Track days and dragging a knee

Does anyone have tracktime on a street bike? I'm interested in getting on the track for a few non race laps. I always thought that just to get on the track you had to have certain safety mods done first (safety wire, oil blowout pan, etc) but I've heard rumors they have open days.

Next question, have you ever dragged a knee? I wouldn't try it on my Seca but that looks like a thrill. I'd like to take some corners harder and I know my bike is capable of it but I just won't do it on the street.

 

Sorry, was supposed to be in the open forum.

 

On my 550 the pegs touch down fairly easily and it's not hard to have the knee on the deck and it's only on touring tyres

Our local track any Tuesday or Friday is $50 for 1/2 a day and no special prep required 8) we are so lucky

Our "Have a go day" with the local Racing club require mirrors to be removed, all glass taped up, plugs in the end of the handle bars but no lock wiring you'd have to check with whoever runs them in your part of the world

 

You should do an on line search for the nearest tracks, (Black Hawk Farm, and Road America) and check their calender for bike track days, then track down the sponsoring bike club and they will give you their requirements.
This is how I scouted the track days at Gingerman track in Michigan (also within your range). However what I saw was that it is an event to show off how much money you have and be judged so. All the bikes I saw were new or not very old, all the riders had trailers, some very well equipped, (a Ducati and BMW as the gofer bikes and a Ferrari!). So do some scouting first.
Bill

 

Thanks breauxs.

 

The bike I believe needs to have all glass taped, mirrors removed etc. I do not know whether or not you nee dto have a bike safety wired for a track day. I think just basic safety requirements are needed. You may have to safety wire your oil bolt, but not sure.

Are you going to take your xj to the track?

Dragging a knee, yep, been there done that. First time you do it, it'll scare the cr@p out of you. You'll be like 'wtf was that?' I use to drag knees in socal up in the mountains. It's alot of fun, but don't push it, I wrecked my f4 trying too hard. It'll come.

My buddy told me to scoot my crack to the edge of the seat, get off the bike as much as you could, look through the corner and you'll have touchdown.

 

It depends on the track.

For the track I go to I must:

- tape lights
- change coolant to water/wetter

However most of us:
- remove lights
- remove mirrors
- cover speedometer
- wire any bolt that holds oil in
- wire any brake or axle bolt
- remove horn (not allowed on the bike during racing)

As a result... most people start looking for a dedicated race bike.

The Seca will be fine - you'll be out gunned, but jump in the slow group. You will find the suspension will quickly limit your experience and being smooth will pay dividends. Go you will love it!

 

If you do get fast on your bike, the others will wonder WTF is that and secondly how the hell are you going so fast My response was to tell them to stay off of the friggin brakes and lean it in Dam I miss having the seca on the track!!!

Sean

 

dino, I cant help but notice, on your sig pic, you're makin a right turn, where do your race goin right? or was it a road course track?

 

Schooter, it was most likely at turn 4 at Willow Springs Raceway on the big track. Yup its a road race track

Sean

 

If you can get to grips with it, you'd be surprised how well you can do against so called "superior" bikes

I've regularly dealt to far bigger and later bikes on my RD350LC and expect to again once my XJ550 race bike is ready