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Track Days 2025

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6.3K views 81 replies 12 participants last post by  Swamper  
#1 ·
2025 season passes with Carters @ the Track, signed up with a lot of friends this year that we hadn't ridden with for a couple of years. Will be great to work with my friend Dave Moss again.
Anxiously awaiting the 2025 schedule, so here it is!

February 22/23 Thunderhill East NRS

March 22/23 Thunderhill West

March 31 Laguna Seca

April 19/20 Thunderhill East

April 28 Sonoma Raceway

May 19/20 Thunerhill East Novice/Intermediate School

June 7/8 Thunderhill West

June 23 Laguna Seca

July 19/20 Thunderhill East

August 2/3 Thunderhill East

August 30/31 Thunderhill West

September 8 Sonoma Raceway

September 20/21 Thunderhill West

October 13 Laguna Seca

October 18/19 Thunderhill East

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#2 ·
Fantastic looking schedule. When I lived in Oregon ,Thunderhill, Portland International Raceway and The Ridge were my stomping ground. You are living my dream with Sonoma and Laguna!
 
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#3 ·
We are also planning a trip North around Moto America at the Ridge. Will most likely do Oregon Raceway out by Grass Valley Oregon on the way back home. Like to ride with 2Fast and Aprilia Race Day, always fun to try out the Aprilia's.
 
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#4 ·
Oregon Raceway in Grass Valley Oregon was good when it first opened. When I lived there it lacked in amenities. Also it's a long way away from any services. 2019 was last time I ran there and the track surface was in very poor condition. I did not go back again. It went up for sale in 2020 for something like 10 million. Hopefully it has a new owner and a refresh by now. Check before you go.
 
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#6 ·
I agree, the Oregon Raceway is in shall we say challenging condition but still a fun Camp-out. The guy that owns it certainly doesn't put much into it anymore.
The Ridge is fun and if I had a favorite it would be one of the top choices.
Now that Laguna Seca and Sanoma have been repaved they are very good to go to, we had taken a year or two off from Sanoma it had gotten so bad.
We have a group of buddies (mostly small Girls) riding 400 and they are pretty quick on the Thunderhill tracks. I can almost keep up with them on the Supersport making up down the straights, but it's a lot of work trying.
 
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#9 ·
I have enjoyed my time with the Ninja 400. For me, Thunderhill and its big sweepers did not suit this bike. I took the (street legal) Supersport to the track at Portland in 2021 and it was just OK. I find the lighter bikes are non intimidating and their flickability in the tight stuff is intoxicating. Also, I'm 62 this year and just out there for the sheer joy of it. Right now I'm in the process of building a (track specific) 2025 Kawasaki ZX400RR. It should be track ready by mid summer. It is an inline 4 cylinder screamer.
 
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L
#7 ·
I signed up for several days at VIR out my way (Black Friday special, saved like $400). Will be doing the North course twice and the Full course once. The organization only has the full course one time the whole year! While I miss the West coast, I live 3 hours from 3 tracks and then 4.5 from another. It's not too bad!
 
#8 ·
I miss the West Coast also (Eugene Oregon). However here in Ireland the Mondello International track is only 2 hours away and runs 13 to 15 track days a year. Bishopscourt is a bit farther, but easily accessible. I'm signed up for 10 weekends and will do a couple in Portimao with these fellas this summer EVENT BOOKING — MOTOCRAFT Life is good.
 
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#11 ·
I wonder what the dollars and cents amounts to when building a street bike for the track vs purchasing a purpose track bike? I suppose that's why most track bikes start out as wrecked street bikes gotten cheap?

I just bring this up reading about the "Talent Cup". This Kremer company modifies KTM engines and builds a production, scratch built track bike. The cheapest bike is the 690S, 80hp and 280lb, WP suspension and Brembo brakes, $17k. The Talent Cup (350MA) bikes are $22.5k, 55hp and 240lb. Krämer Motorcycles USA - Race-Ready Motorcycles
 
#12 ·
To me the Kramer thing just doesn't make any sense.
They have pretty good if not excellent small bike racing now. I like watching the small bikes better than anything else. In a class were they are already cost efficient somewhat.
There are so many guys going to Ninja 400 at the track it's becoming the trend. They are about 1/4 the cost of the big bikes taking them to the track.
 
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#13 ·
Agreed, the Kramer thing is interesting. Several local people are riding them up here in CRA, I think the importer may be local and doing well with them but they are REALY expensive for what you get. Not that it's not competitive, not that it's not a high level, ready to go race machine, it's just a large investment for something raced 5 times a year (because of winter) and will get thrown down the track and end up in a heap at some point in its life. It's also not street legal, you can;t sell the street parts to recoup some money and you pretty much have to buy parts through them.

Cool, but I think money could be better spent for the average track day junky.
 
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#17 ·
Another thing about the Kramers is they crash really well. Track-prepped Ninja 400s (I have one) don't have a subframe- it's all one-piece. (Same for the new 400rr, which I think is a terrible decision). You bend the tail section you’re buying another frame and/or welding.

And those Kramers are SO LIGHT. I chase a couple 690s racing my Aprilia and it’s wild how they launch outta the corners despite a 20hp deficit!

So there’s something to be said for the experience.

All this to say I had a blast racing a ‘08 R6 I bought for $4k, but… I think Kramers are rad and I’m rooting for the Kramer Cup:)
 
#21 ·
Fairly high still. It’s a niche bike, and if you want one, you’re willing to pay the premium. The local guy sells them used from time to time and they’re better priced but still high. I’ll try to find an ad.

As others have said, a lightly crashed bike with upgraded suspension and a tune is a better buy financially for a travel junky unless you REALLY want the top notch track experience.

Found this on their website:

Used Inventory — Krämer Motorcycles USA - Race-Ready Motorcycles

www.kramermotorcyclesusa.com www.kramermotorcyclesusa.com
 
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#22 ·
I think after the initial sales they will only be in the sanctioned race groups. That in my opinion will make for a small market. I know a lot of the 400 crowd that has zero interest in them.
 
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#23 ·
Would really like to do the track / road conversion on the YZ450 supermoto like the picture, but the cost of doing this would be near the cost of a used Kramer.
They tried to get this class happening in OZ back in 2013 I think but it all fell over.


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#24 ·
They tried it in the US as well, I bought an older WR450F about that time, but the class didn’t go far. I had done some research and cost depended on how far into it you wanted to get and what could do yourself. In its most basic form it’s really just lowered suspension and 17” wheels with bolted on rearset pegs, wrapped in bodywork or not so the cost of the bike is your biggest factor. Must have been around 09, maybe 10 or 11 because I had an ‘03 (or ‘04) WR that was a steel frame and carbureted and the FI ones were just coming out or had just come out.

You could go crazy, R6 fits and triple tree, custom subframe, longer swingarm, etc. but again the cost goes way up.
 
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#27 ·
The Kramers are more used in club racing anyway, won't be a huge thing to them; they'll simply pivot and start will a new motor. The Aprilia 457 (? or whatever it is) would be great, the 390 KTM should be fine, lots of choices.
 
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#29 ·
Ok, I know this is 3 wheels not 2 but was still a Track Day. :LOL:
I recently signed up and completed a track day that included Sidecars. This was a HUGE one from my bucket list. Have always followed the sidecars at the IOM TT and love watching them.
This was a track day where you can come and have a go on a Sidecar. So, I did.

One of the main reasons for me going was that I knew Darryl Rayner was going to be there.
Darryl has competed at 6 IOM TT's. The bike we were on he raced at 4 of those IOM TT's (F2 class 600cc).
I was lucky enough to get 3 sessions swinging off the back with Darryl.

The track was a shorter fairly tight track, so speeds weren't that high, but the corners were a great workout for arms and body.
I still can't believe I was on a sidecar that has raced at the hallowed TT circuit ridden by Darryl.
(Me in the black leathers)


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#30 ·
I'm actually pretty happy with setting up the Supersport for Track Days. While it will never be a race bike it has turned out to be a very good Track Day bike, probably why I haven't sold it since I bought the S1000RR.
I haven't had to do a lot to the Supersport to get it where it performs to my liking. Working with Dave Moss has helped tremendously. Rear sets, Front fork springs N set-up and rear tire size change is about it. The only thing I'd like now to do is the exhaust but that's a warranty issue with Ducati. Since I have already had an engine replacement I don't want to void my warranty but saving 9 LBs sure is enticing. I'll be paying close attention to what Teabowman thinks with his changes on his bike with Termi exhaust installed.
 
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#32 ·
I'm now using Metzeler RaceTec TD Slicks and the rear is 180 60 17. I went to that size to raise the bike to solve hard parts draging. Dave had me drop the forks 4mm in the triple trees. It has raised the bike about 4-5mm where the hard parts were dragging.
 
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#34 ·
We use them without warmers/blankets. We take the first session laps warming them up and the rest of that session fairly easy. The second session normal speeds and they are great, much better than any other tires we have used for Track Days. Turn in and traction are excellent, I've set my quickest lap times with them. My lean angle registered on the dash has been over 50 and haven't felt any sliding. With the exits towards the end of the day we are both getting towards the end of the rears life and see the Traction control kicking in. The good thing is the rear is reversible. Tracks we run at are very hard on the left side, so we get a couple days out of them at best. Front goes about four days and starts sliding towards the end of it's life, if you don't push it you'll be ok, if sliding isn't your thing you better get of track and change it.
Were using these tires on all our Track Bikes. Pressures very with the Ambient temperature but we usually start out at 29 front, 26 rear on the 1000's and 28 rear on the SS and 600's
 
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#35 ·
Probably the main thing that will keep me off slicks is warmers. I really don't feel like buying a generator and dealing with all that, or hoping for a hookup at the track. If a better skilled rider can kick my ass on the same bike with DOT legal track day tires then I think I'm fine to not move on to slicks, haha.
 
#36 ·
Metzeler TD Slicks don't require tire warmers, we used them all of last year.

moto-garage.com

Metzeler RaceTec TD Slick

RACETEC™ TD Slick joins the range of METZELER™ racing slick tires, dedicated to riders and club racers with a focus on competition and training use. RACETEC™ TD Slick is a slick tire for the track that is quick and easy to use. It can also be used without tire warmers and does not require any...
moto-garage.com
 
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#40 ·
Swamper said:
Metzeler TD Slicks don't require tire warmers, we used them all of last year.

moto-garage.com

Metzeler RaceTec TD Slick

RACETEC™ TD Slick joins the range of METZELER™ racing slick tires, dedicated to riders and club racers with a focus on competition and training use. RACETEC™ TD Slick is a slick tire for the track that is quick and easy to use. It can also be used without tire warmers and does not require any...
moto-garage.com
Click to expand...
Interesting! And they are a pretty good price, too!
 
#37 ·
Just got an Email from Carters, they have added another day to my season pass schedule, March 3rd @ Sonoma. Only 4 weeks from now. I hope to get the bikes tuned with Dave Moss before at ThunderHill the week before this Sonoma Track Day.
I've order a couple new set of the Metzeler TD slicks for the Supersport and the BMW's.
My son is coming over this weekend to work on all our Track Bikes. Both BMW's will be getting new Track Plastics. All other required maintenance will be looked into. We keep log books for each bike so not to get mixed up on things. Dave Moss has given us starting Suspension settings so will be double checking all of those too.
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Last Track day of 2024.
 
#39 · (Edited)
Not really, just prevents the OEM plastic from getting destroyed in a crash. The OEM BMW stuff to replace is over $5,000.

I should have said, Not the ones we're getting.
They have Carbon Fiber ones available which are very light and expensive.
 
#41 ·
02-23-2025 Sunday, ThunderHill East W/ Carters @ the Track:
Rode the Ducati 950S and worked with Dave Moss all day on the suspension setup. Started out pretty soft and chased it the first 5 sessions tightening everything up, preload as well as Damping N Rebound. Finally after lunch break it was spot on and I was able to hold the Supersport with the AMF guys on their 400 practicing for MotoAmerica, about eight in the pack drafting each other. Ran laps in the 2.11's which is the quicks I've done on the Ducati.
I did ride the S1000RR on Saturday and worked with Dave on it also but we never got things ironed out with the suspension. Hope to work with him again next week at Sonoma.
Tyler Ohara was there Saturday with the Indian Bagger practicing for MotoAmerica. He ran it out of gas and Had to park it on the side of the track, so he missed the last three sessions. Pretty amazing watching him in person.
Dave telling me I'm really working the front looking at the tire.
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Here are the 400, I stayed with them but at a distance not to screw them up drafting each other.
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#42 ·
Swamper, love your track day reports and pics.
Unfortunately, my days will be limited this year, need to take the wife to Italy to visit relatives, been too long since last visit.
Will do Spain and Portugal while over there. So, my track day budget is blown. 😢
 
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#43 ·
Budget for the Track Days is unbelievable these days. I'm getting together my tire order for 3/4 of the year to qualify it for free freight. Have to order 20 tires at a time, my order is $3,800, the freight would have been $720, so it does save by buying them this way.
 
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#45 ·
I'm hearing you, Tyres, track day entry fees, oil changes, bits and pieces all add up. More so when you take more than 1 bike.
I try and do 8 a year and i reckon I spend around $8k to $10K a year which is pretty good compared to some of my track day buddies.
 
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