S1000 RR Track Preparation

If you are one of the lucky ones to call a BMW S1000RR your bike, then you only get your monies worth, if you take this monster to the track. This is a quick checklist of what to do to the bike to make it a trackday weapon.

Quick Checklist

All items in the checklist are explained in further detail below.

• Check Tires for life, tape wheel weights and check “Track worthiness”
• Check Exhaust — some tracks have noise limits
• Disable Front and Break Lights — taping is optional
• Add Numbers on your bike
• Add Crash protection like frame sliders and engine case covers
• Add grippier foot-pegs and tank pads to stay in contact with the bike
• Remove unnecessary items like : mirrors, license plate, passenger pegs, etc.

Tires

While there are many tires you can run on a track from road tires that are track-ready like the Dunlop Q3s, Pirelli Super Corsas or Metzeler RRs all the way to racing slicks, the main thing is to have a tire with plenty life left before arriving at the track.

Some Trackday provider also require to tape the wheel weights, in order to make sure you don’t lose them on the track.

For tire pressure ask your local tire mechanic at the track on recommendations.

Lights

Remove Fuses 4 and 5 to disable the Low and High-Beams and unplug the connector for the break light (there is a little hook on the underside that needs to be released first)

On a race track it is important to avoid distractions. That’s why you have to disable the break light and low and high-beams. Taping of the headlights is usually optional nowadays, because the light covers are made out of plastic and not glass anymore.

Once the lights are disabled you will get an error message in the dashboard. If this annoys you you can go to Settings -> Equipment -> Lamp Warning and turn that error message off.

Taping is optional, but quickly done with some good tape

Numbers

Most tracks require that you have some numbers on your bike so you can be identified. Either get some colorful tape or buy some number stickers. I personally use these : Link

Exhaust

The big old standard exhaust

Some tracks like Laguna Seca have noise limits and there you should only run your stock exhaust in order to be able to stay under the sound limits.

Protection

Frame and Case sliders can safe you a lot of money in case you go down

While of course the hope is to keep the shiny side up and not crash on the track — crashing is part of racing and so you should be better prepare your bike for an accident. I’m using SW Motech Frame and Case sliders. They look beautiful and are engineered in Germany. Other good brands are e.g. R&G.

Grip

Stompgrip Tank Pads

Tank Pads are in my opinion essential on the track. There are not a lot worse feelings than having your knee slide of the tank while hanging off your bike.

Rear Sets and Passenger Foot Rests

A good set of grippy rear sets also offers your foot a lot more hold and you can usually adjust the height for better ground clearance and to change the riding position.

The passenger foot-pegs are immensely helpful to transport your bike to the track and great contact points for strap downs.

Mirrors and Windshield

For the racetrack you want to use a clear Windshield. The reason in simple : on any straight you want to go to the full tuck and look through the windshield — this works much better if it is not tinted.

Mirrors can be taped or ideally removed. I used some R&G hole covers. They don’t only cover up some ugly holes, but also keep the fairing connected to the bike.

License Plate and Indicators

It only takes 3 screws to remove my Yoshimura tail tidy and eliminated license plate and rear indicators. This is absolutely optional, but looks great, minimizes drag by a tiny little bit and in case you crash you have less parts to replace ;-)