Try the Track!

[teddy037.2]

I would if we had one.

I'd sell the car for a beater truck and a track bike if we had one.

[psycledelic]

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.     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?

[ducpainter]

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.

[mookieo2]

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.

[DesmoPete]

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?

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  .

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

[fasterblkduc]

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.

[Monstermonkey]

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.