Well, I say track day, I just did the 'Premiere' course at the Ron Haslam Race School, and loved every minute So I want to carry on with some track riding, and would love to hear how you developed your track experience after your 'first time'! I'm thinking a couple of novice only track days, but still a bit nervous about using my mint blade on normal road tyres...would an investment in a track bike be a good idea? And if so, how much do you reckon I'd be looking at? Or should I take the plunge on my own bike and get it insured for a track day? I live in SW London so any decent locations to go to? Brands maybe? Anyway, I've got the bug for it and want to carry on, so any advice would be much appreciated!!!
buy a track bike for around £2000. will cost ya that if ya bin the blade. not certain ,but i been told td insurance aint worth shit. thing is, once ya get bitten you will probably sell the road bike anyway, and upgrade your track bike cos you will realise riding on the roads is utter shite.
I did one Track Day and went straight out and bought a dedicated Track Bike as it's far too easy to get carried away or for others to and a small low side occur. Cheap Fibreglass Track fairings are no myther to replace, a full set can be had for around £300. Bin a newish Blade with no protection and your talking a couple of Grand! I now have a slightly scruffy, but Uber fast ZX10R to play on now!
Never did a school track day, just took my blade to donington track with no limit track days and had a great day Next I bought a cheap second hand track fairing for 100 quid and added protection bungs and done 3 more days since and another booked for September I did think that once I am ready to buy a new bike I will keep this blade as a track bike only, Will be nice to not have to keep stripping my road bike for the track, but with two expensive daughters taking all my money, that will have to wait for now Have fun mate, track days are awesome
Buy a converted trackbike, id suggest a 6/750 cos a thou will be too much at first. Nice for overtaking on the straights but it takes no skill to twist a throttle. Get something cheap that you dont mind binning. Chances are it wont look or go like your mint blade but if it has the right suspension/brake/steering setup it will handle 10x better. Id suggest looking in the for sale section of the tdr forum thays where i got mine. Youll also needs WOWs, paddocks, warmers and a genny to start with. Happy shopping!!
Also try to move away from the bikes that look nice and look more for how they will ride if its a beauty youll nurse it round like your roadbike, back to square 1. Within a budget the better looking bikes (cosmetically) will probably be stock whereas a slightly scratched up for the same price may have better suspension etc. Obviously newer bikes will have better gear as stock but you get what i mean. Also make sure you get a bike with a v5 itll cost more but there are many horror stories online of guys getting an absolute bargain trackbike only to have it seized later in the season.
Cheers guys, some great advice, gonna keep my eyes open for a scruffy track bike over the next few weeks and see where we go from there! Looking forward to getting back out on track asap!!
I've done several track days on my road bikes, only just thinking about getting a track bike. Thing is, for the first couple you probably won't be going fast enough to bin your bike so IMO, I'd get a couple under your belt and when you feel you're fast enough and pushing it to the point where you make mistakes, then get one.
Sorry but i disagree with that, if you have a nice blade i would not risk it more than you have to. Ok you wont be going quick but doesnt mean some other clown aint gonna come flying into you just cos your going steady on your road bike, if anything that makes you more of a target for a fast overtake. Get a cheap trackbike asap if you enjoyed it first time and want to do more. When you get a bike that is properly set up and your not scared of binning you will be instantly quicker, i was. Youll also free up your head of worry and open up a whole can of whoopass and fun!!!
Yea I also have to disagree my blade may be old but its mint and going nowhere near a track! Also my first track experience was last week at Ron's school and I nearly crashed On my last lap of the day as I got over confident which is funny considering my first session I could of prob pushed it round quicker!
Remember guys that you are far more at risk on UK roads at smashing your bike and yourself than you are on a track Enjoy Simon
Good advice lads, think I'll be saving for a while and try to pick up a track bike, then I can do it all relatively worry free!
I think we were there ant 3 and on track at 3.55 well we were late as they had to clear the ambulance off the track first! Does wonders for your nerves before your first time out! Lol we were in the red group
