Track performance evaluation, SDR, part 1.

So, I've done a couple of track days earlier on the SDR, but they were run at about 70%. I've just now come back from two days that were run in properly high speed.

Let's start with the positives. The handling is, at least in the tight corners, really good. I had no problems keeping up with sportsbikes there. The chassis is really good. Turning in is almost ridiculous. The brakes were the best bit on the bike though, I could really hit them hard and very, very late. Also worth mentioning is the HM quickshifter which worked flawlessly. Great piece of kit.

Then we come to the negatives. The quick handling does make the bike a bit nervous in fast, long corners. The bike being as tall as it is also makes it a bit sketchy when moving quickly from side to side. The biggest issue I had however was the riding position. I'm so used to riding sportbikes I just couldn't seem to get down as low as I wanted. You move your ass backwards but you can barely move back far enough to get a fist in between the tank and your wedding vegetables. I guess it's a question of getting used to it more than anything else, but it was kind of annoying in certain turns and when trying to tuck down in the straights (Oh, the straights.. Did I get my ass kicked there or what? I tried a friend's 2008 CBR 1000 RR and where I was doing about 120 mph on the SDR, I was doing 140+ on the CBR.). Finally, the bike really needs a slipper clutch. Or, I do anyway.

I've got about ten more track days scheduled in the upcoming month so we'll see if my part 2 of this evaluation has got me singing songs of praise or just going on complaining like an old woman who hasn't gotten laid in the last fifty years. I've got an option to buy an MV Agusta F3 when it comes in September (or whenever it may be). Will I trade the SDR in and get back to a pure track bike? Who knows? Stay tuned. It's going to be a fun evaluation because the bike is, if nothing else, a riot to ride.

12 days in a month? you lucky SOB

This is my worry as well JP, i have always rode sports bikes on the track never anything like this so im worried about the track issues mentioned above. lets see how i go on at the crash fest at caddy.

Me three... I'm still having issues getting suspension sorted... and all the blokes here in SA look at the bike and think it's an offroad... so finding someone that will take the time to set it up well, is a bit of a challenge.

Wating for some crash bobbins to arrive (from UK) before I go near the track ( not being negative, just practical) I have the std 07 superduke so was wondering if the pegs hit the ground in the corners... If so I want to buy those foot peg raises too... not a fan of having hardware on the deck when i'm at full lean.

May also invest in some sintered brake pad as my std one screem when they are hot - not very confidence inspiring...

Also hoping some good weather come our way soon...

KEEP THE RUBBERSIDE DOWN

Dave

1988 - the first thing you'll do is come to quickly onto the apex as the turn in is bleeping ridonculuous. Once you get that bit sorted you'll be flying through the corners.

Samba - ha. Yeah, gonna be good. But I do almost only track days. Street riding to me, being used to track riding, is just a bit "meh".

Sprocket - get the rearset adjusters from, eh, not CycleControl anymore. A&L Motorsports. https://a-lmotorsports.com/ Allows you to move the pegs back and up without having to buy a whole footpeg/rearset set.

Orange - thanks for the tip. I know the technique though, have done CSS steps 1-3. What makes the bike nervous when moving around on it is that it's so tall.

I don't think it's the height, it's the stupidly sharp head angle and the wide bars.

Using your legs or not, any input into the bars, and there will be some, is amplified by long bars - and the acute geometry makes the bike very sensitive to ANY movement.

From side of bike to side of bike is no further than a supersport bike, that's the only movement your body has to make.

Did you try firming up the steering damper and/or the suspension to calm it down some? I'd try the damper, then a couple clicks of compression on the rear, then a couple in the front. Make sure you are using your feet to transfer your body and not levering the bars.

Yep I posted somewhere else in another thread that mine doesnt like changes of direction very much either ( I am aware of that css stuff ) I thought it was my sus set up (not my forte) - mine just seems to have a bit of a weave that goes from front to back before it settles after a change of direction - I usually swear at it - if I was back racing or doing a lot of track days or summat then I would need to sort it out

I wonder if clipons would help. The bars force you to be somewhat upright to have any control so clipons would probably help rolling the bike back and forth.

Anyone with clipons care to share?

I know many of you euros get that civilized 1 month holiday - 12 track days - that rocks! I get that many only in a really good year.

I roll the SD only occasionally at trackdays. At the more technical courses which are typically shorter, and where horsepower isn't king. On those tracks, I can keep up with just about anything except better riders. You can hammer most litre bike pilots in the corners. I have a trackbike for the big fast courses, where on the SD, I just get crushed (expert class).

I'm too big (tall-ish, long torso) to get down 'under' the puny fairings on the modern sportbike. When I was at my most recent performance riding school, my coach was even bigger than me. I asked him "hey man, what's a guy our size supposed to do - we can't get our chins down on the tarmac, or head under/behind the fairings like those MotoGP midgets -?". I went on to say "Even when I try to get positioned over like that, the bike isn't happy". His response was "Ride proud". "Yes, the small guys gotta get their whole body over to lean/move the bike - you and I don't - its more subtle for us". In other words, get forward and low, but don't worry about having to get one's position such that you are dragging elbow in corners. I take that to heart on the SD.

Yes, the SD is tall (tallest street bike I've ever owned - and I run an SDR shock with a 21.5 kg/mm spring) but thing drops into corners so well, that the kneepucks get a workout. And it gets out of tight corners as well as anything.

Slipper clutch - said it before, and will say it again - for what an SD/SDR cost, its criminal that it didn't come with one. If I hadn't put on on, I'd have probably binned the bike by the 2nd week - chatter was brutal on late braking corner entries. I don't really lack skill in rev matching.

I like Duc streetfighter bars. About an inch lower, a couple inches narrower, just a little clip-like down bend.

I know this is probably a stupid question - but if the duke has all these strange handleing characteristics.woobles etc. why do all the reviews still all say that it's an awesome handler?? Am i missing something?