Getting Track Ready - Part 1: Riding Gear
Taking it to the track for the first time?
Follow our blog to find out How, Where, and What you and your bike will need to get you on track safely to maximize your track time and fun! In our first installment, we break down what gear you will need to stay safe without breaking the bank (too hard!).
So you're ready to make the jump from street rider to trackday rider, or maybe you're planning on doing some club racing? Awesome! But be forewarned: the addiction is real.
Navigating what each organization requires in terms of helmet certification and protection can be intimidating and time consuming, and you don't want to make a big purchase for you (or your bike) only to find out that while it could be OK for one group, another deems it unsuitable – especially if you find that out after you show up to the track, and then you’re left scrambling to beg, buy, or borrow a piece of kit lest you lose a whole day on track.
Never fear, Motomike is here to help!
Let's jump right in at the top of the list – a proper track day or race helmet that will pass tech at any track day.
We have another post HERE that breaks down helmet sizing and the different certifications (a good read on it's own).
There is still some debate over which certification is safer, so some organizations will allow ECE or FIM only helmets, but some will want a current SNELL rated helmet. Either way, even the organizations who allow ECE still recognize SNELL Certified helmets, so essentially what you're looking for if you want to cover all your bases is a SNELL Certified helmet with the latest rating – currently M2020 at time of writing. (M for motorcycle, 2020 for the date the certification was updated, which is every 5 years).
SNELL certifications are updated every 5 years, and while that doesn't mean your M2015 helmet is expired necessarily (‘expiration’ in this context depends on the manufacture date of the helmet which is on a sticker under the lining or engraved on the chin strap’s D-Ring, and the policy of the organizers), if you want to maximize the time that you can use it on the track, buying a helmet with the latest certification is the way to go.
The HJC i10 is the most economical SNELL Certified helmet that we carry, with a starting price less than $230cdn. It has a poly shell to keep costs down, but doesn't sacrifice impact protection for price. The visor is Pinlock ready (Pinlock is an anti-fog insert) and accepts various tinted visor options, and the interior and cheek pads are removable for cleaning or customizing the fitment. This helmet replaces the much older CL-17, (which I have crashed two of) so I expect the i10 to perform at least as well as that helmet should you have an off track tumble or slide.
Moving down from the head a bit, you will need a high quality racing back protector. These vary in styles, shapes, and sizes – but we recommend Alpinestars for this piece of your trackday kit. This type of protection is tested and rated by CE level, with 2 being the most safe – there is really no point in using a CE level 1 protector here, and the Alpinestars Nucleon KR-R is Level 2 Certified, and comes in 5 sizes based on the measurement between your waist and shoulders, so both men and women can find a size that will fit them correctly for maximum protection. It sits just under $230 list price at time of writing.
Now that your back is covered, let's talk hand safety. While a short glove may be fine on the street, on the track you will need a full-gauntlet glove with hard protection in all the right places. While it's possible to spend a ton on things like kangaroo palms, carbon fibre, and fancy graphics, we find that the Alpinestars SP-8 v3 gloves fit the bill, well, like a glove, for the track day rider and occasional racer. I have currently raced and crashed (a few times) with the previous version of these gloves, and they have held up well. They feature hard knuckle protection, padded finger protection, a 3rd/4th finger bridge for added safety, reinforced palms and palm slider area and are CE Certified level 1, the same as some higher end race gloves like the GP-Plus R. All this for a list price of $140
For women, Alpinestars has you covered too with their Stella SP-8 gloves at the same price as the mens'.
At the other extremity, you're going to need race boots to provide protection to your feet, ankles, and shins. We're looking again to Alpinestars, and their SMX-6 v2 boots (Stella SMX-6 v2 for women). Featuring tons of protection where it counts, like a TPU lateral ankle brace to keep everything in line if it goes wrong, shin and calf guard, ankle protector, shank insole, and replaceable toe slider. At only $400 you can surely pay more, but these are plenty racey enough for most.
I've left the most expensive piece of track day safety kit to last. The race suit. While a 2-piece suit (jacket and pants that zip the full-way around at the waist) is the minimum requirement for just about all organizations, we are always going to recommend a 1-piece due to the increase in safety, and reduced potential failure of the midriff zipper and associated stitching on a 2-piece. Here, we are going to give a couple options depending on your personal body type and timeline.
If you have an off-the-shelf kind of body:
Alpinestars makes a number of suits across a wide range of prices to check out, but the one that really stands out here in terms of cost and safety is the Missile v2. At $1499cdn list price, it is the most economical Tech-Air 10 Airbag-ready suit in the lineup. (See HERE for info on Tech-Air) There is really no need to skimp on a non-Tech-Air capable suit, since if you decide to add it later on down the road you are already equipped with a suit that will work with it. These suits are pre-curved for a race fit, feature premium cow leather, race-spec armour in all the right places, and is CE-certified Cat II.
Similarly, the Stella Missile 1-piece suit is specially cut for women, and comes in European sizing from 38 thru 50.
Most sizes are available quickly from your favorite retailer (hint hint!)
If you have trouble with off-the-shelf jackets and pants:
Think Custom! Bison Track is the official suit of the North America Talent Cup, and sponsor a large number of high-level pros across the road-racing world. They have come up with a measurement regiment to ensure that you can get a bespoke, perfectly fitting suit to order with minimal hassle. The best part? You can bring your own designs to life with their unlimited customization. On the safety front, they come with race-spec padding everywhere it counts, and the ability to add ANY style of airbag system you may want to use. The only caveat is the timeline required. Bison claims 6-8 weeks, we have found it could be longer if you are trying to order during the height of their busy summer season. At a cost between $1300cad and $1800cad for men and women, and around $1000 for youth, you can look like a pro for an off-the-shelf price.
If you are local to Ottawa, we can even help you measure.
Total Costs Involved:
For our 'starter kit' of race gear, here's how it tallies up.
Helmet HJC i10 $230
Back Protector Astar KR-R $230
Gloves Astar SP-8 $140
Boots Astar SMX-6 v2 $400
Suit Astar $1499
TOTAL $2499 at full MSRP
Additional Considerations:
You may want a few other items in your gear bag to be more comfortable in your gear. Below is a list of optional items that we recommend customers consider at time of purchase, as we usually see them back later to pick them up anyway!
Tinted shield and pinlock for your helmet.
A tinted shield will help you on most but the very cloudiest days, reduce glare and eye fatigue and don't slip around on your face or jam your temples like sunglasses might. At $55-80cdn for the i10 in our example, it's not going to set you back too far.
A pinlock insert is essentially a second bit of clear plastic that fits inside your pinlock-ready shield, making it a double-lens to eliminate fogging-up. All that heavy breathing combined with a cloud or some cool air can, at minimum, make for an annoying or distracting track session. At $45, we consider this a nice option if you want to absolutely make sure your visor won't fog in the worst monsoon; but since the anti-fog coating on the HJC shields is already excellent, it isn't a strict necessity like on some other brands (cough Arai cough).
Additional padding and performance underlayers
Many riders like to use a performance underlayer inside their suits. The lining in most suits can be abrasive and/or stick to sweaty skin, so a tight-fitting base layer is a good option especially if you're going to be in and out of your suit between sessions (or at least slipping your arms out when off-track). Really, you can use anything here, but of course the Bike Brands all have their line as well. We found Arctiva makes a long-sleeve lightweight set for $60 that competes on performance with the $200 Alpinestars set.
Another consideration under your suit is additional padding. If you're not ready to go to a full-on Tech-Air 10 system, there are other options to increase the protection in case you take a slide on track.
For added hip, tailbone, and pelvis protection we recommend the Sequence-Pro shorts from Alpinestars ($130). They disappear under your suit, but are there when you need them.
While the back protector we recommended above offers excellent protection, you can add further torso protection in a couple different ways:
Alpinestars makes a number of additional pads such as the tailbone guard ($32) that attaches directly to the KR-R back protector.
On the front-side, a Nuclean KR-Cell chest insert (KR-CiW for women) offers some protection to your chest, ribs, and sternum for around $60-80.
Another option could be to step up to a Nuclean KR-3 protector, with integrated rib protectors and kidney belt, at $269 it offers a lot of protection for only $40 more than the KR-R.
A final option for this area would be the Track Vest. It integrates chest, back, rib, and kidney protection in a lightweight and breathable vest so you don't lose track of each item – and it's simpler to put on and take off. For $290, it is worth consideration if this style is your preference.
There you have it, our guide to getting your gear track-ready in 2023. If you have any questions, comments, confusion, input, think we missed something or have your own personal experience to add, please leave us a comment or contact us directly!
Next time, we discuss getting your bike ready for the track.