Track Days

[butbmw]

Anyone take thier 1200 RT out on one of these.I went and watched one recently and very much want to tune up my skills.I am wondering about all the plastic parts,if something was to go wrong.

[mneblett]

I am wondering about all the plastic parts,if something was to go wrong.
What, in particular, are you wondering about?

Not to be a smart@$$, but it seems pretty simple -- you fall, you replace (some would argue that you could file an insurance claim and say it happened somewhere besides the track, but I'm not partial to insurance fraud).

I suppose you could strip some of the tupperware off the bike before you leave the pits, but that's more hassle than it's worth to me.

It likely goes without saying, but recognizing and riding within one's limits substantially reduces the chance for buying new parts. It can be hard to avoid the "red mist," but the potential shock to one's wallet (not to mention to one's backside when sliding/tumbling down the track) can help diffuse the mist. :thumb

[pffog]

Reduce your chances by striving for SMOOTH, not speed only.
And if you carry collision, your insurance should cover any damage should you crash. As long as it is not racing, most do cover it. Track days are considered skill training, so it is NOT fraud!

My policy says will not cover damage if it happened during a timed speed contest (AKA: race), track days are not timed and not races.

[mneblett]

Reduce your chances by striving for SMOOTH, not speed only.
And if you carry collision, your insurance should cover any damage should you crash. As long as it is not racing, most do cover it. Track days are considered skill training, so it is NOT fraud!

My policy says will not cover damage if it happened during a timed speed contest (AKA: race), track days are not timed and not races.
Don't *begin* to fool yourself -- insurance companies are getting *very* strict about this, to the point that while a few years ago a number of companies would cover track or other similar "education" activities, at this point I'm not aware of *any* of the majors that don't exclude track days.

Your reading of your insurance contract is one view (BTW, are you reading your most recent policy's exclusions?). However, I'd give you at least even money that a quick call to your carrier (done from a phone without your caller ID, so your inquiry isn't logged and thus become a factor in future rate setting! :) ) will show that they have a different view.

Yes, I will readily acknowlege that if your current contact reads as you state, you may have an argument that their view isn't *exactly* what the contract sez, and they should cover a track day loss. The reality is that if they disagree, the money stays in their pockets until you find some way to pry it out. Do you have the time and money to take them to arbitration or court after they deny the claim?

My advice to all is to assume that you have *no* coverage, and make your assessment of whether you are willing to take the risk of participting on that basis. Alternatively, look into event-specific coverage. A few bux for a weekend's coverage may pay off big in the (still pretty unlikely) event of an off-track cross-country tour.

[dancogan]

Took my RT for a track day. Just took off the bags and rode it. Really learned a lot about cornering technique and never felt I was in danger. Rode faster than I ever had before, in a safe environment and now I don't feel the need to "let 'er go" on the open road.

[pffog]

...........
Yes, I will readily acknowlege that if your current contact reads as you state, you may have an argument that their view isn't *exactly* what the contract sez, and they should cover a track day loss. The reality is that if they disagree, the money stays in their pockets until you find some way to pry it out. Do you have the time and money to take them to arbitration or court after they deny the claim?..............

Had an acquaintance that ran into the insurance balking and all it took was a letter from a Lawyer( who also does track days), stating the verbiage from the contract and mentioning that if they failed to honor it, the State insurance commission would be contacted, for him to get a check. The lawyer didn't even charge him. The "contract" is just that, they are legally bound to honor it, not reinterpret it after the fact, and if it excludes "timed speed contests" they do not have a leg to stand on.

[mneblett]

Had an acquaintance that ran into the insurance balking and all it took was a letter from a Lawyer( who also does track days), stating the verbiage from the contract and mentioning that if they failed to honor it, the State insurance commission would be contacted, for him to get a check. The lawyer didn't even charge him. The "contract" is just that, they are legally bound to honor it, not reinterpret it after the fact, and if it excludes "timed speed contests" they do not have a leg to stand on.
I'm a lawyer. :D And other folks in my firm do insurance defense work. Sometimes the "letter from my lawyer" bit works, sometimes it doesn't.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm *all* for track days, and I believe *everyone* should do them to become better/safer riders. I just wanted to make sure everyone goes in with their eyes open, and not be misled by the post above into believing they are covered when they likely are not. :thumb

[85138]

I (unfortunately) have direct experience where a track day incident was covered (my DUC 749S). My policy had the timed event exclusion. They didn't ask many questions, I told them I was at a training course at private closed facility which indeed it was.

However, I've heard that w/ increasing popularity of track days - and subsequent claims, that insurance companies are becoming sensitive to the risk and changing fineprint. And of course it wouldn't be the first time an insurance company tried to renege on established coverage.

Check your policy (I couldn't find changes in my renewal). I called before attending my last event w/ the F800ST just to make sure.

BTW ... I recall seeing pics of an R1150RT at a track day on this forum. As pffog noted, try to be smooth, keep your head and remember it's not a race.

[markgoodrich]

To the original question: you're worried about plastic bits...presumably you're worried you might fall off. It's not just plastic that gets damaged, especially on the boxer twins. As others have said, if you take the bike to the track, work on being smooth, which will then make you fast. If you have fun, it's pretty easy to find track-only bikes for sale on ebay, craigslist, the WERA site, etc, for under three grand, which is probably what you'll be out if you do fall off your BMW and don't get insurance coverage...and you'll have a much more suitable weapon for the track. However, the asphalt is exactly as hard if you fall off your track bike. It is actually shockingly harder than I expected it to be. Duct tape fixed all the cracked plastic on the track bike....

[butbmw]

I realize there is a risk in attending a track day event.But isn't risk management and acceptance a part of riding? I am concerned with damaging my bike far more than myself,is this strange?The idea of smooth is what it is all about,smooth is fast.As far as staying within one's limits,well I intend on finding where that limit is. In coaching the BRC, I encourage my students to expand thier comfort zone,not to exceed there given skill set but to improve on it.This is what I wish to do.I just thought someone in the forum could lend insight.If I am risking thousands of dollars for a low side slide,that is one thing,a few hundred is another. All the replys have merit. THANKS

[85138]

Which track do you have in mind? Try to memorize the layout before the event (e.g. look at track diagram then youtube clips). This would allow you to spend more attention on your riding and help w/ reference points (braking, turn-in, apex)

As you probably know, ideal tire pressures would be different from street and at least a few psi lower, especially in the rear to get to optimum temps & pressure.

If it's your first track day, an instructional class/event would be much better than open track day. Some events can be squidly ... depends on the provider and clientele. Keep your head on and have fun. (To paraphrase what someone wrote somewhere ... you should have a widea$$ smile after each session or you're not having fun)

[Atomicman52]

I'm a lawyer. :D And other folks in my firm do insurance defense work. Sometimes the "letter from my lawyer" bit works, sometimes it doesn't.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm *all* for track days, and I believe *everyone* should do them to become better/safer riders. I just wanted to make sure everyone goes in with their eyes open, and not be misled by the post above into believing they are covered when they likely are not. :thumb

Wouldn't a simple call to your insurance company previous to hitting the track asking how a training track crash would be handled go a long way toward helping your case, if in fact a problem occured at a track day. Provided you document the name of the Insurance company representative, the date and time you spoke with them as well as a brief synapsis of the conversation, I would think this would vastly improve your chances of a smooth claim procedure.