Tire Knowlege Needed
 

So I was just at the Cleveland International Motorcycle show this past weekend, and ran into the guys that run the "Moto Series" that I've been thinking about getting into. We talked for a good while and told the guy that me and my buddy were intersted in getting into the racing school they offer, so we could get our competition lisence. We signed up for the April school which got me thinking... oh shit, what am I going to do about a ride?

I think I'm pretty sure I'm not going to race the baby Viff, just based on how old she is. People keep telling me that bikes like that get raced in the vintage series all the time, and that they do just fine. The problem is I dont have the cash to just up and buy a track bike yet. So I figure I will use the viff to do the track school and make a decision from there on what im going to do. Hopefully I can save up a little cash by then and can jump on a nice race prepped sv or something. The problem with the viff is tires, they are small. Like 110/90H-18 rear small.... It will definitely need new tires before the riding season starts anyway. So I might as well begin to plan what I would like to put on it for spring/track school. Sport Rider ran a section about tires in the June issue and gave a listing of tires that will fit. What do you think is the best option??? Does anybody have experience with these.

-Battleaxe BT45s - H Rated
-Avon Roadrider - V-rated The Avons are also available in slightly wider versions for both front and rear
-Continental TKV Ultra - H Rated
-Pirelli Sport Demon - H Rated

*EDIT* - and if a wider tire is available that would fit like the Avon note says, what is a better tire size for a track day???? Tire size noob here. :lol

Doubtful the ole viffer can generate the top speed to take advantage of a V rated Avon rubber but its wider profile will slow handling anyways. Battleaxe BT's are good but ancient rubber tech, I have burned my share, IMHO tho, go withe the Pirelli. It is a much newer design tire.

Thats what im thinking. Just by reading reviews online, I will be staying away from the BTs and Conti's.

I really like the other two. I figured I would never reach the speed for the V rating, but it might not be bad to have the extra speed rating in the bag.

Really all those tires are good, I have been using battlaxes for a while and like them, but mainly because of their life span and price, haven't used the pirrellis, but everyone who has swears by them.

Any way, a modern sport tire designed and built in the lsat 5 years will beat almost anything in the 5 years before that, and will look like race rubber to anything built in the 90s

:lol: For sure.

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/1072/img2864a.jpg

vs

http://images.motorcycle-superstore....tDemonRear.jpg

And they do. I've seen far less worthy machines on the track. You're not going to set any records, (well, speed records anyway...) but that's not the point of roadracing.

Fatter does not always equal faster. You can, in fact, go backwards. Depending on the profile of the tire, and the stiffness of the carcass, stuffing a fatty on your skinny-ass rim, can result in a smaller contact patch.

These are not the droids you are looking for.

You'll be better served with tires that fit the rims, and paying very close attention to the pressures you run, and under which conditions you run them. In other words, buy a little fucking note book, and write that shit down.

That said, there may be a slightly over-sized tire out there that will give you more grip. Then again, more grip comes with slower transitions. So......

Find out who the fast guy is, and run what he's running. But wait, you ain't him. Shit. Those tires may not work for you. Now you are seriously fucked. Your tires are too big, bike handles like a wheelbarrow, and girls won't go out with you.

JC

Girls dont go out with me anyway... :lol

But yes, the consensus on both this forum and vfrworld seems to be stick with the tire made for the rim. Looks like ill be digging a little deeper on the Pirelli and Avon 110/90H-18's.....

I have nothing to add about the tires but I like my BTs.

On another note, if you don't want to pony up money for a track bike try hooking up with someone and do the 3 hour endurance race where you'd share a bike and the cost.

Doing the sprint races will put you in the hole quickly, even with a little series like this.

Sidebar.

Porkchop

Where do they call their home track? Thinking about getting into some schools this spring/ summer if work isn't too crazy. I'd probably take the CBR though.

Sorry, I'm not PC. But I believe Moto Series is the old Fasttraxx. So Nelson Ledges in Garrettsville would be the "home" track.

There are 3 endurance formats. There is the 20 minute mini enduro, the 40 minute mini iron butt, and the 3 hour endurance. Its a great idea, me and my buddy dave have talked about doing it.

Doll is correct. It was the old Fasttrax series that calls Nelson Ledges home. Nelson is up by Youngstown. They also race at Beaver Run (penn) yearly. Other tracks that get thrown into the seasons are Mid-ohio, Putnam Park (indy), Grattan and Gingerman (Mich). Come do the race school with us.... its only $125 and includes race school in the morning, a track day in the afternoon, and your comp license.

Nice assist :rockwoot:..... I dont even know where to begin. :lol:

That's not a bad deal at all if you are close. :rockwoot:

I got mine for $100 at the CLE show. But still not a bad deal for all 3. :dthumb:

Thats not a bad deal if you are far either

Back to the original question:

What is the bike going to be used for?
track only?
or will it be used as a street bike too?
What are the rules for the race series?
Are a specific tire mandated?
a tire brand?
how about DOT slicks?
is the investment (and continued investment) in slicks worth it for your goals?
would a spare set of wheels with your race tires be worth it for a street bike?

before you settle on a tire those are some important questions to answer

1100 miles @ 15 mpg = 73 gal of fuel. 73 x $3.35/gal = $244.55.

So I'm at $370 and haven't put anything toward the bike yet, not counting the time it takes to get me there...

I think your "far" may be relative...

Yeh and my gas mileage is slightly better, my truck gets 20 - 22mpg on the highway with a bike in the back

I figure that the other costs in a track day are usually around $100, gas, food hotel, plus track days that cost between $200 and $250 per day, I already saved an average of $100 just by doing that school, plus if there is a second day offered at a package

Heres the thing. I think I am almost certain that the bike will only be doing race school, and then be relegated back to street duty again. As much as I would rather not spend the money on another dedicated track bike and just use that one, too many people have told me the internals on that engine are not up to the task of full time racing.

If it were going to be used as my main track bike, I was told to NOT waste the money on slicks until I am on a non-vintage bike. This coming from the series owner....

FYI, to get the most out of slicks you really need your suspension set up for them. The added grip that comes from swapping on a set compared to a DOT will cause handling issues that possibly will result in slower times.

and of course the other consideration of the full race slick only having one, maybe two heat cycles in them before traction falls off dramatically, where as a DOT may have 5 or 6, a street/Track tire 8 or ten...

My old GS1000 runs skinny bias/ply and tubes. I've run several pairs of the Sport Demon's and they were terrific. Always V-rated even though I never go over 80. After enjoying Avon Storm 2's on my CBR, I switched to Avon Roadriders' on my old Suzuki. Every bit as good as the Sport Demons, but even better for wear. I have 4k on them now and they look brand new. And I carve a ton of roads. And on wet roads or sand, the Avon Rr's are just spectacular.