Hi guys!
Just wanna share. Today I did a track day with the S4R and MAN was it fun! It was a track day with instructors/trainers and since we were so few participants we practically got one instructor per person. Perfect when they could lead the way at first and then let us ride in front. After each session there was a short discussion of which errors we made and how we should do instead.
I have been on a few track days before but never with instructors and it made a big difference. They actually know how to get around the track..... [moto].
Well, it was a very fun AND learnful day and I can recommend all of you to try it. I found out more of how the bike works and how to take corners, how to brake, how to use the throttle in curves etc.... These courses are meant to make motorcyclists better and safer drivers and I think it made a difference for me. I will certainly do more of these this summer..... ;D.
.....and yeah, I'll try to get some pics and post them soon.........'cause without pics it didn't happen, right? :D.
Ride safe.
/Pete
[moto]
[clap]
Quote from: DesmoPete on May 09, 2009, 09:15:34 AM
I have been on a few track days before but never with instructors and it made a big difference. They actually know how to get around the track..... [moto].
[thumbsup] [beer]
that awesome cant wait to go on one this summer....
good for you [beer]
I have been thinking about my first track day. Sounds like a blast. My main concern is how the air cooled Monsters do (particularly, my little S2R800). I have looked at a couple of schools that provide bikes, but man are they expensive. Anyone have any experience tracking an air cooled bike? Any issues?
Yes , track days are the shit [thumbsup]
I have four booking this year, two in sweden two in Germany and I can't wait to drag my footrests again.
they always have four classes here, beginners with instructors, intermediate with, intermediate without (overtaking possible) and semi pro.
Six to seven hours, every hour 15 minutes and the day is going to be intense but perfect.
and it really doesn't matter if you bring a 695 or a streetfighter , its equal fun I say. [clap]
Quote from: psycledelic on May 09, 2009, 10:48:48 AM
I have been thinking about my first track day. Sounds like a blast. My main concern is how the air cooled Monsters do (particularly, my little S2R800). I have looked at a couple of schools that provide bikes, but man are they expensive. Anyone have any experience tracking an air cooled bike? Any issues?
Gwendy did two days of CSS with her 620. No issues. Got passed a lot and had a ton of fun.
Quote from: psycledelic on May 09, 2009, 10:48:48 AM
I have been thinking about my first track day. Sounds like a blast. My main concern is how the air cooled Monsters do (particularly, my little S2R800). I have looked at a couple of schools that provide bikes, but man are they expensive. Anyone have any experience tracking an air cooled bike? Any issues?
The main "issue" with an air cooled 2v bike is that you get absolutely smoked on the straights. Then again, that doesn't really matter cuz the track is all about the turns. It's soooooo worth it. Everyone who goes to the track wonders why in the world it too them so long to go. [thumbsup] Best $ you'll ever spend on your bike.
Quote from: psycledelic on May 09, 2009, 10:48:48 AM
I have been thinking about my first track day. Sounds like a blast. My main concern is how the air cooled Monsters do (particularly, my little S2R800). I have looked at a couple of schools that provide bikes, but man are they expensive. Anyone have any experience tracking an air cooled bike? Any issues?
No issues. I race a 2-valve Duc and as long as it has an oil cooler, it's fine. They tend to get hot during endurance racing but you're not doing that.
+1 on both Spidey's and fasterblkduc's posts. I just did my first trackday with my 695 and did have some troubles keeping up on the straights and oil temp was 114°C after 20 minutes in riding in 14 °C . Best fun I've had yet on my bike. Next time I'm going to try carry the speed through the corners more though so I can better keep up with the group on the straights.
Your skills have more impact than what bike you ride. I got passed by a supermotard..... [puke].
;D. Seriously, it's just about learning something and HAVING FUN. Your air cooled bike is perfectly fine. Go there and pick up some hints and use them and you'll see that you will soon be able to do better lap times than the bikes with more power.
On the straights you can't do much about the superbikes but learn to brake and throttle control and you'll pass them in the corners..... [moto]
I rode my air cooled, 75 hp M900ie on the track last summer and it was a blast. Just try it, and take it real easy the first time.... [roll]
/Pete
thanks... this is great encouragement for me to try out track for first time this season ;)
I feel bad for any Ducati that doesn't get to stretch it's legs on the track! [moto]
I've tracked both a M620 and my 900SS/SP. Haven't had problems with either.
Just finished track school (got my license too [thumbsup]) on my race prepared S2R800 with no issues at all. About 12C here today with oil temps in the high 90C, on a 30C day I have seen oil temp of 140C. I plan to make the 'here is my bike all done up' post when i get some good pics. I would get crushed on the straights by any 600cc and larger, but in the corners I could real them back in! If you haven't done so already put some springs in the front suitable to your weight or do a SBK fork conversion. I went with the later, including a set of clipons and think it is the best money spent. I would even do it before an exhaust system.
Take it to the track, you will love it, then you will buy a track bike, a big truck and trailer to haul your bike, get you racing license, never be home on weekends, stay up all night working on it....
KNG
Quote from: psycledelic on May 09, 2009, 10:48:48 AM
I have been thinking about my first track day. Sounds like a blast. My main concern is how the air cooled Monsters do (particularly, my little S2R800). I have looked at a couple of schools that provide bikes, but man are they expensive. Anyone have any experience tracking an air cooled bike? Any issues?
Just did my first track day yesterday too on my little 750. I was getting smoked in the straights all day. I didn`t do that well in the beginning and was a little upset. I grabbed a control rider and he showed me the lines and went over everything. That session was the greatest lesson I ever had. There was also about 1 control rider per in the beginner group. I had soo much fun and it was a night and day difference from the morning `till it ended. I originally did everything slower in 2nd/3rd gear and 4th on the straights, By my 4th session I was hitting the rev limiter and had to bump up a gear for everything. That 2nd gear turn was a 3rd gear turn. I was able to max out the bike at full speed on the straights which is only 115. :( I am home one day and am planning my next day. I also had two people that we met there( also on DMF) that were in the intermediate group. They were nice enough to bump down a level at the end of the day and video us. We were able to review it before the next session. That also was a big help. We then went out and took a problem turn differently or changed body position.
I can not wait to go again and I still have a huge smile on my face. The only bad thing is that it is expensive and that now I really want another bike that is better suited for it. ( but still keep my monster) [moto]
I would if we had one.
I'd sell the car for a beater truck and a track bike if we had one.
:-[
Quote from: Spidey on May 09, 2009, 11:11:07 AM
The main "issue" with an air cooled 2v bike is that you get absolutely smoked on the straights. Then again, that doesn't really matter cuz the track is all about the turns. It's soooooo worth it. Everyone who goes to the track wonders why in the world it too them so long to go. [thumbsup] Best $ you'll ever spend on your bike.
Well, I would probably get smoked in the corners also. (it will be my first track day).
Maybe this is a question for another posting (sorry for mini-jacking your thread Pete), but is a slow ass rider on a slow ass bike gonna ruin others fun? I sure don't want to be that "this guy kept getting in my way" story. Are there certain types of track days I should avoid?
Quote from: psycledelic on May 10, 2009, 05:30:47 AM
Well, I would probably get smoked in the corners also. (it will be my first track day).
Maybe this is a question for another posting (sorry for mini-jacking your thread Pete), but is a slow ass rider on a slow ass bike gonna ruin others fun? I sure don't want to be that "this guy kept getting in my way" story. Are there certain types of track days I should avoid?
If you're at a day with experienced people they'll pass you safely as long as you maintain your line through a corner.
For a first track experience I think a more structured, educationally oriented day is best.
Most control riders will help you figure out the lines if there are no instructors.
Either way ride your ride and have fun.
Quote from: psycledelic on May 10, 2009, 05:30:47 AM
Well, I would probably get smoked in the corners also. (it will be my first track day).
Maybe this is a question for another posting (sorry for mini-jacking your thread Pete), but is a slow ass rider on a slow ass bike gonna ruin others fun? I sure don't want to be that "this guy kept getting in my way" story. Are there certain types of track days I should avoid?
Actually a slow ass rider on a
fast ass bike is worse. There was a guy on a sport classic 1100 and towards the end of the day I had better lines and was going a lot faster than him but when we got to the straights he could go faster and I couldn't`t get around him. It was really annoying because I had to brake sometimes right before a turn where I didn`t need to.
The track day that we did had a free intro school as I think most do. This team had really good and helpful control riders.
QuoteWell, I would probably get smoked in the corners also. (it will be my first track day).
Maybe this is a question for another posting (sorry for mini-jacking your thread Pete), but is a slow ass rider on a slow ass bike gonna ruin others fun? I sure don't want to be that "this guy kept getting in my way" story. Are there certain types of track days I should avoid?
NP. As others have said, as long as you keep your line in a good way others will be able to pass you safely, don't worry. This is usually something that is gone through during a short driver meeting before the track day starts, how you should pass, where you can pass and so on. On the track days I've been on there have been 3 to 4 classes which you can choose from depending on your riding skills, i.e. how fast you are. "Slow", "Medium", "Fast" or as they sometimes call them "Fast", "Faster", "Fastest" :). On some track days they have a separate class for the guys with unregistered track/competition bikes.
So don't worry that you'll be slow. I suggest you take it real slow the first time you're on the track, just get the feel of how the bike performs around the track and once you get used to the corners, braking etc. you can up the pace.
Talking about slow. At the track day yesterday there were two Gixxers and one Harley, and everything in between. The Harley with foot rests, low exhaust and sadle bags was not fast [laugh].
So, just take my advice in the subject and you'll have a lot of fun. And meet some nice people at the same time.
/Pete
I'll give my advice as a racer and an instructor. Don't worry about holding anyone up. Trackdays are not competition. You will start out in the slow group, and as other have mentioned, some trackday organizations have a new rider program where you do several sessions with control riders. Those control riders will build you up to speed over a few sessions. If you are out there worrying about who is behind you and if you are slowing them down, you will not focus on what you are doing. If someone is going fast for their group, then they should bump up to the next faster group. Just go out there and ride. The experience that you get on a trackday is worth about ten years of street riding.
No one "wins" at a trackday so getting passed on a straight or in a corner means as much as getting passed on the freeway...it doesn't matter. Just go ride, work on your skills, and don't worry about what the other guy (or gal) is doing.
After doing a few track days on my monster I bought an older SV650 for a track only bike. I get slaughtered in the straights but can usually catch up to the guys on the Gixxers that can't carry any speed through the turns. Don't worry about the straights. Any one can go fast in a straight line. Concentrate on making your turns and keeping smooth lines.