Sadly, the best (and most enthusiastic) guy to help noobs isn't with us any more.
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Riding options.
- Thread starter ungoloth
- Start date
Sadly, the best (and most enthusiastic) guy to help noobs isn't with us any more.
Pretty sure BC home market set that standard years ago..... ?
Wouldn't know.
Don't own a BC home either...
sburns
Well-known member
Ohh everything is in the wife's name???
Ohh everything is in the wife's name???
Well, that's what happens when you marry rich...
Your insurance nailed you on a first at fault with an otherwise clean record?
I was careful when shopping around for insurance that we got accident forgiveness - before we switched to our current insurer with everything bundled that was a show-stopper requirement for me.
Paid off as my wife had a wreck last summer which we did report (can't hide it when you end up in the hospital, police report, wrecker for the bike, etc etc) and her insurance actually went *down* this year thanks to the forgiveness as it's basically as if the accident didn't happen, but she's got another year of experience under her belt.
I was careful when shopping around for insurance that we got accident forgiveness - before we switched to our current insurer with everything bundled that was a show-stopper requirement for me.
Paid off as my wife had a wreck last summer which we did report (can't hide it when you end up in the hospital, police report, wrecker for the bike, etc etc) and her insurance actually went *down* this year thanks to the forgiveness as it's basically as if the accident didn't happen, but she's got another year of experience under her belt.
I didn't know accident forgiveness was a possibility on a bike. We have it on the cars.
It's blanket across our entire policy...including the house. 1 bang on each in (IIRC) 7 years = zero penalty.
We were with BelAir Direct for about 20 years before we switched and had it with them as well. We had 3 minor at-faults over those years (2 for wife, 1 for me) and also never saw any increases.
I think the key is bundled. When we were with a separate insurance company for just the bikes...yeah, accident forgiveness wasn't an option either.
Priller
Well-known member
You have to try it first, I think. Everyone rides for different reasons, so only you can answer if it scratches your itch. It does work for lots of folks, they don't call them crack days for nothing...
Personally, I'm planning to spend a lot more time at the track this year because the roads near me in Hamilton don't quite live up to what I got used to when I lived in BC. I'm hardly an expert, but here's my take as someone 'taking it to the track' a lot more this year.
I did a few days last summer on my Tuono, and while it was amazing, I love that bike too much to throw it away. Unable to find track day insurance (it exists elsewhere, just not here), I decided to get a dedicated track bike instead, one that wouldn't break my heart if I barrel rolled it in the soggy grass at Shannonville. I also wanted something a little less powerful that would make the straights longer and be easier to learn on. I ended up with a beat RC51 instead of my planned SV650, but as I discuss below, there was a lot of false economy in that decision...
As for your concerns, I find the track to be full of the social side you like. It's usually extremely supportive and friendly, and it's super easy to connect with people. You can either go with buddies and pit together, or get to know your pit neighbours. Either way, you won't be lonely, that's for sure. Adrenaline is a bit different and more focused at the track, for me at least. Because you're doing the same corners throughout the day, it becomes less about reacting and reading vanishing points and more about hitting points and stretching your limits. Diminished concentration is definitely not a problem until later in the day when fatigue can set in.
For me, the fun is still in the pure pleasure of carving a corner, so I try not to be fussed about lap times etc. I usually run in the yellow group, but often go green because it takes the pressure off to set lap records. I can focus on hitting apexes and having fun, even if it means getting stuck behind a wobbly kid on a 125 occasionally. Being on a ZX-10R will have pros and cons. The suspension, handling and power are all ready made. But it'll be a hard bike to learn on, and you risk being that guy who holds folks up in the corners and then blasts away on the straights. Still, it's new enough to have a lot of the electronic nannies, though I'm not sure how well the Kawasaki ABS works at the track. I know a number of the Japanese sportbikes had ABS that would kick in way too early, leading to some scary moments at the end of a straight.
If it were me, I'd do a track day or two on your ZX, signing up for green and keeping the focus firmly on having fun, not being the latest braker. See how you like it, and if it's for you, make the call on making the bike you have more trackable (fibreglass fairing and crash protection at an absolute minimum) or picking up a prebuilt beater bike to learn on. Do a track school to make sure you don't develop bad habits, and go from there.
Lastly, as others have mentioned, it's not a great way to save money. Expect to spend a few bucks up front (don't be cheap on gear), then $180-380 per track day (CTMP and Calabogie are $$$$, Shannonville is $$$, and Grand Bend and TMP are $$.) If you don't have a truck or trailer, add the U-Haul trailer rental cost plus whatever it takes to put a hitch receiver on your ride. Then factor in consumables like tires and oil. Depending where you go, a hotel stay may be needed (it is for me at Bogie), as rolling in at 10 am isn't an option for most organisers. Crashing takes it to another level, but you gotta be prepared. God help you if you decide to go racing...
Buy a beat ready-built small displacement track bike and pay John Sharrard to do up the bouncy bits for you. Leave the rest alone. Preferably something that hasn't had the motor tuned so it doesn't blow up. Do not buy a cheap example of a rapidly aging bike that has become a 'modern classic' and then spend triple your budget putting it on the track. Track bodywork, crash protection (including rearsets), upgraded suspension, steering damper, clip-ons, brakes, slipper clutch, spares, etc. all add up so fast. It's been a fun project, but not an economical one...
Mad Mike
Well-known member
2100 isn’t bad if you had a bad at fault. Continuity, safe riding and a bit of time will get you back to normal.
Im guessing a seasoned rider with a good record would be $1200-1300 on a zx10 - $700 was better than I could get in a group rate AND when my employer was the insurance company.
If you are 5 minutes from Mosport you are within spitting distance of the Ganaraska forest - a dirtbike Utopia.
Failing that buy an old KLR.
ScorpionT16
Well-known member
I save the forest for snowmobiling and e-mountain bike lol
KLR's arn't about adrenaline, just grin factor.
I'm too damaged from the crash to ride a dirt bike. Until I get a hip replacement dirt bike is not happening.
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