Semi OT S1000RR regional race wrapup

[roger albert]

So, our race season down here just wrapped up and I finally have a bit of time.
Thought I'd share our S1000RR race experience.

One of our fast local guys, Bill G. who normally races a gsxr1000 (he's had street beemers though) picked up an S1000RR mid season after he and I and the local BMW shop, Lonestar Cycle, did some chatting. Took a couple trackdays, and some delays in bodywork, suspension, and other bits to get it vaguely ready, so we only got to run it the last 3 of our 10 rounds: at Eagles Canyon, Motorsport Ranch Cresson, and Texas World Speedway.

Bike was very much in superstock trim. Stock, except for a bodywork, and Yosh exhaust, some case-savers and rearsets, and an Öhlins TTX out back. Bone stock motor, filter, fork, brakes, lines, mapping etc etc. Really showroom, plus a pipe and shock.

First weekend out was at Eagles Canyon, which besides a lot of elevation and camber trickery, also has several drag-strips: long straights off of very tight corners that then terminate in very tight corners or chicanes. Technical, but NOT flowing really. In the first weekend, it was a case of BMW giveth, and BMW taketh away. In short, the power of the beast was very helpful, even if the midrange and bottom end was a bit weak, but the electronics hurt quite a bit, as well as maybe my initial suspension work. Trying to get a really hard drive off the corner (essential on tracks with long straights) just got the rear to pumping as the TC kicked in and out, and the wheel control intervened and the cut too suddenly. Still, Bill's excellent piloting in Superstock A, Superbike A, and Formula-1 (all with the bike in Superstock trim, i.e. as mentioned above, and with D.O.Ts instead of slicks in all 3 events) put him just off the box. Three 4th places, against some very tough competition (including a club champ who eventually went undefeated in all those classes - 30 for 30, setting a new regional record).
Decent start.

Next up was Motorsport Ranch, round-9. Bill's travel didn't allow for much development, but we worked to get the bike turning better, and opted to again stay on DOTs for all 3 events and just try to stay under the threshold where the electronics kick in. It's tighter track where the power couldn't be so readily used, but where the killer drive's are also less required. Really, it was at this point just a matter of getting more seattime. First race was just that seattime and a warmup, with Bill adding another 4th to his tally. A decent start. The second race saw Bill dice a bit in the first few corners, and then settle into a fairly uncomfortable 3rd (4th right on his tail) It ebbed and flowed a bit, but Bill put it on the box and got him and the bike our first podium place bringing it home in 3rd.
OK, progress. We were ready to aim for at least the same in the day's 3rd race. On the launch however, the front came up a bit and the ECU cut power a lot dropping Bill back quite a bit. Maybe 7th or 8th. On the plus side, whereas the first races had been a bit stretched out except for Bill's tail, here he got to dice a bit while clawing his way through the pack. In the end, we finished just off the box again and added our 5th 4th. Still, top finish was now a 3rd vs a 4th, so good progress.

We talked a bit between rounds and I decided to make a less incremental change and bump the rear spring rate 2 full steps, and get the fork internals sorted. Again, regular-guy budget and travel schedules intervened, and we were unable to get the front sorted. We did at the last minute get the new spring on the rear and eke out about a half a trackday of acclimation. The lesson there was that we could overall benefit from the TC, but not the wheelie intervention. Bill decided to launch with it off, and then switch it on on the fly (not easy during a race - if I can get a full ecu, we're going to tune it differently, or make it a simple big red button) Morning practice on raceday was too cold to do much, but we were sure we had it turning at least a little better and budgeted some fresh rubber too.

First race was Superstock A. Launch was a bit better and bill was one of about 4-wide going into T1. T1/2 are actually one big Uturn, and by the middle of T2, Bill had the S into 2nd, with about 5 guys within a couple bike lengths head of him. The bike's drive out of 2 was great however, and he instantly gapped a few lengths (though first had gapped them all, a LOT by then already). There was a lof of ebb and flow, but Bill started his day with his best finish yet, giving a good old fist pump across the checkers in 2nd. Hooray. Happiest I've seen Bill all year, and for the first time, he bettered his gixxers (a VERY developed bike) times. Best lap was a 1:45. Darn fast for a new, undeveloped, very low trim bike. Track record is about 3.5seconds faster, but that is with a multi time champ and many-track-record-holder on a full factory superbike on slicks. A very unfair comparison. Bill and the BMW did great.

Rest of the day was uneventful. I think a 3rd and 5th (in a very large grid and with a very exhausted rider). Like we've all seen in TV, the bike can do very well, but our experience echos the big boys in a microcosm. Hard on tires, hard to turn, and very hard on the rider. Fading throughout the race (or day) still a hard reality. Still, we nudged up another position for the highest finish yet. 2nd in only the 3rd weekend is pretty good, and we were both able to pick up some clear development direction. Local beemer shop owner and much of his staff were there to witness and happy as well. They're going to see what they can offer, ECU wise. I'm going to get some more spring yet in the rear, and hopefully commensurate improvements in the front (which with it's weak damping is very limiting, and exacerbates the issues with ECU and rear susp) and Bill has some ideas too.

In the end, Bill's combined GSXR/S1000RR season saw him get 2nd overall in Superstock A, despite one DNS, and 4th overall in Superbike A and Formula-1, despite 2 DNSs each, and bikes in largely superstock trim. A credit to him and the bike. Darn good for a weekend clubracer.

cheers
roger

[shreddr]

how would you rate the S1000RR as a sport/street machine? it sounds difficult to sort for the track, what does this mean for the street, even worse?

[jduke]

Thanks Roger, keep us posted.

[roger albert]

Great streetbike. And trackbike. I wouldn't look at any of that as a negative. Has more to do with the level of competition in the classes he ran in, me tuning for a faster rider on the highest stock HP I've ever helped field, TTXs being great - but difficult to perfect, and the rest of the bike being very undeveloped. What is extremely fast and 'on-the-limit' for the street would still not touch what we need it to do on the track.

Though the bike is not my personal cup of tea, I have come to increase my respect for it, and believe that the electronics are probably of benefit to the vast vast vast majority of street and trackday riders, and probably a fair number of racers.

My only qualms with it as a streetbike, is that the stock suspension is very harsh under compression, and very very very underdamped on rebound. Stock, they pogo. Set to basically max on rebound, and mid on compression, they're tolerable for trackdays, and adequate for the great majority of street folks. There are some semi-expensive, but tolerable things that can be done with suspension that can be done to make it perfect.

If you're an I-4 guy, this is a great bike. If anyone gets serious about getting one sorted, let me know. I have several things under development, and some new products from others I'll be repping. I don't like to be all salesy here, so I'll leave it at that.

Very good bike.

[Bob Hancock]

Excellent report, Roger. Thanks.

[Wild Will]

Very good piece. Thanks. You interested in seeing it in print? With photos?

[1100s nut]

Wow...nice report...and deep. Hopefully more time time on bike will also help.

Lane

[roger albert]

Thanks guys. I'd have to check with Bill about the in-print part. And what he thought of the report. As the rider, he might have a totally different perspective than I did. I can check though.