Triumphrat

RichR · 01-10-2005

I signed up for a course offered throuh 2-Fast.org that provides instruction + track time. It'll be my first time on the track and I want to put fresh tires on my T100. Any suggestions as to which brand to look at?
Thanks.

trypcil · 01-10-2005

Don't know about tyres but think about suspension up grades as well perhaps! :razz:

akells · 01-10-2005

For your first time out on that particular bike id just put on a fresh set of the stock bridgestones...this way it is still streetable and will react the same way that you are used it during the track day.....id only do something radical after you get comfy on the track with your bike

Will · 01-12-2005

The stock Bridgestone BT010s that came with my bike worked fine for track days. They were very progressive at the limits, and slid predictably instead of letting go suddenly. You signed up early. The schedule only went up about a month ago and there is snow on the ground!

RichR · 01-13-2005

"slid predictably" Yikes.
I'm predictably nervous about the whole thing. But, what the heck, if you're gonna ride, you might as well go to school. I've sinced noticed that some tires have what I'd describe as a semi-circular shape and others more of a parabolic, presumably to give you a larger/more effiective contact path when leaned over hard. Would the parabolic shape cause the bike to lean quicker?

Yep, signed up pretty early for the class. In Mapley Valley all we have is talk about snow and a little ice in the shadows. Pretty cold riding though! Going to go out tomorrow if there's any hope of sun. Have you taken a class through 2-Fast.org?

Thanks for the help.

Will · 01-13-2005

Didn't take the class, mostly because the whole even got tangled up with organizational issues. I guess Mark and the people that run Spokane Raceway Park got all crossed up. Did two days at Spokane anyway, and it was a complete blast. Mark just has track days at Pacific Raceway this year, probably because of that snafu.

Don't worry too much about the sliding part. That happened a couple of years ago on a set of tires that probably shouldn't have been on the bike anymore. The temperature was in the high 90s, and the tires already had three track days on them. I had my front tire let go suddenly this summer, but the tire was a Pirelli, not a Bridgestone. Could have been because I was chasing a couple of guys on race tires (as I found out later). Very little harm done, but it was a surprise. And, it was as much my own fault as anything for riding past the capability of the street tires I had on the bike. Don't forget that a T100 has a whole lot less cornering clearance than a TT600. I doubt that you will have any problem with your tires, but if you do get to the ragged edge, my experience is that Bridgestones will be predictable and treat you very well.

You are absolutely right about the shape affecting handling. Dunlops generally have a pointy profile that makes the bike fall into corners. Metzlers generally have a rounder profile that keeps the bike stable, but doesn't turn as quickly. For your first track day, just use what you are used to.

Don't be nervous at all. Just use the track day as a learning experience and don't let anyone push you to go faster or slower than you want. You will learn more about what you and your bike can do together in ten laps than you can imagine. Mark doesn't tolerate much squidly behavior, so you shouldn't have any problems with other riders. Also, nearly every track day is split up into three groups, so you will be on the track with other street riders, not full race bikes. You will have a complete blast! The only problem with doing track days is that they are habit forming!