I have a track day coming up at the big high speed, 22 turn, Auto Club Speedway. First one for the '14 14R BBW.

I've been taught never to use the rear break on the track. So on the BBW with ABS, I'm wondering about the breaking strategy in the time management allocation entering a turn. On the '06 I never used the rear break, Instructor said "never ever on his track. Don't want to high-side. As a rule I don't charge the turn, I just try, as smooth as possible, to hit the planned entry point at speed and turn in a smooth as possible.

On this new bike with ABS I am wondering about using the rear break, in a controlled way, not as part of a late trail breaking strategy.

Any sage words of advice from actual experience with rear ABS brakes on track?

Thanks!

* Last updated by: cruderudy on 3/11/2015 @ 10:31 PM *

All your hard braking should be upright of course as you know. I have no experience with track ABS, but more in a street application. I think the day should be spent as the last one out when called. This is more you find the straights so no one is behind you, no one will be in the way by the time you catch up and just slam the front brake on alone. If the front end starts to slide, quick let go of the lever.

So this is now a conditioning you need to train yourself for. How much braking can I do before the front end slides at 'high speed' remember. I'm over 100mph and I want to hear the front tire chirp on and off, watch the bars move to either side, the front drops, you release the brake lever it's as fast as lightening. It's the safer/higher speed you are attempting to stay in. You may blowout a set of fork seals and lose about 9 mph you chop it there @ 100mph and slam on the fronts.

You are always looking where you are going, mind on that lever about to be released. It's just that the bar moves sideways, the front drops, I can't tell you how fast that happens with non-ABS you are seeing that out of the corner of your eye, then the lever is released and you let the front end snap back to center with such a soft grasp between the hands and bars.

I doubt that will happen with a rolling wheel under ABS input. As long as that wheel moves under you, no skidding, no bar lock, no frame drop, etc. So the deal is this. I like snapping the brake at the last moment so I now hear my front end knock and it has the familiar tick to it.

You said the bike is broken in and I think the first 600 miles call for a test at the neck for the loose front end? If that 100+ hammer on the lever to the grip is too extreme, try a slow snap of the brake and hear for the front end to tick. Then, you sort of sneak up on the ABS by doing that.

Yes, quite intimidating snapping it to the grip and wait (things happen quick). I could not spit out a single syllable word fast enough are the reflexes under that condition. Now, straight up and down I practice a rear wheel skid no front brake?

I could see the threshold of the ABS this way. Once I stab it hard and set the ABS rat-tat-tatting, I can get a clue what the front will feel like. As long as it rolls you are in control front or rear.

When I raced I rarely used the rear brake. But you can use it to fine tune your lines. Using a bit will tend to tighten your line in the corner. But practice a lot first. You want to use it just a bit and need to get used to using light pressures.

Oh, and have fun ya bastard!

Mad

Hub, thank you for all of inside knowledge, I never get to hear the real experts who have lots of time on the track explain the inside stuff!

Another 14R track question - tire pressure. I don't have warmers so on the '06 I would always start out with 30 in the rear and 31 in the front. At the end of the 20 min session pressure was up 6-7 psi so I would back off to 31 rear and 32 front hot, and ride there the rest of the day. I know I'm just guessing with no data to go off of. The stock BStones hypersports on the 2014 14R seem like pretty good tires and inspire confidence turning.But i just don't know if I'm using a good starting poit or am way f'ing off. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

You bet. Here's where you are the last call and you want to be the last one out. Why? The others have warmers and they can take off in a lap or less. You without warmers, you'll have to slowly warm up the tires so you'll ride in a brisk way for 2 laps and then on the third, tuck the head down and take off.

1. Warmers are when you are sitting on the grid waiting to be flagged off, the tires cool down waiting. Again, you want them warmup with or without warmers and they think they can cook the corners right off.
2. The tire is cooling off as you blow more wind on it. Last thing you want to do is ride slow from a fast pace, then hammer it again? Tires cooled and you threw it away. Think any tire so you apply the science.
3. No warmers; they are running 'the same tire pressure' as a warmer so the less pressure, the hotter it gets wink-wink hotter it stays wink-wink hot in the wind-chill-factor. I remember one guy go out, forgot about his tires, did not think about what transpired as in, did he stop for a quick adjustment before the session, but the quick repair was with warmers just removed? Pick a scenario about heat to cool to hamming it too soon and... Boom!... down he goes after a few turns.

Tire pressures are held close to the chest. Let me just say the numbers mentioned are high. Start with that and work your way down. Think carcass-crinkle and the shift of the tire patch and the carcass-wrinkle is where? If it feels funny air it back up. If you can override the wrinkle, get your pro license you're ready.

Just remember about giving the tires enough time to heat up no warmers. Sit upright, look way out so you can line up your smooth [turns] as the tires take time to heat up.

#1 priority: '... and have fun [figuring it all out] ya bastard!'

So just like the last bike no rear at all at the track, just 1 to many things to do. The few times I played with using the rear i screwed up the entry to the turn. Using only front I can get set up properly and move into position, hit the entry speed and point, get my ass off and feet positioned properly for the turn-in and a bit of throttle roll-on before the hookup at the apex.

Toward the end of the day when I was feeling good about my laps I played with the front break and a bit of late/trail breaking. No matter how hard I got on the break I could not actuate the front ABS. The front tire was howling, a bit of head shake even with the damper on 12 and I don't think I could have started later and entered the turn smoothly.

Strange, guess the B20's are pretty good tires and don't slip.

* Last updated by: cruderudy on 4/26/2015 @ 5:51 PM *