Being a new rider, and one that's spent more time on the track vs the street (7 days on a track vs. 3 weekend street rides), I have to say that one helps the other...By the way, since I've learned on a track, I find that my 'normal' environment.  My first street ride, I immediately noticed that the lanes are narrower, that there is traffic, that there are a lot harder objects that you can hit, AND it's not like the track where you repeat the same thing over and over - so I was having difficulty determining what corner entry speed is appropriate (even if I can see the whole corner).  After several days on the track, I found myself getting more comfortable and able to ride a good pace on the street without having to push.  The test was coming up to a corner, a tree branch had fallen under a tree where there was some shade...so didn't see the big branch until I was already leaned. If I hadn't been to the track, I wouldn't have the skills to just change lines in the corner (since I wasn't going as fast as I could've gone).  I've also learned to enjoy the group camaraderie and the scenery during street rides.  Bottomline, the street require a different mix of skills than the track.

However, I prefer the track since it is the only place to safely improve the raw skills of riding a sportbike - corner speed, lean angle, brake control, etc...and I find that is the aspect of riding I enjoy the most.

Quote from: pipeliner1978 on October 21, 2008, 05:43:50 AM
   When I say riding fast, I mean at my level.....I still got a ways before I'm dragging knee on the track or on the street.  That being said I want to do both.  I deffinitely want to ride more on the track to push my pace.  Problem is, I was doing it on a bike I was terrified to wreck.....it had nothing to do with the speed.  It really went down hill for me when I watched my wife go down.  (no Bonnie, it's not your fault, it's my own mental demons getting in the way)  I am really anticipating the next track day, but it will be on a cheaper bike.....  I know that riding on the street is dangerous, but I love it.  I loved riding on the track too, just need more experience.  Some people hate riding on interstates, I think it's just as fun as a spirited Muenster run....  What I hate doing is cruising, I really don't get it..... Some people just ride around just for the enjoyment, that's where I differ from most.  When it comes to just putting down the road, I'll choose a car every time.  I like to go fast, whether it be riding 160 mph down the freeway, or pushing my pace in a turn.  If I'm not doing that, I get bored too quick.  But that's just me.  Bottom line for me is, I will ride on the street and track and probably always try and push my pace. 

+1 on the being terrified to wreck it. My one and only Duc at the moment ST4s. Parts for it now are expensive if one can find them at all.
Greatest reason for a track bike.

Wanted to ask Sir L'Blur if he had put the primered panels on just for the day or he likes the color scheme? Either way it looked like a cool street fighter sort of don't F with me or I'll run ya over look. 

Quote from: RED on October 21, 2008, 06:58:13 AM
sort of don't F with me or I'll run ya over look. 

"... even if I have to chase you through the infield."

Hope people don't get me wrong. Now that the concerned old fart syndrome had died down a little I would like to say that I am 100% all for track days!! For sure! Everything you all have said is dead on. It is a fantastic place to hone specific riding skills and a safe place to go as fast as you want. How can it get any better?

Maybe I posted on the wrong board. Maybe my post would have been more appropriate on the 20 year old GSXR1000 board. In today's light (with a cup of hot coffee) I should realize that ya'll aren't stupid newbies on crotch rockets just hankering to take your neighborhood corner at Mach II. I have never ever seen anything out of line on any ride I have ever been on with ya'll. My longwinded tirade was just out of concern that someone, somewhere still riding the high from their track day might in the far reaches and dark corners of their psyche make a momentary lapse in judgement and confuse that 90mph sweeper at the track for an intersection full of Buicks and minivans.

Hope that my honest concern is not viewed as insulting to anyone. I have to do the same thing everytime I go for a ride in the country. The closer I get to DFW the slower and more cautious I get. Jester is right, fast country road or track riding should have a tempering effect on your daily street battles. I guess that is all I really was trying to say. From now on I'll just leave all my old fart posts in Jester's hands to condense and re-phrase!!

Quote from: fastwin on October 21, 2008, 07:52:57 AM
Hope that my honest concern is not viewed as insulting to anyone. I have to do the same thing everytime I go for a ride in the country. The closer I get to DFW the slower and more cautious I get. Jester is right, fast country road or track riding should have a tempering effect on your daily street battles. I guess that is all I really was trying to say. From now on I'll just leave all my old fart posts in Jester's hands to condense and re-phrase!!

Not insulting at all.

We take your "old coot" comments in stride.  I'm sure riding has changed over the years.  Heck, when you started riding, it was on steam powered bikes and the most traffic you had to contend with was horses and wagons.   

Barnee must have gone out with ThelmaLou  he's feeling frisky today !! WooHoo! 

Quote from: BarneePhife on October 21, 2008, 08:08:40 AM
Not insulting at all.

We take your "old coot" comments in stride.  I'm sure riding has changed over the years.  Heck, when you started riding, it was on steam powered bikes and the most traffic you had to contend with was horses and wagons.   

Looky here sonny, I remember the first paved street in the metroplex. I invented the smoky burnout!

Quote from: fastwin on October 21, 2008, 08:21:10 AM
Looky here sonny, I remember the first paved street in the metroplex. I invented the smoky burnout!

You mean you were the pioneering fellow (pun intended) who bridged the gap between the sandy burnout and the smoky burnout.  I am humbled in your presence! 

It's cool to read about everyone's expectations and experiences regarding Track vs Street... Lots of great insight that has helped me as a new-ish rider appreciate the vast level of experience and "smart" within this group.

For me, track days have been invaluable.  They have not made me a "fast" rider (on the track or on the street).  In fact, the opposite is true.

Tracks are all about controlling risks:  everyone is going in the same direction and at roughly the same speed.  There are no trees or guardrails to hit on the exit of a corner.  No gravel, pot holes, turkeys, Cops, or grannies in Buicks to dodge. 

Committing 110% to a corner on the track is really down to your own sense of self preservation.  That's where the fun comes in; I enjoy attacking each corner just that much faster than I did on the previous lap, finding and trying to duplicate the perfect line lap after lap... rev-matching down shifts, trail breaking, trying to drag a knee.  All that stuff is why I LOVE track days.  It's almost impossible to do well (for me anyway) but it keeps me coming back.  The level of concentration and mental focus required is a real buzz too.

That being said, I can't ride at track day extremes on the street without expecting to kill myself (ever heard the racing phrase, "If you're not out of control, you're not going fast enough"?)  That makes me a "cruiser" I guess - I'll ride to 60% of my abilities and just cruise.  I look at street riding more as a chance to relax, take in the scenery and enjoy the day with my hooligan friends than testing myself or my bike’s capabilities.  I'm just not willing to dedicate the brain-power it takes to ride track-fast on the street.  It’s just too much work to be fun.

So for me, there's "track" riding and "street" riding and never the 'twain shall meet.

Quote from: RED on October 21, 2008, 08:13:32 AM
Barnee must have gone out with ThelmaLou  he's feeling frisky today !! WooHoo! 

Hold on; they're dating?   

 

Quote from: Cher on October 21, 2008, 08:42:26 AM
Hold on; they're dating?   

 

Hey, I'm just sayin....

They went to the movies Sunday.

Quote from: pipeliner1978 on October 21, 2008, 08:59:26 AM
They went to the movies Sunday.

   

Quote from: pipeliner1978 on October 21, 2008, 08:59:26 AM
They went to the movies Sunday.

Yeah, but her parents chaperoned. 

So was it... "dinner-an-a-movie" or dinner and a movie?      (Sorry, couldn't resist...)

So, anyone else want to contribute on-topic?  I can't, apparently