Does Traction Control Make You FASTER?

[@bobeyes3284]

I like wet track days. No one else turns up. I get the track to basically myself. Shout out to you Marshalls, sorry for making you stand there in the rain while I wobble round.

[@mandrakejake]

I too have been alone on track in the wet, it feels like everyone is watching you I got really self conscious wobbling round 😂

[@mugget]

Yep, and it's always a great opportunity to work on your wet weather skills. (I was going to say I don't know why others don't take advantage, but we know there's a lot of fair weather riders out there.) I take the opportunity whenever I can because you can't buy a wet track day...

[@Tonyclifton-q4f]

Mid 1990s Phillip Island Australia ,few mates and i were at a track day and it pissed down but we paid money took time off work and were determined to give it a crack in the wet ,paid 50 bucks to have our tyres swapped over and away the first group went ,2 laps in times were way south of two minutes so we rode into the pits ,word was a few pro riders were here to test tyres for Pirelli ,this lil fella came out on Ducati and just FKN TORE up the track like some escapee lunatic nutter ,say hello to Carl Fogarty

[@markf4018]

To be fair, King Carl was always like some escapee lunatic nutter. 😎

[@evelghostrider]

So what your saying is... a better rider, not a better bike put down a fast lap with given conditions.. I want to see first class riders not first class bikes.

[@Tonyclifton-q4f]

@@evelghostrider yeah ok ,to have ridden in those conditions on a 12 month old GSXR750 with a fair bit of experience and then to see Fogarty just blow literally everyone away was breath taking mate ,theres levels theres class and then theres two HUGE FKN knackers as well ,i know in my heart i could never ever replicate what he did

[@evelghostrider]

My friend i fully understand. I considered myself a fast rider, i raced many road races in ireland and IOM, now i was quick, but there was many much quicker than me. And it was as you say big nuts lol .. certain very fast parts id roll off or drop a gear where the fast guys pined it wide open... For years thats how joey dunlop was still so fast at TT, it was not on pure skill but knowing his bike and being able to hold it wide open where all others rolled off... that is where time was made and not lost... I dont know about you buddy but nearly all forms of modern motorsport seems all about the technology of vehicles over the people. Like when nigel mansel ran F1 those cars were mental missiles that a driver had to control. Much like the 500's of the same time. Todays motorsports seems like a rider or driver just pins it open an the bike fixes any mistakes... I loved how foggy could ride race tracks and win, then goto real open road races and also win.. back then that was not easy at all as even joey could not race on tracks aswell as the roads... ​@Tonyclifton-q4f

[@Tonyclifton-q4f]

@@evelghostrider thats such a good reply ,much respect mate

[@davylad4804]

Best way to ride in the wet is to really tense your neck muscles and sort of stretch your bottom lip across your bottom teeth, clenching your pelvic muscles as if you’re busting also helps

[@mandrakejake]

😂

[@stevestacey5272]

Yeah you gotta hold your mouth right!

[@bella_testastretta]

thats how u do it

[@Byley-e7h]

😂😂😂

[@russellhill7683]

I thought that was just me,,so glad to hear this😅

[@gnarshread]

Once again Al shows us how bloody talented he is. Respect!

[@mmwbike]

The tyres nowadays grip fine in the wet, start slowly and get some heat in them and you will get a good feel and then find out where the limit is. Years of commuting in Scotland 80 miles a day sun, rain and occasional snow you soon learn what your tyres can do.

[@grahamritchie8118]

I've not ridden in the wet for over 20 years the thought of it & watching you on that powerful bike terrifies me. When younger i rode in everything rail, snow & ice.

[@halo8783]

Same had my bike license way before getting a car. Used to ride everywhere 40c and -2c rain hail shine.

[@julianshaw1775]

The advice I received about riding in the wet was “keep going until you drop it, then go a little slower next time “ I still get Christmas cards from ICU.

[@tonybarton3746]

I’m 72 and I’ve got traction control on my legs , which stops me going to fast and falling over when I walk 🚶‍♀️ 😂😂😂😂😂

[@johnsumser9743]

Me too and I can’t see how to turn it off.

[@classicraceruk1337]

Lol me to, I am 75

[@tonybarton3746]

@@johnsumser9743 but where still left with abs 😂😂

[@fivespeed3026]

My abs went away a quarter century ago. Now it’s called a dad bod.

[@chukaone]

Ba dum tss

[@steveman1982]

High sides in the wet do indeed hurt, for months. And when it's cold, even years later. The time dilation you experience while flying though, that's something else.

[@garethmayfield4014]

Electronic controls are amazing nowadays. Right up to the point where the computer throws a wobble and you're 7 days into your hospital stay still trying to work out what the hell happened. Only doing 50mph and would have done less damage just jumping off. Top tips mate, great video.

[@davidfischer7528]

Wow watching you ripping on this beast on wets really earned ym respect. Props to you my dude! Awesome video.

[@Xyzabc998]

Before TC, met a German on a trackday at Lausitszring. He has two used ZX10's, one with dry and one with wet tyres & a set up for each. He rode all sessions, in all but torrential rain. German thinking!! Ah the old days.

[@weirdlittleangel]

Absolutely loved this technical video, learned a lot of good tips for riding in the wet.

[@KarlBuckley-bw3vc]

As an owner of a 2021 Streetfighter V4S, I have to say you got some big coconuts to be full throttle in the wet. I can probably count on two hands, the amount of times I've gone wide open throttle, and every time it was in the dry. Respek! 😮

[@Chenzooo]

Time to sell and get a v2 then.

[@bella_testastretta]

@@Chenzooo probably got it for the "cool" factor.

[@Geetar_espresso]

Ain't that track riding style though, Full throttle and short shift if you need to, then straight to brakes, to limit 'neutral phase'

[@toucheturtle3840]

I hate riding in the rain. But the lads I was with when we were out in France trusted me to follow when we got caught out in pissing rain on mountain roads back to our residence. I had a dark visor on which made it even worse & it got dark. We all got back safely.

[@ducky237]

Good advice, many thanks 😊 I found the difference between sitting on the bike or sitting in the gravel trap could be as little as a 100 revs 😅, there's less warning or less forgiveness 🤔

[@nigel660]

The worst time to ride is when it's just started raining. Then, the roads are extremely greasy as the rain brings up all the crap that is embedded in the surface (oil, rubber, diesel, etc).The longer the preceding dry period, the worse it is. I always found that after some good heavy rain, the road would actually get grippier as this greasiness was washed away. Even if thetecwas standing water. Obviously, you don't want to be going so fast that your tyres aquaplane.

[@theant9821]

absolutely, there's a corner near me that's like ice if it just starts raining, like its covered in oil, its not great at the best of times there's no abrasion to the surface, the only corner i wish they would put stone chippings down.

[@Samuel-r1x6k]

Your skillz do amaze me, underrated my friend.

[@waynemckinnon9250]

As an old timer who's first wet track experience was a 6 hour endurance race on a 500 two stroke in the pouring rain when my co-rider didn't show up, I fear that while younger riders can go faster with TC, many have no idea what they are getting away with. When it does go wrong it goes really wrong. I like in this video how with your skill and experience, you point out the differences, especially the example of the tc blip over the curb.

[@YouCantSawSawdust]

I tell all the riders that I tune for at race meetings, "No coasting. You must make a conscious effort to be either on the gas, or on the brake. NO COASTING!!!!"

[@scottieray]

I live in Northwest Arkansas and we have many roundabouts now. In the rain, those large direction arrows are absolutely slick as snot. My 1290 SAS lights up TC every time I go through one. It's a pucker moment, but never a complete disaster. Many curvy roads here and smoothness is the key to progress. Honestly the only time wet roads really scare me is when it actually starts to dry out and the roads get greasy. The road looks dry but it is a time to be very smooth.

[@Gettyphotographer]

Just got mine a few days ago, 🥰🥰🥰 Thanks for the advice.

[@MrBCRC]

The analysis was great in that it highlights the fallacy of the approach many have to TCS and ride modes. 11:40 you're saying that with it off you didn't reach 100% but that with tcs on you did. Except you say that the bike reduced the torque. How did it do that? Either by reducing ETV opening or by retarding ignition. The reality is that with TCS on you still didn't reach 100% and that's in the data and cannot be refuted. That's the bit that many get wrong when it comes to discussing rider aids.

[@Secularworld60]

I’ve had to do some sphincter relaxing exercises after watching this . My technique for riding in the wet follows all of what was said but at a much slower pace on the road although I know after a recent ride with some much younger crazies the bike can be pushed much harder than I’m prepared to do when riding alone . The only thing that slows you down faster when the rear steps out is when the front does it first .

[@Aprilia_tuono_v4_rider]

A very informative video thanks. I was told a little while ago by a police bike rider that, generally, grip only drops by 10% in the wet on the roads

[@Chenzooo]

Obviously that guy does not drive on slicks. A cop bike is not even on sport tyres sooooo.....

[@Aprilia_tuono_v4_rider]

@Chenzooo who rides slicks on the road?

[@renevanderkraats224]

In the wet I always used to ride so careful that the computer wouldn't even intervene. 'Used', as my new babies aren't going near bad weather. Many years ago my bike was my only transport...'85 CX500, no computers to be found onboard. Had to get to work in snow, hail, rain...developed some tight buttock muscles then. Even managed to ride when just engine braking was enough to lock up the rear. Only dropped it once when they forgot to put salt on the highway. It was more of a sitting down then falling at that slow speed...managed to grind through my valve cover and break the clutch lever and gear lever though. Oh, and heavy rainy evening, scratched visor (beautiful rainbows!) and a changed roadplan makes for funny emergency stops and coming to a stop on the high curbs on your oil pan. No sidestand needed.

[@adamc209]

Legend Nige! Loving the regular fantastic content 👏🏻👏🏻

[@FortyFourTeeth]

Cheers Nige

[@Seymour_Cox]

​@@FortyFourTeeth I like that KZbin has kindly offered to translate "cheers Nige" into English.

[@aaronmccann8945]

More of this kinda stuff please!

[@ambition_vs_talent]

Nice to see Marco Bezzecchi reviewing your data at 8:37😅

[@LeonBold]

Few wet riding tips, (with full wet racing tyres) - Allways start with cold tyre out of the pits. (if you tyre warm them you have the first lap crazy grip and will drop off grip quickly. - 2.3 bar in front and rear tyre. - VERY important, lower your spring rate and demping. especially damping make it 3 of 4 clicks softer on rebound and compression. why? because of lower speed you need softer suspension to give the tyre more grip. (Never drive with your dry grip setup on the wet.... you stress the tyre to much and you will crash easily) - Still disable abs on rear, because if you have some wheel slide/slip the front will losen and thats really bad for your braking points. - Dry slick VS wet tyre is on a very wet track 10 sec slower. - If it dry's up quickly, change back to normal (race) tyres. you will destroy them real fast. - Still trailbrake in to the corner, you need the front tyre to grip and load the front suspension, this is really difficult between your ears, but it will massivly give you faster laptimes. - Ride as smooth as possible. All these ducati aids are nice, but DWC on 4 and TCS on 7 is way to intrusive for the extreme grip you have. Good luck....

[@ninja12lawbreaker]

More good stuff Al, can we have a video of snow riding next please

[@Aint1S]

I find that riding a bike everyday, the same bike that is... It helps you. No TC isn't such a big deal, just standing water. Not knowing a bike nor owning that bike, yeah I'd be cautious. Any insecurity, it upsets confidence.

[@ianwarren8316]

Cool video Really enjoyed the analysis and tips! Thanks 🙏

[@xeeded]

Track map looks apsolutely amazing, you lucky dog.

[@courtneyricks500]

Thank you for this video.

[@davidherringgo]

Very smooth riding. Unveiling one in Austin Sat.

[@bengriffiths5096]

Good video! Great information 👍

[@Geetar_espresso]

I think it was the Big Wet Legend that is Michael Rutter, that once said, Feeling out the grip on the pegs is critical to him, to getting good feedback in the wet Myself, I always notice how sloppy I've got over summer, once winter and wet days arrive. I find it difficult to push on at all without feeling grip through the pegs in the wet, it's more like guesswork but in the dry there's so much grip to go at. I understand why no one wants to go out in the wet, it's a nightmare cleaning the bike but I tend to agree with those that say winter and wet riding is good for building skill, maybe it's because of having the limit of grip brought so much closer

[@andrewpurkis1049]

Thanks for the vid. Apreciate the advice

[@lewis3920]

opening seconds sounded exactly like Motley crew - kickstart my heart! 😂🤟

[@godlyobject6509]

These conditions scare the piss out of me. That's a proper pair on you. Good advice, though. Might have to test it.

[@newpuppy21]

Love to see this conversation with Casey Stoner…he did ok ?

[@nickrider5220]

Good going Al, that's not a bad difference between with and without tc.....on Ducati's expensive, very powerful bike, not your local track either👍🏻🍻

[@MrKamechan]

Awesome video.... thank you

[@nikhum322]

Road tires today are really really good in the wet, paired with good electronics, you can go really fast in the wwt. But, put on some dedicated rain tires, and wet tracks will become your best friend!

[@ragnarironspear1791]

Even though it's lashing down that looks like a blast 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🇬🇧

[@marcusgeorge1825]

Lovely. Traction control? That’s your right wrist. ABS? Same hand, with your fingers. All of my racing was done back in the 90’s with Phillip Island being my home racetrack as I live in Melbourne. My ex team manager would actually do some rain dances as I was comparatively quicker. The biggest key to racing/riding in the wet is to be smoother with all of your inputs. It’s not a case of riding the same as in the dry, just slower as you do need to adjust a lot more when still pushing the bike to its limits. With over 1,000 laps I’ve still not done a track day. My now adult children have purchased a track day pass and I’m possibly more nervous than racing in front of 120,000 track side like both 95 and 96 WSB events.

[@jesuschrist7169]

What name did you use back than? Can't see your name on the starting list for WSB or ASBK 95 or 96?

[@marcusgeorge1825]

@ Didn’t race in either of those categories. As I’m sure you’re aware that several are run over the weekend. I still have one of them in my collection as a one owner with very low kilometres and basically unused OEM fairings.

[@silent_fluo6917]

But you didn't ride a 220hp bike..

[@marcusgeorge1825]

@ Never said that. Let’s pretend we this into another class for the sake of this discussion. The last of the 509 GO bikes…. Think about that type of engine, in the wet, minus traction control and any rider aids. It’s also another reason why Stoner retired early. As the electronic nannies made it easier for the less talented racers.

[@mikey_bb]

@marcusgeorge1825 why have you avoided the question then? 🤔 and won't say which class you did race in...

[@vincents8165]

I love my DTC. It's come on only 6 times in 47,000 miles on my F900R, in five of these cases it was a minor correction on a track day, in the last case the whole dashboard lit up like a fkin Christmas Tree on a bend in the road and I swear I was lowsiding into a bus stop if I hadn't had it on.

[@madmaxsdog8040]

I would have said try it with a TZ but they didn't have tc , , , , I raced a TZ350 many times in the wet ( England, say no more lol ) Fine as long as its in the powerband and you can use the throttle, but dont let the rpm drop, the power spike when they hit about at 8k rpm would snap the rear wheel sideways.

[@_Makanko_]

2nd track day I did was in the wet. Not a lot of ppl on track and I wasn't going fast anyways so still good times. Only have ABS but I was super careful and managed fine, no brown bottoms. Thankfully no rain in the ride back home afterwards.

[@trackdaylbs]

It would be good to have more tech / riding vids.

[@dodgerboe]

Riding to work the other morning obviously wet dew misty and just above freezing, came up behind a line of 4 car misted coffee drinkers doodling along , me thinking I'm too cold to be sitting in the Que , so rightly squirted past in style . Look down just pulling 85-87 as pass the first two and then the rear spins up while the TC notified me your very lucky as the twitch tickled me I was indeed lucky... if that was on my pre MV Brutale Technology I'd been fooked as that road was like a glass patch in places . Saved me and the pocket of an embarrassing or even worse ending .

[@MaxAinscoughRacing93]

Best thing I found in the wet was getting off Pirellis 😅 Their wets were god awful, especially compared to the bridgestones I swapped to... Those were like riding in the dry, was great 🤣

[@ianmills1120]

Try the Avons if you thought the slipirellis were bad.

[@MaxAinscoughRacing93]

@ Youre making it sound like the Avon repair bill is pricey 😅

[@starfox_wr-45e93]

If I remember rightly (was an eternity ago now) Bridgestone's were the tyres that came with my Aprilia SXV550 back when I had it.. I'd never ever felt that comfortable riding in the rain before that, or since tbh. They were amazing. Weirdly a certain model of Maxxis tyres they don't seem to make anymore came second. Pirellis used to have me sh!tting bricks lol

[@devilsreject320]

This is brilliant 👍

[@mandrakejake]

Great video and sound advice. 4 seconds slower all things considering is nothing, and having that fear of the throttle has to be more fun than leaning on TCS?

[@FancyAnimal]

Without a double blind test, no one will ever know which is faster.

[@musguelha14]

Hard enough to find a blind guy who could ride a bike, let alone two of them.

[@elmorganou]

You did alright son, must of been a little skittish to fair. Good ride 👏🇲🇫

[@rideitalia]

“For all of you who don’t like electronics…” amen fella 👍

[@Caksy12345]

7:14 - “ gently does it “ BRAAAAAAP

[@CaptainCarbon]

Very interesting..........I wonder how much impact the aero has in such conditions? 🤔

[@sp00ky1969]

I’d really love to see you compare this to the current Fireblade SP.

[@FortyFourTeeth]

44T Mega Test 2025

[@sp00ky1969]

@ Can’t wait (yet I will have to)!

[@davidboydarnott417]

Wear a blindfold and "Use the Force Al" 🤘

[@nickwoodall4744]

Al's wet riding top tips, "shit that's wet" i already do that buddy 😂

[@bingwalker5024]

Interesting ✊✊

[@SeuSonho999]

Quando está na chuva e não tem medo de acelera obviamente vai mais rápido com controle ligado com a eletrônica comandando aceleração ideal

[@Conky769]

Balls of steel.

[@TheRealBhuado]

absolute weapon.

[@iamtherealzombie]

If you're a professional racer or someone who does track days in advanced classes, maybe you can ride faster in the dry without TCS/ABS, etc. In the wet, there's almost no way you can be faster than modern electronics, IMO.

[@deanhuggett5613]

Exactly I agree I used to have an ACU license and used to race bikes the more you ride in the wet the better and more confident you become, at that was on a gixa k1 1000. You can always see the fair weather boys as when we used to practice on track days and it would start to rain all them used to pack up and go home when we used to put the wet gear on and go out, once we had the whole of brands gp to ourselves with only 3 riders on it for a whole afternoon. In my opinion you don't need traction control launch control anti wheelie control blah blah blah put a good rider on ANY bike and they will piss all over a person who don't know the difference between racing and a track day.

[@ianfarquhar5793]

Fuckin awesome bit of riding Nige!!! 😮

[@bearcatracing007]

So many racers in the comments its fantastic, so much info 😂

[@MyYouTubeAccount17]

I hate riding in the rain. Several years of commuting through the Santa Cruz mountains in all conditions caused this loathing. Tough for me to even watch this.

[@stefanhansen5882]

Super interesting. Can you please explain WHY you should always be on the brake or the throttle, as you say at 10:30? Thanks.

[@_Makanko_]

As I had it explained by an instructor during a track day, the moment when you are either applying throttle or braking are the times when you actually get traction and grip on your tires, either due to the chain pulling the rear down or the brakes pulling (mostly) the front one down.

[@Elwon20]

Because for fast lap times you always want to be accelerating or decelerating. Either you can go faster, or you need to slow down. If you're at 100mph and not accelerating or braking for 50 meters, that's 25 meters you could have been accelerating up to 125mph and 25 meters you could have been decelerating back down to 100mph. All 50 of those meters you would have been going faster than the 100mph you did by neutral cruising. Faster average speed = faster lap time Obviously this is simplified by removing engine braking from the equation, but the principle still applies.

[@israeleugenegillette]

I changed the ecu on my V2 which deleted all TC. I was almost two seconds a lap faster at my favorite track. My Pirelli bill went up, however.

[@mbpm6135]

Yeah now imagine riding 500cc two stroke GP machines at full blast together with 20 other speed junkie lunatics... on a soaked track.

[@evelghostrider]

500cc was about the rider controlling the bike. Not the bike controlling the rider... Today's racing is all about the bike. Look at the IOM tt where Mr Dunlop did over a 130 lap on a 600 ? The rider did that more than the bike did. As that goes into major teams can't beat him round there no matter how much money they throw at a bike... I want to see riders riding awkward to control machines. This is where skill comes from. I'd love to see a modern moto GP rider lap suzuka or other track on a 500cc GP bike as fast as the top riders back then

[@davidgerrard776]

I've only ridden 80s 90s sportbikes. Because I have ridden bicycles and dirtbikes I prefer no electronics my 848 has none all me I like that.

[@M1K3R0LPH]

Great insight Nige! Would using lower gears be true for an inline 4, where peak power is at the top of the curve? 🤔

[@lonpfrb]

The key point is to be high in the rev range above the peak torque so that lost grip doesn't encourage the engine to accelerate. Below peak torque when the revs rise so does the torque so no chance for the tyre to grip. Off you fly! All internal combustion engines have a torque curve, so this applies. Electric motors make max torque from rest so without electronic management are unridable.

[@TheSteeI]

What action camera are you using in this video?

[@russellleahy]

Drive any 2 stroke in the wet and have fun

[@SteveCardiff]

8:37 Guy Martin's love child :)

[@YandriPranaka]

No winglet for ligh engine

[@FuryMotoWorks]

It would be interesting to have done a blind test where they told you TC was on but it's actually off. Then compared the times. Mind over matter?

[@nivotron960]

Can you keep full lean angles in the wet as long suitable tyres and keep it smooth etc? Last wet session was Oulton Park on a stock 2009 ZX10R on S22’s felt pretty good

[@AMAsomeday91]

Wait, full electronic Ohlins gold but no ohlins steering damper? Looks like the same unit that came on my 749s

[@RebellionTroll]

This made me genuinely nervous 😬

[@ivanstafford1642]

If I’d had 30k to spend on this Ducati , the only rain it would see is through the window from my warm home 🤣🌲merry Xmas boys 🎉🎉

[@Francey4782]

I've always thought a higher gear is better on slippery surfaces as it reduces chances of wheel spin. Is that sound thinking?

[@Bunter1815]

​​@@Francey4782 no it's as Al says stay higher up the rpm range. The main reason is that the wheel speed difference between a tyre with traction and one without is lower at higher rpm. But this part of the rpm range is also where torque is reducing or flat. The most likely part of the rpm range to break traction is when the motor torque is increasing and that tends to correspond with lower rpm where the consequences of breaking reaction are worse (a very big step charge in wheel speed as the tyre goes from traction to no traction).

[@Decrepit_biker]

Fagans wet wobble round is probably twice as fast as I'd manage in the dry ..... 😂😂😂

[@_Archambaud]

Cool👍

[@grahamsmith2022]

Riding dirt bikes in the wet doesn't make much difference apart from the ground is a bit softer when you hit it and if you do drop it the bike weighs 4X more due to all the mud stuck to it.

[@1980jamesm]

Nice to see ducati have ditched the DDA abomination they used to run and have moved to 2D.

[@f270]

Dear Santa: V4S please!

[@sword_seven]

"They advised against it" How did you convice them???

[@SuperbikeCoach]

I have the DDA with GPS receiver on my 2024 V4R. I just can't make the lap timer work. Anyone???

[@chann3lm4rs]

Did the tc even kick in😅😅??

[@briansteele2723]

Is there a mode for downhill wet oh shit white lines

[@evelghostrider]

500cc never had electronics... it made the rider the best, not the technical parts of a bike... I do appreciate how technology is and can be a beneficial point. But do we want to see top class skilled riders or bikes ????

[@jamsstar2010]

When i used to commute full time on my bike, i worked out one year it was 250 days of rain and 100 days of sun 😂

[@Okipouros]

Serious tips: Warm the tyres, might sound odd, but if you heat the carcass of the tyre by breaking/accelerating hard, you will get more feel, and DONT SPIN the rear, it kind of polishes it, and doesnt grip as well for a couple of laps

[@viasevenvai]

Ducati Vehicle Observer said you’re good and guaranties it. You’re not getting a better promise than that so goooooooo

[@FortyFourTeeth]

Like I said, no matter how good the electronics are, they ain't always gonna save you 😂

[@viasevenvai]

@@FortyFourTeethby starting the ignition you agree to the terms to not take said “observer” to court for any damage caused by throttle blips at full lean in the wet. -Taken straight from the dash in the fine print.

[@Official_R1cky]

Bro i want to do a track day so bad!! But i dont have a enough money

[@_Makanko_]

It's great fun, was about 150euro per day for me last summer (135 for the ride plus insurance), not counting fuel. This was at a small(ish) track, Mettet