First Track Day on the 696

[ducpainter]

If I might chime in...

getting off any Monster is crucial to going fast on it.

I haven't ridden any of the 'new' bikes, but the breed lacks ground clearance, and if you aren't comfy scraping stuff...

hang it out.

[NekkedChic]

Nymph, Zoom n Painter (everyone actually included)  THANK YOU for your words of encouragement and constructive criticism-I welcome ALL!! 

I had improved as far as comfort and moving around on the bike before this track day, and even tho I DID move my arse a BIT over, still scraped toe n peg.  Then the Control Rider worked with me, he was GREAT, but think he and I both pushed too much/too fast.  He told me to turn "inside" toe out, pull heel in and up-but this does not work so well on Monster and rearset frame AND with my SMALL feet    I lost a LOT of speed trying to contort for "proper body position" and felt bit unsteady too often- but working on it on STREET at normal speeds, yes even on big sweeper corners I am "hanging off" now 

But YUP Painter, this track day did prove to me it IS "CRUCIAL" to get off the Monster.  Just clarify something for me: IS it as "dangerous" to scrape hardparts as my brain has built it up to be???!!! 

Hope my next track pix n vids show the great improvement I think I am making!  and thank you ALL for the support n encouragement!  Feeling lot less squidly now 

[stopintime]

Besides looking at Ducati girls in leather, I enjoyed the video. You DO move your "bottom", but I think you might also benefit from lowering the upper body and pointing it through the turn, head first. I've seen fellow Monster riders scraping pegs/boots because they were hanging their "bottoms" off, but not leaning their upper bodies in the same direction.

Oh my oh my - Ducati girls in leather I'm going to view the video again

[zooom]

stopintime is correct in the regard as to getting your torso out over the front end...this goes back to body position...with your body in proper position, you will find it easier to get your feet into a proper placement...think of your body position as getting out and over and forward to kiss your mirror....odds are, if you can kiss your mirror, then you are just about there...here is an example for you...



as to your question of dragging and touching down hard parts....it is kinda tough to answer that...I had occasion with my previous exhaust set-up in a deep keeled over turn, to touch my muffler...this was luckily at the apex when I didn't need to push over any further...it was also a gentle touch down....I think the trouble becomes when you aren't finished turning in and it happens because depending on what you touch down (in your case, your footpeg for example) as you push harder on it, you are liable to unload the rear and spin it up and lose it alltogether...this is more of a problem with fixed pegs as apposed to your stock folding ones as the force of touch-down to a folding one will allow a little give to prevent this in your early stages...dragging toe sliders/boots is more of a signal for you to get the ball of your foot up on the peg instead of the arch, which is something most people do until they get comfy with it (unless you are an old Beemer airhead rider stickin your toe out as a feeler to keep from touching your heads down )...on some Japanese bikes, they have a feeler stud screwed into a footpeg for this puropose as well...in the end...it is a bad thing to drag hard parts of your bike around on the track...but it isn't a thing that is going to kill you intially or anything, especially at this stage of the game...but it is easily preventable with body position corrections.

[gm2]

someone here ought to say it: yes, eventually, body position is important.  but it's probably NOT the first thing you want to start trying to perfect on track day #2.

turning in quickly, learning to relax (oh so key!), finding reference points and entry-apex-exits so that you're not make mid-corner corrections, and making sure your visual skills are up to par are going to be much more important first. 

it doesn't matter how fast you're going.  get the fundamentals down and then you'll automatically start going faster without even trying.  never feel like you need to keep up with anyone; that's a recipe for disaster.  they only person out there you should worry about is you.


for body position basics

 - before you start trying to hang off all crazy, practice turning your hips slightly and pointing them at the apex as you enter a corner. 

 - when you do start to move around on the bike, remember that if you're turning in quickly enough and have the right line/speed, you probably only ever need to get half a cheek off the seat.  it's not necessary to hang off into next week.  (although maybe a bit more with a bike like the monster, with no ground clearance)

 - if you ever find yourself getting into a corner too hot, lowering your chest just slightly toward the tank will increase your turn angle and help you make the corner.

 - remember to keep your hips, spine, and head all on the same line geometrically.  you don't want to push your hips out into a turn and then be pulling back in the other direction with your head ("crossed up")


but, again, IMO, you should first focus on getting the bike turned once and quickly and then your visual skills before you concentrate on the above.  and you can do that going any speed.

[gm2]

oh - and to the extent that the 696 has an adjustable suspension (i have no clue) pay someone at the track the $25-$40 it'll cost to have them set up your suspension.  you don't need to get all set-up crazy at this point, but having a bike that doesn't nosedive into the corners or that tries to push you wide everywhere you go is sooooo worth the $.  have a suspension dude do it.  it's a bit of a science.

[mostrobelle]

GM2 speaks da troof.  A lot of new track riders spend a lot of time trying to look good for the camera (that's just a  way of saying that they're too focused on b.p.)  If you have good lines you don't need so much lean angle and therefore negate the need to hang off like a monkey.  Moving around the bike takes a lot of energy and when you're using up 3/4 of your brain just on not tipping over, it's a recipe for problems as the day wears on and fatigue starts to take over.  Sometimes I'll make an effort to slow down and redefine my lines at a trackday--after lunch is usually a good time for me.  Suddenly I'll notice that I'm actually going faster and doing less work.  I'm all about lazy.  I spend a lot of time listening to my breathing, inhaling and exhaling as I enter and exit a turn, hitting my marks, figuring out where I need to hang off versus where I can just toss a knee out.  If I start making mistakes or my mouth is getting dry I know that I'm losin' it.  I'll come in a few minutes early, because there's no need in practicing bad habits.  Ride only when you feel like your energy and focus is there.  You'll have more fun and stay upright. 

[NekkedChic]

I think this is turning into an excellent thread for EVERYONE to benefit honestly.  Thanks for the personal attention as well! 

Been "playin" bit more on the street where I am familiar with the lines of the corners etc etc etc....

DEF understand need to lower upper body and what a DIFFERENCE that made-but it did not feel right or natural until I actually figured out to slide my ass BACK on the seat as well duh LOL  And with Rizoma's, when I lowered upper body, felt like I had APE HANGERS for bars    so took some time to feel right

As far as my toe hitting-PROMISE I was nearly tippy toed and improved foot/peg position long ago thankfully.  It seems just the front of my boot hit at the track when I got so leaned over and the PEG followed    but will say I am managing to pull heel up on rearset better without feeling so contorted 

Hubby did figure out how to adjust rear spring/shock and BIG difference.  Otherwise, in stock form, the Monster suspension is STIFF AS HELL-now actually have some sag and ride is MUCH improved.   Have local friends that own suspension shop, TTR in Longwood FL-they "inspected" hubby's work on Monster AND his spring/fork n oil swap on the SV650 and actually complimented him     I may still let TTR do some figuring on Monster since I am finally beginning to ride it to levels where it DOES make a difference    As far as SV, I prolly need to look for my OWN dedicated track bike because adjusting suspention on it for both of us is impossible of course.

Please keep up the suggestions n comments, GREATLY appreciated 

[IdZer0]

Holy sh* that's a lot of lean for a DSS Monster with low pipes. I didn't know they could lean that far over. Is that with standard pegs or rearsets?

[Xiphias]

some vid.  I come in at :40, red Dainese jacket of course


NC at FSB track day Session 3

not sure how to insert vids here.

    Tracks are too fun.

[Speeddog]

Holy sh* that's a lot of lean for a DSS Monster with low pipes. I didn't know they could lean that far over. Is that with standard pegs or rearsets?

He's got the standard footpeg brackets on, can't see the pegs.

Seems the muffler is pretty close to touching, too.

[Monstermonkey]

Having both a Monster (S2R1000) and an SV650 I can offer a little insight.  My first track day on the Monster (first time on a track) I quickly learned that my big feet were the first things touching down.  I then took a class and learned better body position.  That was the first time I touched a knee.  Here's a pic from that day:


As I learned to lean the bike more I noticed that the kickstand would touch and I was constantly wearing out the toe sliders on my boots.  I then bought an SV just for the track and with the kickstand removed, you can lean that bike over forever.  It's a much more track friendly bike, and only 1/6th of the cost of my monster!

Please bring that crowd of hotties to Miller for a track day!

[NekkedChic]

Having both a Monster (S2R1000) and an SV650 I can offer a little insight.  My first track day on the Monster (first time on a track) I quickly learned that my big feet were the first things touching down.  I then took a class and learned better body position.  That was the first time I touched a knee.  Here's a pic from that day:


As I learned to lean the bike more I noticed that the kickstand would touch and I was constantly wearing out the toe sliders on my boots.  I then bought an SV just for the track and with the kickstand removed, you can lean that bike over forever.  It's a much more track friendly bike, and only 1/6th of the cost of my monster!

Please bring that crowd of hotties to Miller for a track day!

NICE!  This and the pic above are encouraging as HELL!! July 4/5 is next track day and I plan on splitting it up between Monster and SV! Have feeling I will like SV too much on the track! But sharing again so will be mostly on Monster. Need new front tire-replaced rear with Dunlap, LOVE IT, any suggestions for front now? TKS

[zooom]

I have to agree with 1 statement made in another thread in regards to the SV...

twolanefun said..

....it was designed as a street bike that became a track bike soley because of the price of admission...

a track bike or a race bike in that regard...and the ones that are really well set up, have had good amounts of money poured into them...my track Monster initially cost me with travel expense and logistics to that trip about $3600...but I fell into a window of opportunity that was not to be duplicated...and I have since spent money on this bike over the last 3 years I have owned it in correcting things from the P/O and getting things set up for me and so forth and so on...and that is the saga of any track bike for the most part...

[tufty]

NICE!  This and the pic above are encouraging as HELL!! July 4/5 is next track day and I plan on splitting it up between Monster and SV! Have feeling I will like SV too much on the track! But sharing again so will be mostly on Monster. Need new front tire-replaced rear with Dunlap, LOVE IT, any suggestions for front now? TKS

If I may strongly recommend either reversing the stock bars or adding clip ons. A huge part of getting a Monster to handle on a track is to get weight over the bars and tank which is difficult with stock bars. You'll find it much easier and more willing to tip in.

Anyhoo, here's a couple of me and my S4R at Barber.