Track days on the GS

[tonyalta]

Greetings everyone,

The more I ride the more I think I would like to get some track time in on my GS. I have been searching around for info for new track riders and thought this would be a great place to look for some advice. I have a 2002 GS (first bike) and have put about 14000 miles on it mostly commuting and having fun here in the Bay Area, CA. Does anybody have any advice for me? Which track? Organization? Bike prep.....? AT what point (after how many miles or years) have any of you started riding on the track. Any and all advice is appreciataed.

Thanks, Tony

[ohgood]

You have 'problems' some people dream of. Choices of tracks, decent folks that ride daily. Mountains, highway one....

Take it easy on the track and don't forget the grass isn't soft

Good luck.

[dgyver]

Not sure what track are is available in CA. "Pantablo" track rides and is in CA. He is one of the admins but does not post much anymore, slacker has a CBR now. PM him and he should be able to point you in the right direction.

Bike prep is best to follow the sponsoring group rules. The minimum....good tires, good brake pads, suspension setup, it is a good idea to remove street stuff or anything you do not want to have to replace in a crash. I have a dedicated track bike so I am not as concerned about going down, just an inconvience to repair. Stock suspension can be too soft for the track. Ground clearance is also something to be aware of. Stock pegs can grind without leaning off the bike.

Of course, personal gear is nothing to skimp on. Full leathers (1-piece or 2-piece w/ full zipper), boots covering the ankles, full gloves (gauntlet style are the best), full face helmet. A back protector is a good idea.

There is no best time to go to the track, but it is not a place to learn how to ride. It can be intimidating at first but being the first time on the track you will not be going that fast and you will be in a group of similar riding level. If they have any instruction, that can be very helpful.

Remember....ride your own ride.

[tonyalta]

Thanks for the advice. I am very lucky to live here in California so the opportunies are endless, with so much to choose from. I am a little intimidated be all of it but am excited none the less. Ideally I will take a class to coincide with my first few days, I am still researching this aspect of it as well.

Any other advice or tips are greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Tony

[Mk1inCali]

I'm down in SoCal, but I've got a friend living in San Jose area that also rides/tracks regularly.  Infineon Raceway (Sears Point), Laguna Seca ($$$$ in Monterrey), Buttonwillow (near Bakersfield), and Willow Springs (Lancaster/Palmdale area) are the ones off the top of my head.

Bike prep, Dgyver nailed most of it.  For my first track day on my GS, I pulled the entire headlight assembly off (for my next one I'm just going to tape it off, it wasn't worth the work), pulled my taillight/tool kit/turn signals off.  You most likely won't need to safety-wire anything for a track day, so it's all pretty simple stuff.

14K miles should put you in a good place to start pushing some decent speed around.  I grew up riding/racing motocross, so I was very comfortable with the idea of "no limits but your own" on the track, where some of my friends that hadn't been anywhere but the street struggled a bit with that idea and couldn't let go as easily.

The class (whoever you take it with) is probably a good idea if you aren't that aggressive in canyon riding (which it sounds like you are not) and want to bump up your skills faster.  GS is a fine platform for riding hard, I was running hard commuter tires (Michelin Pilot Road up front and a Pilot Activ rear) and was at the front of the C class sessions (ie, passing a lot more people than were passing me). 

[brett]

For the bay area, there are two track providers that have good reputations with new track riders: ZoomZoom and Keigwins. The other big trackday provider, Pacific Track Time, is geared for more experienced track riders from what I know. I would check out ZoomZoom and Keigwins and see if they have any C group spots or 2 day novice schools. My one piece of advice is do not go to the track later in the year when it might be rainy. I did my first trackday over Thanksgiving weekend last year. It rained, and I dumped the GS. That's not saying it can't be done without dumping it, but I spent more time focusing on the slick surface than anything else.

As far as tracks go, there is Laguna Seca, Sears Point, and Thunderhill. Depending on where you are in the bay area, Buttonwillow and Reno-Fernley may be within reasonable (~4 hours) driving distance. Any track should be fine. The only difference will be the cost of the trackday and how far it is from you.

As for your bike, there really isn't anything you should need so long as your bike is in good running condition. Track prepping the GS is ridiculously easy. You just need to take off the mirrors and pull a couple fuses. Then you get to sit around and laugh at everyone switching in water wetter in their liquid cooled bikes.

[dgyver]

.....
As for your bike, there really isn't anything you should need so long as your bike is in good running condition. Track prepping the GS is ridiculously easy. You just need to take off the mirrors and pull a couple fuses. Then you get to sit around and laugh at everyone switching in water wetter in their liquid cooled bikes.

The GS only has 1 fuse.

[brett]

.....
As for your bike, there really isn't anything you should need so long as your bike is in good running condition. Track prepping the GS is ridiculously easy. You just need to take off the mirrors and pull a couple fuses. Then you get to sit around and laugh at everyone switching in water wetter in their liquid cooled bikes.

The GS only has 1 fuse.

Err, sorry, I meant wires.

[D-Day]

Dgyver pretty much nailed it.  Some track orginizations offer a school group, with stuctured track sessions alternated with classroom.  That would be highly recommended. Some people are fast, some aren't, but track days aren't racing, and if you keep a level head you should be able to have a lot of fun on the GS.  I raced in the 80's on everything from Honda 400 fours, RZ 350's to Ducati 851 Superbikes, but when I decided to start doing track days with my son 7 years ago, I bought a GS 500.  I am still doing track days on the bike.  Here is a link to a video of my son following me at Grattan.  We are both on GS 500.  It will give you a little idea of what these bikes are capable of.

http://www.fototime.com/inv/638C5945CC7A0DD

[dgyver]

Dang Paul....every time you post a vid, I go into withdraws. It has been awhile since I have been to the track. Maybe once it cools off some.

[spc]

+1,  That vid is great!!  I gotta get some track days in when  I get this bike running.

( Oh, and thanx for helping me with the info on that front end    )

[tonyalta]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I have ridden the canyons a bit, notably grizzly peak road above Berkeley/Oakland (about 10 minutes from my house) but I tend to be a bit conservative because it is often busy....  Anyway, some track time seems to be a good controlled situation to push it some more on the GS. I am looking forward to this. Props to the GS by the way. I've ben commuting Oaklland to San Fran for 3 years now with no major problems. I have recently starting working on it myself and it turns out that not only is it a good first bike to ride it is a good first bike to work on and now I am eagerly anticipating taking it to the track.

Cheers, Tony

[pandy]

http://www.fototime.com/inv/638C5945CC7A0DD

I just *LOVE* this video. 

Kudos for wanting to improve your skills on the track, Tony! And welcome! 

[manofthefield]

Here is a link to a video of my son following me at Grattan.  We are both on GS 500.  It will give you a little idea of what these bikes are capable of.

http://www.fototime.com/inv/638C5945CC7A0DD

D-Day, do you get to Grattan often?  I moved to Grand Rapids recently and went up there once to check it out.  Let me know if you're heading there at all, I might want to come check it out

[D-Day]

Here is a link to a video of my son following me at Grattan.  We are both on GS 500.  It will give you a little idea of what these bikes are capable of.

http://www.fototime.com/inv/638C5945CC7A0DD

D-Day, do you get to Grattan often?  I moved to Grand Rapids recently and went up there once to check it out.  Let me know if you're heading there at all, I might want to come check it out

I ride there once a year, sometimes two.  I like to spread my track days around on different tracks.  Already been to Grattan this year.

Paul