Things that help to go faster?
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1,515 Posts
I don't need to go faster. I just ride for fun. But if YOU want to go faster, here is what you need to work on:
( In order of importance )
1. Suspension
2. Tires
3. Brakes
4. Trackday / Superbike School
5. Bigger engine
6. Unobtainium bits on the bike to shave weight
( In order of importance )
1. Suspension
2. Tires
3. Brakes
4. Trackday / Superbike School
5. Bigger engine
6. Unobtainium bits on the bike to shave weight
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140 Posts
That depends. You want to go faster in a straight line or faster around a corner?
Straight line speed is simple. Add more engine power, lose more weight. Maybe improve the clutch and thats about it.
Improving cornering speed is a lot more complex. Firstly you should be improving yourself, and not the bike. Learn things like body positioning, entry speed, countersteering, choosing an appropriate line, etc etc.
Once you begin to really push your bike is when you can start looking at different tyres, suspension, ergonomics etc etc.
Straight line speed is simple. Add more engine power, lose more weight. Maybe improve the clutch and thats about it.
Improving cornering speed is a lot more complex. Firstly you should be improving yourself, and not the bike. Learn things like body positioning, entry speed, countersteering, choosing an appropriate line, etc etc.
Once you begin to really push your bike is when you can start looking at different tyres, suspension, ergonomics etc etc.
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2,519 Posts
I don't think there is a single thing that's more important than the other if you are chasing lap times on a track. Everything clicks together like a puzzle to give you an end product. I will agree with HarisonH about rider improvement first. I mean sure you can improve the bike without even having to spend money but if you ever go to a track, there's always one or two riders on a bone stock 250 or 300 that will just blow away a few riders on 600s and 1000s.
Those are the guys who have perfected their BP, their braking, line selection, and overall riding technique to be where they are at. There are entire schools and books on this so I don't think it would fit in one reply.
List all the areas you think you are weak at and focus on improving that one thing at a time. An amateur racer told me often times you will see a guy who isn't really going fast on the track, except for one section. He said sometimes racers will practice one certain thing like braking or whatever on a specific corner or section of the track.
Those are the guys who have perfected their BP, their braking, line selection, and overall riding technique to be where they are at. There are entire schools and books on this so I don't think it would fit in one reply.
List all the areas you think you are weak at and focus on improving that one thing at a time. An amateur racer told me often times you will see a guy who isn't really going fast on the track, except for one section. He said sometimes racers will practice one certain thing like braking or whatever on a specific corner or section of the track.
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58 Posts
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433 Posts
take all your money your planning to spend on mods and put it towards classes at your local track day provider, you will learn lots with the one on one time with the expert level instructors
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424 Posts
You will have faster acceleration but you'll be compromising top speed. I have changed to 1 down on the front for this weekends race but can't compare it to stock gearing but it would definitely make a difference
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254 Posts
Loose weight I was 225 now I'm 180
Installe R6 throttle tube.
lost the cat heavy ball of steel and stock muffler.
lost OEM tail thing and lights and front signals
lost smog pump
lost stock clip ons (my kids use them for barbels and work out with them.)
lost stock heavy tires lighter S20's EVO Bridgestone.( stock tires for tree swing for my kids.)
lost stock seat cowl heavy Man. (Saved the stock for if I can take the wife around the block.)
lost stock rubber break lines and brackets and steel banjo bolts.
lost stock levers
losing my bank account balance priceless
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971 Posts
1) Seat time - as much as you can do.
2) Quality instruction - what you are doing right, what you need to improve on
3) and of course - more throttle and less brake.
A skilled rider on a crappy bike will usually prevail over an unskilled rider on a good bike. Developing race skills takes time and work. Shaving weight is always a good thing, but like suspension and other bike upgrades, it'll only provide incremental improvement. Learning how to late brake, developing good lines, race starts and all the other 'tools' needed to put up good lap times will serve you better than throwing money at the machine.
2) Quality instruction - what you are doing right, what you need to improve on
3) and of course - more throttle and less brake.
A skilled rider on a crappy bike will usually prevail over an unskilled rider on a good bike. Developing race skills takes time and work. Shaving weight is always a good thing, but like suspension and other bike upgrades, it'll only provide incremental improvement. Learning how to late brake, developing good lines, race starts and all the other 'tools' needed to put up good lap times will serve you better than throwing money at the machine.
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254 Posts
seat time thats what I'm working on first on the free twisties here in so cal. I'm surrounded with them. ACH and Mulholland to start with. I start early not too many cars on the weekends. My trips average 100 to 150 miles per round trip back to my house. I take some breaks and walk around stretch and get gas. If I'm fatigued I turn back and head home with a break or two on the way home.
I can really feel how much better I'm getting riding and watching for pot hole cars people pets squirrels deer and blind people driving. And not to forget the drunk drivers and Texting phone people all the time its crazy bad. I just honk now when there sleeping at the wheel and phone addictions take control over there killing machine at this point.
It unfortunate that the probability of getting hit on hwy and rural roads and street roads.
I read this somewhere your less likely to be in a accident on the freeway or Hwy but more likely to die. Streets your more likely to be involved in a accident but less likely to die. And speed is everything.
I know this I have all my gear on all the time like I'm ready for something I don't want to happen crash.
I did a lot of hard stop practice with my old tires and it paid off when I had to do it for real about a handful of times. straight out people just pulled out and cut off cars and me.
I can really feel how much better I'm getting riding and watching for pot hole cars people pets squirrels deer and blind people driving. And not to forget the drunk drivers and Texting phone people all the time its crazy bad. I just honk now when there sleeping at the wheel and phone addictions take control over there killing machine at this point.
It unfortunate that the probability of getting hit on hwy and rural roads and street roads.
I read this somewhere your less likely to be in a accident on the freeway or Hwy but more likely to die. Streets your more likely to be involved in a accident but less likely to die. And speed is everything.
I know this I have all my gear on all the time like I'm ready for something I don't want to happen crash.
I did a lot of hard stop practice with my old tires and it paid off when I had to do it for real about a handful of times. straight out people just pulled out and cut off cars and me.
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111 Posts
I noticed there's a flat spot in power between 4k and 5k rpm. That's where I've been shifting during the break in. Will the -1 front eliminate that flat spot? Is the flat spot normal during break in and gets better over time? I'm at 300 miles. Sorry, just impatient. Keeping it below 8k rpm reminds me of my Hypermotard 1100.
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424 Posts
You'll still have a flat spot. Most bikes will have flat spots in the rev range. It may get better but I doubt it. A dyno tune will improve the flat spot (not necessary completely remove it)
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1,515 Posts
Not really.
I have a Honda Fireblade. It's STUPID fast. I once went 160mph on it. ONCE. It had more left in reserve, but I was certainly past MY limit! I rarely take it to 100mph these days. I have fun just going 60mph. This is one of the reasons I wanted a smaller bike. Motorcycle riding is not about "speed" for me. It's about getting out and enjoying the scenery and the open road. It's about the connection between man and machine. I don't need a 1000 to have fun, but I do love my Fireblade. It's a super high-quality machine. I appreciate the engineering it took to design and build it. I will never ride it anywhere near it's potential. The R3 is really fun too, in a different way. The R3 may be slow, but it has character. It is super light and nimble. It's comfortable to ride around town. And it looks great! I'm not in fear of losing my license when I ride it. I'm not constantly scanning for cops. I can just ride, and enjoy life.
:nerd:
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1,515 Posts
The little R3 engine doesn't even start making power until 7k. It likes to be rev'd hard, but you can't do it while in the break-in period. It's tough to nurse it along for the first 600 miles. I've been riding it everyday, trying to get to 600 on the odo. I've got 30 more miles to go, then I will do an oil change and a chain adjustment. After that, i'm going to wring it's little NECK! Hahahaha!
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