November 24th AMS trackday!

[pipeliner1978]

Bonwilder and I are in......I will be riding my newly aquired monster S4R ( - the pazzo levers, rizoma pressure plate, and whatever else she can steal from it  )

If anyone is looking for a good deal on a 2007 SBK, PM me 

[pipeliner1978]

I wanna wear my tread off too.  [moto] 

This camera is mounted on a ST2.....your ST4S needs to be unleashed!!!




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKp0xsGQ6Mc

[fastwin]

There seems to be a mad on for track days recently. I'm sure it's a lot of fun and a great place to learn but it just doesn't make up for real world street riding. I really don't mean to be a buzzkill here but I'm an old fart with with over 40 years of riding. Do I know it all? No. Am I really fast? No. But I am still alive after four plus decades of street riding... and believe me, the drivers have not gotten any better. I am just worried that someone may think that because they are hot shit and Mr. Blur at the track that they are now invincible on the street. Please don't make that mistake. Again, I'm no one special. I'm not fast. I really have nothing to add other than I have been riding longer than some folks have been alive. Don't mean to be an ass with this. I really post this out out of concern. Probably due to the old fart syndrome. It's sometimes uncontrollable. You will see that later in life!! I just want the best for my friends and I could see that a fast day at the track could lead to stupid stuff on the street. They are not the same and never will be. You may think that track days make you a better street rider but the blind old lady in the Buick who didn't see you will make that a mute point in an instant.

Again, sorry for the buzzkill but it was out of care and concern. Just want the best for my friends. Be careful out there.

[pipeliner1978]

"Balls," I said. "Never mind the track. The track is for punks. We are Road People. We are Cafe Racers." 

[pipeliner1978]

I got on the track Saturday and just couldn't get it, I learned my lines, but found myself not even wanting to accelerate in the straights....I had older 900's and s2r's pulling away from me hard.  When I rode home, I was back in my "comfort zone".  Just fealt right......it's all about the mental game for me, and sadly I'm twice as fast on the street.......  I remember thinking man I think I'll sit out these last 2 sessions (and I did) but when we left, I wanted to go go go(fast, not home)......  I need to work on switching that up a bit. 

[fastwin]

Hey, Tommy, I too have felt not in sync many times. Especially on the April Arkansas ride. The first two days sucked and only on the return run did I feel good. I was lucky that I felt good on the September AR run... but only barely. I still have a long way to go to be back to where I was. I'll get there one day.

[TresGatos]

OK, it's the major old fart syndrome kicking in here! You'll see if you live long enough. I just am concerned about all of ya'll. You are my extended family. And I never want to be in another White Cat position of having a friend down in front of me. Track day or not. It's no big deal, I just want people to be sane out there on the street. That is where the combat lies, not on the track.  [moto]

As for me, don't worry about being a buzzkill (killed buzz or killed rider / friend, easy answer) the last two posts are somithing I need to hear and think about.  A personal discussion would be a good thing.  My first day on any track and I wanted to learn to take a corner in a "safe envoron" to maybe keep up with the others in a street group ride.  I did much better after three sessions, but the next day I still did not trust the FM road corners.  Anyway fastwin and 1978 brouught up statements that make me reconsider what is going on.
Just my perspective at the moment.

[RED]

This has now gotten my attention so, be what it is my mind has engaged. When we all ride together I observe all you guys and how you ride. I put it all into my data bank in my head and digest it. When I rode with you two on the Muenster run I did see that fast-by-Tommy strain come out. It's natural and the reason we buy these highly technical extensions of ourselves. Brian, dude, forget the self-depricating bs. You ARE fast too. Period. Face it guys, it's why you do this. 

Now, to the psychology of riding. I see two distinct and very different outlets here. We all learn on the street for the most part so it's what we know. We all know how to survive out there. We're comfortable with it because we are still doing it. So I understand just what T was saying about going fast. On the other hand guys the track in my view is a place that none of us are that familiar with. It is though a place that one can hone technical issues such as recognizing, planning and executing apex power. It helps us therefore on the street to make better judgement calls in traffic. If you're not familiar with riding techniques the track is a great place to get that experience. A safe controlled enviornment for the novice.

I personally am so looking forward to getting out there on the track with everybody and having fun. To me it's the connection the track gives me to the sport of my choosing. I feel a part of why these bikes exist.  Yeah, I played football but never got as excited about it as i do when I ride. Myself, I view the track as the utmost playground to unleash on. Tracking good times is what it's all about. You do that only if you are technically competent. You get competent by going to the track.

Nuff said I'll shut up now.

Peach

[Jester]

I am just worried that someone may think that because they are hot shit and Mr. Blur at the track that they are now invincible on the street

Track riding has actually tempered my street riding to the point I really have even lost some interest in anything but the track.  I still putt around to catch beers near the house, run errands, and occasionally take a loop around somewhere, but overall the track has done wonders for me filling my "thrill quota."

Can't beat it.

Another thing that really tempered my street riding was hitting a patch of "rock road white dust" mid corner on a fast sweeper doing about 85-90 a few months back.  I went into a puckering two wheel drift while leaned over that almost took me off the road altogether.  I just managed the throttle and made it out alive, but man... its just not worth screwing with it on the streets.  Leave it at the track.

[Kevin848]

Track riding has actually tempered my street riding to the point I really have even lost some interest in anything but the track.  I still putt around to catch beers near the house, run errands, and occasionally take a loop around somewhere, but overall the track has done wonders for me filling my "thrill quota."

Can't beat it.

Another thing that really tempered my street riding was hitting a patch of "rock road white dust" mid corner on a fast sweeper doing about 85-90 a few months back.  I went into a puckering two wheel drift while leaned over that almost took me off the road altogether.  I just managed the throttle and made it out alive, but man... its just not worth screwing with it on the streets.  Leave it at the track.

+1

Saturday was my first track experience and I must say I am hooked and the street riding no longer has the same appeal as it did before. Not that I am opposed to street riding, but I am thinking I need a dedicated track bike and a street bike with alot less throttle temptation. My problem is that my budget and my schedule will mean that I cannot attend enough track days to warrant a dedicated track bike so it will be me and the 848 doing battle with traffic, dogs, potholes and blind old ladies (at least until I can bring the S2R back from the dead) but I will be longing to be on the track. It was great to be able to ride my own pace without the worry of what was around that next turn, it was comforting and once I realized it I focused on what I was doing... what gear was I in. Im in this turn, what is the next turn... really planning my approach to the next corner or rider(s) that I needed to get around. I had a blast riding in AR, but I was constantly wondering if the next dog we came to was going to dart out in front of me, or Elk or gravel or whatever... I actually did run over a snake! So many distractions that take away from what you really want to do which is get the most out of your machine. I wont be giving it up, hell Im already excited about the next trip to AR, cant wait but that track stuff is the way to go if your into sport riding at all.

Brian I so appreciate your concern and it is valid, I however did not come away thinking I could go faster on the street, quite the opposite as Jester said. Brian you really should make it out to a track session soon, I really think you would enjoy it... It would be awesome to try and follow you around the track 

[never2loud]

Why did this discussion have to take place in the middle of the night?!?!  Two more cups of coffee and I'll be coherent enough to weigh-in in the Fly Weight Division comment section...   

[Kevin848]

Why did this discussion have to take place in the middle of the night?!?!  Two more cups of coffee and I'll be coherent enough to weigh-in in the Fly Weight Division comment section...   

[Slag]

Track riding has actually tempered my street riding to the point I really have even lost some interest in anything but the track. 

... its just not worth screwing with it on the streets.  Leave it at the track.

Bingo! The track is the only place to really hone your skills. Riding fast on the street is fun, but I refuse to ride at knee drag pace while on public roads. There are too many unknowns.

[pipeliner1978]

Bingo! The track is the only place to really hone your skills. Riding fast on the street is fun, but I refuse to ride at knee drag pace while on public roads. There are too many unknowns.

   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. 

[RED]

+1
  think it's just as fun as a spirited Muenster run....  What I hate doing is cruising, I really don't get it.....