simple how to

hi guys!

very short question:

I never raced in my life but I would love to take my sv on the circuit once or twice. first of all to get an idea of how it is and second, to push it to the limit without having to worry about traffic, bad roads, prius drivers and any other ****.

the thing is, I don't know how to do this, where and what it involves.

as an extra note, I'm not interested in a competition race, more like a "domestic" track day for street riders.

any tips?

thanks

[jambo]

Hello!
To do a track day is very straightforward. You need:
1) a full uk licence (if you have any power restrictions check with the track day operator).

2) Decent boots, gloves, leathers (one or two piece) a full face acu gold stickered helmet.

3) a well maintained road worthy motorbike.

4) some money to spend on track time. A site like trackdays.co.uk shows uk trackdays from most organisers.

Pick a date and a circuit you fancy, pay your money and rock up for about 7:30am. Enjoy the day and don't over think it!

Jambo

Sent without a real keyboard

1. I have a leather combo (zips together all around the waist), and a full face helmet, but what's the gold sticker? it's a shark S700S

2. bike is more than road worthy, but do I need any other changes? I don't mind covering my headlights with some tape and taking off the mirrors, but do I need to change anything else? secure bolts with wire? kevlar covers for the engine case?

3. do you race with other people or can you do laps on your own? I don't mind other bikers around me, but I'm not the quickest and I need a few laps to get used to the bike. any demo lap with an instructor before you get to ride on your own?

thanks for the reply

[jambo]

1) in the uk helmets should have an ACU gold sticker on the back. EU imports sometimes have an equivalent EC number to show it had passed a standard. This is not likely to be an issue but if yours doesn't have one check with the distributor for that manufacturer in the uk. They may just be able to post you one.

2) It's worth taking some tape with you to cover the speedo and fold in our remove the mirrors. A tyre pressure gauge is helpful. Other than that you are doing a track day not racing. There is no scrutineer just noise test. The acceptable nose limit varies by track and mostly unless you have something truly offensive is a formality.

3) most track days are split into around 3 groups: novice, intermediate, advanced. Book in novice you will not be the only first timer.

Jambo

Sent without a real keyboard

[carelesschucca]

Your biking gear is fine and if you bike is roadworthy it will be fine no need for the extra stuff. most track day companies will have info on what the expect.

As for the being on track you will be around other people but you should not be racing, just ride at your own pace and most of all enjoy it. Also remember there are no prizes for being the quickest but there'll be plenty of laughs at you if you bin it.... I know this from experience. ..

Most of just enjoy and you'll fine the bike is probably better than you are, or is that just me again?

[SIII]

And tape up brake lights, was given as a piece of advice to me. If the bike you are following hasn't , it can be distracting and you start to ride like them, braking when they do, instead of doing your own thing.


Lots of folk overthink their first track day, just go and do it, you'll love it.

in terms of insurance, is there any special one-day insurance that covers a track day or do I risk everything on my own wallet?

[jambo]

You can get track day insurance. It's not terribly cheap and tends to have a high excess so it's intended to cover total loss rather than a few duffed panels. Another route avaliable is that most track day companies will offer to rent you a track day bike for the day, often a recent supersport 600.

In all honesty while I have seen and heard of people being knocked off, what is far more common is people getting red mist and going to prove they're faster than someone and doing something silly.

Jambo

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[SIII]

Of the people I have seen come off, all were in the intermediate/fast and mostly fast group, pretending to be a BSB rider. Novice group is a bunch of folk, mostly like you, going out for a wee shot at riding around the circuit and enjoying themselves.


Just know your limits and be able to recognise when you are getting close and back off, before it comes to tears.


Take your time and ask one of the instructors to come out with you after a few sessions on your own. The guys at No-Limits are a nice bunch, and I recommend taking the opportunity to learn from them.

[L3nny]

Maybe go to a Novice only day for your first time, or maybe one in the winter when the track is a bit quieter, my first day was in December, there were about 20 riders in my group.

The novice only day I did also had classroom sessions inbetween each track session explaining how to ride on track.

http://www.msvtrackdays.com/bike/pro...rack-days.aspx