Nurburgring

[tapemonkey]

Hi all, just wondering if any of the SV bunch have ever taken a trip to and done a lap of the Nurburgring?

Cheers Tapemonkey.

[hovis]

YES

http://forums.sv650.org/viewtopic.php?t=50293

[sdusk]

Yes, but not on a bike. I'm not sure that I would ever do the 'ring on a bike.

[hovis]

Yes, but not on a bike. I'm not sure that I would ever do the 'ring on a bike.

why???

i am :oops: in july

[sdusk]

Why? Because the incident/accident/death rate is stupidly high for motorcyclists on the Nurburgring. Compared to other vehicles on the 'ring, even the fastest most well ridden motorcycles are slow. I am not too keen on being punted off by some nutter in an M3 or 911 who misjudged his braking point.

[hovis]

Why? Because the incident/accident/death rate is stupidly high for motorcyclists on the Nurburgring. Compared to other vehicles on the 'ring, even the fastest most well ridden motorcycles are slow. I am not too keen on being punted off by some nutter in an M3 or 911 who misjudged his braking point.

IS IT :shock: ....................I was not aware of this :-k

[Scooby Drew]

Doing a Euro tour in June and the lads are talking of a trip to the ring - I might just take pics of the action, or blag a tour with Andrea Schmidt :wink: I don't want to die yet...

[andyaikido]

Why? Because the incident/accident/death rate is stupidly high for motorcyclists on the Nurburgring. Compared to other vehicles on the 'ring, even the fastest most well ridden motorcycles are slow. I am not too keen on being punted off by some nutter in an M3 or 911 who misjudged his braking point.

It's nowhere near as dangerous as people make out.

That said, it's wise to choose your time carefully. At busy times I suppose it would be a bit unerving having cars flying past all the time.

[sdusk]

Having said that, the mountain roads that surround the 'ring are some of the most gorgeous biking roads in existence. Smooth grippy tarmac, perfectly cambered and just never-ending bends. It would be worth a long weekend just to spend riding those roads, and then do one day in one of those Alfa 75s that you can hire.

[andyaikido]

Why? Because the incident/accident/death rate is stupidly high for motorcyclists on the Nurburgring. Compared to other vehicles on the 'ring, even the fastest most well ridden motorcycles are slow. I am not too keen on being punted off by some nutter in an M3 or 911 who misjudged his braking point.

IS IT :shock: ....................I was not aware of this :-k

Good info on these 2 sites if you want a look:

http://nurburgring.org.uk/

http://www.nuerburgring.de/home/index.html?L=1

And if the safety stats put you off have a look at K's photo/story from last year's trip. Distinct lack of death and destruction here:

http://forums.sv650.org/viewtopic.php?t=42352

Andy.

[Daimo]

http://www.nuerburgring.de/fileadmin/webcam/webcam.jpg

Good link, updated every 2 minutes. Can see the weather, bikes, cars lining up etc...

tbh, its something i'd like to do this year in the Astra (or my 2.0 Corsa if i get it back on the road this year). But having watch countless videos, the cars are always quicker round the track. Too many corners for the bikes to make up, also can be slippery, and its quite a bumpy circuit.

The bloke who lives opposite me takes his Aprillia 1000 over there every year though and loves it. I think i'll wait till i'd done it in a car first.

Its an experience as said though, even if you enjoy the surrounding roads and just sit on the banks and watch the loonie car and bikers bombing it round.

Have a search on videos.google and youtube for nurburgring for an idea of cars n bikes.

[sdusk]

Don't get me wrong, I would love to do it on a bike - but it would have to be a bike-only track day.

Unlike a UK trackday, you have to obey the normal German road rules, which means that you must let faster traffic past. This means you have to have one eye on the rear view mirror at all times - and we all know how easy that is when the bike is leaning right over...

Also, the noise limits are very well policed. One chap from the UK with a non-modified TVR was turned away because it failed the test.

Read http://nurburgring.org.uk/warning.html to appreciate the risks:

The Ring is an incredibly unforgiving place. With the exception of a handful of bends, there's no run-off: if you fail to make a bend, you're going to hit something hard. Worse, most of the bends and crests are blind, so the chances of one accident leading to a second one are also relatively high.


If you enjoy both driving and riding, I'd urge you to think seriously about the relative risks involved. Although car drivers and passengers are killed there too, the majority of the deaths and serious injuries there are motorcyclists. The difference in vulnerability is immense. Although I loved riding the Ring, I've seen too many bad bike crashes: I now stick to four wheels.

[K]

Don't get me wrong, I would love to do it on a bike - but it would have to be a bike-only track day.

Unlike a UK trackday, you have to obey the normal German road rules, which means that you must let faster traffic past. This means you have to have one eye on the rear view mirror at all times - and we all know how easy that is when the bike is leaning right over...

Also, the noise limits are very well policed. One chap from the UK with a non-modified TVR was turned away because it failed the test.

Read http://nurburgring.org.uk/warning.html to appreciate the risks:

The Ring is an incredibly unforgiving place. With the exception of a handful of bends, there's no run-off: if you fail to make a bend, you're going to hit something hard. Worse, most of the bends and crests are blind, so the chances of one accident leading to a second one are also relatively high.


If you enjoy both driving and riding, I'd urge you to think seriously about the relative risks involved. Although car drivers and passengers are killed there too, the majority of the deaths and serious injuries there are motorcyclists. The difference in vulnerability is immense. Although I loved riding the Ring, I've seen too many bad bike crashes: I now stick to four wheels.

I'll agree that it's not as forgiving as your average track with regards to run off, blind crests and bends - it's also a very long track so it's not as if you can learn it after a couple of times round.

That said - I personally take the above as a little on the scaremongering side.

The track has a reputation from its racing heyday, and to a certain extent it's also something that is 'highlighted' by folks to make it seem some big thing that they've ridden/driven the track. Macho BS - it gets everywhere. :wink:

But like everything, if you're sensible, treat it with respect and don't ride like a twot then you're as safe as you would be on any other road - where accidents are caused by other people.
And therein lays the rub - you have to take into account the others driving round and hope that they too are treating the track with respect and not riding/driving like twots. :roll:

Now considering that you can't account for everything everyone else is going to do - then hell, either never stick your nose out of your bed or take the chance and enjoy yourself like the thousands of others who have already done the same.


I personally wouldn't want to go round on my own if it were busy, however, I might give it a go this year if it's quiet.
Take it easy, go at your own pace, give yourself time to react to tightening corners etc and keep your awareness high - basic self discipline - so yeah, if you've not got that then you're going to come a cropper anyway. :?


Um, as for noise limits - none of us were tested last time - and Mart's SV sounded quite 'fruity'. :wink:

[muffles]

i did 3 laps last year on my sv! i went at a quiet time and to be honest i would in general say it is a fair bit more dangerous than normal track days because:

- you have 3ft run off and then a cliff pretty much everywhere
- when it's busy, the traffic does make it both un-nerving and dangerous as a few of them (locals or regulars i guess) will just come past you wherever. it's not like on track day where you have groups so people know your skill level, and unless you're fairly comfortable on track then it's not the greatest environment

that said, if you go round slowly on a quiet day (e.g. i went on there on friday morning of a july weekend) then you should be fine, just do keep an eye on your mirrors (go round slowly enough to allow yourself to do this) and signal right (?) to indicate you have seen them and want them to pass if you see someone coming up behind.

also, i can now have the sticker on my bike :P

[Tim in Belgium]

I've done 18 laps of the place in my last car over two separate weekends and it's a place I love.

Again still toying with the idea on the bike, but know I'd only be happy riding at 80% effort, the track surface changes, inclement weather & amazing locals can make it pretty interesting.

Last time I came round a corner where a little drizzle had fallen and five bikes that had just passed me were off into the barriers. That and the numerous times I've gone passed the medics car next to a motionless or purple faced biker have left an impression on my mind.

BUT it is an awesome place and driven/ridden with respect and a cool head you'll have a great time but there is always a risk. It's your choice.

Now to go on the bike or not....




Decision made, I've signed up for the trip on the SV, now where did I put my sensible head...

[Couerdelion]

i did 3 laps last year on my sv! i went at a quiet time and to be honest i would in general say it is a fair bit more dangerous than normal track days because:

that said, if you go round slowly on a quiet day (e.g. i went on there on friday morning of a july weekend) then you should be fine, just do keep an eye on your mirrors (go round slowly enough to allow yourself to do this) and signal right (?) to indicate you have seen them and want them to pass if you see someone coming up behind.

also, i can now have the sticker on my bike :P

This is pretty much spot on!

In regards to run off it's no different to the roads I enjoy in the Yorkshire Dales with stonewalls hugging the road.

To be honest it's no surprise the bikes have a higher accident rate. I've seen blokes who have just arrived with their bikes still loaded with panniers and packs, following the cars lines and braking points. Try that with a car that's a bit too quick for you and you're not going to get round the corner.

[sdusk]

This is pretty much spot on!

In regards to run off it's no different to the roads I enjoy in the Yorkshire Dales with stonewalls hugging the road.

To be honest it's no surprise the bikes have a higher accident rate. I've seen blokes who have just arrived with their bikes still loaded with panniers and packs, following the cars lines and braking points. Try that with a car that's a bit too quick for you and you're not going to get round the corner.

Indeed - it is like a superb country road, but someone put a bunch of cars on there doing 150mph!

It gets a lot worse than that in fact, bikes will overtake cars just before a corner and then brake hard. Trouble is that the car had no intention of braking at all for that particular corner...

[socommk23]

looks like ill be going this year!

bout june july time! yay!

[muffles]

going to the halfway point and watching the track from there proved an interesting experience too....i'm told all the paint on the track is 'memorials' for people who have died at that particular spot on the track - so when you see all that paint it makes you think twice about going for it when on the track!

it doesn't even have to be your fault - apparently a couple of weeks before i went a couple of bikers died - the first one went into a wall round a corner and died, a car following close behind stopped to help but i guess he stopped his car too much on the track, cos a second biker came round the corner and straight into the back of a stopped car - 2 down... :shock:

[hovis]

can we please stop with all the negative comments.................your scarring me :oops:

[Demonz]

can we please stop with all the negative comments.................your scarring me :oops:

Dont worry - It'll only make your heart beat faster on the day :wink: :lol:

[lurcher]

hovi5,you will be fine,neil who takes us to the ring is fooking great,he will keep you out of trouble,and on line going at a steady pace :twisted:

[socommk23]

so when are you guys thinking of going?

[hovis]

so when are you guys thinking of going?

21-24 july 8)

[socommk23]

so when are you guys thinking of going?

21-24 july 8)

which way ya going? how many of ya?

could me and some others tag along?

[hovis]

so when are you guys thinking of going?

21-24 july 8)

which way ya going? ?????????how many of ya? 10

could me and some others tag along?????????????
i think its limited to 10 for B&B & booking the ring
see here

http://forums.sv650.org/viewtopic.php?t=50293

[muffles]

can we please stop with all the negative comments.................your scarring me :oops:

you'll be fine!




btw, if you don't make it, can i have any spares? :lol:

[Tim in Belgium]

The green hell (in the old company car...)

http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/954/1543623183084392296S500x500Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1543623183084392296TTKaWN)

http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/1325/1543622822084392296S500x500Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1543622822084392296pSHDUN)

http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/1773/1543623269084392296S500x500Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1543623269084392296rWNOaX)

[DanAbnormal]

I am off to Nurburgring on the 26th May for 5 days. Never done a trackday before but it's not a track anymore, more like a very fast one way road. At least the insurance won't be an issue as it's a public toll road. Read many things about it and yes there are dangers but if you look into it most crashes are caused by those who ride/drive as if it were a racetrack. The worst one I heard was a rider crashed and died and when the recovery team went to collect his bike (which flew over the Armco) they discovered another biker who had been dead for a week. Yuk. I have booked a 5 lap ticket and will be taking it nice and easy, there are many safety tips you need to adhere to and you should be okay.

[sdusk]

I am off to Nurburgring on the 26th May for 5 days. Never done a trackday before but it's not a track anymore, more like a very fast one way road. At least the insurance won't be an issue as it's a public toll road. Read many things about it and yes there are dangers but if you look into it most crashes are caused by those who ride/drive as if it were a racetrack. The worst one I heard was a rider crashed and died and when the recovery team went to collect his bike (which flew over the Armco) they discovered another biker who had been dead for a week. Yuk. I have booked a 5 lap ticket and will be taking it nice and easy, there are many safety tips you need to adhere to and you should be okay.

It is still a track. When it is open to the public it is classified as an 'unrestricted toll road' - look out for this exclusion in your insurance documentation.

Riding 'nice and easy' when others are going at warp factor 9 is not necessarily the best strategy. When the speed differential is minimised, everyone has more time to react. Would you rather that cars were overtaking you at 5 mph or 50 ?

[mac608]

http://nurburgring.org.uk/

If you haven't already looked at this site, then I would suggest you do. Look at the Unfriendly Companies link - it contradicts your (SVDan) ideas on insurance.

Other than that its the BEST ring website, bags of info if you're thinking of going or just good reading if you're not

[Lissa]

We did the 'Ring two-up a couple of years ago.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/Lissasv650/ZiggysPics028.jpg

Two pieces of advice we would give.

1 Try to go on a weeknight............Monday to Thursday..............it's a hell of a lot quieter then.

2 USE YOUR MIRRORS!!! What is coming up behind you is just as important as what's in front of you!

Oh, and one more bit of advice.......................enjoy it :D

[muffles]

hey that's the halfway point that - and all that paint is the memorials i was talking about, to people who've died there...