After yet another near miss, this time with a fucking tractor that was actually on the wrong side of the road coming around the wrong side of a traffic island! FFS! I'm wondering how many members have taken the decision, or considered the move to TD's only?
I'm giving it some serious thought too.... tractors, cyclists and the ever increasing 50mph limits and extended 40s. It's either this or get a....Harley.
Track only for last 8 years. I do hanker after a daft road bike at times though. a 1000ds engined toy or a scrambler (not standard though)
Those that have made the transition, any particular reason? Near miss? Fines/points? Road riding lost its appeal once you tried track days/racing?
I went to track only for about 2 years as I was getting frustrated with the increasing cars, a few near misses and the risk of losing my licence. I started to miss the trips to IOM and NW200 etc so I'm back on the road now, I just avoid bank holidays and Sunday blasts, prefer weekdays when it is quiter and less police presence.
Over the course of the last 5 years I've done about 40 trackdays and about 3000 road miles, so I'm not quite there yet, but pretty close. It's a social thing for me mostly, none of my mates have road based bikes any more. The speed thing plays a smaller factor, but is a factor, the other road users also play an issue/factor. But it comes down to enjoyment really and having a family. Life just doesn't often give me the time and opportunity to fit in any riding time.
For me, track days made road riding feel a bit shite. Then factor in the above mentioned, near miss, cops, loads of traffic, costs etc it became a no brainier. That said, yesterday was glorious and I heard loads of bikes flying about. I proper fancied a blast!
Tried it a few years ago but I've go no natural talent and was finding I spent the first half day learning to ride again. Everyone's different but I for one need to keep roadriding to give me half a chance on track. And equally, going on track gives me half a chance of staying alive on road.
I could quite happily give up road riding for trackdays but I can't justify the time off mid week to make the most of track riding...
Why dont you consider a different type of bike for the road Nelson, a Supermoto or Adventure bike for instance? I do think focused racebikes take away the enjoyment sometimes if you're not feeling up to being hardcore. I've been keeping my eye out for a different road bike for a while now, just can't decide what makes the most sense. Plus I keep edging towards more racebikes anyhow!
Well I've got my TL1000 as a road bike. Not mental power like newer stuff, strong and reliable, cheapish to buy and keeps me in the v-twin groove of things.
I guess location plays a part, having a track on your doorstep/within 20-ish miles would make a huge difference to me now.
I commute every day across the city. i can use partial motorway and city whatever takes my fancy. Thankfully I have a 1200 tenere which can bump as well as be bumped. Commuted on sportsibkes for yrs, its just hard work. Ive seen some crazy sh"t and been almost mangled a billion times with drivers on the ph or just being stoopid or just ignorant or just being a pure ***t. Its literally running the gauntlet.
It's a tricky one which I still haven't an answer for. I started taking trackdays seriously a few years ago when I bought a dedicated track bike. I only live 9 miles from Donington Park so was hoping I could get it out of my system on the track and ride slower on the road. The biggest fear was losing my license. However it had the opposite effect and my road riding got faster and more frustrating. I recently sold my 2014 street triple R so just have the 916 for the road now. 99% of the time I ride the 916 steady because I do not want to blow it up or drop it but most rides still end in 6th gear with my chin on the tank. The only other option for me would be to sell the 916 and the track bike to fund a Ducati track bike. That way I can scratch 2 itches at the same time.
If I could afford a track bike, I'd do it. I love riding into work, but that's commuting. Ah fuck it, if I was sensible I'd take the bus. Another month or so, the bikes I see on the commute will lessen. Not sure tracks will be any busier
I used my R1 to commute, tour and track. All lights on it, everything. Did a few mods for the track but so long as you remember it's just a track day and not a race then I don't see any issue with only 1 bike. Unless you commute on a cg125 then track work might be a challenge.
