Cadwell shake-down !!!!
 

Well Nick and I managed to squeeze out at Cadwell yesterday for our first real test on the DD bikes.

Mine was looking pretty stripped down, with no electrics or fairings, Nick's looked like he'd ridden it there, it had full electrics, etc, etc!!!

This weekend is a full on New Era Super Cup (I think) weekend, with many racers taking the opportunity to use this trackday as practice!!! So you can imagine that as there were only limited places and it was full up, you actually had racers in the Novices!!

Effectively, the novices were a inters group, the inters were really a fast group and the fast was a f****** fast group.

So as you might tell, Nick and my decision to test out bikes for the first time in the f****** fast group might not have been too wise!!!!!

However, after a couple of sessions of finding our feet, (the first session was slightly damp) we quickly came up to speed and can safely say that we didn't embarass ourselves.

I'll let Nick post his own views, but for me, despite having a slipping clutch and not having ridden the DD bike more than 50 yards before, I was pleasantly surprised.

The Monster is resonably capable in standard form, I had considered suspension changes previously, but the standard suspension is OK, a bit more rear ride height might render the front a bit too soft, but for my abilities, it suited fine.

The lack of power meant that we were obviously getting absolutely killed down any straights, but as for cornering speeds, it could be a match for most of the bikes out there. Saying that, there were a few very, very,very quick boys out there and it wouldn't matter if I was on a exocet, there was no getting close to them.!

So overall, pretty pleased, I've gotta sort out some fairings, and sort the clutch out, the tyres performed very well and I was surprised by the amount of grip. I did have a small moment late on in the day when fully cranked over coming around Chris curve, but this may have been the surface and not the tyres???

Who knows, but I've come away very pleased and a lot happier than before. The Monnie is a great fun bike, it does lack power for sure, but that just puts the onus on cornerspeed - fantastic.

The times were way down on what I've achieved around there on the 996R, but I felt that I was cornering pretty close to my previous speeds.

I reckon it must be down to pure top speed. I saw just about 110 on the Park straight and the Jap 1000 boys were coming past at approx 30-40 Mph faster - what's that worth a couple of seconds a lap?

Who knows, who cares!!! I'm looking forward to facing pretty well matched bikes in May!!

Getting really excited about this now - BRING IT ON!!!!

Tim:ninja:

great report, I cant wait and I'm only spectating!!

I think thats good for all of us to hear Tim, its great that a fairly Standard ish Ducati 600 didn't feel to out of place in the fast group. Its also good to know that you fely comfortable with it first time out as I have yet to ride mine as my first time may or may not be our 1st Cadwell race meeting.

I can confirm Rattlers findings re corner speed and handling. Yes i got mullered on the straights but my bike pulled brilliant out of corners and on a par with bikes with much more bhp than me.

The Monnie just felt pretty "neutral" I suppose, no great surprises. It was pretty light and flickable.

In the early sessions I was waiting to get some kind of feedback from the bike (whatever that is) and it was almost as if she was saying "come on, get on with it, I can do more than this you know!".

So I pushed on, and she took it in her stride and there's plenty more to come I reckon.

Tim:ninja:

Tim, did you dicide on your racing name yet? I liked 'B & Q' racing. Could stand for Bold and Quick, or could just stand for the brackets holding your exhausts on. :D:D

I got to go out in minute but I'll try'n write a few words later.

Looks like Timothy's being a little guarded about the cornering... we didn't just 'keep up' with the club racers in the wiggly bits - we were all over them, and past them! Highlight of the day for me was going past an R1 over the mountain on me back wheel 'chillo style'!!

Got a nice photo too which I might run through the scanner for your enjoyment :)

later.
n

That Chillo style photo is an absolute gem, Nick. And it was impressive the way those little bikes with you and Tim riding them were running with the pack of Jap bikes and making it look dead easy.

Have you told Pete B yet about your bike? :devil:

had my monnie out at lydden today and he went very well shame about the rider:)

It was megga! Can't believe how the little beastie could put some seasoned racers to shame round the woodland section!

And no, I haven't spoken to Pete yet... I'm trying to work out how to break the news to him :(
Shhhhhh......

:saint: