Autoblip for Trackdays

[sicks]

Decided to finally pull the trigger on a a "new" bike that is trackable - 2019 Monster 821. It comes with an autoblip from factory. It does seem like it will take me to get used to - it does not act favorably when I blip and its on.

For trackdays, are you folks just using the electronics or turning off? Wondering if I should spend time getting used to having it on or jus do myself since its sort of natural. I am ignorant to any variance between the mechanisms that controls this/different types.

 

[stangmx13]

it really depends on the implementation. a good autoblip (especially when used with good engine braking strategies) will make corner entry easier, which should allow you to go faster. a bad one may hinder your corner entry so much that you go slower. Id guess chances are slim that you'll find many people that have tracked your bike, and at the level to notice how "good" the autoblip is. so you may just have to find out yourself.

 

[squidworth]

I love the autoblip on my GSX-R1000R. I can most definitely downshift smoother than the autoblip system, but it works well enough I use it almost always and it allows me to give more attention to everything else.

Even a good run on the street in your favorite set of twisties with it on and off will give you a better idea how you want to proceed at the track.

 

[sicks]

it really depends on the implementation. a good autoblip (especially when used with good engine braking strategies) will make corner entry easier, which should allow you to go faster. a bad one may hinder your corner entry so much that you go slower. Id guess chances are slim that you'll find many people that have tracked your bike, and at the level to notice how "good" the autoblip is. so you may just have to find out yourself.

I think its the same system for all the Ducs - and "unlearning" a couple decades worth of blip is not going to be easy for someone as dumb as i haha. figure ill have to learn - jus lookin for some input; good bad or otherwise

I love the autoblip on my GSX-R1000R. I can most definitely downshift smoother than the autoblip system, but it works well enough I use it almost always and it allows me to give more attention to everything else.

Even a good run on the street in your favorite set of twisties with it on and off will give you a better idea how you want to proceed at the track.

Yea ive only done a couple short runs so far due to time, definitely seems like there is a sweet spot for it and a lot of acclimation required if going more than 1? feels like having to unlearn a technique thats stuck in my brain is going to be difficult

 

[stangmx13]

I think its the same system for all the Ducs - and "unlearning" a couple decades worth of blip is not going to be easy for someone as dumb as i haha. figure ill have to learn - jus lookin for some input; good bad or otherwise

"all the Ducs" is really broad. they dont all have the exact same ECU hardware, so its unlikely the software is exactly the same. but im prob wrong and it doesnt matter way.

I used to say the same thing about myself with "new" techniques. "oh, I cant use the rear brake because ive ridden on track for 10yrs without it". I FINALLY got over my fear and tried it - ya, it worked right away. sure I wasn't pro at it, but I saw benefits right away. the same thing was true for manual blipping and some hanging-off techniques. I know this is just an anecdote and you are a diff person. my point is that you shouldnt let a "fear" of trying something you arent used prevent you actually doing it. you may surprised yourself with how fast you can learn.

 

[sicks]

"all the Ducs" is really broad. they dont all have the exact same ECU hardware, so its unlikely the software is exactly the same. but im prob wrong and it doesnt matter way.

I used to say the same thing about myself with "new" techniques. "oh, I cant use the rear brake because ive ridden on track for 10yrs without it". I FINALLY got over my fear and tried it - ya, it worked right away. sure I wasn't pro at it, but I saw benefits right away. the same thing was true for manual blipping and some hanging-off techniques. I know this is just an anecdote and you are a diff person. my point is that you shouldnt let a "fear" of trying something you arent used prevent you actually doing it. you may surprised yourself with how fast you can learn.

wasnt literally trying to blanket all ducs together - jus responding to your initial comment on no one having my exact bike. Pretty sure that the traction control is similar across a number of different models and years - with the range being pretty popular, was thinking some would have some feedback.

completely understand that learning it jus takes time to unlearn the other something.. i might do one or two trackdays a year if that and dont ride very aggresive on street/canyon so my more aggressive downshift practice to unlearn is limited and something I would have to more aggressively pursue, i do think others experiences is good to hear - just conversation is all

 

[Holeshot]

I can't get used to Autoblip neither. It should be seamless. If it's not, it's too slow to be any good or isn't setup correctly.

Still, I'm with you Sergio. Take that shit off!!!

 

[sicks]

I can't get used to Autoblip neither. It should be seamless. If it's not, it's too slow to be any good or isn't setup correctly.

Still, I'm with you Sergio. Take that shit off!!!

!!! Soo angeryy - i still have to learn to turn it off. that may take a few months :laughing

 

[tzrider]

It comes with an autoblip from factory. It does seem like it will take me to get used to - it does not act favorably when I blip and its on.

How does it act when you keep the throttle closed?

 

[NorCal Factory]

Check out a Ducati forum on how to change it. The Aprilia has less engine braking and less aggressive throttle response in race mode Vs Track then Sport in the order.

Smoother is faster.

Try different modes at the higher RPMs you would see on the track.

 

[cellige]

Half the fun of riding is controlling the bike, I love trying to get blips perfect.. I'd turn it off for more fun!

 

[ThinkFast]

Half the fun of riding is controlling the bike, I love trying to get blips perfect.. I'd turn it off for more fun!

+1.

Unless your purpose for doing a trackday is to find time in your lap times for when you’re racing, I’d turn it off and learn how to do it without any help. Riding is a skill. Part of the skill is learning how to shift smoothly.

It’s similar debate with the car guys - do you want the paddle shifters or three pedals. The paddle guys claim they turn faster lap times, while the old skoolers are in favor of “less is more”, and enjoying the sense of accomplishment when they get it all right for a full lap.

 

[afm199]

I love my quickshifter and I'd love to have autoblip for the track. I've been blipping since 1965 and am not bad at it.

 

[tzrider]

The skills required to ride well are always subject to change as equipment evolves. I like blipping and am pretty good at it too but feel it's being driven into obsolescence by a number of technologies, including slipper clutches, auto-blippers and electric bikes.

Part of me feels sad when hard-won skills are made irrelevant, but all this really does is change the nature of the game and the skills that we need to focus on to be relevant in the present time.

 

[afm199]

The skills required to ride well are always subject to change as equipment evolves. I like blipping and am pretty good at it too but feel it's being driven into obsolescence by a number of technologies, including slipper clutches, auto-blippers and electric bikes.

Part of me feels sad when hard-won skills are made irrelevant, but all this really does is change the nature of the game and the skills that we need to focus on to be relevant in the present time.

Yup. Slippers changed how I blipped. I still blip, but they certainly change things. And there are MotoGP riders who still blip.

 

[stangmx13]

I look at 'skill obsolescence' more as 'skill replacement'. Every time we remove or ease off with one skill, another gets more important and/or difficult. Slippers and engine braking controls make blipping easier and less important. As a consequence we can go faster on corner entry, which makes braking and corner entry more difficult. Sure, I could enjoy cruising around at the same lap time - but my competitive side wont allow that.

 

[tzrider]

Robert, that's absolutely right. Whatever attention gets freed up by something getting easier, will get consumed by trying to get the most out of every other action that's left in riding.

Prior to auto-blippers, had you asked me how much attention I put on downshifting, I'd have said "very little," as in less than 2%. Having used auto-blippers and experienced how much more time and attention I have available at a turn entry, I now know downshifting was a more demanding activity than I had thought.

 

[stangmx13]

Ya, we take for granted the skills that are muscle memory or feel easy. I was helping a friend with setup and took his bike for a session, a 15' Gerloff R6. I didnt realize until riding out of the pits that the shifting was opposite and the shifter was nowhere close to where I needed it. I now had to deal with 10x the mental strain for shifting and my lap time suffered a lot :laughing. I'm looking forward to removing mental strain when I finally build a 17+ R6 with a good autoblipper tune.

 

[Holeshot]

I've got the autoblipper on my 17' R6 and R1 and for the life of me, I can't get used to it. Coming from the 2010 with no autoblip, I'm too hard wired to slip the clutch on entries a bit still. The autoblip actually makes me think about if things are working right or not...I need to trust it more.

 

[stangmx13]

I slip the clutch on some entries and not on others. The gearing and slipper can't be perfect for every corner. So that's my solution. I doubt that will change when I get an autoblipper.