Just to let you know just how much your videos effect us riders, I an nearly 70 years old and have been riding dirt and street bikes since the age of 13. I have been a volunteer worker with the American Federation of Motorcyclist for the past two years spending a lot of time at the track shown in your Video, Thunder Hill in Willows Calif. as a corner worker and loving it (best seat in the house). Now for your influence I have picked up a Kawasaki Z900, ordered a set of Bison leathers as well as the necessary safety equipment, and after setting up my Z900 have started planning for my first track day. Always looking forward to your videos, please keep up with the informative content. Thank You
Michael, I can’t express how much your words and thoughtfulness means to me. Years ago, I lived in California and rode at Thunderhill quite a lot, to me, it still feels like my “home track”. Many of my moto friends are still out there and some still race AFM. I’m genuinely happy to hear from you and think it’s just awesome that you are challenging yourself with a new motorcycle discipline, especially after decades of riding other styles of motorcycles. I hope we get to turn some laps together in the future! Keep the shiny side up and have an awesome time sir!
@@vtranmoto Your neighborhood isn't that far away from Calif. you never know I might just show up some day. I might do that just to see you and your bike stable at the track. By the way how do you like your all aluminum tow hauler?
Would be awesome, just lmk. The trailer has been a mixed bag, I was going to do a "long term update". Short of it is that: (1) its great to have a trailer of some sort in TX with A/C because its bloody hot here, (2) would I spend as much money as I did again? Absolutely not, (3) all aluminum is the way to go, I never have to worry about rot/mold, and (4) I think a fifth wheel might have been a better option since I take my dogs with me and I frequently host friends in the trailer (once you get 3-4 adults + 2 large sized dogs in there it becomes very cramped).
Ha! I was inspired by one of your comments on a different video. :) Good luck on your first trackday, most important thing: HAVE FUN! Looking forward to hearing how it goes!
thanks Steve! I'm stoked to hear what you think about bike trackdays. I've only done a few days in cars, all I can say is that its at once familiar but also very different between cars and bikes on track. :D
Awesome video, lots of great info. I remember my first track day it was intimidating, everyone with their canopies, racing slicks, warmers, generators... and here I was with my bike on the back of the truck. Big time agree on the earplugs, the two times I've forgotten to put them on at the track have been miserable; they really help you quiet things down and focus on the riding.
Thanks so much man! I totally agree, it can be an exciting, but also, intimidating and overwhelming environment. Hoping this helps riders who want to explore track riding or really get into the sport. Hope to ride with you soon man!
This is super timely! I've been riding for 20 years but I'm not really a sport rider. Recently, I rode a friend's 890 Duke R and decided I needed to try some sport riding - but I'm not super comfortable pushing it in an uncontrolled environment like the street. Although I have no interest in racing, I'd love to start doing some track days.
Thanks for watching! I totally hear you, track riding is about having fun and learning in a controlled environment. Racing is a completely different pursuit. Quickish story, when I started riding I rode street on a SV650 & Street Triple for a few years, I used to take my friends out on 2-up rides and after a few trackdays, they remarked on how much better it was riding with me - mainly, learning to be even more relaxed on cornering and smoother on throttle. I hope you're able to get on track soon and it proves to be a great experience!
Good video. The track day provider usually has a listing of needs for their school. They will list DOT, ECE, or Snell for helmet etc. Some organizations also give an option to new riders to rent a suit or loaner program for first timers. This is a good video for those thinking about going to their first and this information can take some fear out of it. Good job.
Great job covering so much. I especially like how you covered cramping and how to avoid/prevent it. No one really talked to me about this when I started and I almost ended up in the ER from full-body cramps. I wasn’t drinking enough water/sodium replenishment, and no potassium the entire day, and it was in Virginia in July which is warm and sticky. Now I use potassium and magnesium supplements, and Pedialyte or some type of electrolyte replenishment in my water throughout the day, and even starting the day before. I’m 6’ 2” so my long legs are constantly “squatting” up/down to move on the bike, that’s a lot of work without proper replenishment. And it’s also worth noting that taller riders like myself, DONT need to have half a butt cheek off the seat, more like 1/4 at most because we are so tall/big it ends up being too much counter balance if you try to look like MotoGP and your well over 6 feet tall. Your upper body off to the side (head/body) is plenty for most every corner.
Thanks Ryan! Yeah we definitely have to take care of our fitness on and off the saddle. I underestimated the hydration/nutrition requirements and suffered *alot* at one of our summer endurance races; I felt it was important to discuss. And you’re absolutely right, taller riders shouldn’t expend too much energy unnecessarily. Great tip!
Very comprehensive video. A few comments: 1. Regarding use of the instructors, respect their time. Typically the ratio of customers to instructors could be 5+:1, so each instructor could have many people asking for shared time on track. Yes, they are there to help, but they are there to help everyone. They also need time to eat, hydrate, and try to get some riding in for themselves, etc., 2: Trying to improve on a shitty line is the equivalent of trying to exercise away a poor diet. Something fundamental has to change.
Bring a chair, print out the track map so you can mark the racing line, break points, turning points on the map. Get your bike suspension and tire pressure set up for the track at the track. For a first time rider suspension probably doesn't need to be set up since they won't have a fast pace.
Great tips! track maps are definitely a great resource. I just got back from Barber and an altitude map was really instrumental in helping me understand elevation change in addition to a 2d map which just shows you left or right.
@@vtranmoto yes the 2d maps don't show altitude change , blind corners, incline of the corners etc. For this reason a track walk is very helpful which I forgot to mention. It also helps see anything that can be used as a marker. I didn't know altitude maps existed. I will have to look for those.
I think a lot of people overthink trackdays, they turn up to novice with R1s on slicks with tyre warmers and end up getting lapped by a 400 on street tyres. Best thing to do is relax, make sure your bike and gear is safe and just turn up to the track. I run Bridgestone S22s on my Monster 796 and it keeps its own against the litre bikes
100% agreed, I think it’s easy to get swept up with fancy bikes and then you see the race bikes and you think you have to have a race bike to do trackdays etc. the truth is you can track anything, heck they track and race scooters in Asia and they ride them fast!
Just to let you know just how much your videos effect us riders, I an nearly 70 years old and have been riding dirt and street bikes since the age of 13. I have been a volunteer worker with the American Federation of Motorcyclist for the past two years spending a lot of time at the track shown in your Video, Thunder Hill in Willows Calif. as a corner worker and loving it (best seat in the house). Now for your influence I have picked up a Kawasaki Z900, ordered a set of Bison leathers as well as the necessary safety equipment, and after setting up my Z900 have started planning for my first track day. Always looking forward to your videos, please keep up with the informative content. Thank You
Michael, I can’t express how much your words and thoughtfulness means to me. Years ago, I lived in California and rode at Thunderhill quite a lot, to me, it still feels like my “home track”. Many of my moto friends are still out there and some still race AFM.
I’m genuinely happy to hear from you and think it’s just awesome that you are challenging yourself with a new motorcycle discipline, especially after decades of riding other styles of motorcycles.
I hope we get to turn some laps together in the future! Keep the shiny side up and have an awesome time sir!
@@vtranmoto Your neighborhood isn't that far away from Calif. you never know I might just show up some day. I might do that just to see you and your bike stable at the track. By the way how do you like your all aluminum tow hauler?
Would be awesome, just lmk. The trailer has been a mixed bag, I was going to do a "long term update". Short of it is that: (1) its great to have a trailer of some sort in TX with A/C because its bloody hot here, (2) would I spend as much money as I did again? Absolutely not, (3) all aluminum is the way to go, I never have to worry about rot/mold, and (4) I think a fifth wheel might have been a better option since I take my dogs with me and I frequently host friends in the trailer (once you get 3-4 adults + 2 large sized dogs in there it becomes very cramped).
Yes, the video I've been waiting for! Going to do my first trackday September 10th, and this video is going to help a ton!
Ha! I was inspired by one of your comments on a different video. :) Good luck on your first trackday, most important thing: HAVE FUN! Looking forward to hearing how it goes!
I can't wait to start doing track days on a bike. I have years in cars, but bikes are a whole new experience! Thanks for a great video.
thanks Steve! I'm stoked to hear what you think about bike trackdays. I've only done a few days in cars, all I can say is that its at once familiar but also very different between cars and bikes on track. :D
Awesome video, lots of great info. I remember my first track day it was intimidating, everyone with their canopies, racing slicks, warmers, generators... and here I was with my bike on the back of the truck. Big time agree on the earplugs, the two times I've forgotten to put them on at the track have been miserable; they really help you quiet things down and focus on the riding.
Thanks so much man! I totally agree, it can be an exciting, but also, intimidating and overwhelming environment. Hoping this helps riders who want to explore track riding or really get into the sport. Hope to ride with you soon man!
This is super timely! I've been riding for 20 years but I'm not really a sport rider. Recently, I rode a friend's 890 Duke R and decided I needed to try some sport riding - but I'm not super comfortable pushing it in an uncontrolled environment like the street. Although I have no interest in racing, I'd love to start doing some track days.
Thanks for watching! I totally hear you, track riding is about having fun and learning in a controlled environment. Racing is a completely different pursuit. Quickish story, when I started riding I rode street on a SV650 & Street Triple for a few years, I used to take my friends out on 2-up rides and after a few trackdays, they remarked on how much better it was riding with me - mainly, learning to be even more relaxed on cornering and smoother on throttle.
I hope you're able to get on track soon and it proves to be a great experience!
Thank you for this video, anyone starting out pay attention and rewatch, this definitely recommended to you
Thanks Terry, appreciate you watching and leaving a comment! Glad it was helpful.
Every day at the track is my first track day.
Every day is your first time on a motorcycle
Good video.
The track day provider usually has a listing of needs for their school. They will list DOT, ECE, or Snell for helmet etc. Some organizations also give an option to new riders to rent a suit or loaner program for first timers.
This is a good video for those thinking about going to their first and this information can take some fear out of it.
Good job.
Appreciate that Pete! Hoping more and more riders get the chance to explore what track riding is all about ✊
Great job covering so much. I especially like how you covered cramping and how to avoid/prevent it. No one really talked to me about this when I started and I almost ended up in the ER from full-body cramps. I wasn’t drinking enough water/sodium replenishment, and no potassium the entire day, and it was in Virginia in July which is warm and sticky. Now I use potassium and magnesium supplements, and Pedialyte or some type of electrolyte replenishment in my water throughout the day, and even starting the day before.
I’m 6’ 2” so my long legs are constantly “squatting” up/down to move on the bike, that’s a lot of work without proper replenishment. And it’s also worth noting that taller riders like myself, DONT need to have half a butt cheek off the seat, more like 1/4 at most because we are so tall/big it ends up being too much counter balance if you try to look like MotoGP and your well over 6 feet tall. Your upper body off to the side (head/body) is plenty for most every corner.
Thanks Ryan! Yeah we definitely have to take care of our fitness on and off the saddle. I underestimated the hydration/nutrition requirements and suffered *alot* at one of our summer endurance races; I felt it was important to discuss.
And you’re absolutely right, taller riders shouldn’t expend too much energy unnecessarily. Great tip!
Really appreciate the information you shared and the way you presented it. Thanks!
Thanks so much, glad it was helpful and well received. Also thanks for leaving a comment!
Awesome information! Thanks for putting this together for us all.
Thank you Ross, really appreciate your taking the time to watch and comment! 👊
Bro thank you! I'm preparing for my first track day at MSR Houston soon. I'm using your video as a guide. Definitely helpful information 🙏🙏
Thanks so much for watching and letting me know! That’s my home track and I’m there pretty often. Let me know if I can help in any way! 👍
Very comprehensive video. A few comments: 1. Regarding use of the instructors, respect their time. Typically the ratio of customers to instructors could be 5+:1, so each instructor could have many people asking for shared time on track. Yes, they are there to help, but they are there to help everyone. They also need time to eat, hydrate, and try to get some riding in for themselves, etc., 2: Trying to improve on a shitty line is the equivalent of trying to exercise away a poor diet. Something fundamental has to change.
Well put and thank you very much for sharing your thoughts!
Thx for great content! Going to cota on November for 3rd time with ridesmart. Will stop by say hi if you're there.
hey Mike! thank you! yes I'll be there for both days. Looking forward to meeting you!
Bring a chair, print out the track map so you can mark the racing line, break points, turning points on the map. Get your bike suspension and tire pressure set up for the track at the track. For a first time rider suspension probably doesn't need to be set up since they won't have a fast pace.
Great tips! track maps are definitely a great resource. I just got back from Barber and an altitude map was really instrumental in helping me understand elevation change in addition to a 2d map which just shows you left or right.
@@vtranmoto yes the 2d maps don't show altitude change , blind corners, incline of the corners etc. For this reason a track walk is very helpful which I forgot to mention. It also helps see anything that can be used as a marker. I didn't know altitude maps existed. I will have to look for those.
I think a lot of people overthink trackdays, they turn up to novice with R1s on slicks with tyre warmers and end up getting lapped by a 400 on street tyres. Best thing to do is relax, make sure your bike and gear is safe and just turn up to the track.
I run Bridgestone S22s on my Monster 796 and it keeps its own against the litre bikes
100% agreed, I think it’s easy to get swept up with fancy bikes and then you see the race bikes and you think you have to have a race bike to do trackdays etc. the truth is you can track anything, heck they track and race scooters in Asia and they ride them fast!
Loved the video! Way too damn good production quality to have sub 1000 views
Really really appreciate that, thank you! Just trying to help spread the joys of track riding! 😊
LOL if you just ride the rc8c and || or an 890r either on street with some hype OR on track..... I'll watch errrr' single video you post lmao
Hahaha thank you man! Definitely got way more to share with both bikes! Wrapping up the carbon project soon 😎
@@vtranmoto Cannot wait!!!
Plus, if you do build videos... sh*t... I might like actually simp over here
@@HarrowedDreams coming soon ;)