?
Thanks,
Kai
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Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll look into the Inns in the Palmdale area mentioned.
Carey: I'll keep you guys posted, but don't hold your breath 'cause I'm not a tweeter kinda guy (not fb).
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No, mugget, I had no-one in mind as I don't recall who've mentioned it, but it's a lot more than you.
I've definitely said it - under the same condition as Mugget mentions: the safest way to do it.
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That Sounds like a great trip Kai. And if you get the chance to do Code RACE you'll have to let us know how it goes. I am rcurious what the student experience is in that class.
Carey,
I have locked in my place at CodeRACE, I'll undoubtedly be very sore from 4 days of riding
. Flight reservation has been done, now's the time to look for rental car and accommodation.Can anyone recommend a hotel/motel near the Willows Springs racetrack?
Cobie, Hottie: where do people usually stay?
Kai
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So it's been announced, Rossi is taking Spies spot with the factory Yamaha team. It will be interesting to see how Rossi and Lorenzo get along the 2d time around. I'm still thinking Crutchlow takes Rossi's vacated spot at Ducati.
Brad, If you're referring to the Motorcycle USA article, then it's not announced yet - and then I don't consider it truly settled.
Can you link to an official announcement? - google doesn't pick anything official up.
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I actually disagree on this point. Spies is only in his fourth year on the international circuit and compared to most of the top 10 who've been there going on 10+ years. In his first year internationally he won World Superbike and his first two years in MotoGP he finished 6th and then 5th. Crutchlow was 12th last year in his first MotoGP season and currently running 5th. Dovi has twice the experience on the international circuit and he went 5th, 6th, 5th, 3rd in his preceding four MotoGP seasons. In my opinion that shows relatively speaking Spies has had pretty solid performance. There is no argument this year he's surely had almost nothing but bad luck but I don't think that's the right measure of Spies being able to "cut it" in MotoGP.Somehow, Ben hasn't been able to 'cut it' in MotoGP, like several other talented US riders (Hopkins and Edwards comes to mind). For one reason or another, Cal seems to do that breakthrough that Ben is missing.Maybe you are right, Brad, that I'm being unfair to Spies. I just don't see him as having made the breakthrough in MotoGP (I would loved to see him make it, though). To be fair, I must say that to me, Dovi is also missing that breakthrough. Maybe it's a bit like Gibernau before his defining victory after Kato's death.
I went back and looked at the "Riders All Time, MotoGP" list. If you look at the current riders, only Vale, Casey, Jorge, Dani and Nicky have more than 1 win in MotoGP/GP500 (Nicky has just 3 wins). Dovi, Spies, and Elias have a single win each.
Cal hasn't been on the podium yet.
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I do not use the clutch at all for upshifting or downshifting, and as far as I know all of the coaches use clutchless shifting all the time. I find that is faster and consumes a lot less attention.
For clutchless upshifting, I agree. But for clutchless downshifting, I have found that my R1 requires the engine to be at very low RPMs to make it work well (ie: getting the RPMs to match to avoid grinding the gears) - and that requires more time and attention than just using the clutch.
From my personal experience, I'd get the normal clutch operation and clutchless upshifting working well before trying the clutchless downshifting.
I seem to recall that Rainman said he only used clutchless downshifting when going slow too.
Kai
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Steve is cloest, IMHO.
If you go immediately from 0% to 100% braking force, tou are more likely to overload the front suspension and lock up the front wheel. Hence, you should make a moderated transition from no brakes to full brakes (consider slamming the brakes just as the front wheel goes over the top of a hill - a classic way of locking up the front wheel).
There are at least two reasons for making a calculated release of the brake: First, in order to allow the front suspension to do its work, and secondly to fine-tune the entry speed (going from max braking to zero braking usually tricks you into braking too much).
Hope this helps,
Kai
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I'll play Kai (but please see the qualifier in my signature).
I believe Vale is too deep in his career to wait and hope the changes at Ducati will make the difference. At this stage he has earned his money, and made his mark. Now he wants to put an exclamation point on it (and have some more fun before riding off into the Italian sunset). For that same reason I don't think that Suzuki is a good fit (unless they are ready to return in 2013 instead of 2014). My prediction is Yamaha (yes I'm crazy). He left on good terms (reasonably – compared to how he left Honda) and even though he knows Lorenzo is their man of the future, he also knows he could be competitive on the Yamaha. Add two seasons of mid-pack results and the fact that he is in the twilight of his career and maybe he can make paddock-nice with JL…and then get back at him by beating him.
Or maybe that's just my wishful thinking.
Agree on your observations on Rossi.
Somehow, Ben hasn't been able to 'cut it' in MotoGP, like several other talented US riders (Hopkins and Edwards comes to mind). For one reason or another, Cal seems to do that breakthrough that Ben is missing.
Dovi…hmmm. If Rossi fails to take my sage advice then the other Yami goes to him. Otherwise he could end up at Ducati. Gesini could be looking for a ride but somehow I don't see him riding for a Honda satellite team.
Looks like that Dovi and several others agrees with your idea of Rossi possibly returning to Yamaha. This weekend's DNF for Rossi is not likely to make him positive to staying with Ducaudi. And Ducaudi will be testing new talent (as they should) this week at Mugello.
No matter what happens MotoGP is still trying to find it's way in this new world order. I know a lot of folks (Casey) don't like the CRTs saying this should be a prototype class of racing, and while in a perfect world I agree, the truth is Eirik hit it on the head:
...WSBK is so much more interesting to watch than MotoGP, but nothing beats Moto2 and Moto3.
And unless Dorna makes some changes it will be a prototype class that no one is watching. The CRT's are the beginning of the end of the factory influence dominance. Will that be a good thing or a bad thing? I'm not sure. But I am glad they are trying.
I'm not following you. The CRT's are nowhere near the prototypes, so why are they the beginning of the end of the factory dominance?
PS: please add more sugar to your diet
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So, the 'Unofficial MotoGP 2012 Silly Season' has started!
What is known:
Stoner is leaving the sport
Pedrosa stays with Honda Repsol for 2 more years
Marc Marquez sign on with Honda Repsol (stepping up from Moto2, with a 2 years contract)
Lorenzo stays with Yamaha Factory (I think?
Spies is leaving Yamaha Factory
Hayden stays with Ducati Factory for 1 more year
Rossi is unhappy with the Ducati, yet Audi wants him to stay - my prediction is that he'll leave Ducaudi, unless they are able to pull "a rabbit from their arse" and make the bike work well enough for Rossi to be a consistent podium/championship contender. (If Rossi leaves Ducaudi, will Jeremy Burgess follow him, stay with Ducaudi, or hang up his gloves?). Where will he go? Back to Yamaha Factory, or to a satellite team like Monster Tech 3?
C'mon, throw in your guesses and predictions!
Kai
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I understand and value Mugget's point about riding too hard for the conditions, but we should not forget that there can be quite a difference between tires in wet conditions. Metzeler's Z2 and Z4 Sport-Touring tires were well known to have poor tracking in the wet, but excellent tracking in the dry (the Z1 and Z3 were OK, but wore down quick).
I've spun the rear on my YZF600R in the wet by running over a white (yellow for you US folks) line while gently accelerating on Z4 tires.
The Sportec Z6'es, on the other hand, had excellent grip and longevity on both dry and wet conditions for me.
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QS only promises reduced lean OUT of the turn imho.
QT should also reduce the maximum lean required for the same speed, turn point and apex.
We had a longish discussion some time back when Eirik (I think?) asked about the effects of the QT.
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Just bring the bike as CSS has asked for; they will handle the rest.
I opted to take off my mirrors, otherwise the staff will tape these over (to stop you from using them). They tape the speedo too. As far as I can remember, that's the only thing I had to do on my street bike.
Enjoy the day!
Kai
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Thanks for the input!
Lausitzring was his first ever track day where he wasn't comfortable and he was way faster at Brno. He liked the faster corners of Brno far, far better than the chicanes of Lausitzring. He wore out the puck because the knee was jammed between the fairing and the road, according to himself.
But I suspected a lack of quick-turning since I could see riders go past him at a good clip. Any other inputs?
PS! Your 2:05 is also 27% behind the lap record, like my brother's 2:32 at Brno.
Hi Eirik,
Don't get me wrong: If your brother can ride that quick in such a short time on tracks, he has a heck of a lot more natural ability than I have. Not liking the chicanes says to me that he need to work on the technical parts - everyone can gas it, right?
I had a look at the Brno video (I've never been there, so I can only provide general comments), and I agree with Craig: Slow-turn, too much braking, too much lean angle too long time. His moves from side to side on the bike also seem a bit rough and slowish.
/PS: Nothing like a bit of brotherly competition here, eh
Kai
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From your brother's video from Lausitzring, I'd say that he's carrying too much lean too long. I did approx 2:05 laps when I was at Lausitzring in 2010, on my R6. I timed your brother at around 2:17 from the video. The lap record for Lausitzring (in the specific configuration) is 1:38 (Troy Bayliss, SBK).
Keeping your kneeslider on the ground, grinding it to dust can be fun in the beginning, but then you realize that you don't need to do that - and kneepucks are expensive, if you go through 1-2 pair per trackday.
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My 1977 KZ650 runs a homemade rectifier, the only electronics on the whole machine. Does that count
So it's a diesel?
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Eirik,
I use my back and stomach muscles to support the torso weight as much as possible.
Completely staying off the handlebars is hard. If he can "flap his elbows" (aka 'doing the chicken wings') he should be OK.
Kai
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Roskva electric motorcycle revealed in Norway with carbon fiber chassis and clothes
From the article: "...if you're looking to make a purchase, a hot new prototype has just been unveiled that threatens to make them all look a little bit... pedestrian"
Company homepage: http://www.roskva-electric.com/
Couple of pics too. Eirik, might be something for you
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Two comments:
- First, if you're going fast enough to scrape (semi)hard parts on public roads then you are (I my very humble and personal opinion) going too fast, because it leaves very little room for error (as you've found out).
- Secondly, you don't mention whether you're using hangout to improve your ground clearance. I'll have to assume you are - if not, starting doing that but again, please see point one.
At the risk of sounding old and condescending:
"If you want to go faster, take it to the track."
(closing credit of the movie "Faster", by Mark Neale)
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What is the best way to "save" a blown corner? I've read TOTW2 and am gradually working through it while riding (mostly around the Mulholland area). Most of the time I'll do OK, sometimes I'll do very good. Occasionally, I'll miss and apex too soon, mostly on slight hills in tighter corners. What I usually end up in is:
1) Line running wide (natural end ~5ft outside the lane)
2) Modest lean angle left "in reserve" ( some cornering clearance to the kickstand , probably near the limit for the tires & Gs I have available without falling over)
3) Rock wall on the outside edge of the lane
4) 3-6s reaction time available before I go "out"
5) throttle rolling on
6) bike balanced front/back
What is the best way to handle this? I don't feel comfortable rolling on the throttle much more, and I don't want to hit the wall. Currently what I'm doing is focusing on the exit of the turn where I want to go, breathing & loosening up, standing the bike up enough to gain more traction, scrubbing speed with both brakes, then leaning back down while trying to keep the line tight.
Is there a better way to handle this? I don't mind scrapping the kickstand as long as it doesn't throw the bike out of control.
The best way to handle it is of course not to miss the apex in the first place - but that doesn't help you much now does it?
More seriously: looking at the exit of the turn, keeping loose is a good start.
You write that you stand the bike up and brake. First, could you explain why you do this? Standing the bike up (and braking) will only get you closer to the outside wall!
Are you are maximum available lean when this happens? - If not, how could you utilize this?
Would there be another way to tighten your line? - could you possibly do this by transferring a little bit of weight to the front? How?
The dangers of added lean and throttle have been discussed here several time (several films on youtube to demonstrate it too), so what options do you have to avoid this?
Yeah, no easy answers but a bit of food for thought (and a couple of hints) to get you started.
Cheers,
Kai
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I know that it is easy to say, and harder to do but you need to slowly push your Quick Turn limit.
I practiced my quick turn back around 2000 to the point where I was using the muscles in the inner leg as a damper for the impact of the kneeslider on the tarmac. Clearly I was overdoing it, but it did teach me about just how quick your QT can be, without ill effects :-)
That is, if the track has a good grip.
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Great writeup, fossil, and great result - congratulations.
But your story reminds me of the saying that "Don't bring new technology to Daytona 200 - Daytona eats new tech for lunch!".
In other words, rushing in changes without testing them first is a risky proposition in an Endurance race. Also, the prime objective for the rider is not to win the race, but to not to crash it and bring it home. I think TK's performance at Le Mans over the years proves this pretty well. There were years where the Peugeot's were much faster, but just not reliable enough to win. TK is no longer the fastest kid on the grid, but damn he has experience and knows how to drive in the dark - and that puts him high on the rung ladder.
Again - congrats!
Kai
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Scary......I stay the heck away from the painted stripes and the rumble strips at the track, especially on the gas, way too slippery! So the question remains, how do the pro's do it ? Engine braking combined with slipper clutches that slide the wheel just enough to allow it to step out without locking up and creating flat spots on the tires????.
There must be quite some variation between grip of the paint on the tracks, because I had no problems in going over the painted areas (in the dry, and on the gas) on Lausitzring two years ago.
As for how the pros do it, the "10 top tips for track riding" videos done by Yamaha and a UK insurance company with Valentino Rossi and Andy Ibbot from some 3-4 years ago said that using the rear brake to make the tire step out was the way to go.
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You forgot to insert the valve stem after inflating the tire
. Flight reservation has been done, now's the time to look for rental car and accommodation.
Gave Myself A Birthday Present...
in School Questions/General Discussion
Posted
Bullet, you do know about what they say of the Italian Ladies - they're pretty, but slightly crazy and erratic HMGs (High Maintenance Girlfriends)
Kai, wondering what Bullet's missus will say