Trackdays (Newbie question)

Hi folks

I wouldn't mind doing a trackday (It'll be next year now though). As I'm going on holiday.

Q. Do any of you ride to the track on your own road bike, as I can't drive and haven't a track bike?

Q. Is there any insurance available? (not medical insurance but to insure the bike) Trackday insurance.

Thanks for any help

Dom

I rode to the track once with the ex pillion, that was one knackering ride home. Also at the back of my mind what if I had an off then how would I get home.
The only insurance company that give you track day insurance with the policy is MCE but it's with a 50% excess so would only be worth claiming if you totalled the bike.
Best bet I would say is to hire a bike at the track, there's loads of companies that do it now and you might get a bit of tuition as well.

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Cheers Brucie is it expensive to hire a bike?

Trackdays

Just ride your own bike and if you have any concerns just book onto a road bike only trackday.

I ride to and from. If the track is no more than 3hrs from home I stay local the night before and then do the track day fresh. Not being tired is critical.

Don't pressure yourself. It's not a race. It's just a road with great visibility, no speed limits and nothing coming the other way.

I highly recommend doing an evening first. it's only about 60mins on track in total and you get to whet your appetite.

I concur with Alex's comments. I ride to track too. However the wife has started to pressure me into using a trailer/van in case I fall off. Vote of confidence lol, but she has a point.

Agree with the above, while most people seem to arrive with track bikes in vans I've always ridden to the track, just turn up and enjoy yourself and forget about lap times etc

I've just been looking at bike hire and your talking 200-250 quid on top. So it starts getting a bit pricey.

It's just one of those things that I keep meaning to do but never get around to doing. Probably because of the above (and people telling me if I take my own bike YOU WILL fall off).

Thanks for the advice

Ron Haslam - They do the whole bike hire and all..... with 2 to 1 tution....

I've done the Ron Haslam School on a CBR 600. Great day & got lucky with the weather. Ended up as 1 to 1 for most of the day because the lad I had been paired with could not get on with the sports bike riding position.

Highly recommended.

dom501 said:

I've just been looking at bike hire and your talking 200-250 quid on top. So it starts getting a bit pricey.

It's just one of those things that I keep meaning to do but never get around to doing. Probably because of the above (and people telling me if I take my own bike YOU WILL fall off).

Thanks for the advice

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If you fall off on the road...then yeah you'll fall off on track.

:facepalm:

I generally want to punch know-it-alls like that. Its a stupid thing to say.

Know yourself, believe your own experiences.


- Sent from Mobile

Ive had the bad experience of Riding to a trackday and binning it, leaving me with no mode of transport for the journey home (And a pretty poorly motorcycle left at the circuit garages). I had to call my brother who came and collected me. Its a chance you take..

I still ride it there do the track day and ride home. You know the risks.

If its your first time its probably worth the money doing the Ron Haslam school or something similar. Make the weekend of it. That way if you do bin it, its not your own bike. And if you do get on with it and want to do it again you can look into buying a cheaper track bike for circuit use only (this is what Im planning on doing over the winter) or buy a trailer for your road bike.

It's no riskier than riding on the road wrt crashing. Ride within yourself and enjoy it! Nobody is forcing you to go flat out everywhere, you know what your limit is.

I have in the past ridden to and from trackdays and just treated it like a fast rideout, with no traffic/coppers/potholes/blind bends etc

As for hiring a bike, that's what I'll be doing for the rest of the year as I've now sold the S1000RR (don't kick me off the forum yet, I like it here and will buy anothere asap.....I promise). It's no more expensive than running your own bike in my opinion. Once you take into account fuel, tyres, cost of bike etc. I go through about ?75-100 of rubber a day, ?25-40 of fuel. Soon adds up. Plus you get the benefit of the 'full factory' experience. Turn up, get gear on and head out on track with someone else worrying about fuel, tyres, setup etc.

My first track day was a James Whitham track training day. You go on your own bike, there's less people on track than a normal track day and you get some tuition as well to stop you picking up any bad habits.

It's much safer to ride on track than it is on the road, I don't see where people get the idea 'if you do a track day you'll probably fall off'

I think the most likely cause of an off on the track is your own error (as apposed to on the road where its more likely to be caused by someone else) so as long as you've got your wits about you and ride within your limits you'll be fine.

The was I think of it (and I know it's not perfect but it's worked for me) is that I'm not going to fall off, its not an option haha

Totally agree with Alex, if its wet I don't go out on track as there's no point risking it, otherwise book yourself into novices, drop your tyre pressures to 30/30psi, tape up your mirrors and go for it - no snap on tool kits, tyre warmers, mechanic mates, suspension specialists, vans needed. Your S1000RR is as uncrashable as bikes get - although they can't defy the laws of physics(!) and your tyres will stick, give it a lap or two to get some warmth into them and off you go. Instructors are always on hand to show you the way round and most people are friendly and happy to help. Go for it and ignore the nay sayers!!

IMORTAL_Indian said:

Ron Haslam - They do the whole bike hire and all..... with 2 to 1 tution....

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I've done the haslam school on both the 600 with 2 - 1 instruction, and fireblade with 1-1 instruction. I would highly recommend it. I feel that i have the confidence now to go it alone. Just trying to find the time and money to travel from the north of scotland to do it that is stopping me now

I've also done the Haslam day, well worth it and a great way to find out what it's all about.
I've now been bitten by the bug and have done several track days which is making me think I want to give up the road and do track only.

This thread is making me think I have to book a trackday soon! What tracks would people recomend for a beginner? Other than the couple of haslam days at Donnington, never been on track. Obviously Knockhill is my closest circuit, but wouldn't mind trying a bigger circuit to start with. Maybe fly down south and hire a bike :-S

Doningtons my local circuit and takes some beating as its wide and flowing and provides a margin for error that you don't always get at some other circuits, the benefit for you is that you've already ridden it too

Kennybush said:

I've done the haslam school on both the 600 with 2 - 1 instruction, and fireblade with 1-1 instruction. I would highly recommend it. I feel that i have the confidence now to go it alone. Just trying to find the time and money to travel from the north of scotland to do it that is stopping me now

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Niall Mackenzie does a track day school at Knockhill, usually John McGuinness is the second man. Dennis Hobbs also there offering tuition. Just a though if you are looking for some track time with tuition within out having to travel 5/6 hours for!