Ducati Monster Forum

Just started riding in October, but looking at track days for the spring.  I think it'd be a great opportunity to learn.

I'm just curious how many miles you guys had under your belt before your first track day.

If I'm still really new, will I get something out of it, or am I just begging to f*%k myself up?

Thanks!
~T

IMO, taking a class at a track is going to yield far more than a plain trackday.

You're still new enough that it'll be easy to learn good habits and technique, it'll pay dividends from then on.

Look into Fishtail Riding School...

Well worth the time and money.

I think the riders edge class is only 125 bucks or so.  Ill be doing one here soon. [thumbsup]

My wife did two days of a track class after only a couple hundred miles.  Best thing ever.  I did the same class after 17 years or so of what I thought was fast street riding.   Should have done it 17 years ago.

Great advice.

Thanks for the input.

I've got some 30,000 miles, and will be doing my first trackday this spring.  I will be trying to bring my wife along at least to watch the first time, and then maybe for her to take a class on the Duc (while I thrash my Superhawk) later this year.  If you can do it, I highly recommend it.  Seeing the improvement in riding buddies' abilities after their first trackdays convinced me it's really pointless for me to put this off any longer.

Tak,

How is the bike I sold you? I just picked up a 999 and will probably do the fishtail riding school again this year. last year I did one day, but i don't think it was enough. this year I am planning on doing 2. The instructors are great, and I think as lond as you have a few thousand miles under your belt, your should be ok.

Aria

Hey Aria!

I'm LOVING the 696.  It's treating me really well.  I got out for a couple of hours on Friday!!  I'm not sure If I'll end up doing a trackday this year, but everybody has convinced me that it's a good idea.  I really just want to get better, safer, and more controlled on the road, and it also sounds like a whole lot of fun.  I'll look into fishtail.  Thx.

I did my first track day the weekend after picking up my S2R1K which was my first motorcycle. I'm glad I did it and would recommend it if you feel you can tune out the action around you so you can concentrate on what you're doing and go your own pace. I was fortunate that I was at a "Euro" day (no squids) and there were separate difficulty groups (beginner, intermediate, advanced). The experience did a LOT for my street confidence.

i had been riding a few years by the time i did my first track day. As long as you're comfortable on the bike though... go for it... the instructors can nip any habits you may be starting to form in the bud before they become bad habits

+1

_but_ my real answer to "how many miles before your first trackday" would be "too many!" I waited about a year and ~30k miles before I booked in for one, and about halfway through the first session I was screaming to myself "why did I wait so long! I should have been doing this _forever!_"

 ;)

big

I would agree with taking classes at the track before doing an open track day.  I did a track day sponsored by my local Ducati dealer about a month after buying my bike.  It was definitely unnerving having guys blast by me on either side, going 40 miles per hour faster than me.  Taking a class on the track allows you to eliminate that situation as well as getting personalized instruction early on that will help you from developing bad habits.

We are lucky enough in Utah to have a Kart track to take lessons on. 
(http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p294/Monkeyrobb/Motorcycle/Leftkneedown.jpg)

I didn't  go to a trackday for way too long.  I'd been riding for over 34 years, when I started working at a place where everybody rode, one of the guys was an expert class roadracer, we closed the shop one day and all went.   My expert friend advised me to start in the B class, just so the C class guys didn't run into me, and it was a good day.  He also advised me to ride B because I used to race shorttrack, TT, Hare Scrambles and other offroad type stuff, and people getting really close to me didn't bother me at all.  A lot of fun, although with the motel, tires, food and everything else was close to $400. 

Oh yeah, to answer the question, probably over 300,000 miles before I went to the roadrace track.   I've been riding and racing dirtbikes for years, but quit racing them several years ago because I tend to get hurt now.   Wah.   Waaaah.   Waaaaaaaah.

I have been riding for two years and I feel I have waited to long I kinda think the earlier the better like someone pointed out earlier get in there before you get stuck with bad habits I wish i would have instead of listening to know it all friends that don't really know it all  [bang]

I've over 36K miles on this bike since '04 and have yet to do track day.  I am hoping to save up some money and try track day hopefully in August.  Trying to build up the necessary gear (Just bought a racing pants and waiting for it to arrive and keeping my fingers crossed it fits perfect)

Does anyone have a recommendation for a track class in New England or close by? I'd like to take one this spring.

http://www.fishtailridingschool.com (http://www.fishtailridingschool.com)

It's a great organization.

32K miles, rode ~10yrs, off for 10yrs, first year back, first year on a Duc and first intro to group - sport bike riding. Track school would be so cool, never been.
It would be great to work on technique other than with my laptop strapped on, heading to or from work.

Fishtail looks like the ticket, I would love to attend a track school.
I can barely keep up with my Jap Bike Buddies, the little Monster could be eating those guys up
in the twisties, so to speak.