Giving up street riding, track only. Ever done it? | Page 2 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Giving up street riding, track only. Ever done it?

Yep, along with many others I too gave up the street about 5 or 6 years ago. I had been without a bike for a season or so and got the itch so I started looking at used bikes again, almost bought a couple but I kept thinking up excuses so I decided to book a day with Turn2(back when George was running things out of his trailer) and rented one of his bikes at Calabogie(Pro6 day). I instantly fell in love with the track and spent the rest of the summer looking to buy a track bike. Fast forward to now and I generally do about about 6-10 trackdays a season depending on my work schedule and available funds. I have a great time at the track and have met quite a few great people also. I don't miss riding on the road at all.

In other words, go do your first trackday and decide what you want to do, only you can decide what's best for you.

P.S. Don't kid yourself and think it will be cheaper to just do track, lol.
 
The same thing has been running through my head this year. I've actually been out for a ride with the OP on a "Keep your license" ride. I go on rides like these simply because I need my license for my job and to keep a roof over my family's head. I think I need to switch over to the track, I can't get what I need from the street. The corner sign says 40 I'm already going 3x faster and I'm still nowhere near the limit of my bike and tires and I'm not getting the thrill my brain is craving. I want to ride at 99% traction. I don't want to worry about a car or a pole or gravel.
Im thinking of keeping the monster for both my wife and I to ride(except redo the suspension so I can actually ride it) and selling my SF and getting a track bike.

Corsara, you're not the only one thinking it.
 
I don't think I'll get my knee down on the street. Plus I pay over $2000/yr for my F800R. Plus I'd like to keep my license. I considered an SS instead of the F800R but that'd just get me into even more trouble.

Thinking of doing the Racer track days next year and maybe selling the bike/downgrading to something that will get me into less trouble but still be able to see the sights with.
 
I still ride on the street ( a lot ) but I do it mostly for the company and yeah, we do wick it up a bit. Honestly, my Tuono is a lot more fun on the street than my stupid fast GSX-R. It's why I keep putting off trading it in / selling it for the v4 version.
 
SFer said:
The same thing has been running through my head this year. I've actually been out for a ride with the OP on a "Keep your license" ride. I go on rides like these simply because I need my license for my job and to keep a roof over my family's head. I think I need to switch over to the track, I can't get what I need from the street. The corner sign says 40 I'm already going 3x faster and I'm still nowhere near the limit of my bike and tires and I'm not getting the thrill my brain is craving. I want to ride at 99% traction. I don't want to worry about a car or a pole or gravel.
Im thinking of keeping the monster for both my wife and I to ride(except redo the suspension so I can actually ride it) and selling my SF and getting a track bike.

Corsara, you're not the only one thinking it.
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SFer, we had a few more "keep your license" rides after the one you joined, and..sadly...sadly, they kind of changed character---I started again going really fast and wait for others (not always, on some of them we had other fast riders too)...we even had a crash on one of them... My idea of leading these "keep your license" rides didn't really work out, I couldn't achieve the effect of taming it down. That's why I not only want to, but I MUST become track only, or just give up riding altogether before it's too late. Why don't you come to Aug 11 Intro to Track too?

jonpurdy said:
I don't think I'll get my knee down on the street. Plus I pay over $2000/yr for my F800R. Plus I'd like to keep my license. I considered an SS instead of the F800R but that'd just get me into even more trouble.

Thinking of doing the Racer track days next year and maybe selling the bike/downgrading to something that will get me into less trouble but still be able to see the sights with.
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If getting your knee down is your goal, you can do it on almost any 270 degree on-ramps, just go in faster, right when it tightens up as it's becoming parallel to the highway, you can touch easily. Of course, make sure road is good. Other than that, no much danger, no oncoming traffic or anything...though if you're not used to go down and don't properly work your body, you might get scared and run wide onto the highway (unless there's a concrete wall, then we know what happens).. But those are mostly right-turners, I know just one good left turn (a 90 degree exit ramp going over the highway), which is suitable for high speed around here.

However, that's not really what rocks my boat---it's nice, but then you get one turn worth of fun and then...boredom... I am sure the track is going to be the ultimate place to have that kind of fun. I'm not in for achieving fantastic lap times or to race, all I want is a corner after corner after corner and no oncoming traffic, predictable pavement...and no cops, of course :) Then I can also focus more on choosing the best lines, etc.
 
Also, obviously you can touch knee in a parking lot, although I personally have never done it, I think I have some kind of psychological barrier. Courses like Total Control would improve that, of course, just ask some of the guys who took it. I'll probably end up taking it too next summer, probably take my bike in a trailer or something if I convert it to a permanent track bike.
 
This is how rides go for me:

1) Maturely thinking how I shouldn't ride fast on the street, how dangerous it is, all the things that can happen.

2) I decide to go on a ride.

3) As I'm putting on my gear, starting the bike, pulling out of the driveway, leaving the residential block---I have decided, it's going to be a nice ride with no risks.

4) I turn left on a traffic light as I'm exiting the residential area...and that's where it happens----I beat all the right lane traffic and then quickly merge in front of everyone on the right and get on the right-hand side on-ramp...at that point I'm approaching the slight on-ramp turn followed by the acceleration lane....and I'm already gunning it struggling to keep the front down, and all thoughts and reason are gone in an instant...I become 15 years younger.. And you know that once you "unlock" the speed, you're infected for the rest of the ride... :(
 
I love the track but if I had to only keep one of my bikes it would be my street bike. I'm happiest when my SUV is parked for weeks at a time and I'm riding everywhere. Commuting is WAY more enjoyable on the bike as is every little errand around town. I usually do ~15,000km on the street bike each year and wouldn't trade the SS litre bike for anything else (even on the 800km daytrips). The thing puts a grin on my face every time I ride it.
 
Hardwrkr13 said:
I love the track but if I had to only keep one of my bikes it would be my street bike. I'm happiest when my SUV is parked for weeks at a time and I'm riding everywhere. Commuting is WAY more enjoyable on the bike as is every little errand around town. I usually do ~15,000km on the street bike each year and wouldn't trade the SS litre bike for anything else (even on the 800km daytrips). The thing puts a grin on my face every time I ride it.
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My thoughts as well.
 
Jayv said:
Lasted six month. Bought a couch to ride.

I can't live without commuting on two wheels.

Same boat as Fiery, no interest in riding a SS on the street again.
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R6 went track... I'll get back on street at some point, but not right now. Track crashes are expensive lol.
 
Hard to admit, I am seriously considering it myself. Trouble is right around the corner!

Might get an e-bike or just cycle into the core. That's right I said it....e-bike, a care free, legally flaunt gridlock e-bike! Too lazy to cycle 20kms into work....or just don't want to get that sweaty. And I can filter to my heart's content without illiciting the flashing lights.

Insurance money redirected to track days and tires and there ya go.

The argument is beginning to grow on me.
 
i applaud your self awareness around being bored unless being reckless. most people only figure this out after a crash. :headbang::headbang:

i gave up riding for a woman for 15 years once.
regret every minute of it
oh, and i missed riding too.
 
Corsara said:
SFer, we had a few more "keep your license" rides after the one you joined, and..sadly...sadly, they kind of changed character---I started again going really fast and wait for others (not always, on some of them we had other fast riders too)...we even had a crash on one of them... My idea of leading these "keep your license" rides didn't really work out, I couldn't achieve the effect of taming it down. That's why I not only want to, but I MUST become track only, or just give up riding altogether before it's too late. Why don't you come to Aug 11 Intro to Track too?
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I've been looking at that for awhile now, still working in the wife. She'd like me to just wait till next year for the track days.


Corsara said:
however, that's not really what rocks my boat---it's nice, but then you get one turn worth of fun and then...boredom... I am sure the track is going to be the ultimate place to have that kind of fun. I'm not in for achieving fantastic lap times or to race, all I want is a corner after corner after corner and no oncoming traffic, predictable pavement...and no cops, of course :) Then I can also focus more on choosing the best lines, etc.
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I used to live in BC. The roads out there were amazing. Every kind of corner you can imagine on mountain roads that don't have any cops, poles, oncoming traffic... I often dream of being back home and riding the SF hard. I think that's one of the problems, tje roads here kinda suck The only way to get close to those kind of roads out here is to go to the track.
 
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I've considered giving up street riding but I still enjoy just going out for a cruise on a Sunday. If I could afford to only ride track/race every weekend I'd give it up in a heart beat.
 
Corsara said:
So, anyone ever switched to track-only riding? Know people who did? Did it work for them?
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This is something I've been seriously contemplating this summer. I've spent more time track riding than street riding. I've also contemplated converting my 600RR to track and buying a 250 for the street. Something more comfortable, cheaper on insurance, etc.
 
stormcat said:
This is something I've been seriously contemplating this summer. I've spent more time track riding than street riding. I've also contemplated converting my 600RR to track and buying a 250 for the street. Something more comfortable, cheaper on insurance, etc.
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Sell the 600 and buy a track ready bike...... as much fun as the conversion was, I did everything myself, but I wouldn't ever do it again.

You'll likely be able to finance a summer of trackdays with the difference in sell/buy.
 
I've got the same sort of story. Used to put in 15k+ per season on the street, then had a really bad crash. Started track riding after I recovered and shortly after that I gave up street riding. This was 2003. I then got back into street riding in 2009, but I'm now about to give it up again. I plan to have a track bike, and a dedicated dirt bike, or maybe a street legal enduro that is very dirt worthy like a KTM 450EXC, to give me the option to street ride a bit.
 
Im about to take the plunge. I have more fun in 1 hour riding the track than all day on the street. Would like to do both but ridiculous insurance prices, along with silly laws will most likely keep me off the streets.

Also im sick and tired of almost getting killed on the street on a regular basis.
 
I've been giving this additional thought over the past couple of days. Basically, for those of us who like to hit corners really quickly it doesn't make sense to do it on the street. When you're exiting a corner at speeds that will lose your license it's time to track it. It's just not satisfying to corner at speeds way below what you're capable of. I find myself getting annoyed at cars going only 20 over the limit in corners; makes me feel like a bit of an idiot afterwards.
 
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