Been about a year since my first track day. It's been a ride, that's for sure, I've now done 5 different tracks and about 20 days. For those who remember, this all started with a speeding ticket around 18 months ago, the ticket was an annoyance, but I was really shaken by how far over the speed limit I was without realizing it and wanted to go do some track riding to see if I was riding way above my skill level and about to get hurt or if I just needed to look harder at the speed limit signs. Turns out it was the 2nd; I wasn't riding in a way that was putting me in danger, I just needed to pay closer attention.
So, what happened this past year? Well, I got a lot faster around a race track. Like a LOT faster. I'm not "fast" compared to serious track riders, but wow, the amount of headroom modern motorcycles have is bonkers. One of the things they always taught in the classes I've been to so far, if you think your in too fast for the corner, just lean more, your tires will stick! And man, do they ever (stick)! The amount of traction available on a good road surface is mind boggling, so many times I've been into a corner thinking "Well, this is it, nice knowing everyone" and.. Nothing. Not a slip, not a squirm, just lean it over and through the turn we go. Absolutely staggering compared to where I thought the grip limits were before getting on a track. The only time I've ever slipped on the track was riding in the rain, not exactly a great time, but really educational for getting used the feeling of losing and regaining traction at the rear of the bike.
I made a lot of new friends. Like, a whole lot. The track community is small and very close knit. When I go to a track day at CMP (my closest/home track) now, I'm going to know 10-20% of the riders there and almost all the coaches. It's a tiny group of motorcycle riders who ever go to the track, an even smaller group who goes regularly. That part has been great, it's really opened my social circle a lot and made it a ton more fun!
This is kind of a pro/con, but it's made street riding seem so easy and relaxed. When you realize how high the actual limits of the motorcycle are, nothing your ever going to do on the street is even going to get in the zip code of pushing them (except maybe emergency stopping where you'll actually hit the limits of your tire). Group rides at any sane pace feel effortless. The con is that getting used to track speeds makes street riding a little less exciting. It's become more of a relaxing thing to ride on the street vs when I used to ride and get excited for the next turn. Again, it's kind of a mixed pro/con, I'm still riding a ton on the street (my XR crossed 22K recently!) but track riding has changed my street riding, in some ways better, in other was not so much.
And now, the cons. It's expensive. Between track day entry fees, tires, gear, classes.. I'm probably 15-20K in at this point and that doesn't include the cost of the track bikes. If you're going to get into this regularly, you're going to want at least one, and perhaps two track bikes (mechanical issues crop up a lot more when you're riding these things that hard). I started on an Aprilia Tuono 660 but, sadly, the motor blew on that bike (on the track and locked the rear wheel when it went, that was exciting). Took about 4 months for a new motor to get here, so I bought a Street Triple to keep riding. The 660 is now fixed, but I got used to the Triple on the track, so I ride that most of the time and bring the 660 along in case I crash or have something go wrong on the triple. A rear tire generally lasts 2-4 days (depends on the track), a front double that. Motorcycle riding on the track is not cheap entertainment, that's for sure.
It takes a ton of time; your entire weekend at the track, then a few hours working on the bike and getting ready for the next time you'll be out. Generally track days are all day Sat/Sun, if you ride every session, you'll get ~2 hours on the track per day. It's 2-3 days at the track for 4 hours of time on the motorcycle. A lot of sitting around waiting for your group to go out, and a lot of time driving to/from the track. That dead time gives you a lot of time to socialize, but you really don't spend that much time on the motorcycle, at least not compared to doing 2-300 mile days touring.
And now the last con, the thing I always hear as advice that I think is just so misguided... The risk. "Track riding is safer than street" people need their heads examined. I've been riding street a long time and have a lot of friends who do as well. I literally can't remember the last crash any of us had on the street (that wasn't just dropping the bike at a stop light or parking it). I've been track riding a year; I have 2 friends in the hospital right now from track crashes. This past weekend, one of my very good friends had a horrible crash where the chopper picked them up right at the track. Another friend at the track just finally got healed up enough from an accident last year to ride again, went out, and 3rd or 4th session, someone couldn't stop coming into a corner and took my friend out again. Thankfully no serious injury this time, but another bike in the dumpster. I've had a couple of "oh crap" moments on the track myself; but I'm one of only two people who did my intro class last year that is still riding track and hasn't crashed. One event this year at CMP, day 1, 20% of the people there crashed. Now, to be fair, that was a REALLY bad day (I'd guess it's usually 5-10% who crash per day) but the risk of crashing is absolutely bonkers high compared to street riding. Yes, there are people to help you and yes, the chance of dying on the track is pretty low, but don't go into this thinking it's "safe" compared to street riding.
So, what's next for me? I'm doing Champ school at CMP in September, if anyone is coming, love to meet you! And if anyone is coming that has never been to CMP or the track before and has questions, please ask, happy to help. My time continue to improve slowly, I'm riding in intermediate with most groups now and have gotten the point where I'm middle of the pack at most tracks. The faster intermediate and all the advanced riders will still pass me like I'm standing still though!
Finally, none of this happened without video, right? Here's me turning a few laps at AMP (Atlanta Motorsports) last month.
My original thoughts after the first day:
forums.bmwmoa.org
So, what happened this past year? Well, I got a lot faster around a race track. Like a LOT faster. I'm not "fast" compared to serious track riders, but wow, the amount of headroom modern motorcycles have is bonkers. One of the things they always taught in the classes I've been to so far, if you think your in too fast for the corner, just lean more, your tires will stick! And man, do they ever (stick)! The amount of traction available on a good road surface is mind boggling, so many times I've been into a corner thinking "Well, this is it, nice knowing everyone" and.. Nothing. Not a slip, not a squirm, just lean it over and through the turn we go. Absolutely staggering compared to where I thought the grip limits were before getting on a track. The only time I've ever slipped on the track was riding in the rain, not exactly a great time, but really educational for getting used the feeling of losing and regaining traction at the rear of the bike.
I made a lot of new friends. Like, a whole lot. The track community is small and very close knit. When I go to a track day at CMP (my closest/home track) now, I'm going to know 10-20% of the riders there and almost all the coaches. It's a tiny group of motorcycle riders who ever go to the track, an even smaller group who goes regularly. That part has been great, it's really opened my social circle a lot and made it a ton more fun!
This is kind of a pro/con, but it's made street riding seem so easy and relaxed. When you realize how high the actual limits of the motorcycle are, nothing your ever going to do on the street is even going to get in the zip code of pushing them (except maybe emergency stopping where you'll actually hit the limits of your tire). Group rides at any sane pace feel effortless. The con is that getting used to track speeds makes street riding a little less exciting. It's become more of a relaxing thing to ride on the street vs when I used to ride and get excited for the next turn. Again, it's kind of a mixed pro/con, I'm still riding a ton on the street (my XR crossed 22K recently!) but track riding has changed my street riding, in some ways better, in other was not so much.
And now, the cons. It's expensive. Between track day entry fees, tires, gear, classes.. I'm probably 15-20K in at this point and that doesn't include the cost of the track bikes. If you're going to get into this regularly, you're going to want at least one, and perhaps two track bikes (mechanical issues crop up a lot more when you're riding these things that hard). I started on an Aprilia Tuono 660 but, sadly, the motor blew on that bike (on the track and locked the rear wheel when it went, that was exciting). Took about 4 months for a new motor to get here, so I bought a Street Triple to keep riding. The 660 is now fixed, but I got used to the Triple on the track, so I ride that most of the time and bring the 660 along in case I crash or have something go wrong on the triple. A rear tire generally lasts 2-4 days (depends on the track), a front double that. Motorcycle riding on the track is not cheap entertainment, that's for sure.
It takes a ton of time; your entire weekend at the track, then a few hours working on the bike and getting ready for the next time you'll be out. Generally track days are all day Sat/Sun, if you ride every session, you'll get ~2 hours on the track per day. It's 2-3 days at the track for 4 hours of time on the motorcycle. A lot of sitting around waiting for your group to go out, and a lot of time driving to/from the track. That dead time gives you a lot of time to socialize, but you really don't spend that much time on the motorcycle, at least not compared to doing 2-300 mile days touring.
And now the last con, the thing I always hear as advice that I think is just so misguided... The risk. "Track riding is safer than street" people need their heads examined. I've been riding street a long time and have a lot of friends who do as well. I literally can't remember the last crash any of us had on the street (that wasn't just dropping the bike at a stop light or parking it). I've been track riding a year; I have 2 friends in the hospital right now from track crashes. This past weekend, one of my very good friends had a horrible crash where the chopper picked them up right at the track. Another friend at the track just finally got healed up enough from an accident last year to ride again, went out, and 3rd or 4th session, someone couldn't stop coming into a corner and took my friend out again. Thankfully no serious injury this time, but another bike in the dumpster. I've had a couple of "oh crap" moments on the track myself; but I'm one of only two people who did my intro class last year that is still riding track and hasn't crashed. One event this year at CMP, day 1, 20% of the people there crashed. Now, to be fair, that was a REALLY bad day (I'd guess it's usually 5-10% who crash per day) but the risk of crashing is absolutely bonkers high compared to street riding. Yes, there are people to help you and yes, the chance of dying on the track is pretty low, but don't go into this thinking it's "safe" compared to street riding.
So, what's next for me? I'm doing Champ school at CMP in September, if anyone is coming, love to meet you! And if anyone is coming that has never been to CMP or the track before and has questions, please ask, happy to help. My time continue to improve slowly, I'm riding in intermediate with most groups now and have gotten the point where I'm middle of the pack at most tracks. The faster intermediate and all the advanced riders will still pass me like I'm standing still though!
Finally, none of this happened without video, right? Here's me turning a few laps at AMP (Atlanta Motorsports) last month.
My original thoughts after the first day:
Track day thoughts and learnings from a complete noob
Thinking of a track day? Well, ask someone who's been to 50 of them, they'll have better advice! However, after doing something many times, you may forget the things that you wanted to know/were worried about the first time. So, here is is, the noob's view of a track day. This is going...
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