New Rider - How long do I wait before I do a track day?

[chrisc]

I'm a new rider, 500 short miles under my belt. I'm riding a '08 Ninja 250.

How much experience do I need before I do a track day?

I have literally thousand of hours of ATV riding experience so I am pretty experienced with shifting and riding fast on a "saddle". I also have a lot of experience with crashing on dirt :-). Granted, two wheels and four wheels are two very different things.

On two wheels I have a whopping 500 miles and the MSF course, and no experience crashing (yet).

Do I wait until next year when I will probably have many more miles experience on two wheels? Or do I piss off the wife and do a track day this year sometime?

Also, is a 250 "ok" on the track? Am I gonna be in peoples way?

-Chris

[bigred875]

when you get the cash and gear.... as long as you use your head on the track and stay predictable you shouldnt have a problem

[virtualbong]

when you get the cash and gear.... as long as you use your head on the track and stay predictable you shouldnt have a problem

+1

Ride within your own abilities and you'll be fine.

[Doc]

+2.

There was a guy on a 250 in the Blue group (fast) the last trackday I was at. I am sure you can hold your own in the red (slow) group.

[mzdagrl]

+3

Get yourself to the track and really learn how that bike can handle. It'll increase your abilitie on the street way faster than street riding.

[chrisc]

when you get the cash and gear....

Spending the cash is phase 1 of pissing off the wife

To be honest though, she has not given me any crap about buying a bike, well, except that I didn't buy a harley.

[OreoGaborio]

I think only 500 miles is a little too soon... but generally the earlier the better.

With that said (and I think this goes w/o saying but I'll say it anyway) you should be 100% comfortable w/ all normal operations of the bike. Shifting, braking & steering etc should all be second nature.

I did my first track day 3 short months after I got my first bike and I had only put about 5k miles on it by the time I brought it to the track. By the end of the day I had learned a SHITLOAD and made a ton of improvment. And as a bonus, my left knee my puck was skuffed & my bike was still intact

[CEO]

I did my first track day after riding for about 2.5 months. I did great, dragged both knees, and have been trying to figure out how to whore my body to pay for track time ever since.

If you've taken the MSF and are comfortable with all general riding techniques, especially countersteering, you'll be alright.

[rolker]

+2.

There was a guy on a 250 in the Blue group (fast) the last trackday I was at. I am sure you can hold your own in the red (slow) group.

That was me! I usually ride in the Yellow group (medium), but they merged blue and yellow that day due to rain.

I attended my first TD last year with a similar amount of experience, and learned a lot. The 250 lacks power in the straights, but can theoretically corner faster due its lighter weight. (I have yet to master this skill...)

As long as you ride predictably and stay on the line, you won't be in the way. (The instructors do a great job teaching you how to ride safely on the track, so don't worry about the line yet)

When you do make it to a track day, come and find me. (I'm signed up to almost all of 'em) I'll tell you about small improvements you can make to the bike that can help once you gain track experience. (Yes, I'm assuming you'll get addicted like the rest of us and attend many TDs)

The new 250 looks great BTW!