Going to my first track day Sunday and I just spent a few hours tooling over my bike making sure everything is in proper order.

Installed some frame sliders - changed the oil - cleaned / lubed the chain - put some air in the tires - checked all important nuts/bolts, fluids, etc.

Some questions:

Any general maintenance stuff I missed above?

Is it best to just keep the tire pressures at the manufacturer's suggested PSI or is there a general rule of thumb for the track?

Does the amount of gas in your tank make a huge difference? If I fill up before heading to the track is that ill advised? Should I be closer to empty if possible?

Shock adjustments - just keep these where I usually do or should I raise / lower the compression / rebound?

Thanks for any help - really looking forward to this experience. I'll post some info Sunday night or Monday with some photos and such.

 

My first track day is tomorrow. I changed the oil 100 miles ago and I will be lubing the chain. I'm borrowing muy friends truck to tow it down to the track, that way I don't have to worry about being stuck when in case I wreck. Air pressure: I'm going about 40psi front/rear and maybe take a bit at the track after getting some peoples recommendations for Pilot Powers. I'm not touching the suspension settings, but keeping them around mid-level (I run a bit more compression in the front since it helps with the softish feeling the forks), and I won't be touching them at the track unless something feels wrong (not like I can tell anyway).

I'm keeping close to a full tank because I would rather not deal with any kind of fuel starving issues.

Bring lots of water and painters tape; I'll also be wearing my lucky boxers and I hope it'll be enough.

 

- The maintenance you did should be good. One thing I would do is change your coolant to run water + Water Wetter. Coolant spills on the track are worse that oil.

-As for tire pressure, leave it at the recommended pressure. Most of the time the recommend settings is good for a beginner/intermediate rider. If there are any adjustments it's usually within 2-4psi of the recommended pressure

- I would fill up before heading out to the track and that should last you to about lunch time (check a session or so before lunch and then fill up at lunch). The last thing you want to do is run out of gas. Some trackday providers will make you leave you bike out there until there is a crash or until lunch/end of day to pick it up. They do that because it wastes other people's track time to pick your bike up.

- For shock adjustment, if you don't know what you're doing, don't touch it. Take it to a shop that specializes in suspension and they can get you set up. A bunch of trackdays that I've been to have the shops come out an can setup your bike at the track (usually for a small fee, ie $20). If they do have that at the track, you can go back to them if you want them to tweek the settings a bit for your riding style.

 

Follow the sticker on your swingarm. If there are any tire vendors there (the brand on your bike) you can ask them, but my experiance running the highest recomended psi will help your tires stay in good shape and your bike handle predicably. You will lose some traction as the day goes on. Get a guage to watch your tire pressure and keep it where it needs to be. You'll also want to bring a gas can (5 gallons), becuase you'll get **** miliage running wide open. Bring your bike to the track full. Don't worry about messing with your clickers now. Also don't change the oil after the trackday, its a horrible waste. Remember hold your line and work at running consistant laps, and have fun. Worry about speed later.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GSpeedR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Air pressure: I'm going about 40psi front/rear and maybe take a bit at the track after getting some peoples recommendations for Pilot Powers.
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Thats way too high. Run around 35-37psi and you should be good.


Remember to start drinking more water the day before. Salty snacks will help you retain water and try to take in some potassium (bananas) to prevent cramping.

A full trackday has a lot of riding time. If you ever feel tired thirsty during a session, pull off. Its not worth it to push it when your body is not at its peak. A small loss in concentration can cause a nasty crash and end your day.

 

Are important bolts safety wired? or is the group you're running with not require that?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LAS2K &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Are important bolts safety wired? or is the group you're running with not require that?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh ya, make sure you triple check the oil filter and drain bolt. I've seen it plenty of times where people forget to check it after a oil change it and the track gets shut down for 1-2 sessions.

 

Also, don't focus on being fast. Just focus on being smooth, to develop a rhythm. Forget about lap times. Be like a sponge, trying to absorb all helpful advice from instructors or seasoned riders. Trust your tires, but always keep an eye on them. Don't try to focus on getting your knee down or being faster than other guys, that will come naturally if you don't push it.

There isn't a single "racing line", just try to find the line that better suits you. It will change as your confidence and skills gets better, also as you learn around the circuit better. Remember, you're not there to win a race, but rather to have a good time, learn and practice new techniques with the relative safety of the track.

Drink a LOT of water. Dehydration sucks, and affects how you handle the bike. Always try to be under some sort of shade.

Get to know the other guys, you could met a lot of cool people in a track. Also it's like a brotherhood where everyone helps and watches out for the other.

And ENJOY!

 

I'm kind of a health nut so I'm always drinking a ton of water and eating bananas - so no worries there.

The beginner group I'm starting in the and next step up (super street) do not require riders to remove antifreeze or safety wire their bolts.

I've got alpinestars leather track pants and TZ-1 jacket - full gauntlet gloves with carbon fiber armor - oxtar track boots - shoei helmet and an alpinestars race back protector so safety is definitely covered.

I never even thought about the possibility of running out of gas. I'll only be running 8 15 minute sessions - but I guess at WOT I could start to run out? Guess I'll go fill up the gas can tonight.......

I don't have "lucky boxers" - should I be worried? Crap.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hybridcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I don't have "lucky boxers" - should I be worried? Crap.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Get your girl to help you with this ASAP

 

Remove/tape all the lights and turn signals.
unless you are riding to the track. then bring painters tape. Some organizations will require that the lights do not light up (or the tape is thick enough that you cant see it), so be prepared to remove fuses and/or bulbs.

tire pressure for the track is generally lower than what you run on the street. 30-32psi (cold) front and rear is probably a good place to start. talk to the tire guys if there are any, and other riders at the track.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CyberLeader &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
tire pressure for the track is generally lower than what you run on the street. 30-32psi (cold) front and rear is probably a good place to start. talk to the tire guys if there are any, and other riders at the track.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Pilot Powers run better on slight higher pressure.

 

I have pirelli diablo tires....so I'm just going to stick with manufacturers suggested PSI till I get there and see if any guys there have suggestions.

I'm riding to the track (my fiancee will be driving the car full of ****) so I'll be taping my lights with painters tape once I get there and removing my mirrors..

 

You should tape everything up the night before.

Make sure your wheel weights are duct taped down.

As far as tire pressure goes, it varies by brand. I ran Diablo Super Corsas 21 rear / 24 front cold.. They performed extremely well.

Take it easy for the first 2-3 sessions. You have all day to ride. Get familiar with the course layout and practice your lines.

Save lots of money because after your first track day, it's all you're going to be doing.

You'll have tons of fun..

 

Man... this is making me want to do a trackday.

 

Per the sticker on my frame I'm running 36 / 42 cold - and you're suggesting 21/24 cold? That's a bit much don't you think?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hybridcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Per the sticker on my frame I'm running 36 / 42 cold - and you're suggesting 21/24 cold? That's a bit much don't you think?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No, the Super Corsa's are the race tires. Start off with 32 front and rear and maybe drop it down to 31/30. Look online to see what the tire's manufacturer recommends. Don't run what your frame says.

 

Pilot powers: 31f/30r Hot pressure

DCIII: about 28f/27r cold pressure and hot somewhere around 30-33f/29-32r Hot


Check them after every session to make sure your pressures are good. General rule for early morning is to only start out 2-3 psi from your target hot pressure when cold. Your morning sessions aren't going to build up a lot of heat but by the 2nd or third you should have it sorted out to be right around your target. Typically at the track there will be a vendor and coaches who give recommended pressures but somewhere around the low 30's for your aggressive street tires should end up being fine.


First rule and don't forget it when at a track. HAVE FUN!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Gixx312 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You should tape everything up the night before.

Make sure your wheel weights are duct taped down.

As far as tire pressure goes, it varies by brand. I ran Diablo Super Corsas 21 rear / 24 front cold.. They performed extremely well.

Take it easy for the first 2-3 sessions. You have all day to ride. Get familiar with the course layout and practice your lines.

Save lots of money because after your first track day, it's all you're going to be doing.

You'll have tons of fun.. </TD></TR></TABLE>


Holy crap dude that's way too low even for those tires. You want to be at around 26f/23r cold. Hot should be 30-32f/29-30r maybe a lil less if you want. And personally I wouldn't run those unless you have warmers... my $.02