Trackday a brand new Panigale? Crazy?
Discussion
I was lucky enough to be able to buy a new Panigale 959 Corse several weeks back and I have an itch to get it off the crowded, crappy south east UK roads onto something more suitable. Its got about 1600 miles on it.
Now I haven't been on a track on a bike for about 10 years, but having said that, I did race bikes for several years and did a mass of trackdays before the racing so know what I'm doing - well I used to....
I live an hour from Brands and there's a trackday on the GP circuit next month. Simply ride there, take mirrors off, adjust tyre pressures and Bob's yer uncle.
I know only I can decide, and it depends on loads of factors, but for a laugh what do you reckon? Would you? Am I nuts? Or go for it?
Now I haven't been on a track on a bike for about 10 years, but having said that, I did race bikes for several years and did a mass of trackdays before the racing so know what I'm doing - well I used to....
I live an hour from Brands and there's a trackday on the GP circuit next month. Simply ride there, take mirrors off, adjust tyre pressures and Bob's yer uncle.
I know only I can decide, and it depends on loads of factors, but for a laugh what do you reckon? Would you? Am I nuts? Or go for it?
Like being on the road its not you its the other people on the track.
I live very near brands hatch, and I have been on a few bike days and a few cars days. My experience is that marshalling at brands is quite good for cars. People driving like idiots are soon taken out for a talking to on the car days and the marshals have sent people home for reoffending, which is reassuring.
The bike days tend to be a little more like the wild west. Which is evidenced by the number of trashed bikes being wheeled out of Brands to the road to be picked up. Never seen anyone sent home on a bike day and the day will depend on whether there is a bellend who is on track with you.
I live very near brands hatch, and I have been on a few bike days and a few cars days. My experience is that marshalling at brands is quite good for cars. People driving like idiots are soon taken out for a talking to on the car days and the marshals have sent people home for reoffending, which is reassuring.
The bike days tend to be a little more like the wild west. Which is evidenced by the number of trashed bikes being wheeled out of Brands to the road to be picked up. Never seen anyone sent home on a bike day and the day will depend on whether there is a bellend who is on track with you.
I'd do it personally, especially given your background
I gave up road bikes for 10 years in 2005 got back into racing, crashed my brains out in 2014 and bought a road bike exactly a year later... An mv agusta dragster rr
It took me less than 3 months before I got the itch to ride it on track. I booked the inters and tbh had no issues other than ground clearance. I was rusty and slow but had a great time
You know the basics, get yourself warmed up, check the bike over, pressures etc and you'll be cool
I'd get it on video if you can. Be a good memory, here's mine. Skip first lap I don't have warmers so took it easy for 1 lap. It's not quick but was good fun
https://youtu.be/al53zHxtNG4
I gave up road bikes for 10 years in 2005 got back into racing, crashed my brains out in 2014 and bought a road bike exactly a year later... An mv agusta dragster rr
It took me less than 3 months before I got the itch to ride it on track. I booked the inters and tbh had no issues other than ground clearance. I was rusty and slow but had a great time
You know the basics, get yourself warmed up, check the bike over, pressures etc and you'll be cool
I'd get it on video if you can. Be a good memory, here's mine. Skip first lap I don't have warmers so took it easy for 1 lap. It's not quick but was good fun
https://youtu.be/al53zHxtNG4
Its only a Pani. there will be millions of them there ...... from 899's to SL's ....
Unless its about whether you can afford to bin it or not, that has nothing to do with it being a Pani, thats just your own economic position and one thats the same for every trackday rider regardless of whether its a Pani or a shonky ZX6R ....
As ever 'on your head be it' but you seem to have the background / skills to do a trackday.
Unless its about whether you can afford to bin it or not, that has nothing to do with it being a Pani, thats just your own economic position and one thats the same for every trackday rider regardless of whether its a Pani or a shonky ZX6R ....
As ever 'on your head be it' but you seem to have the background / skills to do a trackday.
dibblecorse said:
Krikkit said:
I'd do it, although I wouldn't take the mirrors off - you might need them if someone has a mad banzai moment.
This bits a joke right ?? You just forgot the smiley ????moto_traxport said:
Never understood why people are considered capable of using mirrors in a car on a racetrack and yet on a bike its considered utter madness, Far better to look over your shoulder while travelling at speed apparently.
I'm new to track riding but I'm much more predictable if I can't see what's coming behind me and that's a lot more helpful than if I can see and I try and move out of the way accordingly apparently. I stopped jumping out of my skins after a couple of sessions.OP, I think I'd insure it and go for it.
The only relevant question is whether you can afford to crash it and write it off (as worst case scenario)? If yes your choice.
Personally I wouldn't. I have normally rented bikes for track days. Makes life easy, no worries about getting the bike ready. Just turn up and ride. Usually they will fuel it, change suspension if you want and normally have a back up bike if it goes wrong. Plus your costs are limited to the excess if you drop it.
I did take my new bike on track last year. It didn't go well. I won't be doing that again!
Of course, if I were doing a lot of track days I would buy a dedicated track bike that would be cheaper to crash.
Personally I wouldn't. I have normally rented bikes for track days. Makes life easy, no worries about getting the bike ready. Just turn up and ride. Usually they will fuel it, change suspension if you want and normally have a back up bike if it goes wrong. Plus your costs are limited to the excess if you drop it.
I did take my new bike on track last year. It didn't go well. I won't be doing that again!
Of course, if I were doing a lot of track days I would buy a dedicated track bike that would be cheaper to crash.
Esceptico said:
The only relevant question is whether you can afford to crash it and write it off (as worst case scenario)? If yes your choice.
Of course, if I were doing a lot of track days I would buy a dedicated track bike that would be cheaper to crash.
Your first point, spoty on.Of course, if I were doing a lot of track days I would buy a dedicated track bike that would be cheaper to crash.
Your second, I did that .... its called a Pani ..... lots and lots of them are track only bikes, it is in reality their proper purpose ...... part 2 of your 2nd point maybe not so spot on .. lol
moto_traxport said:
Never understood why people are considered capable of using mirrors in a car on a racetrack and yet on a bike its considered utter madness, Far better to look over your shoulder while travelling at speed apparently.
twice on track a quick glance after turning in has saved me from being t-boned. once by someone that appeared to be a decent bloke but thought that taking a bike with dodgy brakes ,that he knew would fade on track, was acceptable.i wouldn't advise not using mirrors on the ring either unless lapping at the pace of andy carlile.
dern said:
moto_traxport said:
Never understood why people are considered capable of using mirrors in a car on a racetrack and yet on a bike its considered utter madness, Far better to look over your shoulder while travelling at speed apparently.
I'm new to track riding but I'm much more predictable if I can't see what's coming behind me and that's a lot more helpful than if I can see and I try and move out of the way accordingly apparently. I stopped jumping out of my skins after a couple of sessions.OP, I think I'd insure it and go for it.
Ho Lee Kau said:
In fact when I was on track, with mixed groups doing laps at the same time, the instructor told us that it is responsibility of the one behind you to chose the line and not crash into you while your responsibility is to concentrate on going forward and not get distracted by what is happening behind, therefore mirrors are not allowed.
Doesn’t matter who’s at fault if you end in a heap with a broken leg or worse, I’d rather see them coming and get out the way!I’ve also never understood why bike trackdayers think mirrors are the devil yet cars of far higher performance (ie F1, Le Mans etc) seem to cope on track with mirrors!
Ho Lee Kau said:
In fact when I was on track, with mixed groups doing laps at the same time, the instructor told us that it is responsibility of the one behind you to chose the line and not crash into you while your responsibility is to concentrate on going forward and not get distracted by what is happening behind, therefore mirrors are not allowed.
I’m aware of the accepted wisdom of it all and the fact that arguing anything else is like suggesting the Earth is flat but on the odd occasion I’ve kept the mirrors on it’s been a handy source of information.But yes I’ll stick to the script = Mirrors on a race bike, utter madness, you’ll crash / die / get distracted / steer into path of an overtaking bike / get speared by them in an accident.
Mirrors on a race car however entirely normal. Cannot think why I would even question the difference.
I don’t understand this fear of crashing / being taken out by another rider. I’ve done countless trackdays over the years and probably crashed 10 times, all of my own making. I’ve never been taken out by another rider and haven’t seen anyone get taken out either.
Crashing isn’t compulsory.
As for the cost aspect, many trackbikes are worth more than the Panigale is.
Crashing isn’t compulsory.
As for the cost aspect, many trackbikes are worth more than the Panigale is.
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