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[Highway Smiles]

2013, 6 30, ReFuel, Laguna Seca, TT Laps, 2nd place production


2013, 6 30, ReFuel, Laguna Seca, Session 2, thru the dirt


2013, 6 30, ReFuel, Laguna Seca, Session 1


2013, 6 30, ReFuel, Laguna Seca, Session 3



In all the videos, I am aboard a 2013 Zero DS w/ 17" wheels from 2013 Zero S

Those Brammos were easy to pass 

[protomech]

Well done. I liked hearing the pegs scrape.. Zero needs to make some rearsets!

In the first video you can see Kenyon Kluge on his Zero S prototype with a much larger controller heatsink, and Shelina Moreda on the Empulse TTX just ahead of him. Dollars to donuts that's a Sevcon Size 6 controller. His SportElectric TT laptime was 1:55.684, or about 3 seconds faster than your 1:58.351 laptime. You can really see where he puts big gains on the 2013 DS bike.

Traditionally Zero has raced prototypes for the next year's powertrains at Refuel. In 2011 they raced a prototype AC motor that went into the 2012 bikes .. and in 2012 they raced a modified MX with the 2013 motor.

Hardly solid confirmation, but just a bit more weight behind my suspicions that we'll see a Size 6 controller in 2014.

[BrammoBrian]

Those Brammos were easy to pass 

Except for the one ridden by a girl that bested you for first by over 7 seconds...

[emotofreak]

Yeah, that bike has "production" written all over it, eh?

The Empulse R and the S/DS are much more the contemporaries.

The closest Empulse R was over 6 seconds slower.

Oh yeah, what does "the ridden by a girl" have to do with anything? If anything she is lighter and a "pro" rider. Neither of these adds credibility to your sentiment.

Those Brammos were easy to pass 

Except for the one ridden by a girl that bested you for first by over 7 seconds...

[CliC]

Love these vids... they make me want to go sign up for one of those superbike schools.

So you're riding a stock 2013 S or DS? Impressive. This is what makes elmotos better and better.

[Biff]

Here is a video of what an amateur (me) can do on the 2013 XU at Laguna.




As it says in the description I did a 2:06 (about 2 seconds slower than the Brammo Customer on his TTX), the bike was completely stock (even stock tires), stock suspension (not even tuned), and still had kick stand on.  The only modification I did from my daily commute is to tape the turn signals and headlight, remove the mirrors and set tire pressure.

I really enjoyed being on the track with everyone.  I was too busy tuning karts and setting up other peoples bikes to spend any time talking with the Brammo group, but I hope their non-pro riders were engineers.  One of the greatest things about this event is getting out on the bikes you built yourself and have a good time, it certainly seemed like everyone had a great time.

-ryan

[protomech]

Sigh. How much are flights out to the Monterey area? : P

[Highway Smiles]

Yup.  Stock 2013 Zero DS with S 17" wheels and Pirelli SP2 track rubber.

I took the lights and mirrors off.  Kickstand and chargers were still installed to make an easy track day.  Suspension was tuned to be "track firm" with crisp steering.

Shelina was smoking fast and it was nice to see a pro name in the production class.  I'm guessing the price differences between my and Shelina's machines are in the $15K range.  That's only $2K per second!

[Richard230]

What did you think of the "Corkscrew"?  I rode the track  a few times in 1984 and 1985 when Kawasaki was letting customers try out their new models at Laguna Seca.  I recall riding the original version of the 250 Ninja and the new ZX10 (or whatever it was called then).  Both bikes had terrible fueling issues, but the track was fun to ride and the first time I hit the Corkscrew I thought I was going in three directions at once.  It felt like being on a roller coaster. 

[protomech]

I recall pricing being in the neighborhood of $25k for the TTX. I don't see prices listed now though.

Does the DS offer any advantages on track over the S bike? It rides a little higher so aero might be a bit worse, but is the suspension better suited for Laguna Seca?

[Highway Smiles]

The corkscew was a lot of fun.  It's a more natural feeling than you think.  I rode it first on a bicycle for one of the Laguna Twilight events before MotoGP so that helped in taking it slow.

As long as you get slowed quick enough, it's a pretty easy turn.  If you pass the last braking marker, your either coming down on the right side of the candy striping or in the dirt.  Neither is too bad.

I couldn't a price for the Empulse TTX bike either.  Dosen't sound like an available production bike.  I wonder what other bits Shelina's bike had.  The TTX bike that a customer was riding was much slower.  It could have been rider skill at that point.  Shelina had that bike dialed.

[protomech]

The customer was likely new to the bike, and perhaps had limited track riding experience (both in general and at Laguna Seca). 12 second gap between Shelina and Arthur .. also a 12 second gap between you and Richard Kenton on another DS. Rider skill + experience matters.

I know Brammo has done some significant work racing the TTX in the last year to tune it - trying different tires, switched to a 160 mm rim, swapping back and forth between clip-ons and the standard handlebar, tinkering with the seat. I believe the intent is to pass those results down to the customers.

I've driven the corkscrew a ton in racing games. I've heard they do not prepare you for the drop : )

[Highway Smiles]

Good thinking Proto.  Skill does go a long way.

I wonder if Brammo has also done motor and controller work to the TTX.