track day

[nick_villan]

Well it took me a day at the track (my first time watching it live) and finally finish fixing my bike to realise what type of rider I am. I love watching how the ridders took the curves and the race itself. But after seing two riders being caried off on an ambulance, another airlifted and another one being thrown out of the track (back of the bike coming up fisrt) i realized that their is no way im even going to try this. I even asked my neigbourt an ex pro ridder and he told me that it wasnt uncommon for a couple ridders to crash on the curves every day. So i decided that im going to stick with drag. I know the gs isnt really made for that, but im going to enjoy myslef doing the best i can.  Also wanted to tell riders that do this u seriously got balls, more than i than stunters do, thanks to that track day and those unfortunate events i learned to apreciate how u guys race ur bikes.

Another side note, my gs500f got lots of props and i felt good being the only gs thire, everyone else with the exeption of my dads vstrom was riding a cbr, gsxr, ninja or a yamaha r6/1000. So im gona keep it and bling it out and drag it until i cant put no more miles.

[Egaeus]

The thing about track days is that it's not a race.  You ride at your own pace, and learn how to ride your bike better.  You don't have to push the limits like racers do. 

[annguyen1981]

Sounds like Nick has grown up a bit!    




(PS... not meant as a putdown)

[nick_villan]

that might be true, but 25-35 racers in one race is dangerous to me

[pandy]

Sounds like Nick has grown up a bit!    
(PS... not meant as a putdown)

Becoming aware of the danger is a very good thing. Going to a track day is a GREAT thing! I need to do that!

[nick_villan]

o ya, i mean im 100 % more carefull know, and i want to do bracket racing

[annguyen1981]

o ya, i mean im 100 % more carefull know, and i want to do bracket racing

I'm glad to hear you wanna be more careful.

I've got to find time and a place for track days myself.

[nick_villan]

my neibour is going to start racing his sv again, so im gona go suport him, who knows maibe hell let me wash his bike

[annguyen1981]

Ah...  Apprenticeship...  (sp)

[nick_villan]

yes master, i will wash wax ur bike until i see my face in its reflextion

[werase643]

i'd be scared to do a track day....they have tooooo many people with way different skill levels

my story....short and stupid
bought a recovered theft GS in 94 for 500
race prepped it(safety wire)
new rear tire
went to EBRS     http://www.edbargyracingschool.com/

never looked back

[dgyver]

In all of my track days on a GS (and a RS125), I was rarely around anyone else. The bike is too slow in the straights to have much traffic in the turns. I never had a problem with another rider on the track. Only once was a close call at Tally where we went 4 wide in to T1 (counter-clockwise), knee on the ground, and the R1 on my left spun up the rear and tossed the bike in front of the 3 of us. The rider on my right ran over his seat cowl but none of us went down.

I am more scared of street riding than at the track. Hitting a car that has turned left in front of you is not fun.

Oh yeah...I have almost been run over by a horse on the street but the closest at the track was a small 2' alligator sunning himself.

[nick_villan]

danm, i looks one of the funest sports to do in the world, just not sure i want to take the risk of being taken to a hospital for having fun.

[dgyver]

Note that racing is different than trackdays.

I have only seen the ambulance role on the track during 2 track days. Neither time did it have to leave the track. The worst injury was a broken collar bone. A buddy of his took him to the hospital.

Accidents do happen. You are more likely to injured going to the track and while on the track.

[pantablo]

Note that racing is different than trackdays.

huge difference. way more crashes in racing than on trackdays. people arent trying to win a trophy in trackdays so they're not ALL going balls out taking huge risks. Its pretty safe for the most part, far safer than street riding.

[Jake D]

The thing about doing a track day, which I really want to do, is I'm more scared of hurting my bike than me.  I'm pretty sure I'd be fine.  But I don't want to lowside my bike and have to replace a bunch of stuff on a brand new ride.  I probably won't do one this summer.  But next summer for sure, when I've had a chance to buy a two piece leather suit.

I just ordered some boots (Set Up boots, Sidi knock offs). 

[nick_villan]

yeah i was thinking about picking up a used track bike, they seem to go for 3500 around here

[l3uddha]

sounds like a responsible decision nick!
I'm into track days, not racing... at all.
I would love to get my bike to the track to hone my skills and really learn what the bike and I are capable of.

racing is different on so many levels.
track days are go at YOUR speed without the risk of cars, or animals, or all that other funk.
racing is riding at 110% to win. = highsides, crashes, you name it.

I love the track to practice at my level and build on that. I have absolutly NO desire to race my bike against others. it's only ME & my bike at the track.
maybe when I'm MUCH more comftorable on the track will I ever even consider racing other bikes.

[dgyver]

yeah i was thinking about picking up a used track bike, they seem to go for 3500 around here

You can get a track prepped GS or EX for $1000-1500. 600's and SV's go for $2000-3500. But they may be higher in your area. Watch www.wera.com, especially in the fall/winter after racing season.

The thing about doing a track day, which I really want to do, is I'm more scared of hurting my bike than me. I'm pretty sure I'd be fine. But I don't want to lowside my bike and have to replace a bunch of stuff on a brand new ride.....

That is why I bought a dedicated track bike. Replacing the fairings on my TL would have cost more than my first race GS. Now when (not if) I go down, it is no big deal.

[nick_villan]

i didnt see any 500. they were just gsxrs