Track Day - Lever Guards, Back Protectors...

[KTMsm]

Is there any rule about the type of lever guards for track days ?

I've got to get some for my first bike track day, I took a look on ebay and most seem incredibly crap - with sharp ends !

I don't expect to need them as I'll be wobbling around by myself but don't want to have an issue getting on the track

Back protectors - do I have to get a full length one inside my leathers or is the standard pocket type ok ?

Is there anything else I should be aware of other than noise regs ?

[P675]

I did my first track day for the year at Mallory with No Limits 2 weeks ago. I paid a fiver to borrow a strap on back protector as I don't have one of my own, and nobody ever checked to see if I had one on. The advice on the website is it has to cover your whole back.

Lever guards, I have used these cheapo ones

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorbike-Motorcycle-Prot...

Last year and this year, not had a problem, nobody has ever looked at it or questioned it.

[Wildfire]

I'm about to hit up a novice day at Brands on Tuesday (fairly nervous for some reason) and have bought a cheapo brake lever guard. I always wear a back protector anyhow and use the Forcefield L2 one.

Depending on where you are, fuel, pump and pressure gauge to alter your tyres.

I'm taping up the brake lights and removing my mirrors. Not too sure about the plate and pillion pegs (Ducati Monster). I doubt I'll be hammering it round. It's more just a day out to get away from house moving stress.

[Abdul Abulbul Amir]

MSV owned tracks you need both a brake lever guard and a back protector, both are checked on the first session and periodically throughout the day.

Silverstone you don't need either, however, having seen a coming together of two bikes last time I was there, and speaking to one of the chaps involved, it was apparent the brake lever guard took a bash which may have been the lever if unguarded.

As for the lever, I have bought a few, including a cheap cast alloy one and a pricy R&G plastic one. The best for quality and price is this...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403510891837?ViewItem=&...

[Timbo_S2]

They tend to tap you on the back first session out to see if you have a back protector in. I'd get the best full-length one you can.

For the love of god, whatever brake protector you use, make sure its fitted correctly and does impede throttle travel.

[KTMsm]

Thanks

I'll have to have a better look at the guards as my bikes have short levers so I'll probably have to buy the more expensive cranked ones

[Tribal Chestnut]

KTMsm said:

Thanks

I'll have to have a better look at the guards as my bikes have short levers so I'll probably have to buy the more expensive cranked ones

Wouldn’t worry about the length of the lever guard, as long as you have one fitted.

Don’t be tight on the bloody back protector though.

[Nick928]

I’ve done quite a few track days, most spread over Castle Combe, Donnington, Brands and Anglesey.
The requirements for lever guards came in at the beginning of last year and all days I’ve done since have insisted on them.
Towards the end of last year marshals started getting hot on two piece leathers, expressly the gap in the zip (had to have an unreasonably small gap between the ends).
Some days they didn’t give a fxxx and others they were ready to stop people going on track.
Back protectors have come in this year, personally I wear a separate Forcefield one anyway but the ones built in to leathers are fine.

I wouldn’t go overboard taping lights and speedo up, my race bike still has a speedo, the chances of you having time to admire it is slim anyway.
If it’s your first time then take it easy and just try to bring it home in one piece.
Don’t get drawn into riding beyond what you’re comfortable with.

[GYTRDave]

Basically what others have said,
Just enjoy it, try to get yourself and your bike ready to go well in advance of your first session, there's nothing worse than flapping about tyre pressures, leathers etc as your session is called.
Most trackdays will run fast, inters and finally novice, so you'll have plenty of time.
I'd not worry about taping speedo, but I'd certainly recommend removing mirrors, grab plenty of water, and drink often, same with food, I've always had bananas and apples to keep me going on trackdays and racing, I'd not recommend having a tasty full English before heading out.
The rest is the basis, check your bike over, check the fairings are tight, check coolant, oil, brake fluid, brake pads.

Most of all, have fun!

Oh and lever guards
https://diamond-race.co.uk/lever-guards-64-c.asp

[KTMsm]

Tribal Chestnut said:

Don’t be tight on the bloody back protector though.

I have the big forcefield one but I can't get it inside my leathers, they just have the standard shorter type in the jacket pocket

I'm not out to set any lap records - I keep seeing about not using mirrors but then I hear about much closer overtaking than on car days so I thought I'd keep them and have a quick look on the straights

[Abdul Abulbul Amir]

Yeah I have a rigid forcefield external protector that sits too high. I also have another one that sits in it's own Gillette which is multiple foam layers...still level 2.

Take your mirrors off or angle them down...looking in them does more harm than good.

[Zarco]

I doubt they'll let you out without mirrors at least folded in.

If you're riding in novice I doubt you'll get close passes.

[Zarco]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Fair enough.

I don't remove them. Just fold them in.

[Tribal Chestnut]

KTMsm said:

I have the big forcefield one but I can't get it inside my leathers, they just have the standard shorter type in the jacket pocket

I'm not out to set any lap records - I keep seeing about not using mirrors but then I hear about much closer overtaking than on car days so I thought I'd keep them and have a quick look on the straights

Regardless of how fast you think you’ll be going, accidents do happen - maybe your error, maybe someone else’s, maybe just bad luck. I had a very slow tumble a couple of years ago and couldn’t really move for six weeks or so, might have been a lot worse without a back protector.

As for mirrors, you don’t want to be looking in them - concentrate on what’s in front, looking behind will just be an unnecessary distraction. If someone is quick enough to pass you then they will, & hopefully safely.

[dreamer75]

I did my first "big boy/girl" trackway at the end of last season - an MSV day @ Snetterton, in the Novice group. What I learnt was (also from a few seasons tracking and racing a car):

• Remove mirrors - I thought I'd want to see what's behind me, but I removed mine anyway based on other people's advice, which took away any inclination to look. Def. better without them. Just concentrate on your thing, not doing anything unpredictable etc. It's a very strange feeling at first, but did settle!

• I taped my speedo over - again just took away any temptation to look and freak myself out ! Speedo was totally inaccurate anyway!

• Lever guards - yes of course - you do get close passes in the Novice session, at least I did - sometimes people making mistakes, sometimes people doing it on purpose

• Back protector - I read the MSV regs recently and I think it says something about it covering the majority of your back. I take out the 3/4 length one in my leathers pocket and use a body worn Forcefield one. My OH wears the leathers one which also has a bit over the coccyx.

• Lights - I don't think I taped them, I don't remember !

• Helmet - I think I needed to do mine up tighter than usual. Travelling faster, more wind flow, and it was lifting a little.

• Def take water, snacks, get there early, take fuel, pressure gauge (check tyres at the end of the session), oil, whatever things you and your bike might consume

• Very handy to take a big clock you can prop up somewhere to keep an eye on time so you don't flap around rushing to get out for a session or miss one

• Camping chair

[mak]

I've got a track day booked, the last was 17 years ago when i did several

I've just stuck some tat R and G lever guard on the bike which will be coming off for road use. Does it make a difference that I've replace the original bar end weight that weighs a hell of a lot with a piece of plastic that has no weight on one side ?

I guess i will find out but would be nice to no before hand if it actually makes a difference.

[KTMsm]

mak said:

Does it make a difference that I've replace the original bar end weight that weighs a hell of a lot with a piece of plastic that has no weight on one side ?

I guess i will find out but would be nice to no before hand if it actually makes a difference.

AFAIK bar ends were primarily there to reduce vibrations - although most of the aftermarket ones are lightweight

I've never noticed any difference

[Zarco]

I've got a fancy GDH Motorsport weighted lever guard. Main reason being the R&G one I first bought didn't fit my ZX6R (lever guard had M6 hole in it, my bar ends are M8).

Think GDH were the only place I could find who offered one that fits M8, and seeing as I was paying over the odds anyway thought I may as well not lose the bar end weight as well!

Ironically this was for Silverstone where you don't even need them