Happiness and tears at the same time. I sold the old 2008 FireBlade 😥 and bought a newer 2019 SP model 😍. First track day at Zolder with the new bike and not all went well. The day was cold and the temperature only got up to 11℃ which for the time of the year is pretty cold. During every session there was without any exception a red flag 🚩 that caused the session to stop because of a accident.
But take it a little back, the new bike is amazing! So many options with the electronics and I have watched a lot of video’s about guys talking it but to start on it I selected mode 3 (minimal power, max traction control). I used this session not to get caught off guard by the newness of the bike and riding style since the temperature was already low. One thing I noticed immediately was that the turning (flipping) the bike from left to right was so much easier and on the previous model. That on the first laps I went to fast from left to right and back again. Also the driver by wire was is a big difference. It picks up imitate when you open the throttle and there is no delay in it. But with the traction control set to the max I could open up the throttle almost immediately when hitting the apex. The engine is so smooth in the power delivery that it me such a safe feeling but there was almost “no” power. Don’t get me wrong the bike was fast but not the kick you get from the normal power.
The second session I used mode 2. This gave me almost all power but 50% traction control. And when I went on the straight and opened up the throttle (completely) it was a rocket launching!!! So much power but again very smooth. It worked perfectly with the TC but I also got a 🏴 for sound limit. I did not have my reverse shift pedals installed and when leaning the corner I could not shift with much confidence and it got stuck in the middle gear. But also the gearbox is fantastic. I only use the clutch when leaving the pit lane and stopping there again. Up and also down shifts work perfect. The standard QuickShifter works very nice and down shifting works very smooth even from 2nd to 1st gear.
3rd session with already one penalty point from the noise was a good session, getting more confidence in the bike and was able to puch more but it also gave me a second 🏴 with again to much sound. At Zolder 2 times exceeding the limit means end of you day 😭 and there I stood with a very nice bike that rode perfectly.
The next day I contacted the track to request the noise I made on each lap and I noticed that it was not so close to the 98dB limit but rather way below. Also I heard during the day people complaining that the lap times where not visible and getting a e-mail back from the organiser they told me that they think faulty transponders are in use. At Zolder when 2 bikes pass within 2 seconds the measurement is ignored. But if one transponder is not transmitting as it should it sees only 1 bike but the sound of 2 and then the working one gets a penalty. I never had the issue at Zolder before but the 2017-2019 SP versions do make much more sound then the previous one. Currently looking into how to get the bike more silent and continue my discovery of this new piece of machinery to the max.
Enjoy the video’s and hope to see you soon at the track!
