Thanks for asking: First timer trackday tips. Are new bikes always better. Should I weight my pegs? 

Without even having watched the video: “Are new bikes always better?”. Me: Bet he’ll start talking about GSXR 750s 😀

You were very kind to Aprilia and not holding Aprilia responsible for the conrod issues. My view as a former aerospace program manager the purchasing company always is responsible for any quality escapes. Selection of, monitoring of, and inspection of suppliers along with independent product inspection is the buying companies responsibility. Motorcycle companies while they don't need to meet aerospace requirements their hardware failures that can cause injury or death are especially the responsibility of the buying company.

My tips, don't shout at me if you don't agree, we are all entitled to an opinion. Tip for 1st trackday: Take it easy and try to be smooth not fast. Bike doesn't really matter so long as it's a sports bike of some form. Tip for 2nd trackday: Custom suspension is the single biggest improvement you can make to you bike. IMHO stock suspension is not good enough on road or track, but on track you tend to ride harder, and you can reach the limits of stock suspension pretty easily. With decent after-market suspension, you probably won't reach the limits of the bike. I was never able to reach the limits of a '97 Fireblade (bought for the track) once it had been fitted with an Ohlins rear and Ohlins internals at the front. Nowadays I change the suspension on every bike I buy since the difference between stock and aftermarket is huge. Tip for 3rd trackday: Think about your brakes, I change all my brakes to braided hoses, bleed them myself etcetera. if you don't on some bikes you might find you get brake fade, and a friend once got to the end of the pit straight at Snetterton, pulled on the front brake and found it settled back to the bar. He didn't panic, started braking with with rear and jamming down through the gears, arrived at the corner far faster than he wanted to and tipped it in anyway and made it. Thank God that never happened to me, I don't really want to find out if I have the balls to tip it in going way faster than I am comfortable with.

More track stuff! There is more than enough road-focused content out there.

Re suspension: My experience is that electronic suspension isn't better than regular suspension, it's just easier to change.

Hi Neevesy, loving these Q&A sessions. Would love to see more Trackday tips. My question: Does club racing ruin the track day experience? I’m on the fence (can’t really afford it) but told it really brings your ability along (I am at the back 1/3 of the fast group). But worried it spoil a normal track day experience. Neevesy = the go to resource for Bike reviews, tyres, tips and tricks, Q&A many thanks

You’re right about Aprilia. Even though I know their bikes are awesome and under appreciated, I would never buy one because of all the negative comments I hear about reliability and lack of dealer support. Ducati used to have the same reputation, but they have well and truly turned the boat around, so it can be done.

Brilliant video again Mr Neeves...thank you for your time and efforts...its funny to watch all your body language when describing riding, suspension and so on......we all do it, to watch from a distance a few bikers talking about riding its amazing what you can gather theyre talking about....great stuff..

You were in Scotland!? If I'd known I'd have put the kettle on and baked a cake. Good job it wasn't this week, snowing hard now. Won't add to the question list which must be getting very long, but liked hearing your thoughts on suspension as I am at the 18 stone end of the spectrum and worry about what I should be doing (apart from not putting the kettle on and baking a cake!!) to get better bike handling. Cheers ☕🎂

Another cracking video Michael, hope you enjoyed your time up here in Scotland, i just got an old 2002 KTM 640 LC4 Supermoto a few seeks ago as a winter rider, love it already, trouble is it's absolutely mint, amazing condition for it's age, cleaning and polishing it after every filthy winter ride (which wasn't the plan lol), got some XCP Rust Blocker so going to try that. No questions from me, sure you have tons to get through, keep up the great work though.

Great content. Keep them coming.👍

Always good stuff…thank you

Thank you for taking time to share your knowledge and experience, really useful information for consideration during the “off” season

Can you tell us about the new artwork hanging behind ya Michael? It looks brilliant and made with talent. 👌

In formula1 at least, and the regulation may be the same in MotoGP, is that there cannot be two gears engaged at the same time, and a DCT gearbox by definition has two gears engaged waiting for the clutch plates to shift. In fact, the seamless F1 gearboxes can be so fast that they have a built-in delay so that the FIA can indeed confirm that in the shifting operation occurs in two moments; disengage of the first gear and engage of the second. And not having the second gear engaged before the first one is completely disengaged. Maybe MotoGP has the same ruling.

Great series mate , always my first click as soon as I see a new vlog posted . Such valuable info and great variety . Thanks again mate keep up the great vlogs 🙏🏽👍🏽😎🔥🔥🔥

Love the new artwork mate

Thank you for doing the q&a's. :)

And I'm never first... Love your videos!

Super watch/listen. Balanced, experienced views delivered with authority & humility.

Hey Neevesy, i was wondering if you will ever do a full helmet collection showcase, I think you alluded to the design and how they released it back in 2005? Would love to know the story of all the crash helmets on the shelf. Love your work man!

Hi Micheal. I am really enjoying these videos. Thanks for taking the time these Q&A session. It is very informative. I can think of one new bike that is much worse than the predecessor. The Yamaha R7. It is almost sacrilegious to call the new bike by that name. It would be like calling the new Honda CBR500R the new RC45! I say this all this in jest of course. However, I can not be the only one that thought, Brilliant the R7 is back!! I remember Haga driving Edwards crazy by sliding that R7 under his, Edwards', bike on almost every turn. I was and still is a big Haga fan. Every race he was in was almost always guaranteed to be a show. Did you every ride the proper Yamaha R7. Your thoughts? Secondly. I remember Haga used to run his triple clamps very low on the forks on all his race bikes. His used to slide a rear quite a lot on turn entry, but for some reason he managed to keep the rear tyre on his bike is good shape throughout the race. What do you think was the reason it worked for him. Can you think other riders where their bike setup seemed 'wrong', as in don't do that, but worked for them. Thank you again for doing these videos.

Those helmets are beautiful

Thanks for that, great stuff. My question is do you think the bike industry is doing enough to bring in new riders ( of any age) and what more should it be doing?

Alright Neevesy, got a tyre question for you. What would you choose between the Dunlop Sportsmart TT and the Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa IV? I’m an inters track rider who does a yearly trip to northern Spain riding an 04 R6, so need something that can handle mixed conditions but also give me plenty of confidence on track. Been running the Sportsmart mk3s up until now which have been brilliant for moving through novices, but was interested to hear your thoughts. Heard rosso corsas can get a little greasy when really being pushed on track, but that’s probably above my skill level! Keep up the great work, been a long time fan of your content!

Great as always Neevsy, keep up the top work. Can I just ask another question, what are your thoughts on the use of the rear brake on the street, not just on downhill sections, but for settling the bike in normal turns? Do you think this is helpful, or is it more of a track biased thing?

Hi Neevesy, love the vids. Couple of questions really I’m looking at doing my first track day on my road going gen 1 ZX10R C2H any tips for set up etc? My second question is what’s your opinion on Anglesey circuit for a first track day as that’s my local circuit. I’ve been on the roads for a couple of years now and really want to get on track. Thanks Guy.

Great video as always Neevesy! First of all, as a techer myself, I must commend you on your pedagogical approach when answering these questions. Now to my own question: I ride a z800 which I love for the twisties and general hooliganism. However, in summer I travel between our summer house and regular home (300km one way) and the wind blast really takes the fun out of it after a while, so much so that I opted for the car last time which is a shame. What I really look for is a faired naked biker I guess. I'm looking at either a proper sports tourer (Ninja 1000sx or Gixxus 1000gt, which one?) or a middle-weight sports bike (Aprilia rs660). I'm a sizeable man at 190cm and 115kg, will the Aprilia look small and will I find it exciting enough or is the sports tourer the way to go? Any help would be appreciated.

Im never this early!

👍

11:30 first fuel injected R1 (2002) was worse than the carb one. Had 1999 model, was disapointed by 2002

Been following you since the first MCN RU-vid videos! Thanx for all the great content. Got a question about helmets. Do you prefer a helmet with a tinted visor instead of an internal sun visor? Are there any pros and cons or is it just personal taste?

Hi Neevsey. Great videos as always and thanks for making them. Iv currently got an L7 gsxr 600 basically the last of them made here in the uk. Iv had a k7 750 and 1000 previously going back 10 years plus. The 600 I own is mint with some nice goodies and came up locally for a good price and I needed a bike quickly for a trip to Le Mans last April with friends. I can’t help but think should I of held out for a similar year 750. I can’t really remember how good my k7 750 was as it was a while ago. Would you stick with the 600 for a while or go for a 750 and get it over and done with 😂 Thanks again 👍🏻

How the VFR800, with Vtech over the previous model

Have a question for you Neevesy. I've been daily riding a 2006 GSX-R 600 for the past 2 years. It's my first bike and while it's a fun ride to work and around town, the thrill comes from taking the very few turns we have here around Atlanta, Georgia. It currently has a little over 50,000 miles on the dash (or 80,500 KM) and has had more than a few trips to a couple mechanics to replace aging parts. My concern isn't moreso that the bike would be dangerous to myself or others in the scenario, but I do wonder, would there be any sense in taking a relatively high miled motorcycle in for a couple track days? I really want to get the best out of my bike, but am not in the market yet to buy either a dedicated track bike or a newer bike with less use and wear. Whatever the case, we appreciate your work in and out of MCN. If ever in the states, it would be an honor to meet with you.

Were you allowed to keep the Alpinestars R10 helmet you reviewed? Looks the business 🤘

Look at DCT gearboxes used widely in car racing, even production car DCT’s (like my Skoda superb) can change up in 7 milliseconds and down in 30! Try a Lamborghini Aventador in Race mode and it will give your neck a workout it’s so quick and brutal changing! Your right that Honda use theirs in touring bikes where speed of change is not the priority but that doesn’t mean the technology can’t be quick. Again while it’s different in how it works using you fingers to flick up and down gears like F1 flappy paddles with your clutch hand has to be as easy as using your foot on a QS / blipper. I think the only reason you don’t see them on race bikes (and won’t) is weight! Two electromagnetic clutches is always going to add a bit to the weight along with the mechatronic unit that “drives” effectively two separate gearboxes with alternating gears. It certainly has nothing to do with speed of gear change.

What skills, if any, translate from track riding to make you a safer and more confident rider on public roads? I am always interested in perfecting my skills, but have no interest in riding on track. Am I missing out?

Must've lost the alpinestars sponsorship, lol. And yes Silverstone is boring imho. I drove the old circuit pre losing bridge, the last complex and moving the pits etc and was slightly more interesting. Tho doing 130 in an rx7 down hangar felt like 30, very power sapping circuit and featureless.

Moto GP seamless transmissions are DCT. They just have a clutch and foot shifter.

Is the new Suzy GX better than the Tracer 9 GT plus (I'm 6'2"). Ta!

120 and 180 refers to crank throws.

Hey Neevesy, you might not want to do this but have you considered splitting this - absolutely superb, world class - series into 'trackday focussed' and 'road riding' focussed? I love these videos but have zero interest in track days and the vids seem to be devoting a lot of time to track riding. I'm sure there's enough interest to split into 2 series, you might double your views!

How can you tell someone owns a Ducati....Don't worry they'll tell you!

APRILIA CUSTOMER SERVICE IS STILL AS BAD AS IT WAS IN THE MID 90'S. This is why they are overlooked.

Once Aprilia hire actual designer to make beautiful Italian bikes, they would sell ton of them imo. They keep producing absolute anti-sexy ugliness for more than a decade. You couldn't put Aprilia near Ducati and MV Agusta and compare them with a straight face like they're equal.

Problem with Aprillia isn’t in the past. They still have issues with reliability. One of the major reasons for buying a new bike is you don’t expect to have it leak or break down. Any forum will tell you how unreliable Aprillias are