| Author | Message | ||
     Teddagreek |
I'm sure a Firebolt would be a better bike but I have a lightning and all want to do is take my skills to the next level so I'm a better rider on the street.. Looking at taking Track school in few months I was wonder what kinda prep you have done with your bike? Removing mirrors, pulling light fuses etc.. I remember reading some where pegs had to be round... One of the schools I was looking at had this on their rules and regs IMPORTANT NOTE: YOU MUST RIDE A MOTORCYCLE APPROPRIATE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE TRACK RIDING. SEVERELY UNDERPOWERED MOTORCYCLES, OR THOSE NOT SUITED TO HIGH SPEEDS OR LEAN ANGLES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE TRACK, if you have a question regarding your bike, contact us. But on the FAQs they say this.. Q: Are all brands of motorcycles allowed? A: YES! We do not discriminate based on brand or style of machine | ||
| Diablobrian |
They just don't want goldwings, or baggers, or choppers on the track. It would be hazardous to the other riders. for normal track days (and there is some variation from track to track) 1)tape over head and tail lights. 2)remove mirrors and turn signals. even if they do not require turn signal removal do it anyway, it's easy and they always break if you tip over. 3) pull fuses or otherwise disconnect headlight and tail/brake light. 4) before heading out wire/ziptie your kickstand in the up position. 5) make sure you have good tires on your bike. usually >75% of tread. 6) you don't have to worry about changing coolant, but you do need to make sure you aren't leaking any oil. 7) some require that you tape over your gages too. People get distracted watching the speedo instead of turn 1. round pegs are usually only required on race bikes. The requirements for street bikes are a lot less stringent. Contact the people running your school for their exact requirements. Hope this helps. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
It depends a bit on the group giving the track day, but requirements are a lot less complex than race prep. If I remember correctly, it only took me about an hour to prep my Lightning for a track day. 1. Tape lights and directionals 2. remove mirrors 3. disconnect lights. This is especially true for the headlight which will melt the plastic lens if left on. Other things to do to make your day more enjoyable: 1. Check suspension settings 2. Check oil and fuel 3. Reduce tire pressure. How much is a matter of opinion. 6 lbs front and rear is a start. The idea is to let the tires get hot but not too hot. Perhaps some more experienced track guys will chime in on this. Bringing some spare parts so you can keep running in case of a minor spill is a good idea. 1. foot pegs 2. brake and shift levers 3. Handlebars. 4. I always bring a spare belt, haven't needed it. 5. Tool box 6. wheel stand | ||
| Diablobrian |
extra fuel,camp chairs,and a sun shade are always a good idea at every track I've been to. 30psi front and rear is a pretty good starting point for most tires at the track. | ||
| Dtx |
You can take a Lightning on the track! Kccyclone and I did.  Kccyclone  Me   (Message edited by dtx on June 25, 2006) | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Nothing wrong with a Lightning at the track.  All I did for track prep is tape the lights. Also: Tape the Speedo you dont need to be looking at that, watch the track. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Crossroads zero degree handle bars help the lightning a lot at the track. Best $250 you can spend. I found that it was impossible to not give inadvertant feedback throught the bars before I got them. The XB is very sensitive to all inputs and using standard bars, even lower dirt bike bars, put the grips so close to you that it is hard not to push on them when moving around on the bike. It may be because I am 6'0". If you are shorter, you may be OK with the standard bend. I found the stock bars useful for wheelies only, not for turns. | ||
| Dmextreme |
i would love to do a track day.. Ugh.. wish I knew when and where they were. looks like so much fun.. and dang, a suit.. how much do they run?? | ||
| Dago |
looks like so much fun.. and dang, a suit.. how much do they run?? You can rent leathers from most track day operations. Otherwise they range from $500 at the low end to $2000 on the high end. | ||
| Dago |
Also... If you already have a leather jacket, just go pick up some leather pants. You can get a good set of Alpinestars for around $300. It's best if they zip into one another. But that's not crucial for an easy going track day. If you're running level 3/4, or are planning on hitting the track often, I'd recommend taking the plunge on a suit. | ||
| Lpowel02 |
You can rent leathers from most track day operations. ...last track day I did, they were renting Vanson suits - $50 for the day - not a bad price. | ||
| Cowtown |
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| Flick |
It doesn't take long to remove the headlights, signal lights, brake light. That way if you go down these parts are still good. Install the frame pucks (if you don't already have them), and get some axle sliders (these will save your swingarm and forks in a minor get-off. Trailer your bike to the track. You have no idea how tired you will be at the end of the day...you don't want to ride home tired. Have fun! | ||
| Spatten1 |
No problem, tape it up, pull the fuses, check the drain plugs and twist the throttle.   | ||
| Spatten1 |
Also, if you have an older XBS, make sure that you keep plenty of fuel in the tank, or it will run dry after a hard stop and stumble badly. | ||
| Teddagreek |
You guys are motivating the hell out of me... Now I'm super Pumped about Track School... Love this place.........  | ||
| Skully |
Ted, The CMRA is very specific about track preparation so some of what I had to do to my XB9S to pass tech inspect for racing may not apply to you. But, you are welcome to see what I had to do here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=6817&post=531187#POST 531187 If you have any questions, drop me a line. Keith | ||
| Buellgirlie |
check the trackday organizations in your area. requirements for bike prep and protective gear differ by operation. new(er) tires are a *really* good idea. the minimum prep will be taping over your lights and signals, which is super easy (use blue painters tape!). minimum gear will be long pants/sleeves, boots, gloves, helmet - which anyone who rides a motorcycle has. you can, like someone else mentioned, sometimes rent gear too. lightnings do great on the track. do it. its a ton of fun and you'll learn lots. and be prepared to be amazed at what your bike can do! here's me with my streetbike with taped up stuff, in zip together leathers. D  | ||
| Jerseyguy |
I did my first track day at Pocono Raceway on my Ss a couple of months back. I highly recommend it. We all had a great time.  | ||
| Gearhead |
Before you go to your track school get well rested and hydrated two to three days prior. This is critical and could save you from heat exhaustion because one wants to be sidelined because of feeling sick. Also drink plenty of water while you're there. Most track day organizers push this point pretty hard. Leave the pop (soda) at home, as well. | ||
| Typeone |
any of you Buellers running a Drummer that have attended a track day get hassled about db limits? i want to do a track day at Loudon, NH but there is a 99db limit enforced by the track. the recent exhaust shootout put the Drummer at 123db but in the dyno room (i think). curious if anyone has had issues with noise. | ||
| Lpowel02 |
I did a track day @ Loudon last year with a friend....I have a Firebolt, he has a Lightning. no-one seemed fussed at all about the noise coming from my racecan or his drummer | ||
| Buellgirlie |
its really up to track management. i had 2 friends (1 buell, 1 suzuki) who were asked to leave jennings (in florida) at a trackday due to noise.... D | ||
| Jerseyguy |
No one at Pocono Raceway said anything about noise. There were plenty of bikes there louder than my XB12Ss with a Drummer SS. | ||
| Typeone |
thanks for the responses... i think what threw me off was in the exhaust shootout the stock pipe for a 12 is listed at like 116db and the Drummer at 123db. obviously these levels are skewed from the dyno room or something, the stock pipe wouldn't fly on the street at 116db, seems awful loud but i know the stock pipe is mellow. | ||
| Diablobrian |
I think Al said in his notes that the sound levels were taken close to the bike, and in an enclosed space. Those 2 factors make a huge difference in db readings. | ||
| Vonsliek |
screw that re: pipe noise .. there will be PLENTY race bikes there .. & even i's make a MASSIVE amt of ambient noise when *on the pipe* .. the only bikes i noticed at my local track were a suzuki k6 gxsr 1k & an aprilia rsv1000(something .. loud twin basically). my racekit & gutted airbox drew no complaints .. they like that the bikes rattles itself to death ("yr bike has a life of its own!").. drink WAY more water than u think .. u WILL get the racers tan .. u wont pish all day - ok, maybe if u try it'll be a sml amt of darker urine) drink WAY more than u think EARLY in the day .. i got near to sun stroke (had it b4 in oz) by mid arvo. i smelt unwashed helmet from previous weeks racing .. it ain't pretty .. point being, buy yr own leathers & liner suit .. tho, 2pc suits tis ain't necessary .. u will drink WAY more water than u will use gas! bananas are good for potasium(ok, ?!sp) (great for muscle & synaptic endurance) .. light foods at track .. i had boiled perogies for brekkie & i think that was a good choice, as i wasn't too hungry thru day. if u r taking a truack/van/trailer .. maybe consider a fan .. u will get SO amped & hot! i also recommend some anti-inflammatory/headache pills .. my knees are swollen & sore as hell .. think of track riding as x hrs of mini squats .. those little muscles at the inside of yr knee are gonna GET BENT!  just took some robax platinum & beer to kill the aches & pains (well, i am 40 & have had the odd crash - my excuse), after a couple hr snooze. i'd remove mirrors - huge annoyance (blue tape is all u'll see & to do it well, yr head needs to be where yr mirrors were) .. simple tools suffice & many there will have same. tape light & indicators .. blue painter's tape IS best .. cheap too & available at any chain hardware store. newish tires are good if u are getting on it a bit or track is particularly hot. 30psi IS a good reference point .. many people will approach u anyways w/ offers to sell/fix stuff .. lets face it, its for the hardcore & the hardcore will be there!  u MUST listen to the flag/safety jazz (esp. the hand up (& to side, in canada) & rightside track when exiting track .. go slow & keep arm in position until abt to leave track(well, thats how they do it here). also, they seem to get *motivated* by track users lack of observance of the red flag (& red/yellow) *&* the unheading of the passing zones. other than that .. have at her & let us know! pauly. | ||
| Diablobrian |
be sure to watch the "blend line" too, it's another sore point with officials. | ||
| Vonsliek |
ok diablo .. u have usurped me twice .. what is the *blend* line?? | ||
| Diablobrian |
the blend line is the white line you DO NOT cross as you come off of hot pit row onto the track. It keeps you off of the racing line so you don't get run over by riders already on the track. You'd be surprised how many "experts" get hit on this one. | ||
| Vonsliek |
i know that line - didn't know it by that name -- cool. we cross it w/ L hand up (left turning track) if flag marshall & viewing indicate faster riders are coming thru. but ONLY if above is true. otherwise we slower guys stick to L side of main straight, so faster guys - if they come from 'nowhere' - can pass before turn1. |
