Mini-moto first time

[carty]

Morning all,

I've done a search on this and couldn't find exactly what I was looking for (or maybe I don't know exactly what I'm looking for!)

A mate has organised a mini-moto day for about 15 of us at a place in Northampton (gp karting). The organiser had an SV (now got a CBR600-F) and is a very good rider and he's never done mini-moto before and neither have any of the rest of us. Apart from him and me no-one else rides bikes so I'm hoping to stuff them! :D

Now, can anyone who has done it before give me some tips!

First off, should I take my own lid or do they give you a specially provided one?
Do you just wear jeans and they give you knee / elbow pads?
Silly question, do they steer the same as a normal bike? ie, look where you want to go and they'll go there?Any advice would be welcome, I'm not sure of the format of the event yet (ie, whether it's just ride round for a bit or heats) but I know my mates will slate me if I turn up on my GSXR and then pootle round at the back!

Cheers,
Matt

[G]

A lad I know races mini motos most weekends.

I definately WOULD NOT take your own lid they provide crap one, chances are you will take a tumble and wreck your £300 lid when you could have borrowed and already wrecked £50 lid.

I WOULD take your own leathers, you will get given crap pads otherwise, you can act the joker to your mates in you full leathers, then go knee sliding (safe in the knowledge you ass is protected with good quality cows butt) which is the best way to corner on these things. Would you want to come off your bike at 30mph without leathers? as even crap mini motos will blat along at 30mph.

[malks]

would agree take your leathers! i had the fortune of coming off a mini moto, wearing a full protective pair of jeans and hoodie combo! lets just say i've not been on one since! i know it was stupid to mess around on one with no protective gear on, but at first you just think there toys. 2 broken fingers, a large chunk missing from the top of my shoulder and lots of road rash soon made me realise otherwise!

[carty]

Cheers mate, I was thinking of taking my old helmet not my spanky new one, and I think I will as I'd rather put my head in that than some grotty one, I just wasn't sure if you had to wear like a moto-x style helmet or something!

Good idea about the leathers, so do you hang off or just lean them? How far can you lean on them? Stupid questions I know but I've never taken any interest in mini-moto until now I'm afraid!

I'll have a look on some mini-moto specific websites I think,

Cheers,
Matt