For me it's as simple as I dont want to spend the time switching my setup back for the street. Factory farings are so expensive you will go broke trying to keep it looking good, track tires would be unsafe on the road where debris and oil are present. Oh and its not fun, you have to ride so defensive all the time because who knows what the other guy going to do. I've got nothing to prove and nobody to show my bike off to also after about 30 minutes of upward riding my wrists feel like they want to snap off and deballs hurt. LOL
+1 for going down a group and getting with a coach. If your riding behind riding the bike because you are worried about the other A boys and girls getting mad your not focusing on improving. You will become a better rider circulating at 80-90% of your limit rather then 100% trying to keep the thing upright and composed. Just my advice everyone is different.
I totally agree with RCHASE on working on the small things. I've only tracked 3 times in my life and crashed once on the street. In the three days i tracked I literally learned 1000 things that I honestly had to do homework on so that the next time I could be better. This is just a sample of what I had on my Notes page (thanks to many conversations I had with folks like DP750, YZFRookie and others): 1. Study the track by watching youtube videos a couple of days before. 2. Reference points. Every instructor / individual will have their own but after a session or two you have your own. 3. work on ONE THING per session: throttle, braking, reference points etc etc 4. Have a mental checklist for every corner.(Turn 2 reference point is the dirty patch on left, braking point at marker 2, turn in at 1, roll on the gas when you clip the apex). HUGE HUGE HUGE difference for me. 5. Finding a good coach. Compared to you I have 1/3 the track day experience and crashes but if I can help in any way I can definitely share my learning lessons by saying that the smallest changes give the greatest yield. GOOD LUCK NEXT SEASON!
A guys getting upset because you're too slow? Is it because you're riding erratically or just slower? As an "A" guy I have been that slower guy bumped up from "I" but I have always been consistent and smooth (as mentioned above, slow things down to go fast). So I appreciate an "I" rider making the jump to the big league We as A riders should have enough experience to know how to get around a slower rider without whining about it, just my .02 - even if you were riding erratic, the faster, more experienced A rider should account for that... Tell em to stop being babies!! With that said, I think you are moving too fast and that is causing you to override your bike and making mistakes. Work on the fundamentals, I was off of track riding for 5yrs and when I came back I went in as a beginner to re-learn and re-focus. It paid off, I really studied my movements, became better at "feeling" the bike and tuning my suspension to suit my style. It's an everchanging sport, the faster you get the more those fundamentals come into play. As I have gotten faster I have changed my BP and my lines (I dragged my elbow even!!) but always focus on being smooth with the inputs.
well.. there is so much info that goes flying around on the internet and some good, some bad. One thing that i have ALWAYS done was concentrate on ONE thing at a time and perfect it to my liking, like house said, i'm a perfectionist myself. Some ppl REALLY get the feel for a track once they ride it and its a matter of concentrating on what YOU are doing. When i first started this back in 2010 (09 for 1 event) i picked getting track recognition quickly as the thing i wanted to perfect, i would ask for a tow & then perfect that line in the first day & concentrate on trying to go faster the second day. Once i got that perfected i moved to the next task at hand etc.. when you try to do TOO MUCH all at once you leave alot to be desired in skill, ability & execution. ASK QUESTIONS and ye will succeed.. I had a 600rr, great bikes, decent power & can easily take you to Advanced (by the end of 2010 i was in advanced on diablo corsa III's) the bike is easily capable. Its all between the ears to a certain point. That being said, get the bike right, meticulously maintain it because it can be a matter of life or death if you do not & that may not be the case for just you. Get your suspension refreshed and set up for you & rock the thing
Thank you again for all the input. First, the "missionary" comment was very humorous. I don't know if I agree since different positions are better or worse with different partners. Moving on, the position that I'm moving too fast in the stages seems contradictory. I thought the whole point is to move fast, be fast, but I am not definitely sure since I am a noob. As far as changing my bike from street to track and visa versa, my current situation, unlike fellow trackers with multiple bikes, I have one bike that is mainly street. i don't own any track fairings. So, when I am at track, I just slap on some tape, take off any extra unnecessary parts, and I'm ready for track. Therefore, as a result, changing the bike back to street is not as big of a problem. The last time I was at a track, I was only going from 60% to 80% since my bike was not in good track condition and the actual track conditions was not optimum. Working on one thing during a track day is great advice, which i tell myself to do, but never do. I will try to do so next time. In the case of the "too slow" comment, only one other expressed this, indirectly. I have been told several times that I keep a great line by fellow noobs as well as more experienced riders such as the coaches, so it's not much of an issue of keeping a good line. I just feel that I am in the way, since I am around 10 seconds slower than the really fast riders such as Mr. Kraft and Mr. Grey. Thank you again for all your advice, and I hope this post may help other fellow noobs.
Strange, I dont think Ive ever heard anyone complain about someone being too "slow".........they just go around you and be on their way....UNLESS youre unpredictable......then its a problem. Get with a coach for a dedicated follow and get their opinion early next season. As far as street riding goes.....i rode the street for 20 years before i went on the track....I loved it and put 20-30K miles a year on a bike. I didnt realize how much fun it "wasnt" until i went on the track. If that makes any sense.
so i'm guessing you're somewhere in the 31's?? thats not horribly slow for a "noob" at grattan, my first two days there i could barely get a 29, but the switch clicked & i applied & carried out each task as i explained, now after a few weekends there & a race weekend 23's flat at a trackday are easy & 22's in a race are obtainable & due to my own way of doing it, i know i can go faster, but thats for next time
Just my opinion, but 31s at Grattan is not a track day "noob" number. It probably is for racing but I get the impression that racing is not the goal. However, 6 crashes is a "noob" number. I have never heard "move fast, be fast" before, and I consider myself fairly well read. If there is a single common axiom it is "be smooth to go fast". As has been stated fundamentals are key, and that is true of every sport. Just in this one mistakes can be literally fatal.
Yes, 31's are about average. Fastest I've ran is a high 29, but that's it. Wow! Focusing and improving on one thing was effect enough to get you down to 22s, I'll have to try that. "31s may not be a noob number, but 6 crashes is," I know I'm not quoting verbatim, but great point. I can't believe this isn't typical in a season of riding 22,000 miles both on track and street (up to six crashes and a lot more talent). As a result, my bike is beaten the crap out of and I basically need a new bike for next year. I do plan on racing next year. But I don't plan on crashing as often. My first year of track is done, next, year, I won't be a noob anymore.
6 crashes seems a bit high imo. In 204 races I have 4 crashes. In 6 years of td's at 3500-4000 track miles/year (coaching and not coaching) 2 crashes. Sometimes people need to slow down to get faster.
+1 for last post .. and dont "race" at track days .. i dont go 100% cause im there to have fun and improve and NOT crash .. arent we all?
A little less than 22,000 miles this year, both on the track and street. Wow! Only 4 crashes during races and 2 more during track days out of all those events, you must just be good, and careful. It seems as though about 3-5% of the riders crashes on a typical track day, so I thought 3 crashes at the track in 1 year wasn't so bad. On the last track day at Grattan, on 10/13, it seemed as though there was a crash almost every other session. Going 100% at the track is so much fun though, with the rear constantly stepping out, but it seems to be a better idea just going 80% or 90%.
I usually go with the mindset of improving every lap, both in consistency and lap times. So I go out there and push it but in a safe manner (if that makes sense) so I don't stuff anyone or cut anyone off and I am having fun doing so and knowing that I am seeing improvements. I do it when I have open track and confidence in my tires and set up. Towards the end of the day I do slow down to reasess my findings; I am not a racer but I do look to improve. Not sure if I could improve just going out there and running at 80-90% all the time. If I know I can find speed safely I will do it. In the end we ALL agree that crashing sux! take each TD as a learning session and opportunity to grow and work with a faster rider who can teach you something. I am fortunate to have been able to do just that.
agreed .. but there is a time and place to give it your all and an open track a few laps in with hot tires is when ... and it sounds like our boy here is goin balls to the wall all the time .. get smooth then get fast is the jist
:lean: I don't do it all the time, just most of it..lol I give myself 2 warm up laps (1 lap moderate, 1 lap spirited) then I go!! :wheel::nod::bounce: But yes, there is a time and place. But most importantly is ensuring you and your bike are up to the task. If I don't feel "it" that session I won't push it.