Motorcycle Forums

Slow & Ready

1. Dont "know / test your limits" ... It is better to know what you do know or dont know. Stay confident in your abilities your happy with and feel your way round what you dont know. First time at a track, you wont know anything (in fairness) even if your a roundabout-kneedown-junkie. Work out a "racing-line" to allow you to use nice big swooping lines thorugh corners and and not getting in peoples way. Even if your slow, if your rising a decent line, a faster rider will pass you easier and less aggressivly than if your all over the place.

2. Eat light & right - chips/beans with a side of red bull is a killer. Light snacky veg & salad things with little fatty sauces or cheeses and LOTS of room-temp water will stop you cramping up and keep you hidrated & your head clear with no sugar drops.

3. Prep. A half decent £350 quid one or 2 piece suit, nice gloves & boots and the best helmet you can afford (£150-300 isnt a mindless spend!). Back protector too, even if its a £25 quid thing is a sensible buy. Ear plugs are also hugely useful, youd be amazed how much you can concentrate more then your not battered by wind and screaming engines. Exercise - a little a day will be enough for trackdays. 35 miles a week cycling will benefit you more than youd know!

4. Start slow to go fast - treat the first outings as you would when you first ent on a bike. "Use all the road" as you (shouldnt) have on coming traffic with wide lines giving you a goo visual on corners and straights. ASK ASK ASK the team who are around, the briefing in the morning will never give you enough. 2/3 laps following an instructor will reap you a lot of reward and theyre (ego's - ;-) ...) wont mind!

5. Dont try and do what you havnt done before - just because yor at a track doent mean you will instantly start scraping pegs/knees/toes/elbows. "hanging off" the bike is often something people have no idea how to do and often end up feeling "wobbly" or "loose". ask how to sit on a bike, you will find out you barely use your arms.. its all in the legs ;-) ... again, as your friendly instructor for tips on body position.

6. Gears - biggest thing ive seen over the years is people use the wrong gear almost all the time. Either too much or too little revs. the right gear-speed-rev-ratio in a corner will make your bike feel planted and tight. Tracks like mallory park on my SV650 I only use 2nd 3rd & 4th (only on the straight). Learning to slip your clutch if your bike doesnt come with one also helps "feed" the revs in for smoother gear changes.

7. Forget the tyre warmers & stop watch and buy your photo's. Its an experience you cant usually afford every week, so make the most of it and enjoy your day!

Stupid

Stupid to require one-piece leathers when 2-piece suits are just as good if made properly.

Of course, I have ridden tracks in a hi-viz Aerostich Roadcrafter textile suit – sorry, not sold in the CE, as it may be the best ever piece of motorcycle gear.
 

www.aerostich.com/suits/one-piece-suits/roadcrafter-one-piece-suit.html

Why the concern?

I don't understand why people should be concerned about idiots out on track days.

Just stay well ahead of them, and they will not given you any problem 

Track days

Just remember what goes on the track stays on the track

Apart from learning something about your bike and yourself 90% or more cannot be used on the road.

By all means get someone to buy u a track day experience and go with an open mind to learn and enjoy.

Then think about an Advanced Riding course.  But this time 90% of what u learn will be good for u, forget the part of overtaking as fast as u want coss its safer [ its also a moving traffic offence if over the speed limit] and whilst concentrating on a bends vanishing point please remember the FIRST GOLDEN RULE of any road, to be able to stop in the distance that u can see to be clear  and by that they mean ON YOUR SIDE OF THE ROAD.

Happy Biking.... and learn quickly and ride slowly. Live longer.

do it

Track days are a lot of fun, Thats where it should stay.

Dont be worried  as the staff will put you in the appropriate group to ride in, and will look after you .

Go for it you wont regret it, but remember that when you leave the track that you are back on public roads,