your 2008 trackdays schedule

[mostrobelle]

Question -  you ladies ride your Monsters on the track, or do you have dedicated track bikes?

Yes and yes.   [moto]

(To be more precise, I have taken the Monster out a few times but don't anymore.  After a few times out there I decided that this was something that I wanted to do often enough not to risk my daily rider.  I bought a 1989 FZR400 that I use to thrash on the track.) 

[Ducatista]

I have separate bikes for each purpose, and the two shall never mix.  I think I would be too timid on the Monster because of the fear of crashing.  The SV has no soul, and I couldn't care less about its appearance.  I would have to make some significant modifications to the Monster in order to make it comfortable for track riding.  That is just my style and preference.  The SV has very aggressive ergos thanks to some aftermarket bling, and that's what I'm used to and comfortable with for the track. 

[Grrrly]

video from Dylan Code following me this past tuesday, at cali superbike school at NJMP- Lightning Circuit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDqI3Oy0x1k&feature=user

[sully749]

Holy crap, IG - you're looking awesome out there!!  You're holding your knees in, otherwise you'd be dragging them all over the place.  Congrats on the SV, looks like you're having a blast on it.  The course looks SWEET, too!

[Grrrly]

Holy crap, IG - you're looking awesome out there!!  You're holding your knees in, otherwise you'd be dragging them all over the place.  Congrats on the SV, looks like you're having a blast on it.  The course looks SWEET, too!

not so much holding my knees in so much as my legs are VERY short lol  I'm only 5' zilcheroo.    You should've seen the looks from all the guys thinking I was going to drop the bike everytime I would pit out.
I could only get one toe down, and barely reach the peg on the other side.  So my boyfriend would get the kickstand up for me and put it in gear for me before I would take off to pit lane.  I did impress almost everyone there, with one guy giving me much credit for "doing it and being out there"   Also got kudos from Dylan Code who came up running to me when I got off my bike to tell me that I did really well, and was using the whole track and had lines others weren't using, and saying to himself "damn, this woman can ride!"  That made my day!!!!!!!   

[somegirl]

Looking great IG!

[Sparky1479]

video from Dylan Code following me this past tuesday, at cali superbike school at NJMP- Lightning Circuit.

Very cool.   I have yet to get on the track, but really want to.  Dont have a bike I would take out there though.
Seems like another level for an expensive hobby.  track bike, leathers, school...  is it really not that bad?  or is it as much a financial commitment as it sounds?

[mostrobelle]

Well, this is just my opinion, but I think going to the track is insanely expensive.     However, I didn't get a bike and then go to the track two weeks later fully equipped.  It was a gradual thing.  When I got my gear I anticipated going to the track.  Whenever I did mods to the bike, I generally only did things that would enhance comfort or performance on the track.  I kept my eyes peeled at yard sales and on Craigslist for tents, canopies, and coolers to make camping easier--motels are pricey.  I still don't have a truck, van or a trailer for hauling the bike, so I borrow or rent or catch a ride with friends going.  I pack almost all of my own food.  I bought a verrrrrry old but well-conditioned small bike for a song in winter specifically for track riding a few years ago.  When I get my Christmas bonus I use that as my track budget--it allows me several trackdays a year and I factor in one crash.  I generally don't crash <knocks on wood> so that money gets put into improving the bike or I stockpile it for next year.  Doing it this way, I haven't been hit too hard by the financial part of motorcycling.  Then again, I haven't improved nearly as much or as quickly as others I know that have dove in head first with their checkbooks (and more power to those that can do that!)  I like to think of myself a swift street-rider and someone who can hold her own in the meaty part of the B group on a 1989 FZR400.  I think that's OK considering what I have to work with and what I'm workin' with is all paid off.   

[TiNi]

video from Dylan Code following me this past tuesday, at cali superbike school at NJMP- Lightning Circuit.

wow grrrl you can ride 

can you give us a comparison of NHIS and NJMP?
i want to give the track a shot, and would like some feedback on which of the two prefer.

[Grrrly]

I've only ridden on the Lightning course @ NJMP so far, I ride on Thunderbolt on Sept 1st.  After that I'll give you a comparison to Loudon.  The Lightning course is fun, superfast, flows well but short.  The Thunderbolt course is the more technical and longer of the two, but I don't know how it compares to Loudon yet.

Sparky,
trackdays can be a financial commitment once you start doing many of them in a year/and going to different tracks and schools.   I think it's worth doing at least one, with an organization that offers beginner instruction (which most organizations offer now).  Find your nearest track and shop around.  You can usually find a trackday for as little as $150.   I suggest hooking up with sportbike people from your area that can help you out for transporting your bike, perhaps a local DOC or generic sportbike club, motorcycle people are good people and   usually willing to help out a fellow rider  (doesn't hurt your a chick  ).  Sometimes there are organizers that can arrange this as well for a fee (something to look into).  I got my trailer used from craigslist and got a great deal, and renting them if need be for your first few times to see if this is something you want to get into is relatively inexpensive.   The hotel/motel stays are where things start to add up $$ wise.   Depending on the track camping is sometimes allowed the night before, but this isn't an option everywhere.  I'm lucky that this is something my boyfriend and I do together so we have our arrangements, he pays the rent, I pay for trackdays/ vacations.   
If you find this is something you want to do more of, you can join organizations like femmoto who along with sportbiketracktime offers $125 trackdays for women.   As for gear, you can find alot of great sales and discounts on women's track leathers from the previous seasons, also check for used gear.  I found my women's  teknic jacket for half the price as the same model for men, just because the retailer was trying to get rid of them at the end of the season.  Women's gear doesn't sell as much as men's still, so you have the advantage.

I don't know what you ride, but unless it's a cruiser there is no reason why you should feel you can't track it. As a beginner there is no reason you should be worried about crashing your bike at the track, unless that is a habit you're bringing from street riding.  The same rules that apply to street riding apply at the track... YOU RIDE YOUR PACE!!!!!!!!!!  Once you feel that you are pushing beyond the limits that you would push during your most  aggressive street ride, and you are doing several trackdays a year then you should think about getting a dedicated track bike, and again if your patient deals can be found.

This past winter my boyfriend and I got SV650s for the track.  His is a full blown trackbike, with track plastics.  Mine was a street bike, and I've kept it streetable (one mirror that is easily removed, flush turn indicators which need the smallest pieces of tape to cover for a trackday, and headlights that are easily removable under 2 minutes flat).  Both bikes have upgraded suspensions with gixxer forks and radial brakes, new gilles rear-sets, and clip-ons.  My bike handles awesome, but both bikes severely lack in power.  I just put a quicker/shorter  throttle tube on mine,  might just be that the stock one was way too long and I wasn't getting it to peak power, my last trackday I realized I had to double twist the throttle it was such a long pull.  I feel that the SV is almost comparable to my monster on the track (but it definitely lacks the torque the monster has).

As nice as the SV is I think at the end of this season we will be selling ours, and getting inline-4 middleweights instead, something to grow into.

best of luck,
M

[janiejane]

So far, for me, it's been 3 days at Loudon, 2 days at Calabogie, and 3 days at Grattan.  I'm only scheduled for 2 more days at Loudon (8/14 and 9/3), so my track time is winding down for the year, although some friends and I are batting around a fall trip to Barber and/or NJMP.  Anybody have thoughts on which organization is running the best days at NJMP right now (as far as least squidly, reasonable number of riders on the track, etc.)?

JanieJane, please post a track report for Mt. Tremblant, I really wanted to go on that trip but I've run out of vacation this summer!!  I'd love to get up there next year.

hi
it's been a while since I've been on the forum. Mont Tremblant is an awesome track! Prior to that trip, the only track I've had experience on was Loudon. MT is so much nicer - good mix of technical and fast, no bumps or rough transitions in pavement, nice wide track bordered by grass, 2.65 miles, and 15 turns. These were fast corners, where you don't really let off on the gas, and just keep a flowing momentum going. Much faster than Loudon - I didn't feel like my monster was powerful enough for the track and I was hitting the rev limiter.
Definitely try to go next year if you can.

were you at Fishtail 9/3? I was there too - gray monster, red and black suit.

I've got one more scheduled at Loudon 10/2 and just signed up for Thunderbolt on 10/13. If anyone has been there already, I'd love to hear about it.

J

[River]

I'm signed up for my first track day at Streets at Willow Springs this Saturday, 10/11/08.  Going to the Superbike School, Level I.  Anyone else going to be at the track that day?

[aprilmaybe]

I'm signed up for my first track day at Streets at Willow Springs this Saturday, 10/11/08.  Going to the Superbike School, Level I.  Anyone else going to be at the track that day?

I won't be there that weekend but I am doing L1 on 10/26 at Streets. I'm following up with an open trackday at streets on the 31st. I think it will be great to do the school and then have a track day at the same track the next weekend.

[River]

I won't be there that weekend but I am doing L1 on 10/26 at Streets. I'm following up with an open trackday at streets on the 31st. I think it will be great to do the school and then have a track day at the same track the next weekend.

Oh, open track day the 31st sounds like a great idea!  If I can rearrange my schedule for that day I'll be there.

Have fun on the 26th!

[aprilmaybe]

Oh, open track day the 31st sounds like a great idea!  If I can rearrange my schedule for that day I'll be there.

Have fun on the 26th!

Cool! I hope you can make it.
Here is the thread in the SoCal section http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=11496.0

Please do a write up on Superbike school when you are done, I really want to hear it.