Just how dangerous are bike track days?

[Dr Jekyll]

I appreciate that if you make a habit of tracking you have to accept the probability of injury sooner or later, just as if you play football or rugby. But what are the figures? Especially for more serious weeks-off-work etc incidents?

[bob1179]

I can't see it being anymore 'dangerous' than a car track day.

Bikers tend to get injured on the roads when they come off their bikes and hit stuff such as other vehicles and street furniture.

On a track, unless you do somthing like highside (where you'll land heavily), you just tend to tumble along the ground until you stop as there isn't too much to hit. You'll get bruised but you won't die and probably won't break too many bones.

Of course, you're fked if another track day rider runs you over...

I think it's a fairly spurious question to be honest. After all, you do a track day to have fun (in any vehicle) and you accept the risks when you take part.

How long is a piece of string?

Edited by bob1179 on Thursday 10th June 10:10

[panic458]

Far, far less dangerous that riding on the road.
I have had less than 10 offs in 8 years of doing trackdays on bikes (at least 2 at over 130mph) and never had more than a sprain. Usually back on the bike the same day. But then I am a pusssy and don't do high-sides.

[Dr Jekyll]

panic458 said:

Far, far less dangerous that riding on the road.
I have had less than 10 offs in 8 years of doing trackdays on bikes

In 10 years and 100,000 miles road riding I came off once and without a scratch, so that sounds hazardous to me.

[fergus]

Dr Jekyll said:

panic458 said:

Far, far less dangerous that riding on the road.
I have had less than 10 offs in 8 years of doing trackdays on bikes

In 10 years and 100,000 miles road riding I came off once and without a scratch, so that sounds hazardous to me.

The type of riding you are likely to do on the road is not likely to be pushing the bike, etc. I've had about 4 offs whilst on track in 10 yrs (incl. 1 slipped disc), but have always walked (hobbled) away.

I'd suggest if you're that worried about the 'danger' factor, then either try to watch the running of a typical track day for an hour or so, or book a novice only day (whether you are a novice or not) to get a feel for track biased riding.

Most t/days are run under strict rules, with zero tolerance for either aggressive riding, or people messing about.

Given that several road based accidents are a function of 1) hitting street furniture, etc, 2) being knocked off by another vehicle, 3) losing control as a function of the road surface losing grip, then all of these are typically avoided on a trackday. If there is a spillage of either coolant or fuel, or there is mud/gravel on the track, you will get warning flags on the corner, to warn you of this.

An ambulance is in attendance at all times. Everyone is going the same way. There is nothing to hit (99% of the time).

Your own right hand is the thing most likely to get you into 'danger' on a t/day. The worst that could happen is that you come off and are hit by another bike. However, this could have happended in any one of your 100,000 road miles, but the other vehicle may have been heavier and had 4 wheels (or more).....

Give it a go?

[Mrs Muttleysnoop]

I have been on sessioned track days which are shared with bikes ie two bike sessions and one for us car drivers and there have been no problems.

[clarksonisawilly]

OP I'm doing my first one next week, if I die, I'll let you know.

[RaySingh]

Would you be Ghostrider?

[davepoth]

The track is safer than the road in all circumstances. All the traffic is going the same way, everyone is riding a motorcycle so is watching out for other motorcycles, there are only a dozen motorcycles on two miles of road, and there's plenty of runoff. There's no diesel, no kids running out into the road, and no tractors pulling out of blind entrances.

If things do go wrong you will be guaranteed a paramedic will be with you in less than 5 minutes.

[stoneyV6]

The thought of this would scare me a little,, wait till the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbvu9NZhGQI

[esinem]

As dangerous as you make 'em I had a scarey moment when somebody got spat of in front of me tho. Fortunately, they didn't make contact with my 220kg+ of Japanese metal and plastic.

[toxgobbler]

Dr Jekyll said:

I appreciate that if you make a habit of tracking you have to accept the probability of injury sooner or later, just as if you play football or rugby. But what are the figures? Especially for more serious weeks-off-work etc incidents?

Safer than on roads, if in doubt do a track based training course first and learn from an expert?

Eg: http://www.superbikeschool.co.uk/ or http://www.rapidtraining.co.uk/track.shtml