Potential Newbie Track Day Help
Discussion
As I'm getting older, I'm looking to have some quick fun in a safe(ish) environment. I'm stuck between a track day car or bike, and favouring a bike due to costs, ability to store a bike at home,and having the tools required to loaf one around.
I used to ride around at Four Marks back in the day around 15 years ago. I've since ridden once at Hampton, and I don't think the dirt is for me anymore. Both on my trusty old 03 RM125.
So I'm familiar with a bike and its controls, but have zero road experience, or experience on anything other than dirt bikes, or 5 minutes messing about on my mates moped at 16 years ago.
It's worth me noting that I will never ride on the road, so I'm not really looking to get a road licence if not required.
Whats the best way to look into track day riding? I see you can do the ACU licence for £189, which is a lot cheaper than DAS, but not sure if this will be the best route for a total newbie?
Again, not sure if this will be for me. But I've always wanted to get onto two wheels on the tarmac. Maybe there are ways to do training with bikes and kit provided?
I used to ride around at Four Marks back in the day around 15 years ago. I've since ridden once at Hampton, and I don't think the dirt is for me anymore. Both on my trusty old 03 RM125.
So I'm familiar with a bike and its controls, but have zero road experience, or experience on anything other than dirt bikes, or 5 minutes messing about on my mates moped at 16 years ago.
It's worth me noting that I will never ride on the road, so I'm not really looking to get a road licence if not required.
Whats the best way to look into track day riding? I see you can do the ACU licence for £189, which is a lot cheaper than DAS, but not sure if this will be the best route for a total newbie?
Again, not sure if this will be for me. But I've always wanted to get onto two wheels on the tarmac. Maybe there are ways to do training with bikes and kit provided?
If you are only intending doing public track days and not road riding at all the best route would be the ACU licence. As you have found out you need one or the other.
Also be aware that at most, if not all, tracks the minimum capacity is 250cc and the bike needs to be road legal.
Great fun though and in my experience far more fun than car days, not that car days aren't fun but a bike is far more visceral than a car when cracking on.
Also be aware that at most, if not all, tracks the minimum capacity is 250cc and the bike needs to be road legal.
Great fun though and in my experience far more fun than car days, not that car days aren't fun but a bike is far more visceral than a car when cracking on.
So I am guessing you do not have a license for a bike, correct? if so you are correct in that you will require a road license or an ACU license to ride on a track - worth noting an ACU license will need to be renewed annually.
Given you have very limited road/tarmac experience they way you will ride will be drastically different to MX/off road, and likewise track riding differs to road riding.
The obvious thing for me here is training, you could get a license and book yourself on a trackday and just go out and all may be well, but they'll be 30 plus other riders on track at the same time, assuming you would book into the novice group you'll find people's riding ability will be all over the place.
I'd have a look at some 1-2-1 training, or something like CSS and take things back to basics and you'll find your feet in a safer environment.
Given you have very limited road/tarmac experience they way you will ride will be drastically different to MX/off road, and likewise track riding differs to road riding.
The obvious thing for me here is training, you could get a license and book yourself on a trackday and just go out and all may be well, but they'll be 30 plus other riders on track at the same time, assuming you would book into the novice group you'll find people's riding ability will be all over the place.
I'd have a look at some 1-2-1 training, or something like CSS and take things back to basics and you'll find your feet in a safer environment.
I don't have a bike licence at all. Didn't know that the ACU licence needed to be renewed annually, guess that will have to be added to the costs!
Just tried looking for CSS and not found much, apart from British Super Bike School Level 1. But even this requires your own bike and kit. A hefty cost for a trial. Alternatively there is the Yamaha track experience, which at £800 is pretty much the cost of purchasing my own kit, or going down the DAS route, which would provide some road experience. Not that the wife would like that, its been a long time to get this far!
Just tried looking for CSS and not found much, apart from British Super Bike School Level 1. But even this requires your own bike and kit. A hefty cost for a trial. Alternatively there is the Yamaha track experience, which at £800 is pretty much the cost of purchasing my own kit, or going down the DAS route, which would provide some road experience. Not that the wife would like that, its been a long time to get this far!
mike30clark said:
I don't have a bike licence at all. Didn't know that the ACU licence needed to be renewed annually, guess that will have to be added to the costs!
Just tried looking for CSS and not found much, apart from British Super Bike School Level 1. But even this requires your own bike and kit. A hefty cost for a trial. Alternatively there is the Yamaha track experience, which at £800 is pretty much the cost of purchasing my own kit, or going down the DAS route, which would provide some road experience. Not that the wife would like that, its been a long time to get this far!
https://britishsuperbikeschool.com/ is a great place to do your first track day. It's where I started and is very beginner friendly. Your average No Limits track day can be carnage, novice has very mixed abilities.Just tried looking for CSS and not found much, apart from British Super Bike School Level 1. But even this requires your own bike and kit. A hefty cost for a trial. Alternatively there is the Yamaha track experience, which at £800 is pretty much the cost of purchasing my own kit, or going down the DAS route, which would provide some road experience. Not that the wife would like that, its been a long time to get this far!
You can hire bikes, Yamaha's and kit at British Super Bike School, they do a package everything included.
If your buying kit, eBay is full of hardly ever worn 1 piece leathers for a few hundred pounds.
How about this - https://bike.msvtrackdays.com/Products/Novice-Only
Worth noting that effectively it's only 1/2 day as they share the day with cars also from the web page.
You'll need a bike, no hire bikes available.
Plus, you'll need either 1 piece leathers or 2 piece with a 360 zip, back protector, gloves, boots and helmet.
Worth noting that effectively it's only 1/2 day as they share the day with cars also from the web page.
You'll need a bike, no hire bikes available.
Plus, you'll need either 1 piece leathers or 2 piece with a 360 zip, back protector, gloves, boots and helmet.
when purchasing (IF) the two piece suit for track work, be advised I've seen people be turned away even with a 360 zip - as they're never truly 360 - and if , you're a little more ballast orientated in the midrange - you may find they're not happy to let you out.
So, defo buy a one piece if you don't have one yet to protect you from this eventuality.
So, defo buy a one piece if you don't have one yet to protect you from this eventuality.
My 2p
Check if you have a kart track near you and then do the following as most seems to have this option now and it gives almost all of the fun of big bike track riding with a lot less of the faff/requirements/cost
- buy pitbike for £500-1000
- buy riding kit secondhand (not helmet) from £100 - many many pounds
- turn up and ride
Pit bike supermoto stuff is incredibly fun, much easier to store, work on and ride. Lots of thrills for low cost and it'll give really useful skills for transferring to big bike stuff. In my experience selling the bike often doesn't lose much if any money unless you bend it badly
For your actual question - ACU licence is probably the way to go and then rent a bike and get lots of instruction to get you up to speed. There are plenty of novice only days and most companies often some form of free instruction though there are also plenty of paid instruction options too.
From trackside to on track
Either way, nice problem to have. Enjoy!
Check if you have a kart track near you and then do the following as most seems to have this option now and it gives almost all of the fun of big bike track riding with a lot less of the faff/requirements/cost
- buy pitbike for £500-1000
- buy riding kit secondhand (not helmet) from £100 - many many pounds
- turn up and ride
Pit bike supermoto stuff is incredibly fun, much easier to store, work on and ride. Lots of thrills for low cost and it'll give really useful skills for transferring to big bike stuff. In my experience selling the bike often doesn't lose much if any money unless you bend it badly
For your actual question - ACU licence is probably the way to go and then rent a bike and get lots of instruction to get you up to speed. There are plenty of novice only days and most companies often some form of free instruction though there are also plenty of paid instruction options too.
From trackside to on track
Either way, nice problem to have. Enjoy!
Freakuk said:
How about this - https://bike.msvtrackdays.com/Products/Novice-Only
Worth noting that effectively it's only 1/2 day as they share the day with cars also from the web page.
It's a full day. A normal bike track day is split into Fast, Inter and Slow sessions, they just replace the Fast/Inter sessions with slow cars instead.Worth noting that effectively it's only 1/2 day as they share the day with cars also from the web page.
I'd echo the idea of trying out pit bikes as a first port of call, as the license requirements are much more easily met! After that, I'd be tempted to say that the training you'll do to either get a road licence or an ACU licence will be enough to get you in the slow group on a standard track day. A novice-only trackday like the MSV ones would be better but it looks like they don't allow race licence holders.
Thanks for all the replies!
I have seen the Yamaha experience's, but have kind of discounted them due to costs. Initial costs are £599 for the bike, £149 for the kit. Adding the £1000 excess (likely to crash with zero experience) is an expensive day out at £1800. Assume there would be excess for leathers and helmet too. That would purchase a bike and most of the kit!
Good shout on used leathers though, as I didnt think of that! Always get the best kit I can buy. Spent £500 on new MX kit and have ridden once... Would absolutely get one piece leathers, and I do have the ballast in the middle! Typical dad bod + a bit!
Have looked around the local kart tracks, and unfortunately none do the pit bike days. Doesn't seem to be much around Southampton, apart from some MX tracks typically.
The half days seem like a great option. Have stumbled across MSVT that do taster sessions of 20 minutes on your own bike for £35. Have since emailed them regarding the situation, so shall see what they say and post their reply on here!
I have seen the Yamaha experience's, but have kind of discounted them due to costs. Initial costs are £599 for the bike, £149 for the kit. Adding the £1000 excess (likely to crash with zero experience) is an expensive day out at £1800. Assume there would be excess for leathers and helmet too. That would purchase a bike and most of the kit!
Good shout on used leathers though, as I didnt think of that! Always get the best kit I can buy. Spent £500 on new MX kit and have ridden once... Would absolutely get one piece leathers, and I do have the ballast in the middle! Typical dad bod + a bit!
Have looked around the local kart tracks, and unfortunately none do the pit bike days. Doesn't seem to be much around Southampton, apart from some MX tracks typically.
The half days seem like a great option. Have stumbled across MSVT that do taster sessions of 20 minutes on your own bike for £35. Have since emailed them regarding the situation, so shall see what they say and post their reply on here!
trickywoo said:
dibblecorse said:
Cylon2007 said:
........and the bike needs to be road legal.
Erm, no, I have no idea where you have got that idea from !
there are some frightening s
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