Ducati Monster Forum

I think one of my biggest problems is that I dont know how hard the tire can actually be pushed.
how hard can you push the bike before the wheel loses traction?
do they slide easy?
Im lacking trust in the tire and then find myself riding on egg shells.

Don't know what tires you are running, but i know that once my Pilot Powers are warmed up, I will NOT be able to exceed their grip at safe road speeds.  Most modern sport bike tires have more grip than can be used on public roads (provided you warm them up properly and don't ride like Rossi) ;D

I think the problem here is defining what is a "safe road speed".

I trust even sport touring tires right to the edge (scuffing the edge at the rear, getting rid of any "chicken strips there").  At least I do when I know I have a clean road to use them on.  The problem is that most of the time I can't trust the roads around here to be completely free of dirt or moisture.

Better to err on the side of caution than to lowside into something.

I would suggest that you buy a copy of Total control  by Lee Parks and go through all of the chapters, practicing what he teaches in each chapter.  Understanding how to keep the bike balanced and how to be smooth can help improve your confidence.  One of the things that I think I learned from his book is to not try to see how far I can lean the bike over but to see how quickly I can get through a corner with a minimum amount of lean (and as smoothly as possible).

The book A Twist Of The Wrist II  by Keith Code also has a lot of useful information about how to be smooth, but it was way harder for me to learn from than the Lee Parks book.

One of the best suggestions, probably from the Parks book, is to pick a section of road and run through it a whole bunch of times.  Work on being smooth, picking good lines, and making no mistakes while riding there.  After a few dozen times you'll get a lot better at those corners, and it will help you ride better on other roads too.  The road I picked is Palomares Road, which is about 10 miles long and is part of a 30 mile loop from my house.  I'm sure I've been through there more than 100 times over the years and I have a lot better understanding of how to ride smoothly through corners because of it.

One more hint: if it's cold or damp, don't trust the tires.

PM me with your e-mail addy and I can send you a copy of Twist of the Wrist

I don't have full confidence in my Qualifiers.  I was much happier with the Diablos I have ran previously.  I've had 1 front slide and many rear slides from the Qualifier ~

JM

You really can't out ride them on the track either...at least not at mortal speed.

True, injudicious use of the throttle or brake can destroy the equation.

I heartily recommend finding ones limits at the track and not on the street.

+11ty billion, in my area of northern minnesota you never know whats going to be on the roads anything from sand and gravel to weeds from a near by lake ect. so for me in any corner its hard for me to "push the limits" because i dont know what the roads going to be like that day because the roads can change in just an hour or so up there

Agree with Ducpainter.  Riding with common sense and you should be well within the limit of your tires.  For the sake of your own safety and everyone around you, push for the limit on the track.  :)

how long does it take to get the tires warmed up?

On the street probably 5 minutes of riding twisties.

Keep in mind street compounds are designed to perform well at all temps.

That is not to say to go out and drag a knee your first corner.

I would change that to say that sport touring tires are designed to work well at all temperatures.  The more sporting tires don't work nearly as well when cold as when warmed up.  And that's why most riders would be better off with sport touring tires on their motorcycles.

I've actually been considering sport-touring tires for my M750 and 900SS.  Good info Scott ~

JM