Tips for the Nurburgring!

Skynet-T800

Skynet-T800

Skynet-T800

Associate
Joined
16 Jul 2011
Posts
523
Location
Cumbria, Ambleside
Off on a road trip in sept.

I will be close to the ring, but unsure if its safe on motorcycle?

I know my limits but I wonder if the cars know theirs, will it be great fun of scary as hell?

I'm not after setting lap times just want to ride for fun really.

Anybody ridden on the ring? Advice is most welcome :)
 
I've never been to Germany but I'd say if i was anywhere near the Nurburgring on my bike it would be something that has to be done. Even just to say you've ridden the Nurburgring :) Tips would be to watch some laps on youtube so at least you're not surprised if you do go on :)
 
I haven't done Nurburgring but I'd suggest like with any track, just take a few laps to get used to it and build up your confidence. You don't want to be coming back with your bike or you in bits.
 
Yes, have done the Ring a few times. When you go to the ring, you buy it one lap at a time. Because of the layout on and off the track it's not possible to carry on and do another lap. You will be riding the lap with cars, and yes it is very scary. A cars line through a corner is different from ours, so they will cut through a bikers line because they will be able to outbreak you. Most of the fast guys in cars will know the track like the back of there hands and won't make any allowance for you as biker.
If you keep your wits about you and move over to let the cars through, you will be safer and really enjoy the lap. But don't try taking on the faster cars. However, any normal road cars are fair game lol.

One more thing, the Ring is a tyre eater.......................so be prepared to buy another rear tyre at least if you are doing a lap during a tour.
 
Last edited:
Depends on your track experience I guess? Id say well serviced bike, brakes and (properly setup) suspension with fresh rubber will be key.
Race spec for as much of the suspension and brakes as you can as they will take a fair hammering.
 
Potholes?

Bike is a brand new R1, tyres have just done 1000 miles so all good.

I'm not messing around with tyre pressures as ill be doing a lap or 2 only.

Can you film footage (go pro) like a normal track day?

I guess use of rear view mirrors is a must around the ring as opposed to a regular track day.
 
wazza300 said:
supposed to be pothole riddled
Click to expand...

I'm not sure where you heard that, but I have never seen a single pothole on the 'Ring.

I've done a fair few laps in my life, been 3 times (2 times in a car and went last year on a bike) and i'm going again in 2 weeks on the 675.

I'm not going lie, it's **** scary to start with. Last year was my first year there on a bike and it's a whole different animal. Corners obviously come at you quicker and the lines are different, not to mention the common as muck 911's and M3's that are forever trying to squeeze past.

The thing I have always said about the Nurburgring is the faster you go, the safer you are. If you can keep pace with most of the traffic (there will ALWAYS be someone faster than you) then you will usually have a good lap. If you're pootling around that is fine but be prepared to spend more time looking in your mirrors than straight ahead.

I've done a lot of the UK tracks and the ring is like none of them, you have to have the up-most respect for it, or it will bite you. One of our group threw his 2 week old Panigale S at the armco last year....

The best advice I can give anyone going for the first time is go on a day / week when the track is open in the evenings, on weekend it is like the M25 most days... in the evenings (usually opens around 17:00) it's very quiet and great for learning the track.

Hope this helps, as I say I'm off there again in 2 weeks and will have my GoPro 3 (filming not allowed.. btw, but if you're cheeky you can pull over after you go through the barrier and set the camera up) and I will also get some more pics :)

Enjoy it mate.
 
Last edited:
Agree 100% with edd1e. Not one single pothole anywhere the last time i went round.
I've only done one evening lap and it was much better experience, less traffic and the traffic that was on the track was a lot more respectful of the other traffic.
I will stress though, if you are doing the ring as part of a tour around Europe, be prepared to fork out for a new rear tyre during your trip. I have a Ducati 1098s and after riding to the ring from the midlands and doing 5 laps, then riding to Italy and then back home.........................the rear was a slick long before i got to Italy lol. It was brand new when i left home.
 
Skynet-T800 said:
I'm not messing around with tyre pressures as ill be doing a lap or 2 only.
Click to expand...

Id talk to a tyre tech to be honest. That many miles at pace will heat the tyre up a fair whack even if youre not racing. Dropping a few PSI saves the tyre from overinflating and cold tearing which can scrap a tyre in no time.
 
Been playing the ring on gt5 on ps3 to find reference points.

Getting there now I'd say I know 50% of the track but more work needs to be done so I know where the next corner is going!

I may put a new rear hoop on as I've done 1000 miles already and don't have a clue as to how many miles the r1 is capable of touring on power pures inc laps at the ring!
 
Got back a couple of weeks ago from this years trip, I put some vids up in the other thread.

We were lucky and for some reason Saturday 27th July was VERY hot but also very quiet... quietest I had ever seen it, it was amazing.

To be honest GT5 will teach you if it goes left or right, that is about it... it will not tell you just how many inclines there are or the camber. The compression on some of the sections is amazing.

We walked a fair bit of the track in one of the evenings as usual and some bits are so steep you can hardly walk up it.. but on a bike it at 130mph it feels almost flat.

Have fun! :)

3e82628f-fac6-4b83-8e5d-e3148bb416aa_zpsd8badb92.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom