Unleash Your Inner FAST With a Motorcycle Trackday // E02 🎙  

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I’d recommend doing your 1st track day with a coach like I did. It really reduces the nerve’s since you just do whatever they say so you don’t have to figure everything out which really lowers the stress 1st time on track plus you will progress much faster. If they’re a good coach they will teach you the proper line, see what you’re struggling with and explain how to improve it and make you more comfortable pushing your limits. Using a coach in my first track days made me faster quicker and more confident than trying to figure out things myself with much less risk. Track days rock, I still enjoy doing them and I’m now in my early 70’s😉

👏 👏 👏 BRAVO!! EXCELLENT!! I absolutely love that you guys are giving away something of immeasurable value. I'm really looking forward to the next one.

Because of you talking about Yamaha Champion ridding school.. I took the complete online course it was great.. I use the things I learned everyday...

This was awesome. Thank you!! I’m a new rider and will probably look for track days next spring when it stops raining constantly (PNW). Great to hear Mae’s perspectives. I hate how male-dominated (and ego-based) motorcycling seems to be, so any steps to alleviate that are much appreciated!!

Great conversation, I enjoyed listening to the 3 of you share your passion for riding. To be honest I clicked on the video because the title had TRACKDAY in it. 😁 One particular subject that was very encouraging to hear about was what bike to get. Mae talked about how comfortable she feels on the RS660 and how much she loves to ride it. I grew up on and around motorcycles. I fell in love with the 900 Ninja when it was first released and actually bought one, unfortunately not the "flagship" '84 model but the '85, and could not get enough of riding it. Fast forward "a few years" and I was able to buy my "dream bike", a ZX10R, in the summer of 2020. To make a really long story a little shorter, I "discovered" Track Days at the end of last summer and have been going to as many as I can. I smile every time I hear or read the comment about "you need to start on a 400 to start riding at the track" or one the infinite variations of it. I am (slowly) improving my skills and learning to ride better on the track and having more fun than should be legal. I honestly can not put into words what an absolute blast it is learning how to ride this beast the way it was designed to be ridden. Thank you so much for posting this up and to Alex and Mae for joining you in the conversation. Keep yourselves safe! 😃👍❤🏍 Randy

"I guess we [women] will just get faster and the men can be slower" - Mae has no chill and I love it.

No naughty double entendre intended with "friction zone"! (If I had suggested 'lubrication zone' then maybe.) We talk about the friction zone with the clutch all the time for slow speed maneuvers, gently applying brake pressure and friction between tires and road etc. Friction is what keeps a bike upright! Looking forward to your podcasts. I still think you should invite me to Utah to show me your favourite twisty roads. 🙂 Regards. 🇨🇦

Another pause: totally agree with you especially Mae. You buy a bike to feel a connection with it. It’s about pleasure and feelings. Of course it also depends of what you’ll use it for. I loooove my SDR even if it’s not the best track naked. And I just find ridiculous the fight about my R1, Duc, Tuono etc. is the beeest one. Finally never ever had a SV 650…luckily 😂

Glad you included Mae ... she brings a lot to the podcast! I certainly don't want to crash the 899 therefore I treat her as such.

A tip: if you want to talk to your students but you dont want to intrude to much. Dont go like: I see A, B and C therefor you need to do X, Y and Z. But ask open questions. How do you like this corner? How do you like the group? What are you working on etc etc? Usually you can sneak in the feedback in a very natural why. And often you do not need to say much. Just remind them to think about what you have discussed earlier (in a morning theory session or something).

Thanks Dave. I just want to say as someone who has been riding for a year and picking this up later in life, your videos not only are a huge help with the technical aspects but you convey the passion and openly talk about the stresses and challenges so well it helps me grow (and understand they are very normal challenges everyone faces!). . Your content engage me to be better technical rider and whilst I was hesitant to consider a track day this is probably the push I needed. Love the podcast format please keep them coming!

Finally second episode!!! Yes!!!!

Mae, I love having your input in these video podcasts! It's so funny how much ego hangs around the motorcycle world. My other world is CrossFit and there's no place for ego. Guys like me see women warm up with our max weight lift. No BS. 👍Be fast, be strong, don't apologize! 💪

Great podcast Dave! I did not think I will last listening through the whole podcast, but it was time well spent! Great guests and great conversation!

Super informative podcast. Didn't think I'd last all of it but I did. Well done guys. Ride safe and ride well. 🤓

Upright position and front tire load. Just guessing. Love the episode. A lot of information. Thanks

Love the Podcast

Great podcast…probably the best discussion I’ve witnessed regarding track days for us regular schmos. Also, really helpful segment on suggested bikes that might work well in the track. Might be time for me to upgrade from my ‘97 Suzuki B1200…🙄 (Not to mention the excellent discussion on personalities at track day.)

End of the podcast 😊 and I still need to see Sepang FP’s. Again very very interesting. I can’t more agree with you guys. I’ll share the link with my buddies 😉 Thanks for this. P.S. need to check Champ U about the question. Miss 1 answer 😂

Pausing to comment about women 😊 I went last month to a track day at the TT Assen. Surprisingly there were quite lots of women with bikes for the track only. Surprisingly as you don’t see that many women on the road. Man some are so fast I couldn’t follow…and didn’t even try to 😂 And with 15ish old bikes knowing I have a 2021 1290 SDR and I’m not that slow. Personally I find it super cool and I love it. I met a woman there and we are kind of track buddies now (btw I’m totally happily married so nothing more than sharing our passion 😉) We are at about the same level and I don’t mind following her 😊

besides slowing the bike with rear brake is first: to help steer the bike so as to put it in its suspension sweet spot..2nd: is to assist the throttle to load the rear for maximum exit drive out.. 😀😀 i do hope my answers makes sense sir Canyon!! 😀❤️🙏👍🏿

Thanks!

Cant the technology be thought of as a backup for when you make a mistake? Like having ABS on a street bike. "I rather have it and not use it than need it and not have it."

I just visited Gunnink’s Harley shop in Ukiah California . If you like old Harleys, it’s worth the stop!!

Can't the rear brake be used to bring the front end down on hard acceleration and can be used just before the front brake to settle the rear or make the rear of the bike squat down just before entering a turn?

Two things that we can control with the rear brakes besides slowing down is wheelies, and stabilize the motorcycle.

25:40 I hope that when that happens it's because you're not the coach as opposed to not male (though I'm sure it's unfortunately the latter at times). But speaking as a novice, I'm hesitant to take advice from people who I don't know for sure know what they're talking about since there's so many different opinions floating around the track.

When can we expect another episode? Please keep this podcast going!

If I drag toe before anything else does that mean 1) my body position sucks, 2) my foot position on the peg is bad (even tho i'm typically on the inside of the ball of my foot), or 3) both?

Question for y'all. I'd like to start doing a track day a few times a year... My current bike is a Victory Vision. Makes a Goldwing look small. Am I going to be in the way scuffing the boards in C group?

well at least i got mine read out loud lol and not only do I drive an F4i also drive a zh2

Way to throw Alex under the bus on an R3!

I currently ride a Ducati SS and was considering the RS 660 for track and street use. Sounds like Mae really likes her RS660. The other option is to stay with Ducati and look at the panigale V2. Any opinion or thoughts?

What do think about a 450 supermoto as a track bike?

Thanks for the shoutout on the names! Sent my trivia question response to your email!

How or where do we answer the question?

Why women newbie 'student' riders would feel more 'comfortable' with a teacher/instructor 'woman 'splaining' rather than 'man 'splaining'...is simply incomprehensible to me as a 'student' that simply wants to 'learn'. A good teacher is a good teacher regardless of sex, obviously! Anyways... My first track experience, many decades ago, opened my eyes to my personal 'limits' and, thankfully, put my ego in check when riding on public roads. Continued application of things learnt from numerous track days and schools have certainly made me appreciate and improve my personal limits. This has improved my riding pleasure, my safety and the safety of others in public. I've been riding for a very long time and I've concluded that motorcyclists can always improve on their riding regardless of how long they've been riding or what level they're currently at...it's a lifelong passion. And learning, or refreshing motorcycle riding skills through channels such as CanyonChasers is always a good idea and a pleasure!

Check out some of the women who race at the IOM TT, like Jenny Tinmouth. So impressive. As you say, the bike doesn't know what gender you are.

Is that a BB gun hanging on the wall behind you?

Great podcast thanks very much. I think the US must be more conservative than where I am in Australia. The gender issues you covered don't really seem to be an issue here. Most of the chicks on the track are very well respected, because they are a minority, and the quick/experienced ones are respected and listened to. Keep up the podcasts. Cheers

58:40 I agree the SV650 isn't as magical as some say, but this section ignores a lot of context, namely that many beginner track riders need to keep their investment within a defined range to make attending track days financially attainable for them. It's not a matter of wanting to be cheap, but more a matter of responsibly staying within their means. Another salient fact is that you can spend a lot more for something that isn't much better. For example the much-beloved MT07 has one of the worst stock suspension setups in all of motorcycling, no additional tech other than ABS which is available on the SV, and you still need to pay double the price of a used SV for a used MT. The tech, power, and sophistication of the RS660 is amazing, but that's like comparing a Subaru BRZ to a BMW 230i M Sport, it's just not realistically for the same customer. People in the industry seem to forget the wide economic gulf between those who consider a used Suzuki and those who yeet $12k on a showroom-fresh Aprilia.

That’s cute that she thinks that it’s a girl thing that men get excited when they get passed. When men pass men they get aggressive and don’t like it.