Im going to do a track day at some point, but has any of you become overconfident because of it? Wrecked even, when if you were still a novice street rider wouldve been alot slower and not wrecked.
My wingman that would be going with me, I feel it would not change him for the better but worse. So while I try to get this corrected, I'd just like to hear if its overwhelmingly good for your inner crazy to have had a track day in the first place.
As far as I've read, theres not one post on here regretting the experience. Does it carry over into the street much?
I don't think I'll be riding with him much after he finally does get a knee down. Best friend of 20 years.
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(Zhjiln) I see a bunch of squids rolling deep.....
Loved my experience.... after my first even I found the street less appealing... after 4yrs or dail commute and joy riding I gave it up. Save the gas $ and insurance $ I was spending only to blow most of it in a weekend at the track.
I think its a great experience. For all the new track riders that come out its a very humbling experience. You think you are bad ass and until the control rider blows pass knee down in the corner causing to poop a brick. Or when you are coming into a corner and you freeze up.
Ha I took a body who loved to haul ass on public roads I mean 100+ on his 750. Took him to the track he barely broke 60mph. His nerves we SHOT!
It was a great experience.... but if you let the temptation get the best of you, its safe to safe you will be leaving with a smashed bike.
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I would say it has the opposite affect, the street gets boring. You realize the dangers that you never noticed before.
If you're a beginner/novice rider there is a lot to learn from the track, and it can be a great experience. Having said that you're not going to go from beginner to advance with one track day. If anything you'll start to understand how little you actually know about riding.
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We addressed that too.... you either hate riding street and decide to give it up for life at the track.
OR
You continue to ride street and be miserable for the rest of you life. Only satisfied when you are getting laid, speeding time with your loved ones or at the track!
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i loved my track day ,even tho we dont have a real track it was still fun and ive learn a lot of things and skills i can used on the track, i know i have became a better rider this year than last.
and me, i could never ever give up street riding, and do full track, but i have also learn yes there is lots of danger riding street than traack, but i have become a more awareness and defensive rider on the street
I think its a great experience. For all the new track riders that come out its a very humbling experience. You think you are bad ass and until the control rider blows pass knee down in the corner causing to poop a brick. Or when you are coming into a corner and you freeze up.
Ha I took a body who loved to haul ass on public roads I mean 100+ on his 750. Took him to the track he barely broke 60mph. His nerves we SHOT!
It was a great experience.... but if you let the temptation get the best of you, its safe to safe you will be leaving with a smashed bike.
hit the nail on the head^^^
I've met a few 1st timers at track days who told me their street stories & how much of a hero they were, dragging knee on every corner, who then told me how scary it was after the 1st session. I mean some guys might be very fast on the street, but how many of them practice braking from 140mph to 30mph for a corner?
I guess it depends on your buddies personality, he may think he only wants to do track & tone it down on the street, he may not, but in my experience people tend to calm down on the street after they realise track days are F**KING AWESOME & street can't compete!
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How is that hard to understand? Riding in a control environment verse the jungle we call the street?
I mean, I envision them teaching you taking decreasing radius better or how to take turns that have hardly any grading, but they wont throw loose gravel in these areas like there is in the street. Or have a broke down car ahead when your taking a blind corner. Those are dangers Im not aware of. Track, pretty much everything is known about that particular surface and kept clear.
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(Zhjiln) I see a bunch of squids rolling deep.....
I'm sure there are some riders who get an over-blown ego after doing a couple track days or even racing.
This comes under the heading: A little knowlege is a dangerous thing.
But I suspect these riders are squids at heart.
I've been taught by some of the world's best racers - past and present - and they don't have an ounce of arrogance on a motorcycle. They are all confident in their abilities, which is an entirely different thing.
So to answer your question:
If you're an azzhole now, you'll still be an azzhole after a couple track days. It may shorten your life span, but I suspect you're heading for disaster in any event.
I remember one of the guys from the fast group at a TD said to me "you have to respect what we are all doing here, being a hero doesn't impress anyone, lose respect for your machine & it will kill you".
I thought "wow that's deep" but a very valid point nonetheless
There are people that are jerks to begin with, and the extra confidence from the track makes them worse. If you aren't a jackass rider to begin with you should be fine.
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About the recognizing dangers on the street question - I feel that I am more aware of my surroundings because a) everything on the street is happening so much slower, and b) IMO, the track teaches you spatial awareness.
It has definitely made me slow down on the street rides that I do now. I realize that riding at the level that I ride would be a danger to myself and others if I rode on the street at that level. I think that whether or not it affects you friend in a positive way is totally dependent on his level of maturity. You can have a very high level of skill when riding, but if you don't use your head and show some maturity and wisdom, you are still going to ride like a douchebag.
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I would say it has the opposite affect, the street gets boring. You realize the dangers that you never noticed before.
I also agree with niner. After doing a track day the street just isnt the same. At least its not for me. I still enjoy riding on the street but the track is just a much better/different experience. After a track day you start to notice how close those guard rails and telephone poles are on the side of the street.
I think I actually ride slower on the street now. There's just no need to ride fast on the street anymore. It's more dangerous, not as fun, pisses poeple off, and attracts cops.
Oh, and one more thing. Just about everyone that I've gone to the track with has gone through the same progression. At the beginning of the day you are scared as fuk. Then towards the middle of the day (or day 2) you get comfortable and think your the next Valentino Rossi. Then you push it too hard and have an "oh $hit" moment which often results in a crash. Then you chill out and realize that you're just there to have fun and come back in one peice. So just keep in mind that youre there to learn and have fun.
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There are people that are jerks to begin with, and the extra confidence from the track makes them worse. If you aren't a jackass rider to begin with you should be fine.
i slowed down on the street after being on the track, and riding a SS on the street is not as much fun as it used to be.
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I think I actually ride slower on the street now. There's just no need to ride fast on the street anymore. It's more dangerous, not as fun, pisses poeple off, and attracts cops.
I also rode slower on the street. And yeah, super sports piss people off, even if you aren't a tool that revs up at redlights.
It is a great experience if you are humble about it and you aren't a jerk to begin with. One of the guys I ride with wrecked (totaled his ZX10R) on the 2nd lead-follow lap of his first trackday. Made space between him and the guy in front of him and tried to take a turn too hot to show off his mad skillz y0.
After the trackdays I have done, my confidence on the street is definitely up, but my guard is still up too, and I'm not riding like a jackass just because I've got track experience under my belt. I still hang out in the back on group rides, and I still ride the street like I always have..
I used to be a pretty big squid. Loved doing wheelies and constantly trying to corner faster on the street, hitting 150+ routinely when going for spirited rides with friends. I knew I wanted to hit the track, I just wasn't where I needed to be financially just yet.
Finally, I was able to do a track day. Since then I've calmed down considerably. The moment you see one of the advanced group bomb through a corner at a ridiculous rate of speed with an elbow dragging it kinda hits you: "I'm such a n00b. I know nothing". Since then, I've gone back twice and gotten progressively faster. That itch to ride like a maniac isn't there anymore. I know that I have a track day coming up in a month or so and it keeps my riding under control.
The reason, above all else I think, is that your eyes aren't fully opened to the real capability of the bike until you hit the track. When you know that, you know it's really kinda impossible to replicate it on the street. You can't look through a blind corner, after all. So, that being said, you kinda just cruise spiritedly. I'm nowhere near the maniac I was on the street anymore, but I'm a MUCH better rider.
Also, another thing that influences people to ride crazy on the street... most of us are men and most of us have testosterone. We like to compete. There is very little you can do on the street that will impress me anymore... but I used to always push myself to stay with or in front of the pack. Now I watch those knuckleheads blow by me and think "If they only knew how unskilled they actually were".
All that I've described has had a similar effect on my friend who started recently doing them with me. His street squiding has declined significantly too. Hope this helps to answer your question. As others have said I'm sure it's possible it could have an opposite effect, but most guys really seem to calm down. It hasn't ruined the street for me at all, but I definitely feel I have much less to prove and my riding reflects that.
My bike hasnt touched a public street since my first track day.
No interest in ever riding a sportbike on the street ever again.
If I were to ride street again, I can confidently say that there would be no shenanigans, and I would be more aware and safe than ever before, not to mention, way more prepared to handle any obstacle/situation than anyone who has never been on a track before. Simply put, you learn to do things you just cannot (or should not) do on a public road. If I ever had to do a maximum braking stop from highway speeds....I would be a splat on the back of an 18 wheeler. Now I know that I have had my rear wheel 2 or 3 inches off the ground going into a braking zone, and yet there was still more braking power available if my weight was shifted just a bit back in the seat. Thats the kind of **** you cant learn on the street.
Hell, even my driving style has changed since I started tracking. Nothing is a hurry, my head is on a swivel, and I see hazards before they even manifest themselves.
I used to be about lookin floss on my grafitti with carbon fiber all over everything. Cruising up to bike nights, pretending to be a badass. Tossed my bike down in turn 4 at Estoril on my first trackday. I destroyed a mint set of Graffiti bodywork and CF bits and pieces, and still had a smile on my face. Went home, ordered some fiberglass, and a track bike was born.
So, no. I do not think it makes you more of a risk on the street. Honestly, I feel that the people who would do a trackday and then become a risk on the street are the ones that make neverending excuses as to why they can't go to the track just yet, brag about how awesome a rider they are already, and are already a risk to begin with.
Those that do go to the track have enough common sense to realize there is a safe place to hone your skills and push your bike to do what it was designed to do.
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