6 Reasons Why Track Riding is Bad for your Street Riding Motivation

[@sneakyshadowt5812]

Good video, appreciate your insight, just might wanna look into wind noise filtering is all.

[@StreetMotoZ]

Yes, I noticed that issue after gathering the content. Normally this is not a problem, however during the filming of this video the microphone moved down in my helmet closer to my chin and got a lot of air turbulence :/. Thanks for your feedback. I have the microphone fastened better now.

[@BlackArroToons]

Good to hear you still enjoy riding on regular roads. I thought at first you were going to give up road riding in this video after your track experience. I really enjoy being able to find new routes and scenic roads to ride, but also the familiar fun routes too. Only time I try not to ride at all is sunset, sunrise and night, due to the more dangerous visibility and increased animal/deer activity jumping onto the roads in front of bright lights.

[@StreetMotoZ]

Hi Frank, I think the track adrenaline experience is wearing off a little and agreed, I like to do adventure riding too, riding down roads I haven't been down before, and you just never know what you can find. It is like going on a vacation. It is more interesting to me to ride like that and there are so many roads around. I did enjoy the track more for the technical learning and may ride it again, but don't want it to sap the joy of street riding.

[@jessicagrant8773]

Thank you so much for this video! I recently got into motorcycling because i want to inject some fun into my city commutes (and hate cars). This explains why i don't see a lot of city riding content online. Makes you think city riding is not really a thing... But it is! Now i don't feel so weird anymore 😊

[@StreetMotoZ]

Hi Jessica! Yes, I know quite a few folks that commute on a motorcycle as it gets great gas mileage and can be done safely. Cars take up sooo much space and they create traffic jams. I wish my state would allow lane filtering and lane splitting.

[@jessicagrant8773]

@@StreetMotoZ Not legal here either, but I would probably think twice about it even if it were, seeing all the road rage incidents...

[@StreetMotoZ]

@@jessicagrant8773 yes, especially if not legal, there are many that want to be a cop. And there are many that will get mad that you passing them while they have to sit and wait...Their anger will be directed at the lane splitter. If legal they will get used to it.

[@jessicagrant8773]

@@StreetMotoZ Yeah. Sometimes :)

[@KROWARIZONA]

Amazing intro 🔥🔥🔥 Put a dead cat mic to filter the wind noise. Nice video

[@StreetMotoZ]

Hi Krowarizona! Thanks for the good comments. Yes, that helmet microphone shifted down near my chin and picked up a lot of wind noise :/. I fixed it for the next video already.

[@TheMotoRockers]

If you're spending $1500 for a track suit... you don't know the right people. I get my track suits from the same factory that makes them for all the other big companies and I only have to pay $350 shipped to my door. They'll make matching gloves for another $50. And Cycle Gear has boots for under $200 that are perfectly suitable for track. And you can get a Shoei RF-1400 for $500. So you'll be in the gear maybe $1100-1200 if you're smart with your money.

[@StreetMotoZ]

Those are great prices. Which company is that where you get your track suit and gloves for that good price? Agreed that you can bargain shop for protective gear, but there are some crappy knockoff gear out there. I bought a pair of gloves from Cycle Gear, it rained while riding and I got a bit wet. When I took off the gloves my hands were black stained with the dye from the gloves. And those gloves were never the same after getting wet. Also, I was wearing some urban high-top riding shoes, and they got wet too. The inside of the bottom of the shoe started coming apart and it was made from compressed cardboard. That was some crappy Chinese knockoff gear. On a better note, I did get my suit for about $650 with kangaroo leather, Alpine stars Race boots for $340, Alpinestars SP8 gloves for $115, and nice carbon helmet Scorpion which meets the Euro standards for $400. Suit liner for $30. Nice Alpinestars socks, those are awesome, for $26. Total at about $1500 after a lot of hours shopping around.

[@thaspaniard]

It's worth mentioning a couple of points 1) For me, track riding doesn't take away my enthusiasm for long rides in the mountains aka street riding, but what it has done is shown me that there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY POSSIBLE to push as hard on the street as you can on the track. It has eliminated my desire to test any sort of limits while riding on the street. I actually enjoy riding on country and mountain roads much more now that I can just get into a flow at a spirited pace and not pretend I'm in some sort of all-out time trial where there's some sort of imaginary award for going as fast as humanly possible while putting myself (and others) at serious risk. 2) One does not need to spend as much as you've outlined to get started riding on the track. - A new Snell certified helmet can be had as cheap as $200 (Scorpion R420) - A new suit by companies such as RST can be had for around $600. Used is also an option. Boots and gloves also don't have to cost as much as you've listed. Suits can also be rented, as can track bikes for that fact. - Slicks and tire warmers are NOT needed nor recommended for novice track riders. A set of Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa IV's can do double duty as street and and track tires and will last several track days and will still have meat left for some time on the street. Even sport touring tires can be used. Either option will also handle a wet track day. - If you live near a track you can ride your bike to and from the track. I've done it. - Track riders are super friendly and willing to help. There are FB groups dedicated to all forms of track riding. You can join them, meet a lot of like minded people, some will even share space on their trailers if you're going to the same event and live in the same town. You don't need a complete wish list of things like generators or a second set of rims with rain tires to get started. Since time on track is split up between Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced... 1/3 of the space in the pits are vacant at any given time. Sharing the load with other folks is a how most folks get started. I just point this out to provide encouragement to those who want to experience a track day but may be intimidated by the cost or amount of stuff they think they'll need. Cheers!

[@StreetMotoZ]

Thanks @thaspaniard you have excellent points well-articulated too, and it is good to know that you still enjoy longer rides, city and mountains after riding tracks. I was worried my enthusiasm for those kinds of rides would diminish with track riding. That helps me a lot and will make me want to do more track days in the future! It has made me think more about the kind of bike that I want to have for the street too like not having clip-ons on my motorcycle for the street and having more of a naked or touring type moto with more comfort.

[@thaspaniard]

@@StreetMotoZ Agree about the bikes for the street. I have an older Yamaha MT-09 with a fully upgraded suspension which is a blast in the city and on tight technical roads (as well as the track) and a Honda VFR for longer rides but still very capable and fun for spirited riding when the opportunity arises. I've put 1,400 miles on that bike in the last two weekends up in the North Georgia and Carolina mountains. I do know some folks who only ride on the track, but honestly, you'd have to travel all over the region to do more than four or five track weekends a year and that's simply not enough time in the saddle for me. I find riding truly therapeutic.

[@StreetMotoZ]

@@thaspaniard Will have to look into the Honda vfr. I don't know alot about them. Thanks for sharing. The MT09 looks like a super city around town bike.

[@Jay1830]

I ride to get through the insane traffic jams I encounter in Brussels. I have to cross the entire city back and forth every day... it takes 2 hours and 30 minutes to 4 hours a day. I will ride on tracks to gain better control of my motorcycle. If I want an adrenaline rush, I will get it while dodging crazy cars, potholes, debris on the road, and while lane splitting (which is allowed in Belgium).

[@StreetMotoZ]

Hi Jay! Woah, that takes an adrenaline rush to a whole different level.