Street Vs. Track - Which is safer?

[Dove]

No argument Erin - the track is safer.

Talk to me the next time you see me and I'll help you get some really good track instruction for free.

 

[ucb]

What's the track you're going to that DOESN'T have crashes?

Someone's crashed at almost every track event that I've gone to. Some, every session. Two trackdays ago I had to avoid a "control rider" who rammed a C group noobie on the front straight at Buttonwillow. Not so much of that on my group rides.

There are people who fall at the track and people who crash on the street. I've seen 10+ ppl fall at the track in a day, without a single red flag.

10 crashes on the street with cars and suvs and trees and guard rails..hmm yeah those hurt more than dirt, grass, etc

I fell at infineon, slid, shook it off with essentially 0 pain. Same crash on the street could have landed me under a semi, into a wall, into a fence, etc.
Crash severity is really key, not all crashes are equal.

 

[Traveler]

Track= less fatalities per crash than the street regardless of miles travelled...maybe? Less solid objects to collide with or SUV's to roll over you.

Getting run over is a big one for me. I've hit the pavement a few times and although I didn't enjoy it, I'm still here to talk about it.

 

[dubels]

No one says that you have to push yourself on the track. Not ever C class rider is going at racing pace, that is why there are different classes at trackdays. There are far too many factors outside of your control on the streets: bad roads, pigs in the middle of your line, SUV's making illegal u turns in the middle of a blind turn, guard rails, cliffs, etc. I would gladly slide off the track into a sand trap rather than lowslide under a suv or a guardrail. Plus on the track there is a medical crew waiting just in case something were to happen to you. If you go off in the twisties and no one is around who is going to call the ambulance? I have been hurt more on the street than the track.

 

[sandyxb]

... I need to compromise with the SO while still pursuing a passion of mine. ...
... I've had two accidents, ... Neither of which I could have absolutely prevented but had used my skills to lessen the damage from.
...

I realized that most of the things that happen to a person (medical, accidents, etc) are largely out of your control. All you can do is to know the dangers, be prepared, and as you mentioned, improvement of skills. But all that, can never guarantee that a loved one is never hurt, or that their idea of safety impressed on you makes their life easier.

Alas -> track.

 

[SuperMike]

Search is your friend.

Here's what I said in this thread back in 2006.

Track. Run-off area, one-way traffic, no intersections, better riding surface, no curbs, no pedestrians, no cages, no drunks, no cel phones, no driveways... and CORNERWORKERS!!! Yeah, track is safer.

 

[Ratters]

Well, I've been riding for well over 20 years and my only accident where I was hurt was on the track. Demolished 3" of shin bone and no walking or riding for almost ten months.

From what I know of my 20+ years of riding and friends who ride street and trackdays, most of my friends have been hurt riding the track, most of the ones killed have been on the street.

Either one has it's dangers, you just need to decide if you want to accept them or not. Your SO seems to have her own ideas that you are not likely to change. Seems like you might need to be choosing between SO or riding, not street or track.

 

[Mike T]

i voted for all equally dangerous....

 

[Blacknblue]

The bathroom is the most dangerous, followed by the kitchen, then maybe the garage. Bedroom closets seem to be the safest, especially on a shelf. (Nothing to fall on you.) It's hard to get used to. . .

 

[Raz0rback]

I've never been to the track, but plan to soon. I've seen 1 death on the track in the last year or so since i've been on this board, I seen more threads from deaths on the streets then I can even count.

So my vote : Track

 

[High-Side]

I know plenty of dirt people who will say that dirt is the most dangerous thing you can do.

I rode ten years on a dirt bike before I ever bought a street bike and I still ride a dirt bike. You learn to get a good feel for how to operate a motorcycle in the dirt that carries over to the street. My son is seven and he is already riding a dirt bike and I believe he will have a much better chance of surviving on the street if he chooses to ride a street bike because of his dirt riding skills. It's better to hone your riding skills and get all the bugs out on a fire road instead of in today's traffic. I have also taken riding lessons at Infineon Raceway on both their road course and supermoto course. Taking a riding class is a good way to get better.

 

[rapidrobbie]

Either one has it's dangers, you just need to decide if you want to accept them or not. Your SO seems to have her own ideas that you are not likely to change. Seems like you might need to be choosing between SO or riding, not street or track.

The track is safer IMHO,but it still comes down to self-control and knowing when/where to push limits.OP your SO is due for a replacement

 

[strega]

I think that on the track, riders feel much safer, knowing that the track/environmental conditions are in their favor, and ride much quicker than on the street, and that's the advantage of the track (having that sense of security). So as a result, often some riders ride at a quicker pace sooner, and often crash, however, it's the severity of the crash that would be much less on track vs. street.
Lets say you come into a corner way too hot, can't hold your line, stand it up and ride off the track. You might dump the bike in the dirt, tumble, pickup the bike and ride back to the pits, maybe break a wrist or sprain an ankle...on the street, you stand it up, cross the double yellow, clip the side of an oncoming truck and flip into the guard rail, and get a life flight to the ICU.
Crashes happen, it's the difference in severity in street vs. track that's important. Either place, you need to ride smart, but at least the track doesn't have a bunch of asshats riding toward you.
Dirt on the other hand, I crash quite often, but you'll usually end up with none to minor injuries, versus a potential fatality on the street.

 

[GAJ]

Many of us in our 50's had periods where we did not ride or own a bike.

For me it was the 9 years I lived in Miami some 25 years ago.

Life goes on, it's not the end of the world.

 

[Z3n]

Well, I've been riding for well over 20 years and my only accident where I was hurt was on the track. Demolished 3" of shin bone and no walking or riding for almost ten months.

From what I know of my 20+ years of riding and friends who ride street and trackdays, most of my friends have been hurt riding the track, most of the ones killed have been on the street.

Either one has it's dangers, you just need to decide if you want to accept them or not. Your SO seems to have her own ideas that you are not likely to change. Seems like you might need to be choosing between SO or riding, not street or track.

This is really the truth of the matter.

My SO would never ask me to give up riding. I will give up riding when I'm unsafe doing it because of physical defects...until then, anyone who asks me to give up riding truly doesn't understand who I am or why it's important to me. I eat, sleep, and breathe 2 wheels, to take that away from me would be like robbing me of my left arm.

I can't even remember who I was before I started riding.

 

[donnamatrix]

I'd say sign up for a ZoomZoom track day (for example), bring your wife. Have her sit in with you on the instructional classes that they have available for C group. Invite her to watch the other riders and yourself out on the track, maybe meet some of the instructors. I think she will realize that it is a much more safe and controlled arena for you to take your motorcycling to. It just sounds like she's against it right now because she doesn't *understand* it.

Worst case, if she gets bored out there, she can sit out in the sun, read a book and work on her tan

 

[louemc]

Haven't read through this thread, so just jumping in.

In my opinion, there is no debate on which (track or street) is safer. The track is safer, off the chart and no comparison safer.

Is the question one of safety on the street? The street can be safe in acceptable limits (hey how does anyone live without getting on the street?, People do kill themselves or get killed, driving cars ya know).

If a biker is motivated to learn how to ride a bike, by going to schools that teach how to ride a bike, Track schools/dirt riding/ and the concentration of what your doing, that way.

The street is safe, as well. It requires paying attention, so that is the question, can you pay attention? Can you dress for what your doing? Can you Choose a bike that is about working in your favor? It's up to You

 

[sv2007]

*.

So, here's my question. Which is theoretically safer, track or street?
Secondary question: Which is safer, twisties or track?
getting over it.

Tackdays are safer than street riding if you treat it like a group ride w/ passing (like me , i.e. don't push yourself and respect the other riders. Just be there to enjoy some non-drama, relaxed riding. A warning: trackdays are very addictive and you'll be yarning for more (it is very difficult to deal w/ trackday withdrawal).

 

[scotinexcile]

I'd say sign up for a ZoomZoom track day (for example), bring your wife. Have her sit in with you on the instructional classes that they have available for C group. Invite her to watch the other riders and yourself out on the track, maybe meet some of the instructors. I think she will realize that it is a much more safe and controlled arena for you to take your motorcycling to. It just sounds like she's against it right now because she doesn't *understand* it.

Worst case, if she gets bored out there, she can sit out in the sun, read a book and work on her tan

Then she gets a track bike and starts beating your track times

Like Conan said above I could not be without a bike again it is to much "part of me" your choice may end up being more difficult than you though. Good Luck

 

[greener]

Track is safer by design. Still twisties are safe enough that I won't trade one for the other.
My plan is to do my exploring and educational envelope pushing on the track under instruction, but ride twisties with the single goal of keeping the shiny side up and making it home 100% of the time.

Also, parallel twin for the win!