Mr. Bogus suggested I do a mini write-up re: my experience with track riding with slicks....good idea.
Points:
I've never riden with slicks before.
I chose Michelin Pilots
front size=12/60/17 (about a 120)
rear size=19/69/17 (about a 200?)
medium soft
They are mounted on a second set of wheels/rotors with same sprocket size for a "no brainer" switch from street rubber for track days(thank you Mr. Bogus for hooking me up with the wheels).
The balance of the info is below:
A racer (last week) told me not to worry about tire warmers if the day is 85f or warmer, just go 80% for the first lap. When we arrived at the track the real experts (suspension and tire guys) said THREE laps before I let the hammer down. That convinced me to borrow warmers for the day...what a great idea! You take em off and enter the track and you are hammer time on turn one! The big thing about that is that, psychologically, you KNOW you are good to go.
The bike is slightly taller, on the big end (straightaways) when upright, there is the slightest "wander" due to smaller contact patch when fully vertical...it almost isn't worth mentioning. The trade off, however, is mondo contact patches/adhesion when you are down with the bike, either gentle or on the edge cornering. There were some corners where I was modulating the throttle, leaned WAY over, and I found myself thinking of looking out over the approaching horizon, relaxing my grip, being smooth and NOT HARDLY THINKING of the actual corner I was currently in! Those of you that consider yourselves "high performance" riders will immediately know the benefit...for me, I've been freed up mentally, to deal with more information during the actual "combat situations"(those 100% focus times on the track). That means I'm safer, faster, more confident and really enjoying myself more on the track.
For those of you that know me, you know I love to do my silly little stoppies, well coming off the track I went to an unused area of the infield and OMG, I could bring the back of the bike up like a video game! The point of that is how much more braking you have with slicks.
I really enjoy my PP 2CT's on the street but I did have the rear "step out" on me at a previous warm track day....hence my moving to slicks.
Let me sum it up.....If you plan on doing 2+ trackdays a year, slicks will take you to a place you cannot get to with street tires, I'm so pleased with the results. I'm not a racer, I'm a 62 year old motorcyclist that wants to push my skill level as far as possible while adding commensurate amounts of SAFETY and PLEASURE. Slicks have asserted themselves as a major leap on that path.
Doyle
Points:
I've never riden with slicks before.
I chose Michelin Pilots
front size=12/60/17 (about a 120)
rear size=19/69/17 (about a 200?)
medium soft
They are mounted on a second set of wheels/rotors with same sprocket size for a "no brainer" switch from street rubber for track days(thank you Mr. Bogus for hooking me up with the wheels).
The balance of the info is below:
A racer (last week) told me not to worry about tire warmers if the day is 85f or warmer, just go 80% for the first lap. When we arrived at the track the real experts (suspension and tire guys) said THREE laps before I let the hammer down. That convinced me to borrow warmers for the day...what a great idea! You take em off and enter the track and you are hammer time on turn one! The big thing about that is that, psychologically, you KNOW you are good to go.
The bike is slightly taller, on the big end (straightaways) when upright, there is the slightest "wander" due to smaller contact patch when fully vertical...it almost isn't worth mentioning. The trade off, however, is mondo contact patches/adhesion when you are down with the bike, either gentle or on the edge cornering. There were some corners where I was modulating the throttle, leaned WAY over, and I found myself thinking of looking out over the approaching horizon, relaxing my grip, being smooth and NOT HARDLY THINKING of the actual corner I was currently in! Those of you that consider yourselves "high performance" riders will immediately know the benefit...for me, I've been freed up mentally, to deal with more information during the actual "combat situations"(those 100% focus times on the track). That means I'm safer, faster, more confident and really enjoying myself more on the track.
For those of you that know me, you know I love to do my silly little stoppies, well coming off the track I went to an unused area of the infield and OMG, I could bring the back of the bike up like a video game! The point of that is how much more braking you have with slicks.
I really enjoy my PP 2CT's on the street but I did have the rear "step out" on me at a previous warm track day....hence my moving to slicks.
Let me sum it up.....If you plan on doing 2+ trackdays a year, slicks will take you to a place you cannot get to with street tires, I'm so pleased with the results. I'm not a racer, I'm a 62 year old motorcyclist that wants to push my skill level as far as possible while adding commensurate amounts of SAFETY and PLEASURE. Slicks have asserted themselves as a major leap on that path.
Doyle
oops slick heads and tires....
