I am so friggin' excited about this. I've been dreaming about it ever since I got the 14. Black Hawk Farms June 8, Wednesday!!!!!!!!!WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!WEDNESDAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 7 am to 5 pm. Wednesday is my day off every week. Is the message clear? Get offyour butt and get on the track. $100, some new tires, brake pads. OH HEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL YEAH, BAYYYYYYYYYYBY!

Have spent no $$$ yet. How many runs will I be able to make? How much sitting will I do (AS IF I CARE AS LONG AS I CAN GET 10-15 minutes of pure, unadulterated SPEED!).

You mean...strip?Dragstrip?

Track. Road course.

Drag strip I would do one time but that is too much stress on the bike the whole time you race it is max engine.

Congrats Rook. I know a lot of folks who thoroughly enjoy the track days and have soooo much fun there. I plan to attend (watch) a few local track days in the next few weeks to see what it is all about. Free burgers for all!

I might take the little Ninja 250 out for the first few times if it looks like fun. Many people I talk to say that it gets the "need for speed" out of their system and keeps there street manners in check. I often head out to a local empty highway for a quick blast of 200+ km/h before I hit the city so I know what they mean.

Enjoy!!

Happy for ya Rook, hope you have a good time and the bike survives. hehe.

You shouldn't down play draggin too much. Many people flog their 14s on the strip and they have no issues. RR can be just as scary since you could trash the whole bike wadding it up in a turn.

But have fun! I wish I could swing it someday.

Many people I talk to say that it gets the "need for speed" out of their system and keeps there street manners in check.

I so need to race then! lol

Congrats, Rook! You're gonna LOVE it!

We'll be anxious for a report... -bg

You go!! Even after 15 years of racing, i still love track days. I just wish I could afford more of them!

Mad

Look. He doesn't even have time to post today because he's gotta primp and prep his bike for racing. lol

I wanna know you're racing weight before and after you race, Rook!

Enjoy!! I can't wait to hear your track report when you're done. Keep the rubber on the road, the competitors (esp busa's) behind you, and have fun

I think I can keep the busas behind me. We will see about the smaller bikes. All I have going for me is that they will put me in a novice class and I really think I'm faster on the street than most others. See how that transfers to the track.

Look. He doesn't even have time to post today because he's gotta primp and prep his bike for racing. lolLook. He doesn't even have time to post today because he's gotta primp and prep his bike for racing. lol

Actually, been working for not enough money but this track ride is a dream I've had. Never would have guessed that I would do this when I got the bike. Now, it just seems a natural progression.

So what will I need to do the track day is June 8. Pretty close. I doubt if I will have time to get new tires.

What brake pads should I get? The ones I have would be fried in no time on a track.

Your going to have a ball. Cheers.

I think you will find out that there are some busa riders that CAN ride! Don't try to keep up with someone if it goes over your head! You will be humbled and realize that you aren't that fast. Track days are AWESOME!

I think you will find out that there are some busa riders that CAN ride!

I'm fully expecting most riders to be pretty fast if they are going to a track even if they are in the novice class. You don't go to a track day if you don't like to go fast. I'd be pretty dumb to be competitive at my level.. I doubt the track will allow a high level of aggression. Last thing I would want to do is wreck the 14 but this will be an opportunity to push my own limits as far as I am comfortable.

You'll see

Rook:

Please see this. -bg

Rook,

Congrats!!! I haven't done a track day on the ZX-14 yet but I have in my BMW. I can say for certain that track days will ease the desire to speed on the road, BIG TIME! You will have a blast! Just get out there and take it easy your first few runs. If they offer a walk around at the beginning of the session, do it. Imagine how you will enter and exit the turns. Push yourself a bit each time around as you get to know the track and play nice with the other kids. Most of all, have fun and keep the rubber on the road!

Rook, you asked about what you need to do to the bike. Do you mean inorder to ride on the track or just to make the bike more 'trackable'? Because usually depending on the event and the track itself they will have specific basic criteria you must follow inorder to even take the bike out on the track. Things like for example, Engine Ice instead of coolant, specific bolts safety wired, removal or taping of headlights, and of course protective gear requirements.

If all that is obvious to you then disregard.

Thanks for the write up, BG. That changes my perception of this event a little bit right there. Everyone who has never done a track day ought to have a look at that. This is being called "All Skills Level Track Day" so perhaps I am feeling a bit overconfident thinking we will have the same riders I see on the street. In fact, we might have the fastest of the riders on the street and amongst all the other traffic, I do not see a lot of them------or maybe they are smart and ride fast when/where nobody sees them. That is really the ideal thing to do if you are going to go fast on the street.

The event is sponsored by the dealer where I bought my 14. They have a Introduction to Track Day Seminar tomorrow night which I will attend. I'm sure they will inform us as to the equipment requirements and riding rules.

Do you mean inorder to ride on the track or just to make the bike more 'trackable'?

Both. My main concern is brake pads. Stockers might not make through a day at the track. I have a feeling my braking habits are going to be the thing that is most dramatically changed on the track compared to street sport riding. I never do anything fast on the street unless I have plenty of stopping leeway (ok, I have screwed up and needed to emergency break a few times with the rear end off the ground ).

Other concern is valve adjustment check. No way will I have time to do that.

Other concern, tires. My bt-003s feel good now that we have some warmer weather. should be great for track riding but they are just starting to square off the slightest bit. BHF is prolly 70 miles away + I could put a 300 miles of commuting miles on the tires by the time the track day comes around.

Other concern is oil leak I noticed after taking the 14 out of storage. No oil now, it gets burned up before I ever see it. BUt I would rather have that gasket changed b4 I got on a track with constant high rpm/oil pressure.

Maybe I should just take the busa. Stock exhaust and all.

Other concern, hidden costs-- race fuel, tires, brakes, adjustments... what else might I need to pay for at the track.

Prolly I am overthinking it just a little bit. For me, first time out, all that stuff won't make a big dif. Still, any words of advice much appreciated.

* Last updated by: Rook on 5/25/2011 @ 10:58 AM *

Rook:

Don't worry about wanting to be faster than the other guys. That will only set you up for disappointment. Just have fun and be safe. No matter who you are, with the exception of a few of the top MotoGP guys on any given day, there is ALWAYS somebody faster. Don't look at this as a contest. Look at it as an opportunity to improve your riding skills.

My main concern is brake pads.

The brakes on the 14 are EXCELLENT. I've taken mine to several track days and done some HARD braking. They are as good as new...

should be great for track riding but they are just starting to square off

You might ask about this at the seminar. Some trackday operators insist on new or near-new tires, but the track is a good place to wear down the edges, so maybe it will level things out for ya.

Prolly I am overthinking it just a little bit.

Yes, you may be. Use your regular gas. If you find a good suspension guy there, you might want to have him set you up. This costs $40 at Miller, and the guy there is GREAT. Well worthwhile, and the track setup works for me on the street as well. -bg

Seriously I would look into trailering the bike there! God forbid you go down it would be nice to be able to get you and the bike home! NOBODY plans on going down, but, it happens!

I second that. Don't ride there. You'll be pooped at the end of the day. Relax in a truck for the drive home. Just use pump gas, and just make sure the bike is in decent shape. Doesn't have the be in Superbike form. Have fun!

Mad

I wouldn't bother with changing anything other than what is required for the track. You learn what you need the after first time out. You won't be riding your bike any harder than you do on the street the first couple times. basically I'm saying you are gonna hold back the bike more than the other way around. :) It's just how it works. for everyone who's green.

I would look into trailering the bike there!

That's what I would prefer to do because that is what a normal person would do and I try my best to at least be normal...but I haven't got a trailor and buying one is out of the question at this point. I would have no other use for it than to haul the bike to track days and no room for it. I'll have to ride.

U-Haul rents trailers that are suitable for hauling a bike to a track day, I think. -bg