or, MattB made me do it!
MattB and I talked about tying together the riding we enjoy into a week-long event. That is how the DGR theme this year, track, dirt, street, got started. After putting it together, I really started working on what it would take to get on the track. I've wanted to do a track day for a while, but it seemed the hurdles were just too much. I didn't own leathers nor did I own a street bike. Matt said I could ride his old GSXR at the track if I wanted to, and many people said I could easily get the K12S on the track with minimal effort. So, I started the search for leathers.
I bought my son some A*'s that are really nice, but expensive. I asked Matt and he turned me onto a company called RST. He said that Bruce was really talking them up and I found some online but couldn't find what I was looking for or the size I needed. Bruce hooked me up with his contact who while was a wealth of information, couldn't provide me with the product that suited my needs due to the importer no longer bringing RST leathers into the States. I ended up finding what I wanted at a shop in the UK, where RST is made, that would ship to the US. And the price was frigging awesome!
Since I don't know if track days will become a staple of my riding, I decided to get a two piece. The fit was pretty damn good and the product is awesome. Very well made stuff.
The Visor Shop shipped the gear out on a Friday and I had it in hand Monday. Once again, great fit and very comfortable on the bike.
After I received the leathers, I really started putting time into looking at track bikes. I had been bantering back and forth with MattB about getting a bike dedicated to the track, and I was searching for something cheap, around $3k. But then I thought about when I bought my GSA I knew that it wasn't going to be able to fill all the needs that I have in regards to motorcycling. As great of a bike that the GSA is, it doesn't tickle all of the parts. I wanted something with power. Back in 2016 when the GSA was new I stated that I wanted an RSV4. Well, we abandoned the idea of getting a $3k bike and decided to go get an Aprilia. I think MattB's Aprilia Track Day thread sparked the interest to get that bike.
I had done a bunch of research online of course and found a great dealer, Commonwealth Motorcycles in Louisville, KY. The sales manager, Tony Kutz was awesome to work with and the process was very easy. We had most of the paperwork done before I even left the house and when my wife and I arrived at the dealership the only pressure to be had was what I put on myself. I sat on the RSV4 which I believe is one of the prettiest bikes ever. It just sings to me. But the Tuono is so much more practical for me and how I can see using it. A real hooligan bike for sure. The conversation that I had with Matt is that the RSV is a "streetable" track bike and the Tuono is a " trackable" street bike. That and the fact that my wife sat on both of the bikes and asked why I wouldn't go for the more comfortable to ride on a regular basis. SOLD!
Ed, the owner of Commonwealth Motorcycles took me for a demo ride. All I will say about that ride is it was the best demo I have ever been on with a bike shop person. The guy rides like me! Or I ride as he does. This is Ed showing me the tricky bits on the Tuono.
So, what started out with me buying leathers for a track day ballooned into me getting a Tuono. I really thought I wanted the RSV4 but I was wrong. The Tuono is a fucking beast of a bike. And yes, I rode the S1000R and the S1000XR, not the bike I was looking for, not after the demo ride with Ed. Really, for me, the only choice was either the RSV4 or the Tuono and I am happy with my choice.
After signing the paperwork, shaking hands, getting the lo-down on the bike, it was time to take her home. I found out that I wasn't really prepared for the bike. While the leathers were comfy, my helmet didn't care to be in the air. The Neotec is great on the GS, but not so much at the speeds this friggin thing will go. I need to put a radar detector on it as well, post haste. I had a little scare that actually will be a tale by itself.
NOW I am ready for the track day! And I am also ready to take this beast up to some of the sweet twisty mountain roads near my home. It will not replace the GSA but get the track and local riding duty. I am looking forward to ripping it up.
And Matt, my Italian beauty is way prettier than that ugly thing you are riding...
MattB and I talked about tying together the riding we enjoy into a week-long event. That is how the DGR theme this year, track, dirt, street, got started. After putting it together, I really started working on what it would take to get on the track. I've wanted to do a track day for a while, but it seemed the hurdles were just too much. I didn't own leathers nor did I own a street bike. Matt said I could ride his old GSXR at the track if I wanted to, and many people said I could easily get the K12S on the track with minimal effort. So, I started the search for leathers.
I bought my son some A*'s that are really nice, but expensive. I asked Matt and he turned me onto a company called RST. He said that Bruce was really talking them up and I found some online but couldn't find what I was looking for or the size I needed. Bruce hooked me up with his contact who while was a wealth of information, couldn't provide me with the product that suited my needs due to the importer no longer bringing RST leathers into the States. I ended up finding what I wanted at a shop in the UK, where RST is made, that would ship to the US. And the price was frigging awesome!
Since I don't know if track days will become a staple of my riding, I decided to get a two piece. The fit was pretty damn good and the product is awesome. Very well made stuff.
The Visor Shop shipped the gear out on a Friday and I had it in hand Monday. Once again, great fit and very comfortable on the bike.
After I received the leathers, I really started putting time into looking at track bikes. I had been bantering back and forth with MattB about getting a bike dedicated to the track, and I was searching for something cheap, around $3k. But then I thought about when I bought my GSA I knew that it wasn't going to be able to fill all the needs that I have in regards to motorcycling. As great of a bike that the GSA is, it doesn't tickle all of the parts. I wanted something with power. Back in 2016 when the GSA was new I stated that I wanted an RSV4. Well, we abandoned the idea of getting a $3k bike and decided to go get an Aprilia. I think MattB's Aprilia Track Day thread sparked the interest to get that bike.
I had done a bunch of research online of course and found a great dealer, Commonwealth Motorcycles in Louisville, KY. The sales manager, Tony Kutz was awesome to work with and the process was very easy. We had most of the paperwork done before I even left the house and when my wife and I arrived at the dealership the only pressure to be had was what I put on myself. I sat on the RSV4 which I believe is one of the prettiest bikes ever. It just sings to me. But the Tuono is so much more practical for me and how I can see using it. A real hooligan bike for sure. The conversation that I had with Matt is that the RSV is a "streetable" track bike and the Tuono is a " trackable" street bike. That and the fact that my wife sat on both of the bikes and asked why I wouldn't go for the more comfortable to ride on a regular basis. SOLD!
Ed, the owner of Commonwealth Motorcycles took me for a demo ride. All I will say about that ride is it was the best demo I have ever been on with a bike shop person. The guy rides like me! Or I ride as he does. This is Ed showing me the tricky bits on the Tuono.
So, what started out with me buying leathers for a track day ballooned into me getting a Tuono. I really thought I wanted the RSV4 but I was wrong. The Tuono is a fucking beast of a bike. And yes, I rode the S1000R and the S1000XR, not the bike I was looking for, not after the demo ride with Ed. Really, for me, the only choice was either the RSV4 or the Tuono and I am happy with my choice.
After signing the paperwork, shaking hands, getting the lo-down on the bike, it was time to take her home. I found out that I wasn't really prepared for the bike. While the leathers were comfy, my helmet didn't care to be in the air. The Neotec is great on the GS, but not so much at the speeds this friggin thing will go. I need to put a radar detector on it as well, post haste. I had a little scare that actually will be a tale by itself.
NOW I am ready for the track day! And I am also ready to take this beast up to some of the sweet twisty mountain roads near my home. It will not replace the GSA but get the track and local riding duty. I am looking forward to ripping it up.
And Matt, my Italian beauty is way prettier than that ugly thing you are riding...
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