COTA 24

[Paul_E_D]

Day 1 was dedicated to a little rest and fishing off the deck.

Day 2 was for trying out the new fleet of bikes our host brought over from SC.

Battle of the factory bikes as daily rides.

Today in TX was bike swap day. Keys available were the 23 aprilia v4 tuono factory, the 24 Indian FTR 1200 and the 23 tuono 660 factory.

A dream bike line up for sure. But how are they as commuters in traffic, on Highways or around d town? Read on to find out.

The first bike I rode was the v4. I have spent time on an older gen v4. I was expecting a brute, but wow, have they refined this thing. It was the most comfy of the 3 for me. Seat/bar/peg positions were near perfect.

Fueling was also near perfect and the bike was actually quite docile at rpms as low as 3k. The QS was excellent at all rpms too. Let the rpms climb above 7500 and you better be ready. It is still a brute up top.

This bike had carbon wheels and was also the most nimble of the 3. Just a sublime and now versatile motorcycle.

Next up was the Indian ftr. Full ohlins and carbon everything, I was most curious about this ride.

Getting on it, the bike feels tiny. The front tire disappears under the tiny, but very cool instrument cluster. The full color display is touch screen, yet manages to look and feel old school in the best way.

Under way the bike is very smooth, very torquey and pretty darn quick. Ultra balanced at parking lot speeds, nimble, and yet very stable at highway speeds.

For a naked bike, it handles wind waaay better than expected. 80mph was not uncomfortable at all and the bars remained dead stable even over expansion joints and other big hits. Shifting was buttery smooth with no electonic aids.

Cruise control was easy to use, but some extra buttons on the left side were confusing and a little in the way of the blinkers. Oh. Self canceling blinkers are awesome BTW. This was the best daily rider of the bunch.

Last up was the tuono 660 factory. With a scproject crt fitted it was LOUD. It did sound d incredible but the pipe would have to go for daily use.

Otherwise, this bike was the biggest surprise. The motor was torqueier than Kerry's trofeo and it helped a lot on the street. Acceleration from a stop was impressive and the QS was even better than the v4.

Handling was awesome at all speeds, but this bike had the longest reach to the bars by far, and that tired me out a lot quicker. I'm short though.

This bike was by far the best bang for the buck. At 11k, it's still a premium feeling bike with tons of character and almost no down side.

What else can I say. These are in fact all dream bikes and I'd love to own any of them. If forced to choose today, I would take the V4!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sTsz95qDEYD8NzZF8

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[Paul_E_D]

Day 3 was for riding. We did a 300 mile loop through Central Texas hill country swapping between the three bike from day 2 plus a 2004 R1. The weather was just about as good as it gets. 80 degrees for a high with clear skies and light winds.

The roads are good, but not spectacular. The terrain is unique though with picturesque ranches, vineyards dotted with historic villages and lots of BBQ. This winter must have been wet here because everything was green and colored by a crazy wildflower bloom.

I must say that Kerry and I both haven't done much sport touring in the last few years and the day kicked our butts! We were suffering for those last 50 or so miles. Ears ringing, aching wrists and tender sitz bones at a minimum. Hahaa.

We ended the ride at Black's BBQ where we bumped into 4 HRC engineers from Japan. We tried chatting them up, but I don't think they understood English much if at all.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oix7JyjigdUxCNX16

Tomorrow we head to the track.

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[Stoneman]

I keep telling Big Shirl we're going to COTA one of these years...soon...

[MUZ720]

Been to Blacks BBQ, very nice setup you have house pond so cool. Hope the weather holes looks like a blast! Thanks for the write-up.

[Paul_E_D]

Friday was spent wandering the track checking out the vendors, watching a few practice sessions and the bagger challenge race. We found some of our cyclesmith customers and staffers and met up at a cool local bar in lockhart for some drinks and food. Definitely a good time.

Saturday was a really fun day at the track. We watched the qualifiers and caught up with more old friends. An og SRNE friend (Tim Moore) as well as zack, ari and spurge of revzilla TV.

Watched the sprint race and the really cool podium ceremony. They should all be like that! and ended the day watching the bagger race. Honestly, that was the best racing so far!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/pcigyPPAfXG5w2Cs5

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[Pittenger5]

Black's is probably the best "popular" BBQ in the area.

[loudbeard]

Black's is probably the best "popular" BBQ in the area.

I prefer Cooper’s to Black’s for the popular stuff, but you’re absolutely right neither are the best in Austin.

[Paul_E_D]

Race day was awesome. We did our usual ride in and park the bikes in the vip parking right at the entrance gate. We spent the morning walking up to t1 and checking out how the other side was. Damn, this place is enormous.

Stopped to see Neil and Gary working t20. The hill up to t1 is impressive and we could easily see the big ripples in the braking zone giving us a hint of things to expect on Monday.

All the races were exciting in person. The hysterical bike mixup in moto3 was right in front of us. But the gp was the highlight. It's all been said, but what a barnstormer. The crowd was electric. Great to see that in the u.s.

After the races we packed up all of our bags to get ready for an early morning. We had to get to the track early to pull out all the trackday gear and get registered and through tech in time for the first session at the aprilia racer day. Stay tuned for a long and detailed post on that when I have more time and wifi. It was absolutely epic.


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[Paul_E_D]

Sunday photo dump.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5XcaVAE3rzyLqu689

[Paul_E_D]

I didn't get much in the way of good footage, but here's a clean lap and a dirty lap... Hahaaa.

[loudbeard]

Man, that really was a dirty lap

[Paul_E_D]

[csmutty]

And here I was expecting some off the track tomfoolery

[Rada]

EPIC!!!!!!

[Paul_E_D]

OK, Here's my full write up on riding COTA the day after MotoGP with Aprilia Racer days:

I think this day was pretty much sold out before it was made open to the public. LOL. We were invited to buy 2 of a block of 20 spots purchased by Iconic Motorbikes. The day was expensive to be sure, but it included a garage, lunch, photos, and the hints that some serious luminaries would share the track with us. Oh and 1 demo session on the Aprilia of your choice. Our host also happened to have room in his trailer to get our bikes out there and back. We were already going to be there, and riding Aprilias all week, it seemed stupid to say no. We followed a link, paid our sum, and that was that!

Fast forward to Monday, we got to the track before 7 to find that Gary and Neil had gotten there earlier and unloaded the trailer. Rock star treatment! Things were pretty confusing and the paddock was still packed with containers etc. but we managed to get reg'd, sign a million waivers, tech the bikes and pack them in the garage in time for rider's meeting. They mentioned that Aprilia had some people there, but didn't make much of it. Romano Albesiano was at the meeting but we weren't sure who else might show up.

I signed up for A group which was up at 9am. They were running 4 groups and 20 minute sessions, A being fastest, and D being the demo bike sessions and I THINK there were a few one on one Champ school students out there. Ride Smart was running the day and they have some kind of deal with them. Anywho, no matter. By the time I went to sign up to ride a RSV4 factory, they were out of spots. Kerry did make it in though! She started in B group, but joined me in A after 2 sessions or so.

First session out, it was pretty shocking just how awkward nearly every corner on this track is. Sector 1 had the esses. 2 fast corners followed by two slower, shorter ones, a double apex, a late apex into a chicane that opens up into T10, a sweeper over the crest with a blind apex that has a step down bump and leads into T11, the second of five V shaped corner on the track.

Next up is the infamous back straight. It's loooong, and downhill with an undulation right after you click 6th gear. If you aren't relaxed it can get you into a high speed shake for the rest of the way to T12. finding a roll-off marker was critical as you are headed into the third V shaped corner and all the way back down to first or second gear. finding a tip in point was also important as if you cheat in early, you run out of track pretty quick!

Blast in 2nd to an awkward double apex with a tight entry and an exit that opens slightly. Enter too aggressive and you find the outside of the track in your face once again. accelerate out staying in second for yet another slightly strange double apex at 14/15. This one starts somewhat open and tightens up to the 4th V shaped apex. Square it up good for a drag race to the triple apex 16/17/18. I was short shifting all the way to 4th gear for the entrance, but if I had another day I would try going only to third and shifting to 4th at the exit.

I back down to 3rd for the simple 80 degree left at T19 and drag race yet again toward the fifth and final V shaped corner T20. I kept trying to carry speed here, but I exceeded track limits several times before I realized you just have to stop and set up for another drag race to T1. The run up the STEEP climb is awesome and made technical by a huge ripple bump right at the brake point that can throw the rear tire up in the air as you trail brake toward the first V corner. There is a huge depression bump right at the apex. My data shows 60 degrees of lean through there. It gets your attention for sure!

After session 1 I realized this is not a track you can master in a session or two. It was going to take all day before I was even moderately confident. This is a very different style track than I'm used to. It felt more like drag racing than roadracing. This was evidenced by the fact that the lightweights had no prayer of riding among the middleweights, and likewise, the middleweight really couldn't ride with the V4 monsters out there. riders quickly split apart by HP.

I had a fun session dicing with a MA Hooligans rider and Ridesmart coach (Travis Duffy) but he was on a 660 and I had to ease off on the straights so I could follow him. I also got passed and left for dead by none other than Miguel Oliveira riding what I think was an Extrenta! Other riders of note were Raul Fernandez, Massimo Rivoli, and even John Kosinski!

I did manage to drop time in each session ending the day with a 2:29. That seems incredibly slow compared to the pros, but I'm here to tell you that this place takes some time to learn. It goes against my nature to park it and drag race, but that's what is required 5 times per lap. Sleeping on it and going back out would have been helpful, but alas, just a one day affair. I was pretty smoked anyway as my Duc just didn't want to change direction in the esses or turn much while bottomed out for the V corners. I had sore shoulders, elbows, hands, feet and legs the next day!

The final session was open to all bikes, and Kerry and I went out with just a handful of others, and lapped until we were possibly the only ones out there! I just kinda soaked that in as I lapped what is a massive and beautiful facility.

Stay tuned for a big photo dump of the day.

[Kurlon]

2:29 would be solid mid pack Hooligans at COTA last year, got plenty of time to prep for September if you wanna have another crack at it...

[Paul_E_D]

Here's some pics from the track photographer.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gs9RNDM5L4sSz5Bt5

[jeantarrou]

Paul, on TV turn 10 looks just insane, the commitment the GP guys show with the bike bouncing around is kind of mind boggling. Was it uncomfortable/intimidating/scary/frightening for you?

[Paul_E_D]

Paul, on TV turn 10 looks just insane, the commitment the GP guys show with the bike bouncing around is kind of mind boggling. Was it uncomfortable/intimidating/scary/frightening for you?

Absolutely. The apex is blind, the curbing sticks out and there is a drop away bump. I never had the knowledge to go over the crest without rolling off. You need a rock solid reference point to get that right.

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[Pittenger5]

Turn 10 actually has a reference point that once you learn it, it's a turn you don't even think about. The fun part, the reference point is a radio antenna on the hill of the property next door.