Roadracing World – April 2019

By Michael Gougis

A

ll you really need to get your bike ready
for your fi rst track day is the ability to
do the basic things described in the
owner's manual for your bike. (As an aside, if
you've never read your motorcycle's manual,
you really ought to. There's some really useful
information in there!)
Break it into four easy categories: Clean,
Repair and Replace, Fill, and Adjust.
Clean: If it's a streetbike, it's likely got street grime on it that doesn't go away with a casual hose-down or mist-and-wax on the bodywork. That grunge can get everywhere, and it can cause things to stick and misbe- have. Clean off the chain lube that's been fl ung onto the swingarm, the rear wheel, and into the countershaft sprocket cover. Hit the bot- tom of the engine with a spray degreaser, and watch how much gunk comes off. You don't have to disassemble the bike and clean every- thing with a toothbrush, but spend some time with a soft brush and a spray bottle and a shop stool. Sit down, spray, brush, spray, and towel off. It’ll make the bike look better. Plus, professional racebike mechanics use cleaning the bike as a chance to fi nd things like loose bolts, leaking fork or shock seals, a radiator pinhole, a tight spot in the chain, and other worn or damaged parts—even cracked frames! Cleaning the brake caliper pistons will really show how much brake dust accumu- lates—and also demonstrates how much better brakes can work when the pistons are clean and able to fully retract, versus not quite re- tracting all the way and causing brake drag. Repair and Replace: If you're regularly
using a motorcycle for spirited riding on twisty
roads, it’s already most of the way there. But
remember that small things can become big
things under the stress of running wide open
on the racetrack. Upgrade any temporary,
roadside or paddock fi xes that involved duct
tape, a zip tie, or safety wire, and make a more
permanent repair.
A broken lever is shorter and usually has
a sharp and jagged end (which won't pass tech
inspection) after a crash, which calls for new
OEM levers or upgrading to some nice after-

market levers. Getting tucked down behind

the windscreen and reaching full speed on

the racetrack is fun, but it’s better when the

screen isn’t scratched and you can actually see

well through it!

Look for worn sprockets, worn chains,

worn cables, and especially worn brake pads

and tires. Worn chains and sprockets have an

impact on throttle control, broken cables can

end your day prematurely, and worn brake

pads can change the way the brakes feel and

how quickly the bike slows down. And you re-

ally don't want to be out on the track with tires

that are worn fl at across the center of the tread

from commuting. Badly worn tires dramatical-

ly change the way the motorcycle handles and

can take the fun out of a ride. Look at Dunlop

Q4, Michelin Power Performance, or Pirelli Su-

per Corsa TD tires for track day use.

Part of the real fun of doing a track day is

the feeling of being in control of the bike, while

pushing it really deep into its performance en-

velope. Maintenance stuff which really might

not mean so much on a daily commute can

make a huge difference with the bike on the

racetrack

`Fill: Check the oil level. Check the ra-

diator fl uid level. Check the brake fl uid level

in both master cylinders, front and rear. It's

never a bad idea to replace fl uids, and if a fl uid

level is lower than it should be, there might be

something else wrong. Investigate. And be sure

to re-tighten every cap that gets removed, and

make sure it's not leaking.

`Adjust: Lube everything. Lubing cables

can be a pain, but I swear it can make a night-

and-day difference with a cable that's survived

15,000 miles of street use. Make sure the

chain has the proper slack, and make sure the

rear wheel is in alignment while you're down

there. Set the suspension sag—about 35mm in

the front and 25mm in the rear from full exten-

sion when the rider is wearing riding gear and

sitting on the bike. If you've never looked at

where the suspension is set, consider looking

at the owner's manual—some sportbike manu-

als include recommended suspension settings

for sporting (or track) use.

The position of the shift lever, the rear

brake lever, and the handlebar controls can all

be adjusted to suit the rider’s preference and

comfort level, and making adjustments pro-

vides a chance to make sure they all operate

and return smoothly. And if the bike has an

adjustable steering damper, set that to suit rid-

er preference as well. If I were starting out, I'd

actually make this paragraph a bullet list and

bring it to the track to remind me to check this

stuff in between sessions.

Do

Before

You Go

TRACK BIKE PREP:

(Above) Getting your bike ready for a track day isn’t complicated. Start with cleaning it, and go from

there. Here, Joel Abernathy enjoys a PRE (Performance Riding Experience) Track Day on the VIRginia

International Racway South Course. Photo by Joshua Barnett. (Below, Right) Checking suspension

sag beforehand is a good idea, and a digital Slacker tool helps. (Bottom, Right) Set tire pressure

at home before loading, but check it at again in the morning before going out on the racetrack.

30—Roadracing World, Trackday Directory 2019