A really weird ride day report - Ducati.ms

rustolium · Nov 28th, 2006, 12:22 am

Ok, so I went out for a ride on a beautiful day on a really nice technical route. I was set for a great ride. That is where the adventure began. Right out of the gate I have to stop in the first twisties until a fireman waves me through. A car was off the road into a tree on the opposite side of the road it should be on.

Got out to the next section of twisties. Come up on a group of bikes. A Gixxer had gone down for no apparent reason. Guy was fine. I made sure they didn't need anything and went on to try and squeeze in some ride before dark.

Into the next section I pass two more gixxers having gone down in tight turns. I stop to check on all of them and there was a requiring theme of young guys on newer bikes completely confused.

The fact is, this route is riddled with hidden spots of gravel in the turn apex areas. Why people insist on riding that hard on the street is beyond me. All of the guys encountered except one had even really heard of a track day!

I'd much rather spend $150 for a track day and let it rip than risk it on the street like that. Every one of their repairs will eclipse the trackday cost and they'll never have as much fun. I'm all for a nice brisk ride through the twisties and anyone can make a mistake, but I clearly felt like all these folks didn't have a lot of respect for limits and reality.

I am glad everyone was ok and I hope they all learned something and maybe they'll get interested in some track experience to help build those handling skills.

Anyway, I just thought this was a really weird day and wanted to share it with you all.

Dark_Daddy · Nov 28th, 2006, 12:34 am

I am with you 100% on the track days. I have yet to do one but soon hopefully. I ride with some guys who push it to the extremes on our local back roads lately. These roads are flanked with trees generally. I have been learning to hang back about a 100 yards from them when they get really dumb. Fortunately no accidents have occurred yet.

grendels_arm · Nov 28th, 2006, 6:18 pm

I totally support track days. However once you get through with gas, lunch, tires, bike prep, track days fees, hotels or camping, etc the costs quickly escalate. I figure a track day really costs me $300 or so if you average everything out over the 20+ track days I did this year. Then you get into suspension, etc and it goes into the ridiculous "sell the wife to make some money" amounts. So I understand why people ride on the street most of the time still. A 17 year old kid in high school that wants to ride his R6 most likely can't afford too many track days as he's already paying for the bike and the mega insurance he's probably paying.

rustolium · Nov 29th, 2006, 11:00 am

You know, thinking more on these points you bring up, you are right. I think I really was thinking much more casual trackday usage and then control your riding more on the street the rest of the time. However, the track is addictive so I can see where it would quickly grow out of control for most budgets.

The other point I found interesting is how most of them really had no idea what a track day was. These guys were all in their 20s I am guessing.

I was just reacting and really did forget the "hidden" costs of track usage. I was also a little freaked out at the amount of accidents I saw in less the 25 miles of riding.

lastblast · Nov 29th, 2006, 1:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by grendels_arm

I totally support track days. However once you get through with gas, lunch, tires, bike prep, track days fees, hotels or camping, etc the costs quickly escalate. I figure a track day really costs me $300 or so if you average everything out over the 20+ track days I did this year. Then you get into suspension, etc and it goes into the ridiculous "sell the wife to make some money" amounts. So I understand why people ride on the street most of the time still. A 17 year old kid in high school that wants to ride his R6 most likely can't afford too many track days as he's already paying for the bike and the mega insurance he's probably paying.

I totally agree, between the gas it cost me to drive to one ($50 to $100), the tires that I buy that last maybe 3 track days ($400 a set for slicks) and the cost of the events between $160 and $300 depending on which track your ride on (infineon and Laguna seca $300+) I am looking at and average of over $500 for each track day.
The sport of motorcycling isnt cheap, granted life can be pretty bad if you eat it on the street (or get tickets) but anyway you look at it, it is not cheap

This doesnt even include the money required on bike maintenance, or worn out parts

**mbohn** · Nov 29th, 2006, 6:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by grendels_arm

...and it goes into the ridiculous "sell the wife to make some money"

Better yet, just rent her out.

consolidated · Nov 29th, 2006, 7:04 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by rustolium

The fact is, this route is riddled with hidden spots of gravel in the turn apex areas. Why people insist on riding that hard on the street is beyond me. All of the guys encountered except one had even really heard of a track day!

sounds like Lime Creek Road no? I stopped riding LCR in my 20s but not after seeing two motorcyclist friends die on it. Both had over 30 years on a bike and neither of them were on sportbikes.
One passed after a head on collision with a Buell rider who target locked on his front wheel.
Sure, it could happen anywhere, but why go dancing in a mine field. LCR eats people and motorcycles, and that was before a thousand lake-yuppies moved out there.

rustolium · Nov 30th, 2006, 10:09 am

Yup, that was LCR. I can totally see how your Buell story happened. I'm sorry to hear that. It is such a fun ride and drops you out on to 1431. Otherwise, you ride in normal (such a thing?) traffic to get out to some hill country roads and car drivers just scare me.