Finally popping my trackday cherry iN September :moto:
Its getting a service and new boots next week but anything else worth checking?
I am thinking of new brake pads and braided lines too as the brakes are the weakest point on the bike (2002 ZX6 A1P)
Much Love
Lewis
If you are going to work on the brakes make sure you do a full strip and clean of the calipers as these (6 pots) are known to stick but when in good condition are more brakes than you would ever need. New Pads and braided lines, properly bled through will help, stick to OEM pads.
Apart from that general check over for oil, fluids etc etc and you wil be fine :azn:
Take off the mirrors, tape up the headlight, lower the tyre pressures a bit and just ride it....
;)
Cool, Ill do those bits.
Quote from: LewisBeGoog on August 15, 2013, 12:05:06 PM
Finally popping my trackday cherry iN September :moto:
Its getting a service and new boots next week but anything else worth checking?
I am thinking of new brake pads and braided lines too as the brakes are the weakest point on the bike (2002 ZX6 A1P)
Much Love
Lewis
Check the coolant level whilst your at it ..
Dont forget to bring £££ for drinks and avoid that sugary crap they claim as "energy drinks"
Buy fuel at the track or bring with me?
Tis expensive at the track.
If you have a jerry can bring it with you.
I wrote this ages ago with trackday novices in mind, as the questions regarding what to bring often come up.
Trackday Checklist
What to bring with you
I've listed the kind of kit usually found in peoples cars / vans at a trackday
Bike key - Kind of obvious, but can be forgotten
Licence - Both the paper part and the photo card
Leathers - One piece or two piece that zip together fully
Crash helmet - ACU Gold stickered
Gloves - In good condition
Boots - In good condition
Undersuit - Makes it easier to get your leathers on and off
Cash - Always handy to have cash to hand
Jerry can - Cheaper to get your fuel off site
Tool box - Basic tools like spanners and screwdrivers
Socket set - Basic metric set should suffice
Visor cleaner - Often overlooked and is the most common thing people borrow from me during the day
Water/Energy drinks - Keeping yourself hydrated throughout the day is very important
Chocolate/Energy bars - Energy needs to be topped up regularly during the day
Warm clothes - Once the day is over it can get cold quickly
Gaffer tape - Infinite amount of uses from taping up mirrors to repairing fairings to makeshift breath deflectors
Tyre gauge/footpump - Incase you feel you need to check or adjust your pressures throughout the day
Fold up chair - I've found these to be very useful the later the day goes on
Paddock stands - These are more associated with the more experienced riders, normally for use with tyre warmers
Tyre warmers - Following on from above, people with more dedication to trackdays will have these to stop spoiling their tyres
Wets on wheels - Lets you ride harder (read more confidently) in the wet
What to do to your bike
This piece is written in mind of people who are using their road bike on track
Track fairings - The easiest way not to damage your fairings is to have a set of race fairings fitted instead
Tyres - Are your tyres up to it? Riding on track will wear your tyres faster
Tyre pressures - Tyres work harder on track, so will heat up and increase pressure, lower them before starting (30/30 is average)
Chain - Correctly adjusted and lubed nicely should do, remember, your going to be working your bike harder than on the road
Speedo - Tape the speedo up or temptation will get the better of you and you will look down to see your speed and miss your braking marker
Oil - Make sure you have enough and its good quality
Brakes - Check the overall condition, especially pad thickness remaining. You will be braking very hard on track
Suspension - Make sure that the bike feels good, also check for leaky/weeping seals and get them changed before going near a circuit
Fuel - Get the bike fuelled before the circuit to avoid the added cost of circuit fuel prices
If you have fitted track fairings and removed lights etc, remember to run your bike for a bit and a little trip up and down the road to make sure everything is attached and not going to get you black flagged on track.
If you aren't replacing your fairings, then you must remember to tape your lights and indicators up, also a good idea is to remove or tape up your mirrors. You may also want to empty your underseat boot as I've seen people keep allsorts of things under them, including locks and chains, sweets, and mobiles etc, if you are unfortunate to have an off, these could be scattered all over the track.
Order of the day
Night before - Don't drink to much alcohol and try to get a reasonable nights sleep, feeling rubbish all morning is a waste of you track fee
Arrive early - Doing this enables you to have a relaxed start to the day, sign on normally is normally 0730-0830 and then briefing 0830-0845(0900 for novices)
Briefing - Listen at the briefings, different TDOs often have different rules for the day, this is where you'll learn them.
Be prepared - Get your bike and yourself ready for your next session with plenty of time to spare, nothing worse than rushing and not being able to find your rhythm on track
Lunch - Most circuits have a range of food at lunch, but I've found it best just to stick to a small meal or snack otherwise you feel bloated and tired in the afternoon
Keep hydrated - Try to drink lots of water and energy drinks and keep your sugar up with snacks too.
Go at your pace - Ride at the pace you most feel comfortable with, and don't be afraid to ask to move groups
Stop when tired - Many people don't participate in all the sessions, as in the late afternoon they feel tired and concentration slips
Enjoy yourself - Speaks for itself....have fun....its what you pay your money for.
Sticky....
Quote from: Neil on August 15, 2013, 05:13:13 PM
Visor cleaner - Often overlooked and is the most common thing people borrow from me during the day
Don't worry about this..... someone always brings some.... you can just ask them during the day :tongue:
Best advice....take it easy , learn the lines ( prefferably from an instructor) speed will come naturalky so dont force yourself out of your comfort zone.
Have Fun !
all i can add is dont manage to lock the van keys inside the van along with the dry wheels while the bike is outside the van on wets on the hottest day of the year
Oooh!
I've got one!!!
Don't get rear ended by gixxers on someone else's bike!!
re: Snetterton 10th
I'll have the full racing ensemble with me on the day tools, kit, cleaning wise, power etc etc... just in case anyones riding etc. I shall also have one of my popup endurance mechanics with me if anyone needs help :-)
Lolz!
Popup techie!!
Hope you don't mind, stole this for another forum!