Ducati Monster Forum

I've never ridden a track. And I just began riding on pavement altogether. I've had a 2015 M821 for a few weeks. Should I expect this bike to perform well on the track (potentially)? Should I even bother showing my face at a track until I get more general riding experience? Or might that be a good place to hone street applicable skills?

If available, try to find an organizer who offers instruction.

If not, make sure you start in a novice group and ask if someone can show you around the track for a few laps.

The beautiful thing about track riding is that there are none of the usual road hazards and distractions. This makes it possible to concentrate on what's going on with you and the bike. You'll learn a lot of skills that'll improve your road safety... and have FUN doing so.

The bike is not the limiting factor.

 [Dolph]

If this is a track day with instruction then go for it. You'll learn a lot.

If there's no instruction just remember to ride your own pace. There are no trophy's at a track day. You don't win anything by trying to go fast.

Thanks for the feedback.  Should I have a track suit before going? A friend is supposed to be giving me one that he doesn't use. But I may not have it for a few weeks. Is there any basic etiquette I need to be educated on track wise? Ideally, I'll have an experienced rider along on the first time. But was wondering about that; just in case I go it alone.

The organizers will probably inform you about personal equipment requirements. Leather if possible [thumbsup]

Learn and stick to the best/ideal line around the track even if your speed doesn't demand it - if everyone follows the same line, all traffic will be predictable.

Also, use all your attention on yourself. Passing riders are responsible to pass (if at all allowed) in a safe manner.

You'll be nervous at first, but will gradually be more and more comfortable.

Sounds good, thanks.

You should have leathers of some sort, be it one or two piece. Some orgs. allow textile in the Beginner group though.

Take your time and go at your own pace. Don't worry about how fast or slow everyone else is going.

Try to learn the racing line, and be predictable in your riding. Basically, don't weave all over the place.

That said, don't use all of the track on exit. You won't need to, so leave a few feet on the outside so faster riders can pass.

Have fun!

Cool.

With only a few weeks of riding, I would wait just a bit more.  Get more riding time in to master the fundamentals of shifting, braking etc.  That also gives you time to collect the safety gear.  Suit, boots, gauntlet gloves, back protector etc.  The initial buy in for all the pieces is steep, but you will re-use them for years.

On track instruction is a great, lots of drills, lead follow and 1:1 time.  I did my first days with the Lone Star track days guys at MSR cresson.  AMS, and also Eurosport cycles also have smaller, marque focused days for euro bikes as well.

If you get aggressive, you will probably have peg/toe clearance issues as they will start to drag.  Body position (ie hanging off) will help that.  Race style boots with toe sliders help here.

Ok, good tips. Thanks.

You forgot the other tip.
Try not to be the one that crashes in the morning session, as there is the whole afternoon for that! ;D

I agree with webspoke in saying you should wait a bit.  A few weeks into riding and you are still getting a feel for the bike, for braking, and especially turning.  Once all that becomes natural, then a track day (w/ instruction) will be very helpful for learning to control the bike at higher speeds and in most extreme situations.

The race organization I use offers leathers to borrow for free if you are a first timer, so you may see if any of the organizers near you do the same.

Also, as nearly everyone above has said: go at you own pace.  I ride my M900 in the beginner group on track days and I get smoked in all the straightaways by the GXRs and other jap sport bikes.  Bikes just whizzing by me.  The first time this happened, it was hard not to think that I am going too slow and then try to push it beyond my limits.  But I resisted the urge to speed up and just focused on improving my technique, which really means working the corners.  In the end, I had fun and learned a ton, and still remained within my safe limits.  So my point is: ignore any pressure (either from peers or your own ego) to go faster than you're comfortable---the track day will still be an awesome experience.

 [thumbsup]

Instead of a track day, find a skills class like Reg Pridmores classrides.

One more vote for track day with instruction even if you're only a few weeks in.

The track is THE best place to bond with your motorcycle and come to better understand it's capabilities.  There are no cops, dogs, gravel, on coming cars, oil slicks, drivers pulling out in front of you, moms in a minivan on her phone turning left in front of you, only clear, safe pavement.

And, regardless of what has been said previously, there ARE winners at track days.

Those are the people who's bikes and bodies still look and function the same at the end of the day as they do at the start of the day.  Riding your own pace within your own ability is key to that ;)

I've done a ton of track days. I don't spend a lot of time thinking about crashing or not crashing while I'm there but it does feel good to load up a bike at the end of the day that hasn't hit the deck.  Plus, you don't want to be the douche that costs your group track time because you binned it on the second turn of the first session.  Get out there, ride your own pace and enjoy it. 

Is the bike new, or are you both new?

Likely the bike is far beyond your capabilities (I know mine is for me), get your suspension set before entering the track.

As long as you're having fun, just ride in your comfort zone. Likely they will group you with other riders with the same skill set.

What track in TX?   Not COTA I hope?!
I received a free track day at Firebird in Phoenix with the purchase of my Monster back in '03. 
All day, Free instruction, lunch and leathers.  It was well worth it!  As previously mentioned, if you haven't taken a skills class yet..you should definitely look into it. 

I'm to lazy to go back and check if anyone else mentioned it, but if you bin a bike at a trackday, insurance may not cover damages, but if it happens at a skills training event, that may be a ok in the eyes of your carrier. I would check beforehand in such a way that is does not tip off the carrier that you are using for a track event. A good friend had his bike totaled at Laguna Seca, and was covered only because he could prove it was a skills class, and not a teackday.

Foremost used to cover for track days incidents.

Or you can have an accident "on the street"

But that's up to the ethics of the individual

I don't know...someone knocked it over while I was in the grocery store.  ;D

(http://www.sportbiketshirts.com/news_files//teammate_crash.jpg)

 [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

Those damn SUVs!

[laugh]

Nice

What track in TX?   Not COTA I hope?!


No, the one nearest to me, which is the likeliest one I'll try first, is called MSR Houston.

The bike is new. And I'm new. The bike and I have the same # of miles on the street. About 800 now.

How should my suspension setup differ between street and track riding? Or should they? I tend to ride about as aggressively on the street as the conditions and my current comfort level allow. I know some will frown on that fact. But that's a subject for another post, eh?

So what sort of adjustments should be made to suspension? And is it something thing I might be able to do myself?

There are many many details you need to adjust, modify or replace if you want to win...

Since that's not your goal yet - I'd say leave everything as is.

Diving into details at this point will confuse you and might take focus away from the basics.

Also, getting to know and master the bike is easier if it's the same on the street and track.

I have A LOT OF TIME to kill! I'd like to learn more about the adjustments and such your referring to. Not to say I'd immediately begin implementing all of them. But, I definitely wanna race someday. Shouldn't I begin getting accustomed to my future track setup now?

With only 800 miles of experience on a motorcycle, and 0 on the track...leave as-is and just go enjoy yourself. Have your local suspension guy adjust things at the track for you ....typically costs about $40 or so. That's a good idea for track AND street honestly.

In the meantime, buy the book Sportbike Suspension Tuning by Andrew Trevitt. Great book on suspension tuning so you can start learning how everything works.

Personally, I just let my suspension guy mess with it. Suspension is a bit of an art and science.

If you want to race ( [thumbsup]), then CMRA is your club assuming your in TX. Poke around their website and research how, and when to enter the Novice program. Volunteer to corner work for them, which is pretty fun. It's a good way to get involved if you're too late to start this season...and they'll appreciate it if their club is like ours (we always need corner workers). It's a good way to see the fast guys up close and personal.

You'll also want a dedicated race bike...poke around their classified section, as you can usually get race-prepped bikes for cheap...especially at the end of a season.

http://www.cmraracing.com/content.php (http://www.cmraracing.com/content.php)

Nice tips.  [thumbsup] [thumbsup] [thumbsup]

I dunno. I saw something about COTA. But, what's wrong with that organization?

Nothing. I'd LOVE to ride COTA!!

Well, with about 2,000 miles on my 821, I'm very close to my first trackday in June with a couple of friends at MSR Houston, in Angleton, TX. And to boot, a coworker is giving me a scuffed up, but free two piece tracksuit that doesn't fit him. Getting excited.  [Dolph]

A free set of leathers?

That's killer!

Yeah, he sent me pics of them. I haven't got them yet and I'm not even sure if there a good fit. But, ya know what they say about beggars. The pic seems to show a hole in the elbow/forearm area. I wonder if I can patch holes in a set of leathers. Also, seems like I heard some tracks may not allow two-piecers. Well, the track is supposed to have free 1st time loaners. So, at least I'm set for the 1st trackday.