What do you need to Track a bike?

Yeah for sure, first track day you just wanna ride in, ride on, and ride out with a big fat grin. All the faffing about comes after but either way it's all good fun.

 

Wicked thanks guys that is a massive help and a weight off my mind I did have a feeling I might be worrying for nothing on a few items but glad to hear that it is common place to an extent. Good to know about the sighting laps though that should give me a bit of confidence I think once I find my rhythm I will improve when I did the RH day it was the third session before I started to actually get quicker and start lapping people. Will be looking forward to the forum track day will be interesting to see so many of you guys and girls on track

 

I was worried I would not keep up on the sighting laps on my first day

I was fine and I really am slow

I would not worry about anything for your first couple of days. Just turn up on road bike and ride the track. Take it easy ride within yourself then go home.

I did this then started to get stuff through the year. I bought the stands and warmers etc when I was going to Portimao. Before that I ran S20 and didn't take padock stands etc.

This year I have bought a Daytona and I am converting it to track only, mainly because I like my road bike to look nice and don't want to make it tatty loading it on the trailer and changing tyres all the time etc.

A lot of people do it on their road bikes though, so don't worry too much.

 

Cool Cheers Bazzer that's a big help dude. Think that is the wisest way forward try the bike, try the track see which one I gel best with and then make a decision going forward next year as to which to use full time on the track. I am like you I like to keep my road bikes clean and tidy so will be sure to run the rubber she's on at the moment until it needs changing and then will make a decision from there. I'm aiming for 10 track days this year but to be fair if I can do 5 I will be well happy.

 

I did 7 days last year on my road going STR it was fantastic I really enjoyed it.

S20 were fine, I even did a couple of wet session on them at Castle Coombe.

Through the year I bought in this order.

Some Padock Stands (Harris)
Second hand set of Wets on Wheels (WOW)
Tyre warmers
Then last but not least a Daytona

I used to do loads of car track days in a Turbo Busa powered Westfield 7 so had things like Jerry cans and funnels etc as well as pretty comprehensive tool kit.

 

Hmm seems there is lots you can pick up for this track day malarky not least of which is the gear for transportation and other goodies. I suppose the thing that will kill me the most this year is van hire to the tracks accept for Brands which, is local to me I think I would take a van to the other tracks because of how buggered I will feel after riding all day and then having to face the ride home could be painful whereas if I am in a van it won't matter nice and comfy all the way home

 

I'm going to be riding to the first few track days I'm doing this year, then decide what I need to get going forward.
Van Hire isn't so bad if there are two of you sharing - should easily get two bikes in the back of one.

 

Happy to do that with you mate makes it easier to share the cost of such things

 

Sounds like a plan. Got any dates planned so far (apart from the Forum Trackday)?

 

Just been looking at the no limits site when have you got yours down and which circuits are you planning to do? I think I will steer clear of Oulton Park because of the noise nazis. Going to snett on Sunday next weekend for some testing but it's not my bike so I don't have to cover transport costs etc. Those are the only two so far but was thinking of also doing Cartegena in the summer well late summer this year too.

 

I'm pretty much in the same boat - got California Superbike School on 1st April, and the Forum Trackday on 6th May. Cartegena sounds fun.

 

Yeah the handy thing for me is the Mrs parents live an hour down the road from Cartegena race track so can save on the accomodation costs but need to find out from No Limits if that does actually save me any money or not as the bike is shipped out there two weeks before your track day but handy to know I have somebody I can trust to go down to the circuit and see how the bike is when it arrives etc.

Want to do brands this year hopefully a couple of times as it's local and also was thinking that Cadders could be good in the summer.

 

Brands is a lovely track - definitely want to go back there and do a full track day.

 

Did Portimao with No Limits, brilliant time. Very well organised !!!


Also did CSS lLevel 1 last year too and got a lot out of it.

 

Yeah I would like to do another RH day or something similar maybe Chris Walker's version see how much I get out of that too.

 

Think I will hire an instructor 1on1 next time. No more money than a CSS day !!!

 

That's not a bad idea really and you get the benefit of one on one tuition to really hone your skills. Lots of things to consider in this track day stuff but all good fun though. Looking forward to the warmer weather and getting stuck into to it.

 

Nick - More than welcome to borrow my trailer if you have a car to tow it with. Not using it much really. Takes two too.

 

And don't skip Oulton - it's an awesome track!!!