Keeping real speed for track.. help!

[KevTM]

Well i'm keeping the ragging of my bike for the track, maybe i'm getting old or sensible, or both, they generally come hand in hand.. or maybe i'm bored with the road and minimal safe ragging time you can get and the thought of killing someone frankly frightens me. Anyway..

my bikes a bit of a mess, tiz a 95 zxr750 with scratched fairings, non-standard headlight, mullered top fairing, lack of sidestand, generally rough around the edges and not something to be proud of so i've got options.

1. Keep it the way it is
2. Track Fairings and Daylight MOT

i'll be using it on the road to get to the tracks and occassional weekend use, what's the sensible thing to do? keep lights and normal mot and spend money on crash bobbins/suspension/brakes/back protector or go track plastic?

Whats the restrictions on daylight mot, is it limited hours, available light?

Which would be cheaper?

1. Standard Insurance as i have now
1b. as above with track use (unlimited/when needed)
2. Standard Insurance with other track day insurance when needed. (how much is seperate track day insurance on average anyway?)


haven't attended a track day yet as the lack of leathers was holding me back but now i have a set of 2-piece zip-togethers (how long do they take to loosen up? i can hardly spread my legs on the bike lol)

I'm hoping to attend Cadwell for 31st October but it's a bit of a distance to travel as well but is this track ok for a novice?

Other than that i'm still restricted to 33bhp (on paper) will this be a problem at this track? i'll give them a call nearer the time though to make sure.

Any other info, pointers welcomed!..

sorry if these questions have been asked before.

[G]

First off, I'd do a trackday - you might love it and decide to sell all worldly goods to get a top notch track bike, or might hate it .

Anyway, presuming it's somewhere in between; track fairings are usually used to prevent yourself from mashing good condition expensive road fairings.
Little point if your road fairings are already scratched, as you've got an oldish model, you should be able to get cheap bits anyway.

So I'd just keep it as it is. Road fairings actually usually 'crash better' than track fairings anyway!

Some places will make a fuss over 33hp, at others they haven't even checked my licence. Cadwell is MSV group, which is usually a bit more on top.
Plenty of people have done cadwell as a first trackday and loved it.
Personally I found a simpler track (Snetterton) very good as a first track. However maybe you don't want to turn out like me, who's considering spending up to £20k next year for the sake of going around in circles a few times .

[Bendy]

I don't know anyone who actually bothers with trackday insurance. You won't be claimed against so it's generally going to be cheaper just to suck it up and pay for any damage to your own bike yourself.

[KevTM]

ah right thanks for the replies!

can't see me spending 20k on track i don't even make that .

I'll keep the original fairings then and spend the money on something useful..

[G]

[KevTM]

ah well it must be worth it just hope i don't quite get that addicted

i take it it's probably best just to keep buying the tyres i'm buying and use them on road and track? rather than buying race scrubs for the track?

[Zimbo]

Matt black the bike as it is, spend on crash protectors and suspension!
As for trackdays and the 33bhp restriction, Cadwell is an MSV track and they don't allow restricted riders to go out, and they do check licences. You might be lucky, but you may well not be allowed to play, possibly with no refund either.
Mallory is a good track to start and not expensive, and the 33bhp thing shouldn't be a problem there. Could you do that instead?

[KevTM]

zimbo you're right lol.. just read this from the hottrax site and it's not just for cadwell looks like it's the same for the rest.

Licence and Age Requirements for Cadwell Park
You must be over 18 years of age and have one of the following licences:

A) A full valid DVLA Driving Licence with a category A for motorcycles. This must not be restricted.
B) A valid ACU licence of any grade

I'll try Mallory perhaps, they're all a bit far away from me and Knockhill wont have anymore days this year and i really want to get one or two in. My restriction ends in May so not long to wait anyway.

What is Donington like 33bhp resctriction wise? i see they've got a day on the 30th October, could manage that.

p.s. i was thinking matte black for the bike

[Kickstart]

[Zimbo]

Donington's a great track, slippery when wet though! Another MSV track though, as are Oulton Park, Brands Hatch and Snetterton, so in theory you can't ride there with a restricted licence. How about Croft, if you're up north that might be worth a look?

Have a look on here:
https://www.biketrackdays.co.uk/dates/dates.html

[Kickstart]

Hi

Donny is not an MSV track.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Gazdaman]

I wouldn't go down the daytime MOT route personally. I'd be putting the money you're saving on insurance into a towbar and a trailer.

But it's your call. If your leathers are that tight at the moment, they won't stretch that much. Keep an eye on eBay, I got a perfectly good set of non lairy coloured 1 piece leathers for £60.

I agree with G, get out on a trackday and see what you think. I loved my first so much I got a custom title, and booked my second one within a week.

Gaz

[Kickstart]

[Gazdaman]

Unless the vehicles purpose is mainly off road. Or something to that effect?

Daytime MOT is just utilising lots of little loopholes. You'll also need a leniant MOT tester, because I suspect one that does everything 100% by the book would tell you to naff off.

Gaz

[KevTM]

great, thanks for all the info!

yeah just managed to source a new headlight bracket so the original parts will be going back on at the weekend!

I may try get to Donny on the 30th if not i'll hold off and prep the bike a bit more.

Thanks again!

[Cillit-BANG]

Best way to break in your leathers if your in a hurry is to ride on a showery day. Get them soaked then keep riding until the rain clears and you dry off in the wind. A trackday is great for this as you may get soaked in the morning but then come the afternoon it's dry again.

It's quite normal for them to be uncomfortable for the first few weeks

Mine are a year old now and are finalll fully bedded in. I still struggle to stand upright without them cutting me in half so to speak, but then once I'm sat on my bike they fit spot on, which is the most important.

Just to make sure your aware, you usually pay in advance for the trackdays and not just turn up on the day There's the off chance you will get a place, but the norm is to pre-book.

[G]

I never seem to get that wet riding in leathers with no extra weather protection when on track.

[Kickstart]