S4: on board trackday footage and educated impressions

[pete]

Today I took my Speed Four on the track after dozens of track days on a fully race prepared Yamaha R6. It wasn't such an easy bike as I remembered it to be. And as I'd like to keep the S4 in a good shape, I took it really easy and carefully (see for instance the brakings). My lap times (after I got used to the bike again) were 7 seconds slower than the lap times on the R6 with a badly slipping clutch.

On board footage here

Okay so. What's the deal with a Speed Four on the track? There's no power, but that's okay. I still managed to keep most of the GSX-R's and such behind me, even on the long straight. But as for the engine... The fuel injection is BAD. I dunno, I didn't remember it to be that horrible, maybe I need a retune or something. Throttle response is awful and the step from 0% injection to 1% injection was frightening. You see that in the video, I usually stat to open apply the throttle when the track is already straightening up.

The suspension was better than what I remembered it to be and the bike is very calm. Ony mild shakes on bumps when accelerating hard out of a corner. The brakes are excellent.
BUT: The clip ons are too high and narrow. ***** it's a ***** to turn. And cos the clip ons are so high, you won't naturally support the outside arm on the tank. You have to force it, which is hard, and if you don't, it's even harder on your arms. Also the high clip ons make it hard to transfer weight on the front wheel. The clip ons are also so narrow that steering it is quite hard work aswell.

Then what was my own fault... I had a set of relatively fresh Michelin Power Races on the R6, but I thought it'd be too much work to pull them off and install them to the S4, so I just slapped some new Pilot Powers on it. Street tires are *****. Holy ***** the grip and responsiveness of race tires is truly something else. (And mind you, Power Races aren't really that good, but they're tons better than Pilot Powers!)

So, as a conclusion my $.02 on Speed Four as a track bike. None of the problems I really paid any attention to before I got the R6. And the speed Four should be very good, as long as you get some decent clip ons, mount them under the triple clamp at a slightly wider angle, get the fuel injection sorted out spot on and ride on proper rubber.

[Catenaccio]

Thanks for the report and the video. It makes me wonder about the efficacy of turning a hooligan bike into a track weapon. Better a 675 maybe?

[pete]

A 675 is definitely better, but if you're looking for a truly affordable trackday bike an S4 is a great choice. Just get the FI sorted out. And I definitely would change the clip ons to LSL or something and mount them under the triple clamp at a slightly wider angle.

You're down on power compared to the new supersports but so what? It's still great fun and an S4 is so different from everything else on the track that you'll get some nice attention too. At least I did

Oh and the response from the other riders was great when I was all disappointed on Friday since the Yamaha broke down and I thought I'd have to pass Saturday... When I showed up with the Triumph in the morning they were like "Wow, now that's a player's move!"

[Yak]

On the flip side, In my opinion, the modern sport bike (R6,600RR,675 etc.. ) make horrid street bikes. Where the S4 really does both at an exceptable level, the race ready sport bikes just fall so short in any situation where you want to ride more than 30 miles. I was graced with the oportunity to ride a 2005 CBR600RR from Sacramento to Reno. By the time I got to Reno I was begging for the comfort of my S4. The riding position puts so much strain on the wrists at reasonable (read legal) "street" speeds. Also the seat felt like I was sitting on a piece of cardboard. Not to mention the aggressive leaned over angle means I have to kink my neck way up.

So not like im complainig about the CBR, R6, ZX6 GSXR. they're awesome no doubt. But lets face it. 98% of the squids buying sport bikes will not use them for the track. They are used as street bikes, and again, I think they suck for that purpose. The S4 on the other hand has good street/touring manors, aside form the non existent wind protection. The riding position is very similar to a stock VFR800.


[ This message was edited by: Yak on 2007-06-24 14:45 ]

[gaps113]

I just come back from the Isle of Man on my S4, I found I couldn't compete with the jap600s, but back on UK roads its again very good. And I agree with the narrow bars, but also the front forks are a little soft and I often over work them. I have a screen mounted on top of the speed cowl which helps massively. And the injection is horrid around 2800rpm, a new Throttle position sensor, plus a PCIII has helped but there are still glitches, and the fuel economy well 13litres to 110miles average - ouch!!

Gaps.