DATA ACQUISITION
PROVIDING EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO MAXIMISE YOUR POTENTIAL
Before making changes to motorbike set-ups, have you ever thought about YOUR influence? Most people presume data acquisition is used to improve bike performance but, to ride, it is 80% rider and 20% machine.
Data acquisition is a useful tool to fine-tune riding style and also allowing for better, more accurate set-up of the motorbike. Below are some examples to consider when next riding.
WHAT WE HEAR
BAD BRAKING TECHNIQUE
Possible rider comments:
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Bike doesn't feel like its decelerating
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Front doesn't feel loaded on initial braking
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Front pops up too quick when releasing the brake and it is hard to hold a line
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Rear is pushing the front under braking
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Front feels overloaded when releasing brakes
The PINK line shows front brake pressure. In this screenshot it is very inconsistent, making the rest of the bike unstable in the braking phase.
The RED line shows the position of front suspension, which is, in turn unstable and unloaded due to the input of the front brake. This gives very vague feedback, and it may also feel the bike is not decelerating. At the end of braking, the rider releases the brake too quickly, making the forks pop up, which could give the sensation of hard to hold a line/running wide.
WHAT WE SEE
The YELLOW line shows front wheel speed; ORANGE shows rear wheel speed. When braking the rear speed catches up with the front, causing push from the rear onto the front, making it hard to stop and over-loading the suspension on the final part of braking.
From rider input only, without any data, it could be argued that the bike is "the problem". This could potentially lead to wasted time with the wrong bike set-up. Data acquisition changes the picture completely.
EXPLANATION
BETTER BRAKING STYLE
With a better braking style, the issues described by the rider could be eradicated. In the first instance, there is no need to change bike set-up.
This data shows the same corner from later in the same session/run with no changes to the bike. The rider braked better and the whole bike is much more stable.
The initial brake pressure is stronger than the previous example, giving confidence that the front is loaded and in the right position.
The rear has slightly lost traction as the wheel speed is slower than the front and therefore the bike is decelerating without pushing/overloading at any point in the braking phase.
A gradual release of the front brake with lower pressure, allows the front forks to come up more slowly, meaning the rider can hold a better line through the corner.