When do you consider a bike "too nice for the track" and what does that even mean??

[arcticamt6]

I wouldn't consider my Daytona "nice" by any stretch since it was downed by the previous owner a few times. But, now that I did a quick fix on the dent in the tank and the street plastics are still perfect, it looks respectable in street trim.

I'm going to be registering it shortly, and will probably only do a few trackdays per year on it. Even with dedicated track plastics. Mostly because I plan on commuting on it year round.

[USAFgsxr750again]

well, i don't know what my limit would be for taking or not taking a bike to the track. first off, i would want track plastics.... so i guess that would be my limit. no plastics=no track days. other than that, i'm gtg. my wife bought my current ride with the expressed intent of going back to the track and of course riding on the street. sooooo, whenever i get new plastics (and new suit since my other one has no pants - had to cut em off last wreck), i'll be heading to the track shortly there after. if i ever get one of my dream bikes (MV Agusta (what the wife wants me to have) or Aprilia (what i want to have)), i may very well take it to the track.... as long as i got plastics.

so very true about it being cheap to fix Jap bikes. i think i spent $500 to get it back on the road.

[serpentracer]

I think everyone needs to pop their crash cherry. they quickly get over the worry of keeping shit super perfect.

[kevin_stevens]

Originally Posted by ANORXIC'51

Good idea on replicating the expensive bodywork onto the track plastics. Mine is just a run-of-the-mill standard bike, but I haven't seen another pearl white one at any of the trackdays I've been to in the past few years (most tracked Ducs are either red or black, or some variation of racing livery...Marlboro/Xerox/etc), so the Sharkskinz are getting shot in pearl over the winter to keep it somewhat different from the others.

I had a pearl 848 crash right in front of me in turn 11 at Laguna Seca. . Maybe it's an unlucky color!

KeS

[Akumu]

Too nice for my broke ass is...pretty much any bike.

I'm in the wrong passion for a poor dude. I should buy a 07 or earlier 250 or a ninja 500 and toss it around the track. That said I will still track the SV next year, it's one of the reasons I've bought the fucking thing. Since I'm a gutless chicken shit with the throttle I'm hoping to not wad it up. I would be less worried if I still had my ZZR1200 with the SV, so I could slowly fix the wrecked SV back up, if it could be done, while still riding on the street with a 2nd bike. Being put down for weeks/months(?) because of a track get-off has GOT to suck.

[Jamie01]

Originally Posted by Akumu

. Being put down for weeks/months(?) because of a track get-off has GOT to suck.

The truth is that if you're going to crash, the track is the right place to do it. You'll likely do much less damage to the bike, since you won't be sliding into a lamp post or under a truck. And there's a good chance your fellow track riders have the tools, know-how, and spare parts to get you running again.

After a crash you'll hear a P.A. announcement along the lines of , 'does anyone have a right rearset for an R6.' A lot of times the answer is yes, and the bike can be made rideable, even if it looks a little worse for wear and tear.

[serpentracer]

surprised no one mentioned fucking up thousands of dollars worth of riding gear too.
if I go down in my new $400 boots I might cry a little. which is why I bought sidi boots because you can replace all the parts!

[kevin_stevens]

Originally Posted by serpentracer

surprised no one mentioned fucking up thousands of dollars worth of riding gear too.
if I go down in my new $400 boots I might cry a little. which is why I bought sidi boots because you can replace all the parts!

Well, because that's not really the conversation. I guess you could start one about having gear that's too nice for the track, like custom painted helmets. But in the context of the thread, the gear is likely to sustain about the same amount of damage regardless of the bike.

KeS

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Technomancer

I get an emotional attachment to my cars and bikes. It isn't a great thing to do with inanimate objects -- crashing them would really bum me out, even after fixing things back to original condition. And you never quite get back to original condition, do you?

Yeah, I'm very conflicted on even going to the track at all, much less with an expensive bike that I love. I have taken my sports car to the track and had a great time, but you don't often highside/lowside a car. I left plenty of reserve performance on the table so I wouldn't even go off track.

- John

I do this also. I have no idea why I get so attached to them. A good example is my first bike which I have now. I don't know if I can sell it. It seems like it has a certain place. Since its the a first bike.

But I guess you have to part with it at some point.

[USAFgsxr750again]

Originally Posted by Akumu

I would be less worried if I still had my ZZR1200 with the SV, so I could slowly fix the wrecked SV back up, if it could be done, while still riding on the street with a 2nd bike. Being put down for weeks/months(?) because of a track get-off has GOT to suck.

That's what i did. Had the Busa to ride while i was putting the 750 back together.

[USAFgsxr750again]

Originally Posted by Brock

I do this also. I have no idea why I get so attached to them. A good example is my first bike which I have now. I don't know if I can sell it. It seems like it has a certain place. Since its the a first bike.

But I guess you have to part with it at some point.

not really. i regret selling most of my bikes. but if i had kept them, then i wouldn't have owned the bikes i've had over the years.... so kind of a catch 22. the only bike i don't regret selling was the FJR. great in a lot of ways but no soul or connection between us. every other bike i've hated selling after a few days, but enjoy the newer bike i'm riding. Wife said i HAVE to keep the current one until at least the warranty runs out... dang.. 4.25 more years. j/k. this one will be a track whore some day so i am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO keeping it.