Hello!

I'm about to do my very first track day next Saturday at Putnam. I'm a little nervous. I've been riding street only for about 16 years, and my little (stock) Ninja 250 is my first "true sportbike" since I've ridden standard/naked bikes from the start ('77 Kawasaki KZ650, '00 Kawasaki ZR-7, and currently a '14 Yamaha FZ-09) and I've never even gotten close to getting a knee down, never dragged a peg....so I'm pumped and nervous at the same time.
Since the classes are only novice, intermediate, and advanced, I'm aware that I'll have all sizes of bikes out there with me. I've heard a lot about the power difference being a potential problem or danger.
Any thoughts or advice?


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stay cool and have fun!

 

Relax and have fun kid.


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I can't wait!!


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Hold your line, and try to be predictable. Don't worry about who is coming from behind, because turning around to look changes your line. You will be getting passed on the straight, so just get used to that.

Don't worry about "dragging a knee" either, that will just happen. And have fun!

 

Welcome to the addiction! I'm not sure how competitive you are, but don't try to override your limit or get sucked into trying to keep up with someone faster. Just relax, listen to the CRs, and have fun! You'll learn a whole lot so try to soak it all up and apply it


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Not really competitive, just hate that feeling that I'm holding up my friends I'm riding with [on the street]. Since I probably won't know a soul out there on the track, and it's going around in a big circle, there's no worry that someone is sitting at a stop sign waiting for my slow ass [emoji23]


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Bike prep for the first track day is just about finished. [emoji16] Yep. That's rainbows and unicorns. [emoji23]


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Love it!
I predict after a couple trackdays you won't be holding up your buddies on the street any more. Smart move taking the 250 instead of the FZ9

 

One of the control riders @ NCM was on a 250-300. That was intermediate.


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We went out riding for a few hours yesterday, and both of us had a blast. I was on the 250 and my husband rode my FZ-09. I buzzed a Harley at about 85mph and giggled like a kid!


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what's with the string to the gopro? looks like if the mount lets go you'll be getting smacked in the face. Will make for good footage I guess...

 

That's a tether to hold it in place at that camera angle.


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So, did you do your trackday?

 

Yes I did! I had the time of my life. Now I truly can see where I need to make some improvements. I didn't drop my shoulder in enough to get over as much as I'd liked. However I did for the first time get a tire hot enough to make it "fuzzy"
This was after the second or third session
This was after one of the last couple of sessions.

I'd like to share the GoPro video, if I can find the Facebook link.


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See if this works..... the first half is my second session (no sound for some reason), then the second half is my last session (with sound [emoji1303])
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155619647657964&id=594097963


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I should say, (as a friend told me) one hit off the track pipe and I'm already an addict.
I was THE ONLY 250 on the track, so I'm starting to think about something slightly bigger. I'm not sure that I'm ready for that jump to an R6 or anything like that, but something with a little more oomph than the 250 has to offer.


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Street riding pales in comparison, doesn't it? I never made it so far as to actually race but, doing time on tracks on a dedicated track bike and listening to and taking advice from people takes you so far beyond what you can ever accomplish on the street. And, it's a million times safer. Physical issues and then a divorce has kept me away for years now but, yeah, there's nothing like it. It was the most satisfying thing in my life. I miss it terribly.

 

I like street riding for what it is....a chance to ride with friends, go places, see things, etc.
But I can definitely see the attraction to the track. I was nervous as hell when I got there - about ready to climb a wall before the first session. Then once I was out there, I was actually more relaxed than I am on the street. I didn't get the sore shoulder or the numb tingly hand as I sometimes do on the street.


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