Post TrackDay on S4rs

[arai_speed]

So this past Friday I took my S4Rs to the track for the very first time.  I was excited to take my new bike out there and really stretch her legs on a close circuit.  Well, my first opinion is that the Monster is NO track bike.  In stock trim, all the ergos that make the bike such a nice STREET bike are greatly amplified for the worst on the track.

The upright riding position, the handle bars, the seat, the footpegs....all the things that feel good on the commute to work don't work on the track, at least not for me.  After the 2nd session I had to remove the plastic toe sliders on my boots to try and prevent my foot from slipping off the pegs.  This helped but since the pegs are like stubs, I could never get a good footing on the bike. Side to side transitions are more difficult since the stock seat has a concave which sucks you in and prevents smooth ass cheeks movement.  Torque was really good for getting out of the corners but the thing never went past 140mph on the front straight...maybe that's just me...who knows...I would see 160mph+ on my 8 year old R1 w/out any problems.

The best thing about the bike hands down 1000% are the breaks - those things once warmed up are just ridiculous.  It was the only way that I could pass the Gixxers and R1s that were blowing by me on the straights as I could out brake quite a few of them.  Suspension was never an issue also, I never felt the bike dive or wobble while under hard braking or acceleration.  The bike was very very stable at high speeds...that's probably because of the damper (set to the max) but steering inputs where very smooth and precise.

I had a good time out there but truth be told I doubt I'll be taking this bike back out there again.  It's an awesome street bike and a fun canyon bike but out there on the track it's just not the toy for me.

My glory shot of the day:

[Gavin]

This is very much what I expected. I love my s4rs on the street but it aint no superbike. It's the 1st non sport bike I've owned in 20 yrs and I love it for what it is but I'm not sure what I'm gonna do if I sell my track bike. 

[arai_speed]

This is very much what I expected. I love my s4rs on the street but it aint no superbike. It's the 1st non sport bike I've owned in 20 yrs and I love it for what it is but I'm not sure what I'm gonna do if I sell my track bike. 

Yeah I was a bit disappointed, as I was hoping for a good "all around" bike.  I sold my previous track bike as it was just sitting there collecting dust in the garage...I don't go often enough to warrant a track only machine.  I'm sure the monster can be a total blast on the track w/a few mods...for sure some rear-sets...those are a must among a few other things. 

[arai_speed]

how appropriate!! I just did my first day at the track on my S4R today.. I was the only one with a monster... R1 and Gixxers seem to be the right choice for the track... those guys pushed HARD without regrets. If they go down it's not such a big deal as if you or I go down on our beloved monsters.... Even though I looked out of place at the track in between all the jap bikes.. I enjoyed doing it on the monster.... it handles great and it looks so darn good while at it..!!! plus.. at the end of the day... you are not there to win races.. but to better your riding and enjoy your motorcycle. !

Cool man...glad you enjoyed your first track day!  Have fun out there. 

[tufty]

Yeah I was a bit disappointed, as I was hoping for a good "all around" bike.  I sold my previous track bike as it was just sitting there collecting dust in the garage...I don't go often enough to warrant a track only machine.  I'm sure the monster can be a total blast on the track w/a few mods...for sure some rear-sets...those are a must among a few other things. 

An S4R can be turned into a track weapon. Forget the rearsets, raise the rear lower the front and get the suspension sorted and trust me you'll show a few GSXR's a thing or two.

[gm2]

An S4R can be turned into a track weapon. Forget the rearsets, raise the rear lower the front...

so you mean, start making it a sport bike? 

Would you say that the S4R can catch an R6 on a straight?

nope!  (i've had both)

an R1?

an R1 could outrun the entirety of an S4R's capability in 2nd gear.

[Cucciolo]

nope!  (i've had both)

Did you enjoy your S4R better than the R6 at the track?

I would imagine that the R6 is way cheaper to maintain and may withstand some track abuse better than the S4R..am I correct?

[gm2]

Did you enjoy your S4R better than the R6 at the track?

I would imagine that the R6 is way cheaper to maintain and may withstand some track abuse better than the S4R..am I correct?

an S4R is a street bike.  yes, you can make some adjustments and have some fun on it at the track, but it's not a track bike.  if you make a LOT of changes to it, yeah, obviously you can make it a track bike.. but unless you have a major project bug and plenty of cash, and then plenty of cash to fix it when it goes down, why?

way cheaper to maintain and may withstand some track abuse better; yep.

99% (ok, really 100%) of my riding is at the track now.  ...I have an R6.

[arai_speed]

I would agree with gm2, a Monster in stock trim is no track bike, period.  An R1/R6 will ride circles around this bike.  At the beginning of the front straight I passed a few people as I had a bit more corner speed coming out of turn 9 but by the middle of the straight, they were passing me by again 

I enjoyed my R1 much much more on the track then my current bike.   If you plan on going to track fairly often, then it's a good idea to invest in a used track only bike.  If you are (were) like me, and only plan on going every blue moon, then keep the monster and have fun out there.  Just don't expect it to be up to par with it's Japanese counterparts.

 

[Statler]

At the speeds most of us (not all...most...meaning the non track-rats) are going, it's more rider than anything else.   After two days on my bike and two days on a track prepped zx6r, I went almost exactly the same speed on each...to within half a second on my fastest lap.

A better rider could have smoked me on almost anything (the eleven year old on the 125 humbled everyone).   And there were some liter bikes out there that were not exactly hauling...faster straights but slower lap times overall.

So for the guys who are looking to do a track day or class or are doing one day or so per year, the r6 versus s4r comparison isn't realy the right question.   Ride whatever you enjoy riding...we're not getting paid to do it after all.   If it's more of a 'my friend is riding an r6 will I be able to keep up?' then it all depends on your friend.


oh...and I had a lot more fun on the Duc at the track...

[gm2]

At the speeds most of us (not all...most...meaning the non track-rats) are going, it's more rider than anything else.   After two days on my bike and two days on a track prepped zx6r, I went almost exactly the same speed on each...to within half a second on my fastest lap.

A better rider could have smoked me on almost anything (the eleven year old on the 125 humbled everyone).   And there were some liter bikes out there that were not exactly hauling...faster straights but slower lap times overall.

So for the guys who are looking to do a track day or class or are doing one day or so per year, the r6 versus s4r comparison isn't realy the right question.   Ride whatever you enjoy riding...we're not getting paid to do it after all.   If it's more of a 'my friend is riding an r6 will I be able to keep up?' then it all depends on your friend.

all very true.  if you're just doing a track day every great once in a while, don't bother.

and NEVER try to get a bike/adjust your riding so you can goes as fast as so-and-so.  that's a recipe for disaster.

however.. if you go more than every great once in a while, a dedicated track bike is the best/cheapest thing you can do.

as for what, easiest thing to do is keep an eye on the racer boards.. WERA, WSMC, AFM, classifieds @ superbikeplanet & roadracingworld, etc.. pick up someone's used race bike.  sorting a bike from scratch for the track is a bit of a task, and mostly unnecessary (do as i say not as i do.. ).  keep it common and japanese.  parts 'a plenty out there in the world, and much cheaper service. 

the sukzuki SV650 is a really common cheap, good track bike.  esp if you feel like you want a twin.  personally it took me about a minute to adjust to the powerband difference between a twin and an I4, but theoretically it matters to some.

yeah brands and model year changes will all have some input, but they're pretty much all good and you'll have to work your way up to where it really matters.  set a budget and do it that way.

[Spidey]

all very true.  if you're just doing a track day every great once in a while, don't bother.

and NEVER try to get a bike/adjust your riding so you can goes as fast as so-and-so.  that's a recipe for disaster.

however.. if you go more than every great once in a while, a dedicated track bike is the best/cheapest thing you can do.

as for what, easiest thing to do is keep an eye on the racer boards.. WERA, WSMC, AFM, classifieds @ superbikeplanet & roadracingworld, etc.. pick up someone's used race bike.  sorting a bike from scratch for the track is a bit of a task, and mostly unnecessary (do as i say not as i do.. ).  keep it common and japanese.  parts 'a plenty out there in the world, and much cheaper service. 

the sukzuki SV650 is a really common cheap, good track bike.  esp if you feel like you want a twin.  personally it took me about a minute to adjust to the powerband difference between a twin and an I4, but theoretically it matters to some.

yeah brands and model year changes will all have some input, but they're pretty much all good and you'll have to work your way up to where it really matters.  set a budget and do it that way.

+1.

A coupla things about buying a race bike.  You want to make sure the frame is straight.  Save some $ in your budget to have the suspension redone.  It's worth it's weight in gold.  And don't buy the pimpedest race bike with an AMA-spec engine that runs on race gas with billion dollar go-fast parts.  It sounds appealing, but it's not worth the money or the hassle.  An otherwise stock bike with track bodywork, a damper, an exhaust and aftermarket suspension and rearsets will do you just fine.

On a model note, personally (and I'm sure gm2 will disagree) I'd stay away from the post-'05 R6.  I know a lot of folks who struggle to make them go fast.  The latest R6 is really in its element in the hands of an expert.  Other bikes will be more fun to ride and more comfortable to go fast with. 

[gm2]

(and I'm sure gm2 will disagree)  

sure do 

took me a while to get my '07 sorted but it was a new bike.. i can't really make a objective call vs my old track bike that was a race bike and dialed when i got it.

[EvilSteve]

Hopefully you got the tank sliders on there...

Oh, it's just a simple low side...

Why is my bike on fire? 

[sqweak]

+1 for dedicated, but be sure it's not a blue moon thing.  Yes, I was silly and bought a trackbike after my first taste at the track...and promptly followed it up with a handful of days in the following months.  Those days & a lowside have already justified the purchase for me, YMMV.  Work has spoiled all my plans lately, but I'll be back soon.

+1 on the SV.  Now is a good time to be looking for deals.