Dedicated Track Bike?

[MwKid19]

So seeing as how insurance doesn't cover track riding I would like to get a dedicated track bike just incase I have a mishap. These are all future plans for about two to three years down the road. That being said I'm thinking about buying a ninja 250, doing the break in on the street, and then convert it into a track bike. I just got my first street bike that being a ninja 500. I think I will miss the power but as far as riding technique goes the 250 will give me a much better foundation. Then once I get comfortable on the 250, I would take the 500 a couple times and then get a 600. It is kind of doing things backwards a bit but I feel it will make the track much more enjoyable at first, seeing as how I'm not going to be thinking the whole time about wrecking my street bike on the track where insurance won't cover it.

[dorepsol2]

i believe you can get it covered while under insurance.. you claim the wreck under a rider improvement course or something like that. This is what i have heard, you could research it to verify the truth. I have no idea, i dont have insurance anyway. my bike isn't a dedicated track bike but that is primarily its usage.

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

I wasn't sure how to interpret the original post here, the title reads like a question, but the post itself reads more like a statement. Is there a question in there that your looking to have answered?

And like dorepsol2 said, I believe there are insurance companies out there that will cover you at a Track Day due to it not being actual racing. If your worried about if your insurance company covers it or not just call anonymously (possibly to another branch of the same insurer from a phone other than your personal phone because of caller ID) and ask if that activity would be covered or not and if there are any limits or special rules that apply as well? With todays many crooked lawyers and insurance companies, the amount of exclusionary stuff they bury in insurance policies is just crazy and flat out deceptive some times. Make sure you have a copy of what ever they say in writing, I've seen a common disclaimer in many different legal policies that says anything 'promised' outside of the written policy is not legally binding!

Someone I work with ice races motorcycles, he had some minor injuries which required an emergency room visit some years ago and used our companies group health insurance coverage for it. According to that Health insurance companies phonebook size set of rules you could compete in racing recreationally for fun, but if you did it Professionally they would not cover you. The event he was at was a Pro/Amatuer event, and he was racing in the non-Pro classes when he got hurt. The insurance company actually investigated it and found out what event he was racing at, and then denied him coverage because they said it was a Pro event. He went back and forth with them telling them it was a Pro/Am event and he wasn't racing Pro so it should be covered, it wasn't until he got a representative of the racing organization to send the insurance company a letter stating that he was not in any Pro races that weekend that they finally covered it. The wild thing about all of this is that the emergency room bill was actually very minor and he could have paid it himself, but it was just the point that he pays 1000's of dollars every year for health insurance coverage and they fought to not pay the only claim he's had in many years, and it was only for a couple hundred dollars.

Legal crooks I tell ya! Make sure your truely covered if that's the route you go, not just 'told' that you are!

[jk750]

Originally Posted by MwKid19

So seeing as how insurance doesn't cover track riding I would like to get a dedicated track bike just incase I have a mishap...

That's a blanket statement that doesn't necessarily ring true. Most insurance policies will cover track day mishaps. But having a dedicated track bike is a great idea.

[MwKid19]

Ok I'll have to check with my insurance company. I'm new to all of this so I'm just getting basic info to prepare myself for all that is involved.

I've also rethought the bike progression pending if my insurance will cover it or not. Once I am done paying for the 500 I will make it a track bike. Then buy a 600 to ride on the street. I'm buying a truck to transport the bike. I've bought some tools and will buy many more tools as well. I'm also learning how to do work on the bike.

[rolandk]

A buddy of mine totalled his ZX10 at a track day a couple of months ago and his insurance company (State Farm) covered it. As stated earlier everybody needs to call their own insurance agent to find out if they are covered.

[KawTipping]

Before I bought a dedicated track bike, I did the whole swapping one back and forth... that is a pain in the arse!!! I also managed to crash that bike 3 times during the season. The first crash was the worst (well for me anyways). I ended up breaking my collar bone. The bike had a broken rearset and scratched fairings. My insurance at the time would have covered it, but it wasn't worth the rate hike. I claimed my injury on my health insurance and fixed the bike out of pocket (all three times actually). My new insurance company will not cover anything that happens "off road", so track days are not covered. I know Progressive will cover a skill building event, State Farm considers it a gray area. Depending on who you talk to it could go either way.

Anyways, a dedicated bike is the way to go. And your rethinking of using the 500 as a track bike is good. I was going to suggest that you upgrade your street ride instead of picking up a 250.

[OreoGaborio]

i say track the 500. I race one and it's taught me more than I could ever imagine. A 250 is just too gutless to teach you much about throttle control.

[Jody@Sportbike Solutions]

You know, I actually like the little 250s... they're fun. And yeah... they'll teach you to maintain corner speed. But God forbid you ever wreck one. They simply do not hold up well in crashes.

If I were you - I'd be seriously considering a motard. Much greater aftermarket options, very durable, more fun on the track, race classes that support them, yada yada yada.

[OreoGaborio]

problem w/ motards is they like to grenade. I know WAY too many people who have popped their motards despite taking impeciable care of them.

EX500 for the win

[Jody@Sportbike Solutions]

Originally Posted by OreoGaborio

problem w/ motards is they like to grenade. I know WAY too many people who have popped their motards despite taking impeciable care of them.

EX500 for the win

Damn... even in your posts... you're racing

I've known a few engines to go on 'tards as well... but most of the ones I've seen have been KTMs (though this could be explained by the fact that there are, statistically, alot of KTMs being run in 'tard classes).

[RRRR6]

Originally Posted by Jody@Sportbike Solutions

They simply do not hold up well in crashes.

neither do the new R6's.....sucks....