Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

, you can change many things: power, traction, side grip, anti-squat angle, suspension rebound - all these and so many more. But before you can choose the right one, you need to know how he feels and thinks. "For example, Colin just came in and said the bike is moving a lot at the rear. Okay - that's what he feels, but in fact it's not that-he has no grip from the tire, but that the compression damping on the shock is too stiff, so the bike stays stiff and starts spinning the tire. I had to check the telemetry to understand his feeling, and translate it into what the bike is really doing. After two years working together, it's more easy. But now it's your turn!" Well, Fiorenzo - we've known each other for more than a decade, but never, er, quite like this. Still, here goes. The bike steers really nicely on the power, without tying itself in knots when you hit a bump like another in-line four is doing at Albacete, and within my wimpish limits, it puts the power down really well out of turns with that great Dunlop rear tire. But I think I can feel it bottoming out in a couple of places, and the forks are chattering slightly exiting the last turn. Any fix? Fiorenzo spends a couple of minutes groping with the shock, then out again: noticeably better, because the shock feels more controlled in its suspension response, but it's still not perfect, exhibiting some chatter. That's all for today. My shock man Andersson will build me a new shock overnight for testing first thing in the morning. Is it a surprise I went 1.5 seconds faster in the early morning sun? No way, these guys know what they're doing. Okay, Fiorenzo - how come? "When you stop first, I give you 1.5mm more spring preload, then you go faster that's my job to do," says Fiorenzo with a shy smile. "But then we check your telemetry against Colin, and I see you have some bottoming out and suspension doesn't control right, so I propose some change in the shock. You are same height as Colin, now sit on the bike the same way, but you weigh more (okay, don't rub it in - he's just a kid, anyhow), so Anders must change the shock overnight. Instead of 8.3kg spring with 17.5mm preload yesterday, today I made you 9.lkg spring with 16mm preload - a softer spring, with less preload. Then you do a better time - but if we spend the whole day working together, [ can make your time come down a lot more. "For example, I see now from telemetry when you are off the throttle that the bike is much too low before you get on the gas again from what I think is best. So we should maybe alter ride height, then you go faster. Then we find another way to improve, and again, and again. We talk last year about the endless game, like we say in Italy, about tire development and bike development always chasing each other - first one improves, then the other, then the first again. But bike setup at a race track is the same, and this year Colin really matured as a rider, so he can advance the setup at each circuit to the point he is very competitive in the race. Yamaha worked very well to improve the bike also very much this year, and Dunlop now have a very good product, too. I know that in 1997 we can be very strong." After the transformation wrought for this season in the YZF750, you have to say Yamaha's Dream Team of U.s. riders are the dark horses for the '97 world title. Not bad for a vintage superbike! tN mlng... Round #1 Quail Canvon Onroad Area_Gorman, CA Jan. 5th Round #2 Sandhill Ranch.JIrentwDod, CA January 26th ~ Fir more informalion if CMC Racing at o. . 114-361-11410' check out Cycle News ad next week.Jssue #50. Call fDr day befDre event PraeUeesl .. . Donate to ~•-t:: .,. •~ ;a- THECLAYTON FOUNDATION 2201 Cherry Avenue Long Beach, CA 90806 e a \C 0\ 0\ ........ ..... ..... I-< Q) 310/427-7433 "S Q) u Q) 0 15

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