steve929rry
Member
Hello,
I only use the S1000RR's for the track as soon as they are run-in.
Although I've been a road rider as well since 1976 (currently Kwak S1000SX) I mostly do track days and usually keep my S1000RR at Almeria Nov to March with Focused Events and then bring it back for other overseas and UK track days. Last year did Donington twice, Almeria (14 days), Brno (3 days), Portimao (4 days), Andalucia (4 days), Jerez (3 days) and Aragon (4 days) so probably do more track miles than most road riders do on the road.
My first BMW was a Gen 2 which I absolutely loved and is till the bike that I set all my fastest laps on although to be fair the Gen3 was faster but the OEM down-blipper missed the occasional gear and went into a false neutral which caused a gravel excursion at Jerez and a broken arm low-side at Almeria which slowed me down a bit. I changed the quickshifter for HM set at quite a high changing force which cured the false neutral issue as it won't change at all unless you press hard on the lever eliminating any half-hearted gear changes.
I've done a couple of Donington's and 4 days at Portimao so far on the Gen 4 (Msport with track fairings otherwise standard). I'm already nearly on the same pace as I was on the Gen3 which was mapped by Phil Crowe at 202.3 BHP at the rear wheel.
Thoughts on the Gen 4 on track (nowhere else counts on these bikes):
- About the same top end power as my Gen3 but accelerates slightly better
- Handling is better; holds a line easier and does not buck and slide at the rear when accelerating banked over; faster turn in than Gen3 (Gen3 had BST carbon wheels); more comfortable and less exhausting to fight around a track
- Traction control light when set the same as Gen3 flashes a lot more on Gen 4 but appears to control the bike better giving confidence to power out of corners and doesn't feel intrusive.
- Wheelie control is definitely better and there's nowhere better to find this out than Portimao.
- Rear tyre wear is reduced and this is not due to slow lap times. I hated the Metzeller K1's which I used for the morning of the first day at Donington, not a grip issue but the front felt terrible, thought I'd bought a dud. Changed to V02 Slicks in the afternoon and could not believe how good the bike was - what a relief!
- Brakes are pretty good with SBS dual carbon race pads but I think the Gen3 had a slight edge there although I think it's due to the aftermarket discs that are fitted to Gen 3 rather than a Brembo v Hayes caliper issue. I broke the brake lever in a stupid fall off the stand in the garage so have ordered a Brembo RCS master cylinder, I'll see if that makes any improvement.
Off to Brno his month unless Corna virus stops me. I'm changing the final drive to 16/45 from standard 17/45 and also thinking about rs2e race mapping pro ECU but I can't make my mind up if I dare risk the first time out being Brno in case there's any issue that could ruin my three days - Brno's my favourite track.
Cheers,
Steve
I only use the S1000RR's for the track as soon as they are run-in.
Although I've been a road rider as well since 1976 (currently Kwak S1000SX) I mostly do track days and usually keep my S1000RR at Almeria Nov to March with Focused Events and then bring it back for other overseas and UK track days. Last year did Donington twice, Almeria (14 days), Brno (3 days), Portimao (4 days), Andalucia (4 days), Jerez (3 days) and Aragon (4 days) so probably do more track miles than most road riders do on the road.
My first BMW was a Gen 2 which I absolutely loved and is till the bike that I set all my fastest laps on although to be fair the Gen3 was faster but the OEM down-blipper missed the occasional gear and went into a false neutral which caused a gravel excursion at Jerez and a broken arm low-side at Almeria which slowed me down a bit. I changed the quickshifter for HM set at quite a high changing force which cured the false neutral issue as it won't change at all unless you press hard on the lever eliminating any half-hearted gear changes.
I've done a couple of Donington's and 4 days at Portimao so far on the Gen 4 (Msport with track fairings otherwise standard). I'm already nearly on the same pace as I was on the Gen3 which was mapped by Phil Crowe at 202.3 BHP at the rear wheel.
Thoughts on the Gen 4 on track (nowhere else counts on these bikes):
- About the same top end power as my Gen3 but accelerates slightly better
- Handling is better; holds a line easier and does not buck and slide at the rear when accelerating banked over; faster turn in than Gen3 (Gen3 had BST carbon wheels); more comfortable and less exhausting to fight around a track
- Traction control light when set the same as Gen3 flashes a lot more on Gen 4 but appears to control the bike better giving confidence to power out of corners and doesn't feel intrusive.
- Wheelie control is definitely better and there's nowhere better to find this out than Portimao.
- Rear tyre wear is reduced and this is not due to slow lap times. I hated the Metzeller K1's which I used for the morning of the first day at Donington, not a grip issue but the front felt terrible, thought I'd bought a dud. Changed to V02 Slicks in the afternoon and could not believe how good the bike was - what a relief!
- Brakes are pretty good with SBS dual carbon race pads but I think the Gen3 had a slight edge there although I think it's due to the aftermarket discs that are fitted to Gen 3 rather than a Brembo v Hayes caliper issue. I broke the brake lever in a stupid fall off the stand in the garage so have ordered a Brembo RCS master cylinder, I'll see if that makes any improvement.
Off to Brno his month unless Corna virus stops me. I'm changing the final drive to 16/45 from standard 17/45 and also thinking about rs2e race mapping pro ECU but I can't make my mind up if I dare risk the first time out being Brno in case there's any issue that could ruin my three days - Brno's my favourite track.
Cheers,
Steve
