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View Full Version : Welcome to Ridesmart Motorcycle School!

dhdrider
03-03-2008, 07:57 PM
Do you have a sportbike, sport-touring bike, cruiser, or any other street going motorcycle for that matter? Then we want you to be a part of RideSmart Motorcycle School (http://www.ridesmart.info/)!

RideSmart is a motorcycle rider's school that provides instructional assistance for the street rider to the most experienced licensed racer and everything in between. Our focus is to bring you, the motorcycle enthusiast, the most comprehensive set of tools available for our industry. From our entry level instructors to the Ty Howard licensed race school, our aim is to get you on the track and teach you the skills required to become a faster, more comfortable, more confident rider.

What's in it for you? It's simple. The valuable skills you learn on a closed-course track will make you a better and safer street rider!

Check out a clip from the RideSmart/Lonestar BMW event last summer at Texas World Speedway:
http://www.youtube.com/v/u4oEh9S40Lg

RideSmart Motorcycle School operates at many different tracks throughout Texas. They are: Eagles Canyon Raceway (http://www.eaglescanyon.com/2008/home.php), Motorsports Ranch Cresson (http://www.motorsportranch.com/), Texas World Speedway (http://www.texasworldspeedway.com/), Motorsports Ranch Houston (http://www.msrhouston.com/), and Grand Sport Speedway (http://grandsportspeedway.com/).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/dhdrider/Track_Map.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v404/dhdrider/Mileage_picture.gif

Click here to see a schedule of events. (http://www.ridesmart.info/calendar.htm)

If you have any questions, let me know. See you at the track!
whoa
03-03-2008, 09:09 PM
I was out there with Lone Star that day. I don't recall the person who led the classroom instruction, but he did an excellent job. I also thought you guys were kidding about riding in the rain, but it turned out to be a great way to ease into my first track day. JC was my group ride leader, so what else can I say?

:thumb:
Squeaky
03-03-2008, 10:41 PM
Lead instructor was probably Guy. He's awesome!
I love seeing the variety of bikes in the vid - quite a few big GS's. :rider:
The commentary is so right - it's a safe environment to learn the limits of your bike. Don't think of it as a race track or learning to race (unless that's what your goal is, of course).
Mike in Clear Lake
03-07-2008, 07:41 PM
Great info. Thanks!
jhansen
03-07-2008, 10:02 PM
Just how often do you get cruisers to do this? I wouldn't mind doing a day but with a Heritage Softtail Classic..... I know the windshield would have to come off but the bags too? They are a bit of a pain to remove, doable if necessary. Tape over lights no big deal. Just wondering.
Squeaky
03-07-2008, 10:26 PM
Actually, I didn't have to tape up or remove my windshiled when I took the Strom - but it's smaller than a cruiser screen. I've seen a Goldwing out there, and the shield wasn't removed or taped. :shrug:

I went ahead and took the panniers off mine, but I wondered if I could scrape one at (my) full lean angle. :trust:
poser
03-07-2008, 11:45 PM
Actually, I didn't have to tape up or remove my windshiled when I took the Strom - but it's smaller than a cruiser screen. I've seen a Goldwing out there, and the shield wasn't removed or taped. :shrug:

I went ahead and took the panniers off mine, but I wondered if I could scrape one at (my) full lean angle. :trust:

wouldn't you back a strom in motard style? :mrgreen:
Squeaky
03-08-2008, 12:03 AM
wouldn't you back a strom in motard style? :mrgreen:

Nah. I take the sportbike knee-out approach. :rider:

http://squeaky.smugmug.com/photos/160660759-M.jpg
whoa
03-08-2008, 01:12 AM
Lead instructor was probably Guy. He's awesome!

That was him. Your right, he's an excellent instructor.
dhdrider
03-11-2008, 01:49 PM
Just how often do you get cruisers to do this? I wouldn't mind doing a day but with a Heritage Softtail Classic..... I know the windshield would have to come off but the bags too? They are a bit of a pain to remove, doable if necessary. Tape over lights no big deal. Just wondering.
You shouldn't have to remove your wind shield or your bags unless you wanted to. Lights must be taped over and any glass (like mirrors) must be as well. Also, it might be a good idea to remove things that might scrape (like horns, highway pegs, etc) if they hang pretty low.
vfer
03-11-2008, 02:43 PM
I've got to get off my fat you know what and take the RC out to a track day and quit just talking about it!
jhansen
03-11-2008, 04:16 PM
You shouldn't have to remove your wind shield or your bags unless you wanted to. Lights must be taped over and any glass (like mirrors) must be as well. Also, it might be a good idea to remove things that might scrape (like horns, highway pegs, etc) if they hang pretty low.

I got floorboards for my feet....they get drug on a regular basis....:giveup:
Lean angle indication :eek2: I guess I should come out to watch first and see what's what. that's free right? :lol2:
whoa
03-11-2008, 04:27 PM
and quit just talking about it!
No kidding. I put it off for a while cause I didn't want to have to ride with racers. I had a great time and found a lot of people in the first group just out to get a feel for the track.
mary111
03-11-2008, 08:02 PM
Yes, it was Guy who was the lead instructor during the video. He is still instructing for RideSmart. I am blessed having him follow behind me when we are riding our bikes. I ALWAYS have a report, when we stop, on any disapprovals he has on my riding :eek2: It feels like I'm testing every time we ride together, but it keeps my "proper" riding skills intact.
vfer
03-11-2008, 08:45 PM
I might try to make the Eagles Canyon trackday at the end of the month.
ciaka
03-20-2008, 08:55 AM
Hey, if you guys are thinking of doing a track day at Eagles canyon, ridesmart just posted a trivia contest in their section. Winner and 2nd prize are free track day on march 31 (Eagles canyon), and free leathers/boots rental respectively.
The 3rd prize is a free bike cam video from the track day.


Good luck to all, and congrats to whoever wins them.
chipset
03-24-2008, 11:11 PM
I went out to check out the track at the races at Eagle's Canyon just over a week ago.

This is going to be a much different track than MSR@Cresson. 70ft of elevation changes. You can only see parts of the track from the hill overlooking it.

It promises to be an interesting day with the blind turns and long straights.

I will be out there on the 31st.
vfer
03-25-2008, 08:14 AM
I got on the track at Eagle last April.The track was fun,I had more trouble getting the right line thru all the double apex corners.
chipset
03-25-2008, 08:20 AM
I can believe it. It looks much more challenging than MSR@Cresson. I can't wait to get on the track.
rocket
01-03-2009, 09:54 AM
Where is information for 2009? The RideSmart website has not been updated in a couple of months. Is there a problem? Ready to start planning my trackdays. Any help.:giveup:
dhdrider
01-08-2009, 08:58 AM
Where is information for 2009? The RideSmart website has not been updated in a couple of months. Is there a problem? Ready to start planning my trackdays. Any help.:giveup:

Done...
RedRocker
07-02-2009, 06:29 AM
I got floorboards for my feet....they get drug on a regular basis....:giveup:
Lean angle indication :eek2: I guess I should come out to watch first and see what's what. that's free right? :lol2:

A proper footboard:

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u244/Red-Rocker/Properlyclearancedfootboard.jpg
CNI Dawg
07-05-2009, 12:07 PM
Ride Smart is my 'Fav' track day school !
They are GREAT !
modernbeat
10-05-2009, 06:29 PM
I'm considering the class for next weekend, but I'm not sure what to expect of it, or what's expected of me. I'm an absolute novice. I haven't been on a bike at speed in the last ten years and before that have only ridden around 250 around-town miles and a single 3000 mile road trip on a '65 BMW.

Will I be putting too much of a demand on the staff, or not get anything of value from the level-1 class? My goals are to have someone help me smooth out my riding.
RogerAtx
10-05-2009, 11:29 PM
No worries. Won't be any extra load on the instructors. That's what they're there for. The folks who realize or fear they may have some limitations, are generally not a problem (that's more often the case with the over confident and hyper aggressive) Join in and you'll be fine. You're really only expected to show up with a functional, reliable, non leaking bike, and be ready and willing to learn.