Track day discussion

[jrandom]

im looking at riding up 2 rotavegas late febury wheres the closest track from there?? any dates to keep i mind?

Taupo.

See www.motott.co.nz.

[dpex]

I'll happily admit though, that I know zero about track days, so we may re-assess that further down the track.

Mike enjoyed meeting you today dpex (2 KBers in 2 days - aren't we lucky? ) and I'm enjoying reading your OP about track days - very informative, cheers [/QUOTE]


Allow me to make the point again. At no track-day that I have attended, have I ever seen a member of G4 bin. Sure, toward the end of some days I have seen one or two (either due to dehydration/exhaustion or diminished judgment, come out of a hair-pin with a significant 'wiggle' on, or take a short trip onto the grass, but I have NEVER seen a G4er go down. Perhaps someone has, but I haven't.

Furthermore, you validate my point regarding a reduced chance of damage, as opposed to road-riding, in your own comments.

As Jrandom asserts, insurance is freely available for track-days.

Lastly, track-days tend to take the sting out of the 'need' to wind up a bike on the open-road where, if Mike does splat, his chances of even being carried away marginally alive, are about 10% of 99% of track-splats.

Dangerous things, motorcycles. Shouldn't be allowed on the road.

[dpex]

4. I am not sure that track riding does improve road riding. It doesnt really teach you how to read corners, anticipate hazards. On the track you know there arent any and you can commit to corners because you know whats there because you were there a couple of minutes ago.

Time on the track can significantly enhance your handling skills, especially stopping and confidence in cornering. Fear of getting the pegs down-and dirty have caused many a road-rider to run wide and splat, simply because they didn't know how hard they can drive their bike in corners.

In saying that. I have done 4 trackdays. 3 on my old 600 and had a ball. Never binned on the track and took it fairly easy in G3 all day. I am not a "fast rider" but would describe myself as solid. The one trackday I have taken the 9 to I had a fairly shit time because by the time I got my bike to the dummy grid for G3 the group was fill and I kept being dropped back to G4 and found that I was getting stuck in traffic.

The clear missive here, being, get to the grid on time.

I was really trying to be courteous to those who were obviously out in G4 to enjoy riding round the track at their preferred pace which happened to be a bit slower than I would have liked to get round the track so I wasnt passing on corners and kept dropping back on the striaghts to give them room.

On behalf of those to whom you were so considerate, "Thank you." And for the other excellent point you make; ergo, you were in the wrong group, I also thank you.

[dpex]

Taupo.

See www.motott.co.nz.

Hell's teeth, J. Will ya stop using so many words. :-))

I note you have been very reticent on reporting the outcome of your 3-hour, two-wheeled swimming lessons.

[MsKABC]

Allow me to make the point again. At no track-day that I have attended, have I ever seen a member of G4 bin. Sure, toward the end of some days I have seen one or two (either due to dehydration/exhaustion or diminished judgment, come out of a hair-pin with a significant 'wiggle' on, or take a short trip onto the grass, but I have NEVER seen a G4er go down. Perhaps someone has, but I haven't.

Furthermore, you validate my point regarding a reduced chance of damage, as opposed to road-riding, in your own comments.

As Jrandom asserts, insurance is freely available for track-days.

Lastly, track-days tend to take the sting out of the 'need' to wind up a bike on the open-road where, if Mike does splat, his chances of even being carried away marginally alive, are about 10% of 99% of track-splats.

Dangerous things, motorcycles. Shouldn't be allowed on the road.

Well if what you say is true then (if you'll allow me to paraphrase it) - that you are not going out there to set land speed records, to ride yourself or your machine to its limits, and that you can take any bike you like out there, then what does it matter if Mike doesn't take his 748 out there? We bought the Honda as a road bike for me and a track day bike for the both of us, because it was cheap, light, easily maintained at home, flickable and confidence-inspiring.

Maybe nobody has ever binned in G4, but there is a first time for everything, right? I refuse to believe anyone who says "That will never happen?" Can you guarantee it? Even with insurance, an off is still expensive. When the Duc got dropped last time it still cost us well over $1000 once excess and new helmet were paid for. (Yes, I know helmets can be covered by insurance, but that's another story!) .....and then there's the FAF and inconvenience.

[paulmac:Me]

Dpex, good read and good points !! Shall be seeing kb'ers at track days at manfield this year. probably shop demo bikes rather than my old hd tho !!

[hayd3n]

Taupo.

See www.motott.co.nz.

thanks will kep that in mind

[AllanB]

A good post and read. I was unaware of the G4 Nana category.

The last track day I did was a long time ago on a much different bike, but full of heroes wanting to get rid of their chicken-strips so they could wave their dicks about when stopped at the coffee house on their road rides.
Put me off as they had no respect at all for any of the 'learners'. It was a friggen free for all

Thankfully it soulds like it has changed a lot.

[jrandom]

I note you have been very reticent on reporting the outcome of your 3-hour, two-wheeled swimming lessons.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...39#post1869139

[mattt]

Hi all, Apologies if this is someplace else, but I don't have too much time (patience) to scroll through all the forums....

When's the next hit out at Puke? it's been a year or three since I posted, but ride everyday and keen to ride round in circles not having to worry about Mr. Plod... Cheers, Matt

[MsKABC]

Hi all, Apologies if this is someplace else, but I don't have too much time (patience) to scroll through all the forums....

When's the next hit out at Puke? it's been a year or three since I posted, but ride everyday and keen to ride round in circles not having to worry about Mr. Plod... Cheers, Matt

I don't know about other track day "providers", but here is the link to Kiwi Track Days events list:

http://www.kiwitrackdays.co.nz/index...d=23&Itemid=43

Next Puke one is Auckland anniversary day, end of Jan.

[dpex]

I don't know about other track day "providers", but here is the link to Kiwi Track Days events list:

http://www.kiwitrackdays.co.nz/index...d=23&Itemid=43

Next Puke one is Auckland anniversary day, end of Jan.

Firstly, Ms, I think it's fair to assert you could almost make an effort to stop thinking for what Mike might think. I gather he would very much like to run the Duc on the track, even in G4.

However, far be it for me to get in between the two of you.

Now then, I expect to get a bit roasted for the next comments, but they come from my own observations.

Track days run by Motott and AMCC are, in my perception, the most controlled.

Both groups get realy very serious about gear and bike inspections, and they are very tight on pulling out wrongly-grouped knob-jockeys.

Example: I happened to be standing near a marshal at an AMCC meet when I heard another, on the radio assert, "I dunno who scrubbed in the tyres for the guy on the Apprilla, but it sure as shit wasn't him. We gotta down-grade him, like now!"

What was happening was some guy clearly got on a head-trip, and was riding in a group way beyond his ability. But the important thing was, the marshals saw it and acted, really quickly and pulled said fool off the track.

Another example is: both groups check helmet-straps on the dummy grid.

Now then, remember I stated above that Motott and AMCC are really hard on gear and bike inspections, and added the bit about helmet straps.

But they go further. The rule, outside G2/1 is, thou shalt not overtake, inside, before an apex. You do it once and you're likely to get pulled off. You do it twice and you're likely to get banned for life.

At the other end of the scale are Kiwi Track Days, run by Steve et al, and the Brian Bernard 'training' days.

The convenors of these groups are diametrically opposed to Motott and AMCC. Niether check gear, bikes, or chin-straps. Their attitude being, essentially, "We set up the track-days, but we ain't ya mother and, further, we don't want to attract any liability associated with 'your' participation in 'our' track-day. Ergo, if we check your bike and say it's fit to ride, and you splat due to a mechanical, then we might get to own the liability. No thanks. This is an adult environment."

Personally, I accept this, but then I'm a died-in-the-wool libertarian.

In other words, the controls are minimal because the convenors assert they are there to provide the track, and/or some training, for those who believe they can cut the mustard.

Nothing wrong with that. Attending is entirely your free choice.

But, Ms, I recommend you allow Mike to do any track day run by Motott, or AMCC, on 'his' Duc. I can almost...emphasis on the almost, guarantee he will return home to you and new babe, with himself and bike unscathed.

But if you keep up the control-freak stuff?

Well, talk to Jrandom about the potential fall-out.

[MsKABC]

Firstly, Ms, I think it's fair to assert you could almost make an effort to stop thinking for what Mike might think. I gather he would very much like to run the Duc on the track, even in G4.

However, far be it for me to get in between the two of you.

But, Ms, I recommend you allow Mike to do any track day run by Motott, or AMCC, on 'his' Duc. I can almost...emphasis on the almost, guarantee he will return home to you and new babe, with himself and bike unscathed.

But if you keep up the control-freak stuff?

Well, talk to Jrandom about the potential fall-out.

OMFG!! What is it with people on this site wanting to give unsolicited relationship advice??? Give it a rest mate - you know not what you are talking about, you don't know the full story and you seem to repeatedly mis-interpret everything you hear and read. And a Happy New Year to you too by the way.

[jrandom]

What is it with people on this site wanting to give unsolicited relationship advice???

Dunno; just seems to be something that happens when women turn up here and post in a proprietary tone about their husbands' motorcycling activities.

[MsKABC]

Dunno; just seems to be something that happens when women turn up here and post in a proprietary tone about their husbands' motorcycling activities.

I. Give. Up. Have the last word if you want. At least I won't be sleeping alone tonight It will be interesting if we ever meet in person one day - we may both be surprised to find that we have misjudged each other.