bradvanhorn
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Posts posted by bradvanhorn
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Congratulations on your new track bike
Steve, our resident Dunlop expert, is very consistent when it comes to grip and warmers vs. no warmers. Regardless of whether you're on street tires, slicks, etc... If you use warmers then you can go out a ride without taking additional time/laps to warm the tires. Hot off the warmers the tires are all set, go ride hard. Cold tires need a couple laps to get up to temp, don't try to set a personal best your first couple laps.
These are a couple posts Steve made on a track day forum. I link them often because they provide fantastic background information.
http://tracktalk.nesba.com/showthread.php?t=19270
http://tracktalk.nesba.com/showthread.php?t=19249
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I have Tech Spec "High Fusion" on my Speed Triple. It's thin and has a rough, pebbled surface. I picked this particular tank grip because it blends nicely with the style of the bike (at least the way I applied it) but still helps me get a more firm grip with my knees. I bought a generic sized sheet and cut pieces to the size and shape I wanted for my bike. I am happy with the appearance and feel but the durability isn't extremely good. I may switch to something a little more aggressive since I plan to add more track days to my schedule.
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I think I've linked these posts from Steve before, but here they are once again to be sure.
When Should I switch from Q2 to Race Tires (D211GPA or better)?
http://tracktalk.nesba.com/showthread.php?t=19249
Pressure and Warmer info
http://tracktalk.nesba.com/showthread.php?t=19270
Another interesting point I think on switching to race tires. It seems I frequently see forum comments from the faster guys, "when you finally try [insert any DOT race or slick tire] you just won't believe how great they are!" I have many times then thought, "well, if they are that great then why am I waiting to try them?" I have, for now at least, convinced myself Q2's are just fine (especially given their relatively low price) and there is no reason to try something up-spec, but I do still feel the itch to try GPA's (or maybe even slicks).
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I keep thinking Dovi is in trouble. He had great opportunity on the Repsol Honda last year and now the Tech 3 Yamaha this year. The Ducati move just seems more and more like a step backwards.
For Spies, I honestly think WSBK would be better for him because I think he'd be a genuine contender for the WSBK title. I do not see riding a satellite Honda in MotoGP as the direct path to a MotoGP title so he'll have to spend another year or two proving himself worthy of a new factory ride and then maybe he can be competitive for the title. I assume MotoGP means a bigger paycheck and theoretically more prestige, but WSBK just is a more interesting, exciting, competitive series at the moment and I'd rather see Spies have a real chance to win there vs. just trying to improve his credibility in MotoGP.
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Dovi is now confirmed to take on the Ducati challenge in 2013 and 2014.
I saw that on another website and couldn't help feel like that move is a mistake... I hope Dovi has more success than his predecessors.
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Brad;
Thanks for that tip; I stayed up late last night watching Dave Moss videos with CSS Coach and WERA racer Kristie Martel.
Rain
Last week I watched those as well. It's almost an addiction, once you watch one video then you want to watch the next one and then the next one...
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I am looking at possibly buying a dedicated 2007 Triumph 675 track bike. In one of the reviews I read it said that the 675 was allowed in competitive races in the supersport class but then was looked at as being an unfair advantage since the fact it has an additional 75cc's.
Now is this only for pro level racing such as AMA, WSBK or even for the local trackday races also? I just don't want to spend the money on a track bike I can only do trackdays with and not competitively race it eventually.
There likely is no one definitive answer for this question. However, I believe 675cc inline triples commonly fit in the "600 class" for racing organizations such as WERA, so my less-than-expert opinion is you're probably ok with the 675. On the other hand, there are almost countless R6's, ZX6R's, GSXR and CBR 600's on the used market if you can tolerate one of those bikes as an alternative.
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Someone recently suggested I should Google "Dave Moss" and then start reading, watching, learning... I finally did and I think it's been well worthwhile. If you're curious then try for yourself; if not, well then there's nothing to see here
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Interesting question... When I trained with CSS at NOLA in May, a good part of that experience was almost no one had seen that track before so even the coaches had to find their way. Essentially the first point made by the coaches was to go easy for a couple sessions to find and establish really solid reference points, then start to pick up the pace and make adjustments as needed. I can only speak for myself, but sticking to that point made a huge difference for the better for me. So, from my novice perspective, I'll suggest finding good reference points...
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Steve (aka DUNLOP-RTS) posted this excellent information on tire pressures and use of warmers on another forum. It is more focused on the higher grade track day/racing tires, but still a worthwhile read for Q2 users.
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I found the Tech3 info regarding Smith in numerous articles, blogs, etc. This is but one example.
Tech 3 Racing Team signs three-year deal with Bradley SmithMonday, 19 September 2011 09:19
The Tech 3 Racing Team is delighted to announce it has reached a three-year agreement with highly rated British rider Bradley Smith.
Smith's new contract will see him remain with the Tech 3 Racing Team in the ultra-competitive Moto2 World Championship in 2012.
He will then move to the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 MotoGP Team for 2013 and 2014 having agreed the long-term deal with Tech 3 owner Herve Poncharal during last weekend's Motorland Aragon race.
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Brad VanHorn: you wrote that "Smith" had a contract with Tech 3. Are you thinking of Bradley Smith in Moto2?
Elbowz = Spies ? (I'm not so familiar with the nicknames)
I read somewhere that Smith was getting moved up to one of the MotoGP seats with Tech3. I'll look for a source to confirm.
Yes, Elbowz = Spies
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NESBA and WERA classifieds are good spots to find track-built bikes - often for very low cost compared to buying and building something yourself.
If I could convince myself to spend the extra money for separate bikes to cover street and track then I'd probably get something like the new Tiger 1200 for street use and I'd definitely get a 600 supersport of some sort (or maybe a 650 twin) for the track. My current Speed Triple blends those two I suppose.
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For those who can answer or attending VIR next week ..
1. Is lunch provided along with drinks all day ? Or bring my own?
2. Is there a spot for spectating at all?
3. Are we assigned the same bike for each day? Or jump from bike to bike ...
Breakfast and lunch is provided. Snacks and drinks are available all day. If you have very specific preferences then you may consider bringing your own food/drink as a backup.
There are numerous spots for spectating.
You may or may not get the same bike, but I suspect it's more likely you'll get a different bike. Only one occasion did I get the same bike two days in a row, but that's because I was the only guy riding the F800
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Other folks out there, jump in! What specific things have you noticed that told you that you might be over- or under-loading your suspension, or possibly that your suspension is not set up correctly?
I'm riding a new bike this year and I had noticed a few times the bike would give a subtle "wobbly" feeling - the front and rear moving up/down at minutely different rates. I had not noticed, but later realized, the bike actually was running wide in the corners. These were issues I hadn't actually recognized as issues with the suspension - I had assumed it simply was how the new bike worked, or road conditions, or something I did to unsettle the bike.
I recently got with a local suspension tuner and we found most of my suspension settings were well off - I have since learned this is a common situation. Among the list of issues: the front was way too soft, front and rear rebound rates were incorrect and not uniform, and the rear was sitting too low. He spent about 45 minutes taking measurements and making adjustments (I should've taken notes rather than just observe) but I had to head home so we didn't get to fine tune the new baseline.
I learned on the brief ride home what a tremendous difference the new settings made. The bike felt completely different; vastly improved. I struggled to come up with the correct adjectives - precise, connected, harmonious... The bike felt more firm but not harsh and it tracked through the turns with precision - this is when I realized the bike previously had been running wide. It felt as though the suspension was smoothly moving up/down with the road surface without moving the rest of the bike (if that makes sense) - no more wobbly feelings.
I'll have the bike on the track again in a couple weeks and I'm very excited to see how it will handle.
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The are a couple hotels nearby... Last year when I was at Willow I know a number of students stayed at the Devonshire Inn (2076 W Rosamond Blvd, Rosamond, CA) which is roughly 5 miles from the track. If you're looking for something fancier then you'll have to head south toward Palmdale - there is a Hampton Inn, Comfort Suites, Holiday Inn Express, etc., in that area which is about 20-30 minutes from the track. Palmdale also is where the greatest variety of restaurants is located. If your budget will allow, I'd suggest you stay in the Palmdale area.
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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.
Hmmm, that is where I saw the news, and I didn't look elsewhere. I will search again later today and see if something else confirms...
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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.
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I follow the general line of thought here - "4 bikes" I think is understating things - but I am more of the mind it still is more the rider and less the machine. Spies did well with Tech 3 but really hasn't improved with factory Yamaha. Dovi did well with Repsol (factory) Honda but really hasn't declined with Tech 3. If machinery genuinely were the key, and assuming factory > satellite, then it would suggest either should have shown a more dramatic gain/loss in performance.I'm curious would you say this statistic is more directly related to the rider ability, or a symptom of a racing series where at best there are 4 bikes in the field with a realistic chance at standing on the top of the podium ?I think Carey's suggestion a Moto2-like format (with bigger motors of course) would produce closer racing (and probably more bikes in the field) is close to the mark. I think the idea would appeal to fans who would prefer closer racing and/or more bikes but the idea would not appeal to fans who only want to see full prototype racing.
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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.
With the way you describe the situation then I can see your point and I actually will take a step back and agree. Stoner, Lorenzo and Pedrosa have near dominance of the podium these days. Dovi, Spies, Crutchlow, Hayden and Rossi all are extraordinary riders, and yet these days they seem all but incapable of breaking the monopoly by those other three. The measure of "breakthrough" then probably should be who can, with some consistency, get on the podium. With Stoner departing, perhaps we finally will see one of those riders step 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. -
I'm seeing reports of "a broken swingarm" as the culprit...
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Interesting to speculate given what little has been announced vs. what still is under wraps.
Lorenzo (Yamaha), Pedrosa (Honda), Marquez (Honda), Hayden (Ducati), Smith (Tech 3) all have contracts; I think Bradl (LCR) has another year also.
My thoughts on some others:
- Rossi returns to the factory Yamaha. He's too polite to outright call the Ducati a POS, but he's been more openly critical of the bike lately, he certainly appears unhappy, and there's little to indicate the bike truly can challenge Yamaha/Honda.
- Dovisioso re-signs with Tech 3. He's performing too well to let him go. I also don't see much alternative for him unless he wants to gamble on the Ducati.
- Crutchlow moves to the factory Ducati. He's said he'd willingly take the Ducati challenge, which I think is courageous but not altogether wise.
- Spies returns to WSBK for 2013 and then returns to MOTOGP in 2014 with Suzuki. The latter seems like a pretty good bet in my opinion. The former perhaps is a lot less likely, but I want to see him get some consistent wins/podiums (or another world title) and I think he easily can do that in WSBK.
- Stoner says goodbye... for now. I won't be surprised if he comes back after a couple years.
- I agree with the notion Edwards should leave for WSBK, where I think he'd be a contender, but he has another year on his contract and I think he's been pretty clear he intends to stick with CRT for 2013 (unless the team folds).
My thoughts on Carey's CRT comment... I think MotoGP can be either all factory prototypes or all CRT-types. The two do not mix well, so it has to be one or the other. Full factory prototypes have proven, I believe, too expensive to field enough bikes to keep the sport interesting which is why CRT now exists, even though they are not competitive. If MotoGP is to survive then CRT is the more financially viable solution, thus the full factory prototypes may well become extinct.
What's Your Goal?
in School Questions/General Discussion
Posted
Hmmm, "everything" probably isn't a good answer is it?
First, get on track more. Several events a year is good fun but not enough to truly practice (and nowdays I really dislike street riding). It will be much easier to get track time now that I live 7 1/2 miles from NOLA Motorsports Park
Second, develop my sense of lean angle. I'm probably the stereotypical new guy: I feel like I'm using lots and lots of lean angle but then see pics or video and realize I'm very, very far from my max. At our last AMOS, James Toohey gave me some ideas how to work on this goal without doing something dumb.
Third, work on braking harder. I tend to brake too early and too gently. I know from AMOS training I can really get on the brakes much, much harder and without jeopardizing myself but now I have to incorporate that into my track riding.