IMO, if you want to do everything with 1 bike it has to be older and something your not too precious about. Even if you do not fall off your road bike on track, just a quick dash across the gravel trap can cause a lot of damage to wheels, forks, radiator and bellypan. A low speed drop could mark big bits like the forks, tank and swing arm. By all means have a go on your road bike and take it easy but "taking it easy" won't last long. Good track bikes can be had cheap and an off can be a good laugh to repair. Fibre glass kit, filler and some rattle cans and she's back ready for action. Just my opinion.
Unless you are chasing times, theres no reason to crash on a trackday. As Hodgson said when he first started instructing 'its a mystery why people crash, no one is going fast enough!'
Probably because we are not as good as Hodgy. Somebody comes off nearly every session on some track days. It's not exactly rare. Apart from some of the beginners I would say that most are trying to ride as quick as they can. A false neutral on the way down had me off at cadwell last year, I just wouldnt enjoy it as much if I was on my shiny red ducati road bike. A friend highsided his panigale s at silverstone last month. The damage was hurrendous and the bike is on PCP.
It's a bloody ridiculous statement that. I completely accept under trackday circumstances the bikes are not going fast enough to crash themselves, but that doesn't take the human error/factor into account. Whilst the bikes may be in control, we're not all WSB riders and therefore mistakes can easily happen. Admittedly this season out of all the lads (7 regulars, 80-90 TD's between us this year) no-one has crashed as we're all quite experience TDers, but you know what, it can easily happen.
Inexperienced crash because they panic and 'cant make it' takes over. They probably could have Experienced crash because they panic and 'cant make it' takes over. They probably could have Luckily I never ride fast enough to have either... :Facepalm:
Far from being that simplistic really in the real world. Plenty of people try to make it and don't, plenty of people having comings together with others and plenty are just simple rider error. It's a long way from being as you've described. I'm bemused why you think so considering you've ridden a bit on track.
The real point, imho, is that you can have a 1 bike does all without thinking every time you take your pride and joy on track you crash it. Seems to me, having been around tracks for a bit over the recent years, in the main the same people crash over and over (if they do a few TDs). Whether their track bike or pride and joy, they crash. I am sure we have all been into a corner, road or track, same speed, same conditions, same everything and, for whatever reason, suspected we wouldn't make it or we didn't make it. IMHO it is what sets apart those that can do bikes for a living vs those that just enjoy bikes
I agree with nearly everything thats been said but I personally wouldnt be able to ride as quick if I was on track with a gleaming new bike and £2k's worth of new gear. One mistake from you or someone else could be very expensive. I always buy good quality leathers but second hand for the track. The strange thing is, a lowside on track if unhurt is quite good fun, the adrenaline is amazing. If you can quicky fix up your bike and brush the dust off your second hand leathers, you will laughing about it for years to come. Not the same if your panigale is sliding down craner curves and your new leathers and lid is all scuffed up.
I've always taken my road bikes on track. My sensible, this is my road bike, riding lasts about the warmup lap.
Yes I have been doing Trackdays for about 4 years now and I ride my road bike less and less. Hence now I am going to sell her, S2R 1000. Just I case anyone is interested. I put the bike for sale earlier this year and had some interest and one guy in particular spoke three times on the phone arranged to view the bike and then I changed my mind. Couldn't part with it. Will be a tough day when she goes.
