Changed the way I ride

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Marcoma

Marcoma

Joined
Oct 19, 2012
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Just thought I'd share an epiphany with you guys. I've been riding for about 33 years so I thought I was "experienced". A few years ago, I found myself in a situation where a track bike was warranted - by warranted, I mean there were two key deciding factors to buy one. Firstly, my son was going to do a trackday with me for his 16th birthday and he was riding my regular ride so I needed another bike and secondly, every time I pushed my MV hard I found myself backing off thinking "If this goes down, it'll cost more than the price of a Jap bike to repair."

Eureka! There it was.... my logic for buying a gixxer 1000 that I could quickly swap between track and street.

The thing is, because I couldn't give a FF if this bike goes down, I found myself throwing caution to the wind and really pushing hard. And whaddyaknow.... I wasn't THAT experienced after all.

So the moral of the story: if you can afford it, do it and don't think twice about it. It'll change how you ride and it's made me a safer, more confident rider on the street.
If you can't afford it, try and make it a goal - it's really worth it.
If you can totally afford it and don't need a cheap track bike cos your Pani is your bitch then all the more power to you my friends. :D
 
+1 Having a dedicated track bike and flogging it is the most fun you can have on two wheels! :cool:
 
I've always run a dedicated track bike. There's enough to worry about when chasing personal bests - no need to be worrying about how you'll get home and/or having to replace your minty new street ride.
 
I love my Panigale and I ride it to coach trackdays alot, but when I need to get my fun on, out comes my 03 R6. Kinda cool when you feel the bike going away under you and instead of thinking of the cost all you're thinking is "aw sh~t, I'm gonna be the red flag! Then of course, the 1199 seems so easy to ride compared to it!
 
In my days of racing; the words of wisdom were:

If you can't afford to bend it and walk away, then don't put it on the track

The idea of an economy track dedicated bike is the way to go if you don't want to walk away from the Pani all piled up.

Took mine to the track, saw that the fastest bikes were track rat bikes and am now on the lookout for one with all of the goodies already installed... Taking my own advice!

And...signing up for CSBS as George mentioned.
 
My local track is set up to favor bikes around the 600cc size. Any recommendations from experienced track folks on what I should be looking for?
 
It's a very good move, which as you've found allows you to push your comfort envelope, building both confidence and skill.

Personally, I was thinking to try do this on a dirt bike, to get me more used to the bike moving around, since i don't have a sensible track option.
 
Zaster, watch out for old racebikes over the winter. The second gen or even first gen R6 are only a bit off the pace compared to the new ones and unless you are an expert, you'll never feel the difference. Buy something that is already a racebike with an aftermarket rear shock, forks redone, and a race body. Over the winter, especially right after christmas, these can be had cheap. You should be able to buy an early R6, gsxr600, cbr600, zx600 for between $2K and $3. watch weraclassifieds.com and the forums, or get craigslist ultimate for you iphone and set up an alert for "track bike"
 
Xbox, riding a dirtbike is incredible training for the track. You hit it on the head, getting comfortable with sliding around, and hate to say it, falling down. It's not that you want to train to fall, but that should you start to fall on the track, you don't panic, possibly allowing a recovery by still having your head in the game
 
I picked up an old style fireblade for peanuts a couple of years ago, good scrub and service and the bikes superb value for money. I have done a few track days now, and went to the TT this year on her. Parts a relatively cheap and plentiful, and these bikes are simple to work on and robust. No longer the quickest bike on track, keeps me happy with my moderate skill.
 
Xbox said:
It's a very good move, which as you've found allows you to push your comfort envelope, building both confidence and skill.

Personally, I was thinking to try do this on a dirt bike, to get me more used to the bike moving around, since i don't have a sensible track option.
Click to expand...

I grew up riding dirtbikes so I'm very comfortable when my streetbike gets squirly and out of shape. I don't panic - which is what most do to cause a crash.

.....though the last time I was at a motocross track there were crazy kids flying over my head on the jumps!! :eek: LOL

I still ride dirt..... always will
 
Zaster - my kid has an R6 and I can lap faster on it than my gixxer. It's crap on the street but wring it's neck at the track and it's every bit as fast as the 1000's except on the long straights. I LOVE riding that bike!
 
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panigale belongs on the track

i enjoy riding my Panigale on the track too much to ever consider buyng a dedicated track bike yes there is a chance i might wreck it and probably cannot afford to repair it but where else can you exploit the full potential this brilliant bike has to offer certainly not on uk roads !
 
Great advice, thanks. I've always thought about a track bike and would cry if I dumped my Pani.
 
It's kinda funny how we think on the track. I ride the R6 like i have zero regards for the bike, and ride 90% on the Duc, but it's not about the cost, as I've let a dozen others ride it on the track. I think it's just not wanting to wad up such a nice bike.
I'm hoping in the next few years to make my coaching bike a 749 or 999. They are amazing on the track, and reasonably priced ex racers.
George is absolutely right, the best money spent on going faster is any kind of scholing. If you can't afford Keith Code, check your trackday orgs, most have classes and lessons, some for free and some as an extra charge. There are also usually coaches willing to help.Pick their brain. I have helped riders more in the paddock than on the track.
 
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I always recommend a lightweight twin for a starter track bike. They're cheap, parts are abundant, and if you learn to go around the track quickly on one of those then you can do it on anything. Something along the lines of an SV650, Ninja 650R, air-cooled Ducati Supersport, etc. Under 100 HP is ideal, you'll learn to carry cornerspeed as there is not enough power to "bail you out" if you lose momentum. Plus if you're a Ducati guy, many of the sensations transfer directly over, such as audible RPM range, throttle control, etc.
 
I agree with the points above, but there's also a flip side to not caring about laying down a bike at the track. I'm a track nut, so believe me, I like going fast. But speed isn't EVERYTHING at the track. The 1199 has inspired me to be more agile in the way I ride, being so light and compact. It's less effort to ride the 1199 at speed than my old CBR.

And sometimes riding a cheaper track bike inspires people to be more reckless than they should. Remember, your not just laying down your cheap track bike, you're putting your body in harms way. What's the price tag on a broken arm these days? I know how much it ran in 2005 ;) And trust me, it's more than the cost of repairing an 1199.

Just my two cents.
 

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