Need some general advice, and cost of track riding?

Ok, I'll take a swing
1. How much do I spend a........
Every dollar I can
2. Do the 600s mix......
Yes and no. Depends on the skill level you are riding at. The 600s will always get blitzed on the straights by a 1000, but are generally well matched in the corners.
3. I suggest starting on a 600. The big bikes are crazy fast, especially at a place where you can actually use the power. Your mind needs time to learn to be able to deal with those speeds. The learning curve is a bit less steep on a 600. Also, it is quite a bit more physically demanding to ride a 1000. It can be hard to work on proper technique when you are tired. Other than physically, I don't think you have to worry about "out growing" a 600. It was ales someone special to truly use one of these bikes to potential.
Find a good deal on a 600 and start there. Spend a year (7-8 track days) on it, then decide to keep or swap from there.

 

A 600 will teach you how to manage your entree speeds, easier to handle and you will have to use your brain to play with the liter bikes.
On a track like Road America you will get spanked a bit on the long straights.

Cost, that is a loaded question A LOCAL track will run 160 to 220 a day.
If you do a road trip you have gas to and from, food either camping gear (still have to pay a fee many places) or hotel.
So a road trip can easily double or triple the day cost.
My goal this year was one track day a month. 3 away trip's. The 10 hour road trip cost double the 5 hour road trip.
When you start novice you won't have the cost that come with going faster, better tires, warmers, generators etc.

Should you do it. OH HELL YA.
Your young enough to have a couple of decades of fun, IMO 10 times safer than riding on the street.

 

Agreed on everything thats already been said.

I have a track 45 minutes away and one 1.45 away. Cost will always very. The one that is 45 minutes away will run me 100 a day while the other one will run in the mid 200's.

Include fuel to and fro, fuel for the track, food, and some sort of lodging. I typically bring a blow up matress and put it in the enclosed trailer. Saves me about 100-250 a night depending on location.

Some guys and gals will spend thousands a year and some will only spend a very minimum.

As you get faster, tires will cost more, accessories will cost more (warmers, generator, etc..) and you'll probably step up the gear to higher end stuff for protection.

I would look at the SV650 bikes...
Cost is minimal and they can get around a track pretty dang quick.

Just remember the golden rule:

Fast, reliable, cheap

You can only pick 2



If you choose a liter bike.... keep in mind that tires go faster than a 600 and they are a bit harder to sling around a turn if your new to the game.

9.9 out of 10 times.....you'll be hooked from day 1.

Plan on inquiring for a part time job to fund the addiction. Hahahahaha

 

Fast, reliable, cheap

You can only pick 2



Litter bikes also use more tires. Promise.
Depending on your size even a smaller bike then a 600 might work.
At Barber a 10 year old on a 125cc passed be with ease, then 5 other bikes in one corner.
SO be prepared to be humbled. LOL.

 

I'll throw in my 2 cents having not ridden that many track days. I'm hooked...to an extent. Wish I had more time to do it. I'll do well to get in 4 or 5 weekends during "riding season" which for me is when deer season is not in (mid Feb. - October). I still ride on the road, including weekend trips on my touring bike. I also coach football on the side and that takes up time. Oh, I have a day job, but don't work weekends.

Costs: You can do it as cheap as owning a motorcycle and track gear will allow, plus track day costs of travel, lodging, food, etc. In other words a little more expense than if you went on a motorcycle touring road trip for the weekend, but not much more. OR, you can spend to your heart's content and wallet's ability. The sky's the limit.

Bike: I started on a 600. Honda CBR600RR. Perfect for me to start. I've ridden liter bikes the last 4 track days (at schools). I traded the Honda on a naked liter bike BMW S1000R and will use it for now...it's not quite the power of a full fairing sport liter bike at 160HP compared to the 190+HP. I've been on on the Double R the last 4 days on track. The 600 was really a good start, and wish I still had it. One weekend there was a guy in a school with me that was 6'3" ish and pushing 300lbs maybe...all of 275 anyway...big guy...riding a 300...dude was quick in the turns...got passed on the long straight a lot, but he could easily keep up on the corners. 600 is plenty to start with.

 

There is no answer on cost until you actually do it. My advice would be to take your bike to the track to find out. You can rent leathers rather than buying for your first time and you don't need to have a "track bike" to start out in novice class. In general, I would say that most people who ride track become addicted to it so you've been warned, lol! I was hooked the very first time I did it and I have learned to use my money wisely so I can feed my track addiction. If you do a track day and get hooked, keep in mind that it's an expensive hobby. Don't put the cart before the horse is the best advice I can offer. If I could go back in time, I'd have done things differently for sure. You don't need as much as you might think to have a great day at the track so start out with what you already have. You'll know on your very first track day if this is something that you're willing to spend all of your disposable income on, lol!

 

Well said.. My first 4 were on my Triumph Tiger 1050, after touching the feelers decided I needed a track bike.

So rent the leathers, sign up for Ride Safe (free track time) and get a bike this winter if you like it..

OH, you will. It's legal crack. Take it from an old SLOW fart. LOL.

 

I attend about 5 to 6 track days a year running close to 2grand. That includes getting there, food etc....I'm definitely on the cheap too. I would take the nighthawk, I did my first track day on a Kawasaki Versys and it was a blast.

 

I'm not going to do all the math, but I know 1/2 of my track-day expense is on tires. I figure about $1/mile on my R6 running Power Cups.

 

indy, What is the (Ride Safe) you mentioned?

 

Well, darned if I can find it.
There WAS a program for riders who NEVER have done a track day.
Signed up, and selected got a free track day.

It is, was a smart program. Would guess more then not once got a taste of track riding would be HOOKED.

Maybe you can find it, or someone else has a link. Could be senility creeping up.

 

Indy was close but it's called Ride Right and appears not to be offered near as often.

Read more here.
http://www.sttforum.com/index.php?threads/ride-for-free-its-on-stt-ride-right-program.7034/

 

Thanks for the replys, I read your link and I would not qualify, I have been on a track before but it was a while ago.

 

Thanks Steve..