Missis wants to do a trackday on...her cbf 250

[fiveus]

Asked the missis what she would like for valentines day and has decided on a trackday.Now this is ok with me but she wants to do it on her bike a cbf250(2004 model).Now this concerns me beacuse i think she will be slowing down bigger bikes.So my plan was for her to use one of the schools bikes.But then again we don't really know much about trackdays how they work etc.So this is where your experiance comes in to help her go in the right direction.She is a very carefull rider and not a speed demon.And just wants to learn new skills which a trackday should provide her in a safe place.Any help what to do will be gratefully received
Regards john

[MarkJ]

Think you've missed Racing & Trackdays, G

Smallest 4 strokes I've seen at trackdays have been 400's. I've seen some guy on a 125 2T hold his own in inters but he was obviously a racer. In theory you should have no problems as people should just pass her but I'm not sure if the speed difference between herself and everyone else on the straights might be a bit too much. Do you know anyone who could lend her a track bike? Or any bike for that matter, with a reasonable cc.

[fiveus]

[colin1]

I've only done one track day, but I think in the slow group she will be fine. The track is plenty wide enough for people to get past.

The main thing is that she rides predictably, and doesnt suddenly change direction into something coming from behind, as you dont use mirrors.

She may well get buzzed by riders not wanting to deviate much from their racing line when passing her, so she could deliberately ride away from the racing line to avoid this.

Not something I realised until some of the later sessions.

Ages ago Marjay posted an excerpt from guidance from the california race school or something that I found useful on my trackday.

It was something like on the first session stay in one gear and dont use the brakes

session two limit yourself to two gears, but still dont use the brakes

so bit by bit, you introduce things one by one which really helps with confidence, as there is a lot to think about as it feels very different from being on the road
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[G]

Oops, my apologies.
Anyway - I think I'd go for one of the 'novice only' days and go in the bottom group of that.
Gaz on here did his first trackday on a MZ250 and found it fine, but I could see he was pretty near the limit of the square tyres, hanging off like a monkey to eek out all the grip possible.

I've seen a kid on an Aprilia RS125 do fine in the Fast Group at Lydden. But obviously a pretty experienced racer.

While the staying in one gear thing can be good - not advisable on a CB250 I reckon!

Something like CSS or even, dare I say it, Ron Haslam might be worth considering.
Definitely with Ron Haslam and to some degree with CSS I generally tell people they're a waste of money and you should just do a track day. However for a particularly nervous riders, it might be worth it. Ron Haslam a bike is included, but you hardly get any experience. CSS is expensive with no bike included, but you do get more track time.

If you are looking for a reasonably priced trackday hire, I might be able to help you out with a track 675, though to be honest it's probably going to be less useful than just hiring one at track, presuming you're not local to me and don't have your own van.

[fiveus]

Cheers for the replys guys
She only passed her test a mnth ago so is looking to get a bit more experiance with the cbf ...Iv'e actually seen a cat d sv 650 near by to us for £700 so that might be worth looking at .Let her do the day on that.The novice group sounds ideal so will take a look at them
regards john.

[h00dwink]

Hi, don't know where abouts in the UK you are but if you're able to get to Lydden on Saturday 26th Feb there's a track day going on that's £69.
Me and 2 mates should be doing it.
It's a pretty easy track for a first timer in novice and the 250 shouldnt be too much of an issue.
That or as G has said, a novice only day would be worth a punt.
The novice groups are spot on for first timers with any bike.
A friend of mine started at brands on a cbr250 and did alright, was all about using the right gear and carrying corner speed.
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[G]

Lydden is a good start.
Remember a CBR250 makes over twice the power of a CB250.
I'd be quite happy to take a CB250 out, though maybe in inters rather than fast, especially with my current riding level - but for someone that's not that fast a rider, I can see it not being so great.

An SV would make sense - ideally get it on the road so she can get used to the feel first.

[fiveus]

[Maz75]

Just wondering what the outcome was? Did she do one in the end? On which bike? How did it go?