Lap timer etc. | GTAMotorcycle.com

Lap timer etc.

justride

justride

Well-known member
I haven't done any track, so I am jumping the gun a bit, but might as well ask now before track season opens.
what device/setup/apps do you use to keep track of your laps. It would be great to have some feed back on time. rpm, lean, braking.
The stand alone device are too expensive so I am looking at the apps, gps receivers, garmin glo etc. reviews, advice and suggestions are much appreciated.thanks
 
this is likely not what you want to hear but a lap timer or a lap timer app is probably the last thing you need when you first start as it will have you focusing on the wrong thing and trying to improve lap times rather than improve your lines, body position and markers.

the answer you want to hear is Harry's lap timer app, with a GPS receiver
 
mbroyda said:
this is likely not what you want to hear but a lap timer or a lap timer app is probably the last thing you need when you first start as it will have you focusing on the wrong thing and trying to improve lap times rather than improve your lines, body position and markers.
Click to expand...
This!

Laptimes mean nothing at a trackday.
 
I agree that a lap timer shouldn't be your focus as a new track rider but myself and quite a few others have good experience with these
www.svracingparts.com

SV Racing Parts, Lap Timer and Transmitter Beacon – Store – –SV Racing Parts

The Original; Do not be confused by imitations. We have Shipped Thousands of our SV Racing Parts, Lap Timers Worldwide. Racer Designed, SV Racing Parts, Race Track Lap Timer and Transmitter Beacon. Automatic Start. Records up to 64 laps (can be used over and over). Compatible for use with AIM...
www.svracingparts.com
 
mbroyda said:
this is likely not what you want to hear but a lap timer or a lap timer app is probably the last thing you need when you first start as it will have you focusing on the wrong thing and trying to improve lap times rather than improve your lines, body position and markers.

the answer you want to hear is Harry's lap timer app, with a GPS receiver
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree with this. The thing with lap timers is that it changes your focus from riding well to trying to ride FAST. As most good riders know and understand, the fastest laps are always the ones that don't actually FEEL the fastest. Smooth laps, with good lines, proper body position and excellent throttle control will net a faster and more consistent lap time.

You haven't done any track as of yet so my suggestion would be to wait on the lap timer and to create a plan on how you are going to work on improving your own riding.

Are you going to take any coaching, go to a riding school, work on one thing at a time?

How might you create a riding plan? How do you choose what is the most important technique or skill to work on?
 
I have signed up for Total Control with Lee Parks on May 18th. Unfortunately its the on same day as Intro to Track day at Cayuga. But I have my sights set on doing some track days with KWSportracing at Grand Bend (maybe some coaching). Also, a friend of a friend "who rides" from work does track at Cayuga so hopefully I can tag alone. That's my ideal track summer.
I was searching for a lap timer is basically to get some feed back. Not necessarily my total lap time but keep track of my speed/ throttle/brake going into the corner, mid-corner, and exit.
 
justride said:
I have signed up for Total Control with Lee Parks on May 18th. Unfortunately its the on same day as Intro to Track day at Cayuga. But I have my sights set on doing some track days with KWSportracing at Grand Bend (maybe some coaching). Also, a friend of a friend "who rides" from work does track at Cayuga so hopefully I can tag alone. That's my ideal track summer.
I was searching for a lap timer is basically to get some feed back. Not necessarily my total lap time but keep track of my speed/ throttle/brake going into the corner, mid-corner, and exit.
Click to expand...

Hope you enjoy total control! I like your idea for the lap timer to garner some more info on your own riding but I think that waiting longer will allow you time as the rider to pay attention to FEELING what the bike is doing more than reading what a lap timer is telling you. You should be able to pick one skill at a time to work on and really get a sense for what you are doing with your entry speed, throttle, braking and lines just from how the bike feels and how and where you end up on track. I find sometimes that people rely so much on electronics and outside sources of information and less on FEEL. For example, a lot of times people run around in circles trying to adjust their suspension settings when in actual fact, they are getting misinformation because their throttle control is ****.

Poor throttle control can make it feel like you are riding an unstable motorcycle....How would you define good throttle control and how can it help make a bike feel more stable?
 
As a racer I use a lap timer to pace myself and its more about being consistent. Mine also uses lights, to show if I am ahead, behind or on my lap time, I don’t look at the numbers.


For a new rider that likes data and wants to track it I think its a good idea BUT use it to record your rides and not even look at it, in fact cover it up.
There is so much going on that if you look at the wrong time your down in a split second..
 
Bevo said:
As a racer I use a lap timer to pace myself and its more about being consistent. Mine also uses lights, to show if I am ahead, behind or on my lap time, I don’t look at the numbers.....
Click to expand...

As a fairly new track rider (this will be my second season and I didn’t get out much last year) I use a lap timer. I don’t look at it while I’m riding and check the times when I’m back in the pits. I’m not interested in the times for the sake of being fast, but rather to see if I’m consistent or if changes to a specific corner or section of track has made a difference.
I know I’m not fast. I know I’ll never race. But knowing that I’m fairly consistent and improving with every day is why I care about times.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Good plan!
I really like going back to see old pictures or video and laugh at myself, progress is good especially when you can see it.

I come from bycicle racing where a coach tells me exactly what to do and what power I need to put down, we then review every inch of the ride or race to see how I did. Riding blind on the track is a bit strange to me as well.
 
So did you do Lee Parks Total Control or Intro to Track at TMP? I've done both, I did Lee Parks first and thought it was pretty good, but after Surviving the Streets and Intro to Track at TMP I really regretted spending my money there. Too much time going back from the lot to the class room, and way too much time idling my air cooled bike in the sun. Surviving the Streets and Intro to Track together cost less than Lee Parks and took place on a race track, learned way more from the track than doing circles around a traffic cone in a parking lot all day.
 
Yes I did the course. I pretty much agree with about Total Control Class in regards to cost, walking back and forth. But I do feel i got something out of it. I don't have any formal training other than this. Wanted to take the Intro To Track but the only day it was on I couldn't make it. (TMP please have more Intro To Track Classes)
I really wanted to do at least one track day this year and was looking at KWSportracing last track day in Oct but believe it or not, my bike got ran over in the parking lot this morning at work My poor 600
 
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To answer your original question on lap timers...
My setup is similar to what you have just mentioned. It has worked well over the last few years and has been accurate to hundredths of a second to the on-track MyLaps X2 timers.

Here is what you need:
- I have an old spare iPhone (requires a dummy SIM card that doesn't have a signal in order to boot up)
- Ram Mount to mount it somewhere on the bike
- Garmin GLO (this is crucial as the onboard GPS of the phone is not enough; and this uses a GLONASS system which locks on to satellites with multiple pings per second). This is velcroed in a safe spot on the bike.
- TrackAddict Pro iPhone App
 
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