Signed up for my first track day!

[stanga5o]

This is getting real. Just signed up for my first track day at NHMS!

Just need to finish buying all my gear and figure out exactly what I need to do to prep my bike (I've already read the information twice and it sounds pretty basic).

See you guys out there..

And don't be surprised if I start asking a ton of questions..

[Petorius]

Congrats! Which day?

[jasnmar]

Congratulations. Take a sleeping pills (early) the night before. I hardly slept before my first day.


Ask all the stoopid questions you want. We actually love answering them.

[golden chicken]

Ask all the stoopid questions you want. We actually love answering them.

Cookie Monster pj bottoms?!

[stanga5o]

Congrats! Which day?

May 12th. Gives me some time to get some maintenance done..

And to allow for plenty of time left in the season to plan another day ha!

[The Snowman]

Read this for info on what to do to prepare: Bike and Rider Preparation

There will also be plenty of help available from the staff and even other riders. Local track days are very friendly.

[maxim_X]

Your gonna have a ball. Get your bike right with good brake pads and tires and have fun!!

[jasnmar]

Tech really isn't too severe as long as you focus on the important things.

As JC said... Brakes and tires are high priority.

Make sure there are no leaks of any sort. Leaks make for slick places. Slick places are very bad.

Bodywork? If you have any make sure it won't fall off.

Lights? If you have any make sure they don't work or are covered by tape (technically running lights at least for some organizations are OK, but always get rid of the brake lights).

You'll generally need to safety wire the oil filter. Show up with a hose clamp that will fit it morning of and ask for help. Somebody with wire pliers will be more than happy to help you.

Matt - keep it up. She will kill you :-P

[nhbubba]

My condolences.. I mean congratulations. It's all down river from here.

Man, I am so pumped to ride this year!

[TTD]

You'll generally need to safety wire the oil filter. Show up with a hose clamp that will fit it morning of and ask for help. Somebody with wire pliers will be more than happy to help you. :-P

While we can do it that morning, it's always nicer to roll in with no work needed... especially if that work requires bodywork removal.

It really is a simple thing to do, so post up any questions you have and I'm sure the forum can talk you through it. Remember, many bikes need no wire... just butt the hose clamp screw against something solid and tighten it up. If you do need wire, just go to any part that will be pulling the clamp/filter tight.

[stanga5o]

Good advice guys, thanks. My bike is solid. I'll be doing brake service (caliper rebuilds, new pads, and fluid/bleed) at the beginning of the season. Tires are good, body is tight, new chain, sprockets, suspension. Will be checking valves at beginning of season, but the engine runs great and would be fine as-is.

I'll do the hose clamp on filter and wire it if needed per TTD requirements. The lights will be the most important thing to figure out. I assume I'll be able to simply unplug most, but not sure yet. That sounds easier than taping them up (they're mostly/all plastic I believe).

[Petorius]

You can also try pulling fuses to disable the lights. On my bike its very easy to unplug the lights so I just do that.

[nhbubba]

I've always disconnected my lights.. although I honestly don't know why. One of the connectors is a real pain in the ass to get to. I should have just bought a roll of blue painters tape and done that.

[TTD]

Not sure which ones you mean, but we don't care about headlights and turn signals... just brake lights.

[nhbubba]

Brake/tail cluster on the V-Strom. The connector to disable it is under the rear parcel deck. A real pita to get to unless you have small hands, then it's cake. My hands are not small.

I see a lot of guys just blue tape the lights. Seems way easier. I don't know why I often go for the extra work.

Doesn't matter anymore as I now have a track toy that doesn't have any lights.

[GixxerJosh]

Welcome to the fun, you will love it. I started in September with 2 under my belt now. Warning it is addicting and after the 1st one, it is all you will think about 24/7, lol

[MR_C]

Congrats on the track day! Good luck getting sleep the night before... I've been to a few of Tony's Track Days. He does require that the oil filter be "locked in" . The hose clamp method is acceptable. Depending on your filter location, the clamp itself can provide the security, as it will prevent the filter from unscrewing. Personally, I like to remove anything I can (mirrors, directionals, license plate, etc.) The only trouble with taping up a working light is the heat buildup makes it difficult to remove the tape later. My headlight connectors are not easy to get to, so I pull the fuse. Both methods work, so whichever is easier. Part of the idea of removing items and taping is that it holds things together in the event you go down, and potentially less things to clean up. They are not being cold and heartless, just thinking ahead. Those guys are right on how important good tires and brakes are. Talk to an instructor and/or track veteran about tire pressure the day you get there.

That day will be the hardest, most fun, 100 miles you have ever done...

[nhbubba]

Someone, somewhere recommended taping over the speedometer for my first day. I think this was good advice. Seeing the speeds would have been too much distraction/temptation for me on my first day.

Curiosity got the best of me and pulled the tape for the last session to check out my killah speeds on the front straight. 90-something indicated.. lemme tell you about them fast, fugly adventure bikes.

[Garandman]

Stanga, I bought safety wire and pliers at HF but presumably the industrial supply outfits would have them. There's likely a thread here on them: the good ones work a lot better.

Or if you stop by Dot you can use mine, the process takes about two minutes unless it's an odd placement.

[stanga5o]

Stanga, I bought safety wire and pliers at HF but presumably the industrial supply outfits would have them. There's likely a thread here on them: the good ones work a lot better.

Or if you stop by Dot you can use mine, the process takes about two minutes unless it's an odd placement.

Thanks for the info. I'm actually planning to goto HF to pick up a floor jack today and I've thought about picking up a safety wire kit before so I might grab that too while I'm there.

[stanga5o]

I definitely don't want to deal with removing residue from my lights if I tape them up. I would prefer to just unplug my lights rather than taping, assuming the plugs/fuses are easily accessible. I know my brake/rear indicators are right under my pillion seat so if that's all that TTD requires I should be all set...

Is it proper etiquette to unplug headlights too? I don't want to piss anyone off on my first day, but it's one less thing to deal with if it's not a big deal.

[Trouble]

If it's a Tony's day it's fine to leave the headlights on. Unplug your tail lights. Easy peezy and your electrical system meets the inspection requirements.

[jasnmar]

If it is glass, you will be required to tape it (you said earlier that you think most is plastic, which doesn't require taping).

I've seen people run with headlights on before. My first couple days I had all of my "running lights" (tail lights and forward amber lights) on, but pulled fuses for the headlight and brake light. I didn't tape anything.

[nhbubba]

Floor jack? Not sure what that's for.

I have the HF safety wire pliers. They do the job for a recreational user like myself.
Avoid the short spools of "mechanics wire" HF sells; it is very brittle and it is frustrating to try to turn that stuff off cleanly without breaking it. They have larger spools that must be a different gauge or alloy or something that is much better.

[jasnmar]

For wire, buy http://pilotshq.com/product_info.php...oducts_id=6335

For pliers, buy http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-MADE-BLUE...item1e876ae1db

Rather than buying new cheap pliers I picked up a pair of "vintage" wire pliers (I believe them to be millibar) on ebay for like $30. They don't spring return. They aren't reversible. They do work (at least to the extent of my safety wiring capability).