Tire and track day special for September!

Just in time for the second half of the season, the ever popular tire and track day specials are coming back!  Pair a fresh set of rubber with the last Boston Moto track day of the year and save on tires to get you through the rest of the season.  Tires may be picked up prior to the track day if you're in need of rubber now (mounting and balancing at NHMS on 9/29 is free of charge).  Click the image below to reserve your set now, quantities are limited.

This special will not last long, it will close on September 15th.

 

ContiRaceAttack NH Track Day Experience Update

You asked for it, we made it happen.  You can now upgrade your track day and tire combo to get SLICK tires!  Here's what our very first customer to try the slicks had to say about em...

"I had the chance to run the new Conti race slicks at VIR over the past two days and wanted to [give] some serious props to these tires. I've run Pirelli slicks for the past two years and I find the Conti to be a better tire ... and value. They feel more stable, with great feedback, and a much longer tire life. The tires did seem slightly harder on a turn-in, but nothing that affected my riding. I turned my best laps ever at VIR on them...can't wait to run them up at Loudon.

I highly recommend that people give the tires a try." - Scott Merrill

Click below to reserve your set for our April event now.

 

 

 

Spring Rubber and Track Time Special!

After a long, painful winter's wait for spring... the 2010 track day season is just around the corner!  To celebrate, we're offering the following rubber and track time specials for the 2010 opening event at NHMS on April 27th and 28th.  

 

 

Race Tires:

ContiRaceAttack Competition Set + Track Day - $450 (Click to Order)

Available in 120, 160, 180 and 190 section sizes.

Street Tires:

 

 Multiple popular brands of street tires available for these packages! 

Track Day Experience - Hypersport Street - $475 (Click to Order)

Track Day Experience - Sport Street - $500 (Click to Order)

Available in most popular sizes, size availability varies by tire choice.

Qualifying Street Tires:

Hypersport: Bridgestone Battlax BT-003, Continental ContiRaceAttack Street, Dunlop Sportmax Q2, Metzeler Sportec M3, Michelin Power Pure, Pirelli Diablo Rosso

Sport: Bridgestone Battlax BT-021;, Continental ContiSportAttack, ContiRoadAttack, ContiMotion and ContiForce; Metzeler Roadtec Z6 Interact, Michelin Pilot Road 2; Pirelli Diablo Strada

 

Video - West Coast Tire Test

Here's a full session from Degsy's helmet cam taken on Day 2 of our West Coast Tire Test.  Thanks to Duncan Moto for hooking us up last minute with the vholdr cameras!

Things start getting good approaching the 13 minute mark.

 

Buttonwillow tire test from Boston Moto on Vimeo.

West Coast Conti Tire Test - Day 2

If you've been following us and are interested in the Continental RaceAttack line of track tires, come and see what the fuss is about at any of our NHMS Track Days. 

 

 

Waking up to a layer of fog and a chill in the air, we made our way to the track for Day 2.  Mark and the guys from The Track Club had moved pits closer to the entrance to the hot pit, and had moved all of our stuff as well... they even had the bikes lined up ready for a day's thrashing... er... testing.  I can't say enough about Mark, Dean and the other Mark (Verbal as we called him) for their help getting the bikes up to snuff and seeing that we were taken care of, you guys absolutely rolled out the red carpet and we are exceedingly grateful!!

 

Superbike Tires had the fleet equipped with fresh rubber including the 636 which featured soft / soft slicks (pic below shows DOTs from the day prior). We were eager to try the soft compound after spending most of Day 1 testing a medium front, endurance (hard) rear compound.

I rolled onto the grid for the first session without tire warmers and gently made my way around the 3 mile circuit (turn by turn guide to Buttonwillow here). Through each corner slowly easing up the pac, paying particular attention to the Off-ramp (turns 1-2) and Sunset sections of the track which have a somewhat "polished" surface.

Coming in after the session, we found the hot pressures were up at 50 psi front AND rear.... the fact I was able to get these brand new tires up to temp from BONE cold with 50 psi in them safely is.... pretty impressive.  Tire warmers are strongly recommended however, especially for a new set of rubber.  Once through our first sessions, subsequent sessions saw the tires up to temp within a single lap, making them ideal for track day applications.

 

Mark helped sort us out, setting the pressures to 32 psi (front) and 28 psi (rear).  Now that the tires were dialed in, I was eager for the next A group session.   It took a few laps to come to grips with the bike feeling a bit different (wow, there's GRIP!), but the pace started to ratchet up very quickly after that.  By late morning I was able to hang with most everybody in the A group, save for a handful of local racers on big bikes who were blisteringly fast.

The 636 proved the bike of choice to push our limits on... lap after lap, session after session, the tires and bike answered the bell with rock-solid stability and confidence (if it weren't for a few excursions onto the slick candy-striping in the esses, I didn't feel either end slip throughout the entire day).  Degsy and Denno echoed these sentiments across each tire type and bike application (we actually had a blast on the 900RR!) with none of us experiencing a single instance of the wheels getting out of line on day 2.

 

During lunch we had the opportunity to sit down with Javelin Broderick, a very impressive young gun racing WERA Expert on the west coast.  Javelin is 14 years old and currently running 1:55's at Buttonwillow, only a few seconds off the lap record at the track.  Making the switch from Dunlops to Continentals for 2010, he became a fan of the ContiRaceAttacks after shaving 2 seconds off his personal best lap times.  Aside from going quicker, he was also attracted to the contingency program which has payouts in more classes (actually every class) than any other brand.

Unfortuantely the audio quality from our video interview didn't come out as we'd hoped, but you can read the full transcript of our talk here.  We look forward to following Javelin on twitter throughout 2010 and wish him the best of luck!

 

 

Mid-afternoon we sat down to discuss our thoughts thus far... and yesterday's initial impressions were backed up by today's experience.  Offering incredible stability and confidence while trail-braking, the front feels very neutral and predictable, similar to a Pirelli.  The rear tire is where the real impression was made.  Providing a direct connection between throttle inputs and the rear tire, it hooked up on corner exit time after time; similar to a Dunlop rear (although it's been a while since we've ridden on them). I have never felt as comfortable on the gas driving out of a corner as I felt throughout this test. 

 

Derek had a chance to sample the tires at the end of their life when the 10 track-day-old set on the ZX-10 started to go off... and his found them to be very controllable while allowing him to ride with confidence even after grip started to fade.  He returned to the pits after his last session on the old tires, saying matter-of-factly, "yep, they're done." This some light on one of the biggest concerns we have about any set of rubber: how it communicates once optimum grip starts to fade. Similar sentiments have been echoed by other riders' we were able to talk to, all conveying how they appreciated the predictable nature of the tires.

 

The final few afternoon sessions were spent recording some on-board video (which will be up shortly) before it was time to pack up and start making our way back to the airport.  This test left us very impressed with Continental's ContiRaceAttack tires, both in DOT and Slick form (especially the soft compound!) 

We have a suspicion that the stiff carcass (particularly on the rear), ample edge-grip and front end stability will lend themselves very well to our home track - New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  Without over simplifying things, the RaceAttacks combine everything we loved about Pirelli tires (communication, outstanding grip) with much increased longevity... and we're betting the stiffer carcass will make life much, much easier with regards to setup... alleviating the need somewhat for optimum high and low speed damping settings...  providing more control exiting corners.... especially those with harsh transitions like Turn 10.

Regardless of how we feel, it always comes down to each individual rider to find that balance of comfort and performance when choosing a set of tires.  On April 22nd (Open Test for LRRS Licensed Riders) and April 27th (our first Track Day) we'll be providing the opportunity for anyone to come and put these tires through their paces in our own back yard... all you have to do is sign up for our demo day...Once you try them (and see the pricing...) chances are you won't look back.  

 

We'd like to thank (yet again) Mark Duncan from The Track Club and Superbike Tires.  Without his efforts far above and beyond our expectations, this never would have been made possible.  Thanks Mark, we look forward to staying in touch throughout the season!

Highlights from Day 1 - Conti Tire Test

We've been sharing our pics and thoughts on facebook and twitter, but here's a quick recap of the day's events.

 

Sun peeking through clouds as the morning promised to dry away the rain that hit the inland empire last night was a welcome sight as we made our way to Buttonwillow Raceway Park for a day of riding with TakeIt2TheTrack and finally getting to sample the new ContiRaceAttack tires we've been hearing so much about.

First up was helping Mark from Superbike Tires unload the bikes, after which we got our very first look at the Continentals.

 

 

The first thing that struck us was how solid they felt, the tires were noticeably stiffer and meatier than the Pirellis we're familiar with.  The carcass felt similar to a Dunlop tire in our hands, we'd soon find out the similarities didn't end there..

 

 

After unloading and setting up, we headed over to the riders' meeting.  This was not Mark's event (we'll be riding at his event tomorrow), and fortunately the guys from TakeIt2TheTrack were kind enough to extend their hospitality.  After the meeting we proceeded to registration where we found out... we'd be riding in the "A" group today.  New track, new bikes, new tires, advanced group?  No problem.

 

 

First session's up and the ZX-10 Mark arranged for us (his personal bike!) was sporting tires with 10 track days on them.  We were somewhat shocked, but figured this would be the perfect opportunity to sample the tires at the end of their life. Derek spent most of the day on the imposing '10 and eventually found their limit just after lunch as the tires finally dropped off.  Here's what they looked like to start the day.

 

 

After the first few sessions, a ZX6R (636) showed up sporting Ohlins cartridges in the forks and a stock rear shock, and we were informed this would be another option for us to try.  The bike featured the ContiRaceAttack Competition (DOT) tires with a few track days on them, but showed plenty of life left.  I hopped on this to get acquainted with the track.  The 636 would soon become the bike of choice for Denno and me as we instantly felt at home on the bike, the tires, and as the day wore on... the challenging Buttonwillow track.

Initial impressions discussed between Degsy and me proved we got the same feelings from very different bikes, running different type of tires, at different stages of wear.... the front tire has loads of grip and feels like a stiffer version of the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa, whereas the rear tire (not lacking for grip either, but both biks were also fitted with "Endurance" compound tires, the hardest offering) felt quite similar to a Dunlop rear, stiff but with good grip and confidence inspiring feedback. 

We experienced absolutely zero squirm or pogoing from the back of either bike despite Buttonwillow's bumpy surface.

Session after session we spun laps... eventually a '98 CBR 900RR was fitted with fresh slicks and Dennis gave it a spin.. and fell in love with it's wheelie happy nature. 

Buttonwillow Day 1 from Boston Moto on Vimeo.

We took turns on the used slicks, semi-used DOT's, and fresh slicks getting more comfortable with each lap.  Reflecting on the day mid-afternoon, Denno couldn't recall a single instance where the tires gave the slightest wiggle.  

That's about where we left off, leaving the track after a day of riding many bikes, and sampling both DOT and Slick offerings... the only "negative" we've been able to find arose when the ZX-10 and 900RR were each fitted with fresh tires... these tires absolutely need to be "scuffed" in with care.  Preferably with the aid of tire warmers, it was a good 4 laps before we felt fully confident on the new rubber... not surprising given the tremendous wear properties we bore witness to.  

We're knackered but quite satisfied with the first day of the test.  Much, much more to come.  Click here for Day 2!

 

West Coast Tire Test - Finally!

Our bags are packed and we're ready to go... plane leaves in a little over 3 hours!

Throughout the course of this trip we'll be updating our Twitter (text) and Facebook (pics) accounts independently with all the latest from Buttonwillow.  And of course, we'll have a blog recap at the end of each day.  Thanks to Ted from Duncan Moto for hooking us up with a couple Vholdr video cameras to capture all the action!

Here's what we'll be studying on the flight....I wonder what the Ben Spies method would have to say about this track...? Whatever the animal, it looks like fun.

 

West Coast Conti Tire Test Update

As mentioned in our last installment, the Laguna Seca event was canceled due to inclement weather.  We will be heading to Buttonwillow Raceway this weekend to ride Sunday and Monday, but some locals got to take advantage of a different venue option found at the 11th hour by The Track Club's Mark Duncan.  Motorcycle USA were there and here are their first impressions of the ContiRaceAttack tires.  Click the image below for the story.

Track Tires - What's Next? ContiRaceAttack Test!

Many have heard that Boston Moto will no longer be the Pirelli race tire vendor for the Loudon Road Racing Series for 2010.  While this was not our plans for 2010, a silver lining has presented itself.  There has been much attention being paid to the new-for-the- US ContiRaceAttack line of tires.. and it's got us a bit intrigued. 

First approached in 2009, we were intrigued by a new-to-market tire brand and began to do some digging into what the new ContiRaceAttack lineup was receiving for early reviews.  We scoured the internet for feedback, including developments on the WERA boards and elsewhere... and were unable to find a single negative review regarding the performance of the tires.

After this positive initial impression... we were curious to try them for ourselves.  Even more so, it would be better to have the opinion of a trusted top-shelf local club racer... the trouble is... there aren't a whole lot of chances to test tires before the riding season starts up in New Hampshire. 

So we turned to the West Coast distributor, SuperBike Tires to try and get some feedback.  I called up Mark who runs the show on the West Coast and found out he's also involved with The Track Club, a track day provider in California.

After more than an hour on the phone, Mark (who is also a Dunlop vendor and former Pirelli vendor) had me convinced we needed to try these tires ourselves and generously suggeste we come try them on for size.

 

We were excited, and wanted to find out more.  Next up I called Victor Pena from Next Level Motorsports who began carrying Contis in the South East CCS Region towards the end of 2009.

Victor again, echoed the positive feedback of the tires, reaffirming that the ContiRaceAttack offers the grip of a Pirelli tire, with the durability of a Dunlop while providing durability nearly double its nearest competitor...

Thanks Victor and Mark for your insight.  Feedback from vendors carrying multiple brands with real world experience working with club-level riders and track day junkies is invaluable.  

We heard vendors' experience and have seen actual rider reveiws from the horse's mouth and well, we're beginning to see a trend here.  Here's some of that feedback from the racers themselves (courtesy: Next Level Motorsports), and click the banner below for Tom Vosnick's reveiw.

So are we convinced yet?  Not entirely... but we are very curious, and excited to get some track time on ContiRaceAttacks before the start of the 2010 season... and we'll be doing just that in 2 weeks, joining several moto-journalists at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, CA for a 2-Day Tire Test where we'll push ourselves, and these new tires to the limit.

The best part, the 2-day event won't just be our chance to try out the new ContiRace Attack's... we're hoping to bring  a multi-class LRRS expert champion along for the test...

Stay tuned.