How to Prepare Your Motorcycle to Ride on the Racetrack
Clean your motorcycle. This allows you to double check all key areas to make sure nothing is loose (which will be relevant in step 10.) It also makes it easier to check the motorcycle at technical inspection (the day of the event.)
Remove your center stand. This is for safety on the track. Almost all organizations require center stand removal. This is especially true for the more advanced (and therefore faster) groups. Some organizations and tracks may ask you to also remove your kickstand (side stand.)
Remove or tape up your mirrors. Sometimes removal is not an option, since it may be the only way your fairing is supported. In that case, tape up the mirrors so that if they contact the ground, the glass does not fall out on to the track surface.
Tape up your headlight(s)and signals. This includes the tail light and license plate light. If you can, remove the fuse for the headlight. With the headlight off, it reduces that chance of tape residue sticking to your headlight. Make sure to put the fuse back in before riding on the street again.
Check all of your controls, meaning clutch cable, throttle cable, brake lever, clutch lever, rear brake lever, and kill switch for proper operation. If they fail tech, you will have to get them fixed before you are allowed on the track. Doing it before you get to the track saves you stress if you have to do it while you are at the track. You are anticipating getting on the track and now you have to work on the motorcycle. Very stressful.
When you check your brakes, make sure you have enough brake pads to make it through the event. Riding hard on the racetrack will also cause you to use your brakes even harder. If you have new brakes pads installed before the event, try to get them seated and bedded in before the event.
Check your tires, both for tread wear and depth. Usually new or nearly new tires are required in order to pass tech. Badly worn tires will not pass tech and you may also be able to notice any unusual wear patterns on your tires, which might save you some aggravation early. An example of unusual wear would be bald sides on your front tire with tread in the center. This would indicate low front tire pressure, with the tire (tread) smoothing out while leaned over (turning) but keeping its shape while riding straight up and down.
Check your tire pressures and inspect your rims for damage (see step above.) You will probably have to adjust tire pressures before you get on the track, depending on various factors: your weight, the brand, the temperature, and the track surface. Check with your owner’s manual, the track day organization, and your local tire representative for the best pressures for those conditions.
Clean and check your chain for proper slack and lubrication. You should not have a chain that is too loose or too tight. Check your owners manual for proper slack. Also make sure your chain is lubricated to prevent binding.
Make sure all your bodywork is properly supported and fastened. Do not have loose or flapping bodywork, it will fail tech inspection. Try not to have fur or other loose, flapping objects on your motorcycle. You will be asked to have those items removed before you can pass tech inspection and are allowed on the track.
Check your oil level. Try to change the oil if it has been a while to ensure that you have the best engine protection possible. The engine will be working especially hard on the track and dirty oil makes the job harder.
Drain your radiator and replace the glycol based coolant with water and a coolant substitute, such as Water Wetter or Engine Ice. Glycol based coolants are not allowed on the racetrack since they do not evaporate and leave the track surface slick (like oil.)
Secure your wheel weights (taped) on the rims. It prevents them from flying off while you are at high speed.
Make sure you have good valve stems and valve caps on your wheels.
If you have hard point saddle bags, remove the bags. The mounts can usually stay.
If you have auxiliary lights, it is a good idea to remove them. If they are fork mounted, they adversely affect handling and if they are frame mounted, they may become damaged in the event of a dropped bike. If you leave the lights on, tape them up. (If you have an on/off switch, leave them off. If you cannot turn them off, remove the fuse.)
Go to your track day organizer’s website to get more specific tips on how to prepare your motorcycle. Go to a forum for your brand and model motorcycle to help prepare your motorcycle. Additional tips can be found at the website, http://www.elitesportbike.com/id11.html
These steps are based on what typical tracks and track day organizers generally require for motorcycle preparation. Always contact your track day organizer and/or track to confirm what they specifically require in order to ride with them.
Robert is the owner of Elite Sportbike, a Southeast U.S. track day provider. Elite provides track day instruction for riders on racetracks in a safe, controlled environment. We have multiple groups for the Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced rider. Gain the knowledge, live the experience.
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