CruisingDog
CRZNDOG
I’m just curious if anyone has taken an ST1300 to the track and ridden without bags. I would suspect it would be pretty close to some to the sports motorcycles out there, albeit with a lower rev range.
Has anyone done track work with ST1300 without paniers/saddle bags ?
- Thread starter CruisingDog
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Well, with bags on, yes. 3 videos to follow. Don't believe the Booster Plug hype, unless you feel the need.
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I did a track day sans saddlebags on my 2005. I wouldn’t say I kept up with all the sport bikes in my class but I wasn’t in the back of the pack.
wjbertrand
Ventura Highway
I've done a few track days with my ST1300. I usually take the bags off just in case. It's fun and pretty fast, but I wouldn't compare it to even a 600cc sport bike with regard to handling, acceleration or lap times. The ST just simply has too much weight/power ratio and too little ground clearance. It will make a respectable showing so long as it's limits are respected. You kinda have to ride it like a smaller bike, in other words, conserve momentum when cornering as it just isn't going to squirt out of the corners like a sport bike. You'll also run into the rev limiter exiting out of the corner, trying to use a lower gear, which also interrupts your exit. Complicating trying to maintain momentum is the lack of cornering clearance. Still, I highly recommend giving it a go!
I love taking the 18 wheeler out and passing sportsbikes on the outside. Frigging foot pegs keep getting lifted up. Its a PITA. Friggin limitation. You have to REALLY accentuate your BP. She rolls sneakily to and actual 130mph pretty nicely.
180tire , not quite the best use of the whole tire but she works. can't' complain. There are plenty out there to abuse for free.
not a fan of the Michelins on the track. very mushy feeling with all the sipes rolling over.
and BTW this is a thing for over 5+ years now.... not just Sportbikes. People have ridden from all over the country to attend.
www.training.ridinginthezone.com
check out the gold wing in the link!.. https://photos.otmpix.com/f228838413
180tire , not quite the best use of the whole tire but she works. can't' complain. There are plenty out there to abuse for free.
not a fan of the Michelins on the track. very mushy feeling with all the sipes rolling over.
and BTW this is a thing for over 5+ years now.... not just Sportbikes. People have ridden from all over the country to attend.
Non-Sportbike Training Days – Riding in the Zone Rider Training
www.training.ridinginthezone.com
check out the gold wing in the link!.. https://photos.otmpix.com/f228838413
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I took my 2005 to a track day. It was at Streets of Willow, at Willow Springs, north of LA. I found that the power band wasn't suited for a track. I would have much rather taken my 85 V45 Sabre to the track.
And yes, I took my bags off.
At one point I was stopped by one of the track guys. He told me that I shouldn't scrape my pegs, like I was doing, just in case my peg caught a hole.
And yes, I took my bags off.
At one point I was stopped by one of the track guys. He told me that I shouldn't scrape my pegs, like I was doing, just in case my peg caught a hole.
OP
OP
CruisingDog
CRZNDOG
Perfect answer. Thanks! Looking good there anyway!!I took my 2005 to a track day. It was at Streets of Willow, at Willow Springs, north of LA. I found that the power band wasn't suited for a track. I would have much rather taken my 85 V45 Sabre to the track.
And yes, I took my bags off.
At one point I was stopped by one of the track guys. He told me that I shouldn't scrape my pegs, like I was doing, just in case my peg caught a hole.
I'd love a track day on mine.
Which Michelin was it?
I took my 2005 to a track day. It was at Streets of Willow, at Willow Springs, north of LA. I found that the power band wasn't suited for a track. I would have much rather taken my 85 V45 Sabre to the track.
And yes, I took my bags off.
At one point I was stopped by one of the track guys. He told me that I shouldn't scrape my pegs, like I was doing, just in case my peg caught a hole.
I'm curious... what is it about the powerband that makes it less than ideal for the track.
I ride pretty easy so I'm typically below 5k, but the bike gets really potent above that.
I had a V45 Sabre. It was much more nimble, but the ST accelerates faster if you keep the revs up.
This was back in September 2007, so it's been awhile and I'm going from memory. Which in my case can be a challenge.
IMHO, the STs powerband was hard to keep at a higher RPM, making it not as responsive as I would have thought it should be. Where as with my 1985 (Canadian) V45 Sabre, after putting radials on it, I could use it's powerband in the mountains, pretty well. I never took it on a track day, but knowing that I could keep the powerband up where I needed it when riding through some good curvy mountains, I always felt I would have had a better time on it, than the ST1300.
But, that just could be me.
My Track day
any of the Pilot Roads 3 and 4's although the 5 and 6 look to be addressing this issue. I have not tried a 5 or 6 yet.
compared to sport bikes the ST has a very limited RPM range, so when you try to ride it like a sportbike on a track, it falls flat. And, as shown in the picture, ground clearance is also an issue.
I guess it all boils down to your own level of aggression. You can do a track day and putt around the track, but most people go there to ride at a level of aggression that's not practical on the streets. If you do that on an ST, the bike, not your riding ability, quickly becomes the limiting factor.
when I did a track day at streets of Willow on a sportbike, by the end of the day my rear tire looked like it came off of a GP bike. I've never been able to do that on the streets in 45 years of riding and we have plenty of mountain roads in the area.
A tire designed for the track would be much better.