Has anyone done a track day on there GS and how did that work out. I'm thinking about doing one but i dont to be in the back because of the bike. I'm thinking about california motor speedway.
Do not worry about where you are on the track. Track days are for fun. The GS can usually out turn most bikes of the track. But this is also very dependent on the tires and the suspension set up. Short tight tracks will benefit the GS. Tracks with long straights will show it weakness. I love out braking and passing the bigger bike in turns.
Yep, The GS is a very good track day bike. Very good in the corners and fast enough for anything but guys who HAVE to do 180...
There are usually 3 groups at most track days, but of course it varies by org.
street 1: for slow/ novice riders. No passing in corners. This is usually very mellow, full of people on smaller bikes (even YSRs), new people or guys who want to just ride around at a moderate pace. This is a good place to start if you are new to track days and/or pushing your GS.
street 2: Faster, but usually still no passing in corners, but sometimes "safe" passing is allowed. Lots of very good street riders, but also quite a few bad ones. I would say that this is the most dangerous group, because you have people on big bikes or going fast, who either don't know what they are doing, or who get in to hot, and can do erratic things which makes them a hazard to other riders around them. You can go here after you get confident in street 1 and you start getting held up in corners, or you can go straight to the 3rd group if you are pretty smooth, and don't get spooked easily.
race: This is where all the racers are getting practice time. Sometimes spiit into fast/slow groups, but even the slow group will be full of SV650s which will motor down a GS. You will be on tracks with big fast bikes sometimes going 50~80 mph different than you, BUT you are probably safer, because as long as you pick a consistant line and hold it around the track, the faster more experianced riders will get past you cleanly. You just have to get used to having the paint sucked off your bike as they go by! (ask Pam and Greg about doing Endurance with GSXR1000!) :o
http://octaneonline.com/ipw-web/gallery/D-Dtrackday
This was my first time on track, the bike did fine. I rode in group 1 (passing allowed in straights) and stayed ahead of some much bigger, more powerful bikes. Like dgyver says, it was a bunch of fun slipping past the big bikes late on the brakes and holding them off until the long straight (VIR North Course for those who know the track!).