rec.autos.simulators

Of course me being relatively new to racing sims and bike sims in general.
I'm having a hard time understanding all the setup options. I've practiced
lap after lap in GP500, and a good bit in SBK2000 as well.

However, I'm making more progress in GP500 even on default setups. I'm still
very very slow ex:1.26.8xx at Paul Ricard and 1.55.xx at Monza in SBK. But I
can feel the bike more in GP500 it seems. Both of these sims are great. I
just need to pick one and concentrate on it. Being a "***" flight
simmer at heart I want a sim that is complex and as realistic as you can get
on a PC. It doesn't have to be spot on...but it does have to provide the
illusion that I'm really riding the bike and that I have to use real world
tactics and strategy to improve.

I have no idea which of these sims does that well because of my ignorance of
racing sims. I do have some questions though:

1. I see settings for the springs/ preload/ dampers in these sims. How do I
know if either of these settings is too stiff or too soft? I ride but I
couldn't tell you whats what with these settings and how it would improve my
handling.

2. In setting gear ratios I don't understand how some of you guys get so
much top speed out of these things. I understand the basics that bigger
gears equal slower acceleration but higher top end. But I"ve seen set ups
where they guys have seemingly smaller gears but much much higher top speeds
on the track than I have. I really don't understand this. An example is that
on Monza in SBK2000 guys are easily getting above 300km on the long
straights where I can only get like 290....even with the same gear settings.
I'd like an explanation if you could please help?

3. What settings allow you to brake so deep into the corners. In both of
these sims I've seen laps where guys brake very late into the corners. I try
that and I'm off the track even if I brake at the same point. Could you
please tell me what settings affect this?

I guess thats all I have for now. I'm sorry for such a long post. These are
things that I'm very interested in knowing so I thought I'd ask. Thanx in
advance for your help.

Saint19

The best advice I can give you is to read Keith Code's "A Twist of the
Wrist", and " The Soft Science Motorcycle Road Racing."

Trust me, you won't regret it.