Circuit of the Americas track day on the V7III

[guzzi771]

I took my V7III to COTA Sunday for my first track day on a Moto Guzzi it was a perfect day sunny and  65-70 degrees . The V7 is no sportbike but it did ok for a 53 H.P. over weight bike with a top speed of only 113 MPH . COTA is a 3.4 mile F1 track with 2 long straights and thats where the Guzzi gets left behind by big bikes doing 175 -200 MPH . I had fun and thats what it's all about I'm just glad I didn't  break down,crash or get hurt . The Pirelli tires that came on the bike were perfect  and the Ohlins and Race Tech suspension was amazing I just wish I had a Tachometer I don't know what Moto Guzzi was thinking...I changed the oil and filter after the track day and it was clean and which to Mobil 1  15-50

[Kiwi_Roy]

That sure looks like fun, great pictures.

[Tom H]

 

Tom

[chuck peterson]

 !

How much prep to the bike?..lockwire? Catchbottles?..

[ssrealty]

I was also at COTA Sunday. I thought I saw a V7III on the last session.

I have a 2017 Moto Guzzi V7III Stone. But I track my Ducati SuperSport S. Don't think I have ever seen a Moto Guzzi at a track day event. COTA is a fabulous track. Weather was also great Sunday afternoon.

Do you live in the Austin area? There is a local motorcycle track company called 316 Trackdays. They are sponsoring a COTA track day in July next year. They have a different format and have a higher instructor to student ratio. It is a more intimate experience, and we get more track time. They also have track days at MSR Houston and Cresson. Below is their website:

https://316trackdays.com/

The owner, Igancio, also runs a meetup group called Texas SportBike Riders - Austin. We do group rides monthly. There is an easy rider event monthly on Sundays, and there are all levels or riding and types of bikes. I frequently ride my V7 on group rides.

If you are in Austin area, you should sign up for some group rides and track days. I just got back from a Big Bend trip with a few guys in this group. We rode our motorcycles over 1300 miles in four days.

[SED]

Cool!  Great photos.  Thanks

[guzzi771]

!

How much prep to the bike?..lockwire? Catchbottles?.. Not much taped up the headlight ect. removed the mirrors and kick stand it was dragging

[guzzi771]

I was also at COTA Sunday. I thought I saw a V7III on the last session.

I have a 2017 Moto Guzzi V7III Stone. But I track my Ducati SuperSport S. Don't think I have ever seen a Moto Guzzi at a track day event. COTA is a fabulous track. Weather was also great Sunday afternoon.

Do you live in the Austin area? There is a local motorcycle track company called 316 Trackdays. They are sponsoring a COTA track day in July next year. They have a different format and have a higher instructor to student ratio. It is a more intimate experience, and we get more track time. They also have track days at MSR Houston and Cresson. Below is their website:

https://316trackdays.com/

The owner, Igancio, also runs a meetup group called Texas SportBike Riders - Austin. We do group rides monthly. There is an easy rider event monthly on Sundays, and there are all levels or riding and types of bikes. I frequently ride my V7 on group rides.

If you are in Austin area, you should sign up for some group rides and track days. I just got back from a Big Bend trip with a few guys in this group. We rode our motorcycles over 1300 miles in four days.

Yes I live in  South Austin Thanks for the info !

[Kev m]

Nice!

Though you were running a much faster track with much faster riders, but I can relate to the fun!

[guzzi771]

Nice!

Though you were running a much faster track with much faster riders, but I can relate to the fun! Cool Pic !

[Kiwi_Roy]

Are those sliders or highway pegs you guys have mounted to protect the heads in the event of a spill ?

I have no intention of hitting the pavement but I should add something to protect the engine eh!

[Kev m]

Are those sliders or highway pegs you guys have mounted to protect the heads in the event of a spill ?

I have no intention of hitting the pavement but I should add something to protect the engine eh!

Sliders. Have them on everything but the Harley, including both of Jenn's bikes:

[LowRyter]

I was also at COTA Sunday. I thought I saw a V7III on the last session.

I have a 2017 Moto Guzzi V7III Stone. But I track my Ducati SuperSport S. Don't think I have ever seen a Moto Guzzi at a track day event. COTA is a fabulous track. Weather was also great Sunday afternoon.

Do you live in the Austin area? There is a local motorcycle track company called 316 Trackdays. They are sponsoring a COTA track day in July next year. They have a different format and have a higher instructor to student ratio. It is a more intimate experience, and we get more track time. They also have track days at MSR Houston and Cresson. Below is their website:

https://316trackdays.com/

The owner, Igancio, also runs a meetup group called Texas SportBike Riders - Austin. We do group rides monthly. There is an easy rider event monthly on Sundays, and there are all levels or riding and types of bikes. I frequently ride my V7 on group rides.

If you are in Austin area, you should sign up for some group rides and track days. I just got back from a Big Bend trip with a few guys in this group. We rode our motorcycles over 1300 miles in four days.

Nice bike.  Curious, what are the schedule and rules for a track day at COTA?

You did the Ducati experience in Mugello as I recall from the Ducati board?  I'll bet that was a gas.

[PeteS]

I was also at COTA Sunday. I thought I saw a V7III on the last session.

I have a 2017 Moto Guzzi V7III Stone. But I track my Ducati SuperSport S. Don't think I have ever seen a Moto Guzzi at a track day event. COTA is a fabulous track. Weather was also great Sunday afternoon.

I haven't done a track day in about a dozen years but my LeMans was my main ride. I did one on my EV as well as well as my Norton but the LeMans is by far the best suited of those three. Takes a lickin' and comes back tickin'.
I have only seen a few other Guzzis during the dozen or so Track Days I have done and the LeMans is almost alwys the oldest bike on the track. One day I did share the track with LSR rider Mitch Freshour (sp?) on his 1100 sport though.

Mid Ohio.




coronach lyrics


Pete

[toma nova]

I'd love to take a bike through 7-8-9 at COTA!  Never been on the Stelvio, but driven COTA a bunch in cars, it's a wonderful track with great facilities.

Here is me at MSR Houston, it's been a few years as I've switched to tracking cars.

[guzzi771]

I'd love to take a bike through 7-8-9 at COTA!  Never been on the Stelvio, but driven COTA a bunch in cars, it's a wonderful track with great facilities.

Here is me at MSR Houston, it's been a few years as I've switched to tracking cars.

Thats a great shot on the Stelvio , I was thinking about doing a track day on my 2016 Norge .

[vintage53]

How about a Calvin?

 




(Hi Kevin, Yes we did have fun on that track day! ... no matter what the speed? )

[Kev m]

How about a Calvin?

 




(Hi Kevin, Yes we did have fun on that track day! ... no matter what the speed? )

 

[PeteS]

On the EV about to get by a friend on his Triumph Daytona. It was a fun ride but you had to do everything in slow motion. The brakes were still linked and using the rear brake was always funky, then the heal and toe shifter, no snick, snick, snick, more like clunk........clunk. ......clunk. Finially having to push the floorboards back down after every turn. Still it tracked solid and pulled well out of the turns. Just lacked the top end of my LeMans.





Pete

[LowRyter]

Tontis on the track     

great stuff guys ..................!

[ssrealty]

Nice bike.  Curious, what are the schedule and rules for a track day at COTA?

You did the Ducati experience in Mugello as I recall from the Ducati board?  I'll bet that was a gas.

Yes. I did a track day with Ducati Ride Experience (DRE) through Leod Motorcycle Escapes last summer. It was an awesome trip. Below is website for the touring company:

https://leodescapes.com/


Mugello track day was a phenominal experience. Ducati CEO was there and rode track. He also was at COTA MotoGP in Austin last two years and served Ducati owners lunch on Ducati Island. Every DRE instructor was either a Ducati professional racer or factory test rider. I rode a Panigale 959. They even did a custom video as an option for riders. It was a fabulous experience and trip. Mugello was a great track.

I have done many COTA track days on my Ducati SS. Last week's COTA track day was sponsored by Ridesmart which is a motorcycle school in Texas. There are four riding groups- level 3 (most experienced), level 2A and 2B, and level one (entry level). Level 1 and 2 are required to attend classroom sessions after each track session. We do 20 minute track sessoins for each group, and there are 5-6 track sessions. You at best may get 100 miles of track riding at COTA- red flags can affect time on track. Ridesmart sponsors track days at several Texas tracks including COTA. Below is Ridesmart's website:

http://www.ridesmart.info/

316 Trackdays is new company that offers a more open forum with higher instructor to rider ratio. The riding sessions are longer, and there is no required classroom. You can choose to work with an instructor or ride on your own. They also sponsor track days in Texas and have fewer riders on track compared to Ridesmart. I can usually get many more miles of track riding with 316 Trackdays, and they have 2-3 riding groups.

[LowRyter]

Yes. I did a track day with Ducati Ride Experience (DRE) through Leod Motorcycle Escapes last summer. It was an awesome trip. Below is website for the touring company:

https://leodescapes.com/


Mugello track day was a phenominal experience. Ducati CEO was there and rode track. He also was at COTA MotoGP in Austin last two years and served Ducati owners lunch on Ducati Island. Every DRE instructor was either a Ducati professional racer or factory test rider. I rode a Panigale 959. They even did a custom video as an option for riders. It was a fabulous experience and trip. Mugello was a great track.

I have done many COTA track days on my Ducati SS. Last week's COTA track day was sponsored by Ridesmart which is a motorcycle school in Texas. There are four riding groups- level 3 (most experienced), level 2A and 2B, and level one (entry level). Level 1 and 2 are required to attend classroom sessions after each track session. We do 20 minute track sessoins for each group, and there are 5-6 track sessions. You at best may get 100 miles of track riding at COTA- red flags can affect time on track. Ridesmart sponsors track days at several Texas tracks including COTA. Below is Ridesmart's website:

http://www.ridesmart.info/

316 Trackdays is new company that offers a more open forum with higher instructor to rider ratio. The riding sessions are longer, and there is no required classroom. You can choose to work with an instructor or ride on your own. They also sponsor track days in Texas and have fewer riders on track compared to Ridesmart. I can usually get many more miles of track riding with 316 Trackdays, and they have 2-3 riding groups.

I read your report on the SS board.  I rode my SS to Austin at last MotoGP but didn't stick around for the Aprilia deal.  Does COTA require full leather or do they allow textile?   I'd like to try the DRE coupled with a vacation with the Mrs.

[ssrealty]

I read your report on the SS board.  I rode my SS to Austin at last MotoGP but didn't stick around for the Aprilia deal.  Does COTA require full leather or do they allow textile?   I'd like to try the DRE coupled with a vacation with the Mrs.

I wear an Alpinestars leather jacket and pants (two piece suit) that has a connecting zipper and back protector. Most riders wear a leather suit and back protector. I am over 50, and it is much easier to take jacket off between rides, especially in hot weather. You need to be a contortionist to get in and out of a riding suit. I have an inexpensive Sedici suit, but don't use it.

RideSmart rents leather suits/gear. Level 1 novice users can wear a ballistic nylon suit with padding in shoulders, elbows, and knees. You should also wear a back protector and have a full face helmet. Below is a link for RideSmart gear requirements:

http://www.ridesmart.info/index.php?page=req.gear

My wife went with me on Italy trip. We rode about 900 miles over nine days. Italy does have lane splitting, and riders ride very aggressively (passing, lane splitting). I did feel safer riding in Italy because cars are used to seeing motorcycles and yield for aggressive passing.

[ssrealty]

I also attended the Aprilia COTA track day event after MotoGP. I only found out from another Aprilia owner. This was a limited participant event.

Aprilia rented COTA track and allowed us to test ride the Aprilia Tuono, RSV4 and Shiver. I rode the Tuono but chose not to ride RSV4- I prefer motorcycles with bars (not clip-ons). Great on track, but terribly uncomfortable for normal street riding. But I did adapt for a track day at Mugello riding Panigale 959.