Track day !

Whos been on one whats it like ?

did you crash?

did the SV hold out well??

i'm gona try n get one for my 18th birthday on my SV gona be sooooo cool! lol

ta rob!

[carelesschucca]

DO IT DO IT DO IT!!!

I've done a few, and I have crashed, but I was being a **nker...

Its great fun, but try and remember you don't win any prizes for coming first, and it costs a lot to repair a broken bike...

Just go out and have fun, enjoy yourself and if you can get a little tuition

[northwind]

I've done two and crashed once (I crashed within about 20 metres of where Careless did, following in his footsteps...)

The SV in standard trim ought to do a day on track no probs unless you bin it... As long as you're sensible, that is. The only thing is it'd be fairly easy to run it past the redline on engine braking if you're not careful, but you should be watching for that on any bike. Personally I'd maybe suggest doing a half day first time? Depends on the organisers but by 2/3 of the way through the half-day session I did last time (when I crashed) I was knackered. I wouldn't have been able to make good use of a full day, I don't think.

But they're fantastic, absolutely fantastic. I was bricking it when I first went out and it took about half the session to actually start to enjoy it but by the end I was loving every second. And the second time, it was open pitlane so I was able to spend some serious time out there... I ended up taking an early bath after foolishly running onto a wet patch while braking hard, but even the repair bill didn't take the shine off that day, it was simply one of the best things I've done on 2 wheels.

Possibly controversial, but I do think part of the fun is to push yourself further than you can on the road, and that has risks involved- personally I go on the assumption that a crash is on the cards, and I wouldn't do a track day if I couldn't afford to fix the bike, or had no way of getting it home. I don't go out to crash, but I accept that it's a possibility- whether it's me pushing too hard or someone else mucking up. The last time I was up only about 2/3 of the bikes were fit to ride by the end of the day... 2 blew up, loads crashed... I fixed mine and rode home vvvvvvery slowly. I take a decent selection of easily transported tools, and a complete set of levers along with whatever other spares I can manage, and it realy paid off last time.

I'll be back up at Knockhill as soon as I feel the leg's up to it, and I'll be doing my car test this summer so I can borrow or hire a van and get a bit further away. I'll be looking at the various schools as well.

I've done 6 now. No crashes yet. I love them, and the sv always holds its own really well. Most crashes I have seen, happen on the first few laps, so take it easy to begin with and let the tyres warm up.

Overall you'll have ball. Fantastic way to spend a birthday

done 4 now, great fun and well worth doing, never crashed i find building the speed gradualy over the day works well, rember to let your tires warm up after the break for lunch!

improves your road skills i reckon as well

overtaking quicker bikes is so much fun as well

[Balky001]

I've done a few, but only one on the SV. It was my first track day and I was a bit nervous being on my own. Especially when I saw all the dedicated track bikes and racers - no one had less than a 600SS either. But it was at Brands Indy and I was passing R1's and 749S's after the first session. And I'd only been riding for 8 months. Don't go to Silverstone or Snetterton, you'll get wasted on the straights and fast corners. On the technical stuff the SV did really well. If the track you chose is local you can ride there but nice to hire a van, take some chairs to sit on and I'd go for the full day. Take it easy and learn the track, anyone who's fastest lap is in the first session is either a crap rider or has crashed. I've never dropped the bike, been 6 times (4 in the wet!), but my friends have - always on the brakes - schoolboy error! But its the most common crash for trackdayers.

It the best fun you can have and not get arrested for!

I might be doing Brands again, on Tuesday 31st May - let me know if you go along.

Originally Posted by suzsv650

Whos been on one whats it like ?

did you crash?

did the SV hold out well??

Been on the gixer thou more times than I care to remember and previously on the gixer 600 before that. They are seriously good fun. Never crashed - I'm not fast enough! Although I did a very good impression of a fish wagging it's tail at Croft in the wet last year - not fun

There's usually a few SVs (650s and 1000) and they seem to hold their own - it's more about the rider than the bike.

Here's a few pointers:

1. don't go mad on lap one - you're there all day
2. make sure you've got a full tank of petrol
3. If you're feeling tired by the end of the day miss out the last session.
4. check your tyre pressures (try 2-3 psi below stock to begin with)
5. have fun

Originally Posted by suzsv650

Whos been on one whats it like ?

did you crash?

did the SV hold out well??

AWESOME!

NO!

SV is brilliant on the track!

[northwind]

So it's just the SV Ecsse members that crash then? It must be something in the Knockhill air.

Oh yes, it's worth checking in advance what facilities are on-site. Some organisers can offer tyre support, suspension setup, training, food, etc. Knockhill, on the other end of the scale, has a kettle. It's good to know what will be there in advance, so you can plan accordingly.

Never done one but a group of my pals were at Jerez last Sunday! They had a complete ball and I cant wait to see the videos! I am under instructions that next time they go,(July) I go with them..no excuses! I will be doing a re-run of Rossi Vs. Gibernau last bend? Was it a legal move?Did he do it on purpose? Should Gibernau have defended the line better?

GULP...so I guess that is one of those bikey things I get to finally scratch off the list!
Hope that effing Termi kit I have ordered has arrived and been fitted by then!