First drive in the SR4 kawasaki, a little help needed.

First drive in the SR4 kawasaki, a little help needed.

Author
Discussion

GaryR1980

Original Poster:

36 posts

134 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
Morning gentlemen.

Well, I bought myself an SR4 about 5 weeks ago and Monday at Spa Francorchamps was my first time driving it.
The car was faultless all day and somehow, the day stayed dry and reasonably warm.
To say I was surprised by it would be an understatement, After 10 or so laps wondering what I had gone and bought I started to settled down and the car got better and better..
By the end of the day I was brave enough to keep it flat from the exit of La Source hairpin all the way to the braking point for Les Combes and flat again from the exit of turn 14 all the way to the chicane.
The car felt absolutely rock solid through the quick corners with not even a hint of drama.

What I did experience and the reason for this post really, was quite a bit of understeer in the slower corners. most notably, Rivarge, La Source itself and the chicane, I was wondering in any of you could offer some advice on a setup tweak or 2 to help combat this.

The car is an SR4 with high downforce apparently but I don't know the difference between the 2 to say for sure.
The tyres where standard width 7 and 9 inch radical slicks, new with tyre pressures around 28 hot.
The car has intrax single adjustable dampers.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Gary

dunc_sx

1,630 posts

204 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
Hi Gary welcome to Radical ownership smile

Glad your first outing was successful and although I'm by no means a guru on this stuff (some of the others will help on that side) the tyre pressures sound too high to me. As a guide I run 20psi hot.

Cheers,

Dunc.

MindBend

25 posts

136 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
Tire pressure is ESSENTIAL. (as you probably know) I was running mine too high and was getting a big of oversteer last track-outing.
My sweet-spot seems to be appx 15psi cold, but will depend upon the track, the compound, the ambient, etc.

To remedy the slight oversteer, I found a better solution was to keep my right foot planted!! smokin

GaryR1980

Original Poster:

36 posts

134 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
That is quite a difference Dunc.
It waa Radical eho advised on 28hot but I'll try having a play around with pressures next time out.

GaryR1980

Original Poster:

36 posts

134 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
That is quite a difference Dunc.
It waa Radical eho advised on 28hot but I'll try having a play around with pressures next time out.

BertBert

19,709 posts

218 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
quotequote all
The 28 hot sounds suspiciously like the pressures for SR3 tyres. This 2006 owner's manual http://www.radicalwestusa.com/uploads/range/downlo... says 20psi hot.
Bert