I went to my second track day this past Monday.  It was my first on the monster.  I have to say.  If I was going to track the monster all the time I'd need higher rear sets and clip ons.  Either way it was a great bike on the track.  The brakes never faded even after repeated stops from 130mph and the low end torque was fantastic.  The only thing I felt like I was lacking was fairings and the top end of a water cooled motor.  All of those jackasses on their gsxr's were walking away from me on the straights but the duc had n o problem braking late at the end of the turn.  It just ran out of steam at an indicated 130mph.  I have a 14t front sprocket also.  Anyway here are some pics. 

Looks like you had a whole lotta fun...  Just makes me wonder if you were getting left on your 1000, how bad it would be for me on a 620...

Quote from: thejsnide on August 13, 2008, 08:28:21 PM
Just makes me wonder if you were getting left on your 1000, how bad it would be for me on a 620...

I don't think taking your 620 to the track would be 'bad' at all - you can still have a blast at the track without a big literbike.  Sure I hate getting passed by gixxers too but that isn't what its about (at first, anyway). 

Cool pics man!  The cc's only matter on the straights.  A while back I borrowed a friends R6 and took it out for a session and I was able to lap close to the same times as my R1.  The thing had corner speed and RPM range to boot!  I'm sure a 620 won't be bad at all....it's all about having fun out there anyways.

yah, getting passed on the straight wasn't too bad it was just annoying getting held up by them in the turns after.  Go ahead and track that 620.  I guarantee you'll have a blast.  They run all kinds of stuff slower than that on the track.  I have to say being at the track is possibly one of the most fun things I've ever done and I plan to go back.  If you want to get serious about it though then I'd look at a bike with fairings and water cooling.  That's just what I want though.  It's really a matter of preference. 

I am anticipating my first track day b/c I know I will be absolutely addicted...  I just need to get a full set of leathers, but new exhaust is my main focus as of now...  The 620 does just fine for me and my skills, which is why I bought it. 

That's good to hear. Looks like U had a blast. I bought my track bike just over a month ago. Tonight will be my seventh time out. I am totally hooked.

I would love to track a Duc,,,SBK,, preferably(maybe next Yr).  But, having said that. There are a few guys doing quite well with there Monsters.

Good luck,, keep her on two wheels (except when wheelieing  )

Sweet pics!  Gives me confidence to take my S4R out to the track...I was slightly concerned about how it might take to the rigerous riding...Thanks for the input!

Thanks for the photos and the story.

I've had mine out a few times this year, and I certainly agree about the fun part. And the bit about getting held up in turns but smoked down the straights! I thought the ground clearance was pretty good, but your toes will drag unless you can somehow keep the balls of your feet up on the pegs. BTW, did you find the OE pegs to be mighty small and delicate? Maybe I'm just clumsy, though. 

Excellent, thanks for the pics!

Quote from: AndrewNS on August 14, 2008, 04:16:48 PM
Thanks for the photos and the story.

I've had mine out a few times this year, and I certainly agree about the fun part. And the bit about getting held up in turns but smoked down the straights! I thought the ground clearance was pretty good, but your toes will drag unless you can somehow keep the balls of your feet up on the pegs. BTW, did you find the OE pegs to be mighty small and delicate? Maybe I'm just clumsy, though. 

I don't know about delicate but they were definitely a little low.  I did found that if I exaggerated getting off the bike, like shifting my body off the bike I could get around the corner with out dragging a toe.  For some reason this was difficult for me on the right but not the left.  My foot is actually still hurting me a little from when I dragged my flesh on the track.    That's ok blisters heal.    No less people, I don't care if you have a 620 or a 1098 this is the most fun you can have in life, bar none.  Go do it, and even if it isn't as fun for you as it is for me, you WILL become a better rider by doing this.  You get to explore the limits of the bike with out fear of oncoming traffic, gravel in the road or johnny law being around the corner.  Limits like hard braking from 130mph and then tossing it into a sharp corner at 80mph and trusting that the bike will stick.  You just start to understand that stuff so when  you are on the street if you ever find yourself in a hairy situation  you'll more naturally know what to do.  If you can't tell I'm hooked, but I'm considering getting a GSXR or a 636 or something more suited to track use, 749, 848 and 999 are considerations too but just trying to weigh out the $$$ and see what the best option would be.  the 4 cylinders aren't bad at the track cause you can keep them wound up out there. 

Quote from: ducpenguin on August 14, 2008, 08:35:26 AM
Sweet pics!  Gives me confidence to take my S4R out to the track...I was slightly concerned about how it might take to the rigerous riding...Thanks for the input!

S4R has the water cooled motor.  The top end on that motor would definitely help in the straights.  I talk like mine was a dog.  It wasn't that bad, it was just annoying cause I was in the first group in novice and they'd only let us pass in the straights so these water cooled bikes would pass me and then go slow in the turns and ruin the fun since I couldn't pass there.  I did eventually figure out that I could brake late and get them back at the end of the straight though.  That's an ass puckering experience.  If I had a few more track days under my belt and was in a class where you can pass in the turns I think I'd have had no problem passing the liter bikes back up through the rest of the course as that monster can scoot in the turns with the best of them.  It's light and it's got some great low end torque. 

No less people, I don't care if you have a 620 or a 1098 this is the most fun you can have in life, bar none.  Go do it, and even if it isn't as fun for you as it is for me, you WILL become a better rider by doing this.  You get to explore the limits of the bike with out fear of oncoming traffic, gravel in the road or johnny law being around the corner.
If you can't tell I'm hooked, but I'm considering getting a GSXR or a 636 or something more suited to track use, 749, 848 and 999 are considerations too but just trying to weigh out the $$$ and see what the best option would be.  the 4 cylinders aren't bad at the track cause you can keep them wound up out there. 


I did eventually figure out that I could brake late and get them back at the end of the straight though.  That's an ass puckering experience.


LOL,,, I hear U all the way on those statements.

As much as i would love to stay with the Ducati's on street & track,,,,,it becomes a $$$$ issue. Because of the money involved,,,, the I4's make better track toys. OH,,,,,, consider a 675 Daytona  as well. Up in my neck of the woods they are allowed to run againest the 600 I4's in a very competative class. Torquey little buggar's. The guy leading that class is running one.

PS: Shouldnt U move this thread  to "Racing & Trackdays" ? ?