Top 10 Must-have Mods Before Your First Track Day, Motorbike Edition

1. Performance tyres

Why it matters: grip is your lap time and your safety margin. Street sport tyres can work for beginners in warm weather, however, track focused compounds offer faster warm up and more predictable feedback.

What to look for

• Compound that suits temperature and pace, fast warm up for novice groups, avoid full slicks unless you have warmers
• Fresh date codes, ideally within two years
• Matching front and rear profiles for neutral steering

Typical cost: 450 to 750 AUD per set, plus fitting.

Install tips: check pressures cold at the track, ask the tyre service for a baseline, recheck hot off track and adjust. Inspect for tearing, this usually means pressure or suspension is off.

Common mistakes: running road pressures, mixing an old front with a new rear, skipping a warm up lap.

2. Brake pads and braided lines

Why it matters: repeated heavy braking can cause fade with many OEM pads. Track rated pads resist heat and deliver consistent feel. Braided stainless lines hold firm under pressure and improve lever feedback.

What to look for

• Pad compounds that state track or fast road, look for high temperature stability and rotor friendliness
• Lines with ADR compliance and stainless fittings, correct length for your bar setup
• High boiling point fluid, fresh DOT 4 or DOT 5.1, do not use DOT 5 silicone

Typical cost: pads 120 to 320 AUD, lines 180 to 300 AUD, fluid 20 to 40 AUD.

Install tips: flush fluid until it runs clear, tap calipers to release trapped bubbles, bed pads in with several firm stops from moderate speed.

Common mistakes: mixing old and new fluid, overfilling the reservoir, not re torquing caliper bolts.

3. Suspension setup and components

Why it matters: correct sag and damping keep the tyre in contact with the track, this builds confidence and saves your tyres.

What to look for

• Start with setup, measure rider sag, aim for roughly 30 to 35 mm front and rear for most sportbikes
• Fresh fork oil if the bike is older, heavier springs if you are outside the stock weight range
• A quality rear shock with rebound and compression adjustment once you outgrow stock units

Typical cost: professional setup 80 to 150 AUD, fork service 250 to 500 AUD, shock 900 to 1,800 AUD.

Install tips: adjust one change at a time, note clicks and turns, keep a track notebook for settings and conditions.

Common mistakes: chasing lap time with clickers when tyre pressures are wrong, forgetting to reset after rain or temperature swings.

4. Rearsets and controls

Why it matters: stable foot position and extra ground clearance help you lean with confidence and avoid dragging parts.

What to look for

• Adjustable rearsets that allow higher and rearward positions, solid knurling for grip
• Folding toe pegs on shifter and brake
• Reverse or standard shift pattern, choose what you will stick with

Typical cost: 350 to 900 AUD.

Install tips: use thread locker on mounting bolts, set lever heights with your boots on, verify brake light and switch function if you ride to the track.

Common mistakes: skipping lock nuts, leaving sharp edges exposed after removal of OEM guards.

5. Clip-ons and adjustable levers

Why it matters: consistent lever feel and a tucked cockpit improve control under braking and in fast direction changes.

What to look for

• Clip-ons with proper rise and angle for your ergonomics, clearance to tank and fairings at full lock
• CNC levers with span adjustment and clean machining, check ADR compliance if used on road

Typical cost: clip-ons 220 to 500 AUD, levers 120 to 280 AUD.

Install tips: align the master cylinder level, set lever reach so you brake with index and middle fingers comfortably, verify steering lock to lock without cable bind.

Common mistakes: overtightening bar clamps, misaligned switchgear pins.

6. Crash protection, sliders and case covers

Why it matters: low sides can happen as you learn. Sliders and engine case covers can turn a crash into a pickup and ride again rather than a trailer ride home.

What to look for

• Frame sliders with solid mounts, pucks that slide rather than dig in
• Engine case covers that protect clutch and stator covers, some tracks require these for certain bikes
• Axle sliders to protect forks and swingarm

Typical cost: 200 to 600 AUD for a full set.

Install tips: torque to spec, check clearance to fairings, recheck after the first session.

Common mistakes: no name kits with weak mounting plates, mounts that interfere with fairing removal.

7. Cooling and fluids

Why it matters: sustained high rpm reveals weak fluid maintenance quickly.

What to look for

• Fresh coolant appropriate for your bike, some tracks require glycol free coolant, check your event rules
• High quality engine oil, correct viscosity for expected temperatures
• Safety wiring for the oil filter and the drain bolt if required by your club

Typical cost: 60 to 150 AUD for fluids and consumables.

Install tips: replace the radiator cap if old, inspect hoses and clamps, set chain slack on the loose side of the spec for hot running.

Common mistakes: arriving with old coolant, overfilling oil, ignoring a tired battery that will struggle with multiple starts.

8. Exhaust and noise management

Why it matters: weight savings and throttle response are helpful, however, Australian tracks often have strict noise limits, commonly 95 to 105 dB measured at a set distance.

What to look for

• Slip-on with a removable baffle or dB killer, choose a system that publishes tested dB levels
• Proper mapping if you change the cat or full system, smooth fueling improves mid corner control

Typical cost: 450 to 1,800 AUD depending on slip-on or full system.

Install tips: carry the baffle, repackable mufflers can get louder as packing wears, bring extra packing if you run close to the limit.

Common mistakes: turning up with an open pipe and being black flagged, forgetting to check for exhaust leaks at joints.

9. Tail tidy and lighting for transit

Why it matters: cleans up the rear, reduces weight, and keeps your plate secure for road transit to and from the track.

What to look for

• ADR compliant number plate angle and lighting if ridden on road
• Robust brackets that do not vibrate or crack, weatherproof connectors

Typical cost: 120 to 250 AUD.

Install tips: use dielectric grease on connectors, secure the loom with proper clips, check plate visibility at night.

Common mistakes: deleting indicators without an alternative solution, poor wiring joins that fail in rain.

10. Quickshifter and gearing

Why it matters: smoother upshifts and a final drive ratio that suits your track improve drive off corners and reduce missed shifts.

What to look for

• Plug and play quickshifters with adjustable kill time, confirm compatibility with your ECU
• Sprocket changes, often one tooth smaller front or two larger rear for shorter gearing, verify chain length

Typical cost: quickshifter 300 to 700 AUD, sprockets and chain 250 to 450 AUD.

Install tips: set sensor polarity to match shift pattern, re calibrate gear position if needed, carry your stock front sprocket to compare on the day.

Common mistakes: gearing too short that hits the limiter on the straight, chain alignment off after changes.

Buyer check table

Pre-ride setup checklist

• Tyre pressures set cold to a known baseline, recheck hot
• Chain cleaned, lubricated, and slack set
• Brake pads thick, fluid fresh, lever firm
• No fluid leaks, all bolts torqued, safety wire applied if required
• Controls positioned for your boots and gloves, nothing binds at full lock
• Noise baffle packed and on hand
• Fuel full, spare fuel if the track is remote
• Tape or remove mirrors if required, remove loose accessories
• Rider gear, helmet with current standard, gloves, boots, back protector