1to392831weretaken
New Fish
You guys are kind of both right. No way would I take a Ducati that pretty and pristine out on track. The cost to repair a single low-side would pay for a dedicated track bike that you don't worry about crashing and would be quicker around a circuit anyway. The most costly crash I ever had was the day I took a street bike to the track. In fact, I only brought it as a grocery getter during the day, as my buddy and I were going to take turns on my track bike. He got bumped up to the same group as me, so the street bike had to come out. Had to take evasive maneuvers to avoid a supermoto parked in the middle of the blind downhill apex of Turn 1 at Pacific Raceways. 170 mph leaned over is no time to be taking evasive maneuvers... Missed T-boning the dude and killing us both, but had to run through the infield, cross the track again, through the outfield (the wall has since been moved waaaaaay back from where it was then), and plowed the tire wall still going at least 60 mph. I threw the bike at the last second and bike and I simultaneously slammed into that wall. I watched it hit, the tires explode everywhere, and next thing I know my buddy was waking me up. That was a $6000 repair.
When my younger brother wanted to go to the track with me, he picked up a really sweet bike on craigslist. 2007 GSXR600 for $3200. Ohlins TTX36 shock on the rear, GP carts in the fork, so the suspension alone cost more than the asking price of the bike. I took it out one session just to check it out, and I absolutely loved it. GSXRs may be the squidliest bike on the market, but they're very rider friendly, more comfortable than their competition, sweet handling, and very cheap to both buy and repair due to all the squids constantly crashing them.
Long story short, if you're serious about going to the track, find a cheap 600 that's already prepped and do it right. Then PM me and I'll dial you in like @IrishDawg22. Probably even meet you there if it works with my schedule. I rolled solo my first track day because I didn't know anybody, and that's no way to go.
Unfortunately, there is really limited inventory of track bikes on craigslist right now, and most of the ones there are overpriced relative to previous seasons, I guess because COVID? I see an R1 that's priced to move, but old liter bikes without modern traction control are widowmakers. A 600 is a way better first track weapon, don't burn through tires at a phenomenal rate, and don't make so much power that traction control really matters. There's currently an overpriced R6 and a slightly less overpriced Ninja 6R locally (the latter a pretty sweet setup, though). Probably be worth waiting until February/March to see if things return to normal before next season.
I could REALLY ramble on about this, but I'll just leave it at PM me if you're really thinking about doing this, and I can help you through. I'll warn you that @Swaye's right: riding on the track is every bit the leap in addiction from street riding that street riding is from not riding at all. This could get very expensive for you. I buy a set of tires every four days, a set of knee pucks every day, entry fees, fuel for bike and generator, new leathers every time I get fatter.
Worth it.
