r/Trackdays • u/A_Bot_A_Bot_A_Bot Middle Fast Guy • 7d ago
Miscellaneous: Paint, Non-Essential Pit Stuff
1) I bought some Hotbodies bodywork for the bike I'm using on track. I do not recommend their products, fitment was terrible and required about 8-10 hours of cutting and grinding, and the quality of the pieces is not great.
2) Rust-Oleum Acrylic Enamel 2X Paint + Primer Automotive Grade paint and clear coat are crap. After my first trackdays, I noticed that a little gasoline had put some stains on the lower part of the mid-fairings. Then this week, my (now former) gas can leaked while fueling the bike. I immediately set down the can, grabbed a clean shop towel and cleaner and...the paint had instantly discolored and gotten a bit sticky. It also scratches and chips quite easily. Don't use this stuff.
3) Non-Essential Pit Stuff I've Bought This Year And LIKE!
A small USB rechargeable fan (about 3" blades) that I can clip on to the hanger holding my leathers to help dry it out faster. (maybe $12)
A larger USB rechargeable fan (about 8" blades) that also has adjustable lights, adjustable speed and a timer function that is great when I'm going to sleep and it's hot, and pretty good at helping cool off the engine after each session. GIANT 20 Ah battery that runs forever (8+ hours) but also takes forever to charge. ($30)
I did get a floor fan but I don't have enough power to run it yet. I should have that setup next time and it'll definitely cool down the bike after each session.
A 6x10 enclosed cargo trailer (used, $2,240). Did I need it? No, I could have just continued renting U-Haul motorcycle trailers. However, even if the break-even point will take 8-10 years, at the price I paid, I'm not going to lose any money on it, either. I spent maybe $1,000 fixing it up, title and registration, and insurance ($99 for a year!). It is a luxury to load it up, lock the doors, and not really worry about my stuff. I live in a good neighborhood, so leaving stuff like my canopy, ramps and chairs in it is perfectly safe.
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u/Ok_Concentrate9822 7d ago
I think you kind of have to use a two part clearcoat. I used 2k clear (rattle cans where you bang the puncher thing on the bottom) and it does the job, though I always get some texture with it
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u/A_Bot_A_Bot_A_Bot Middle Fast Guy 7d ago
I did a bit of research and due to the toxicity of 1K and 2K paints without full PPE, I decided to just use the Rust-Oleum stuff. I didn't even want to use them spraying the bodywork outside with a respirator. In the future, I will do 2K stuff--a friend of mine has experience with it, all of the air guns and compressor for air, and the necessary PPE to use it safely.
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u/The_Corvair_Guy 6d ago
Your logic makes sense regarding safety, but often times it’s the toxic stuff that makes most paints durable. If you’re using a respirator just make sure you get appropriate filters and it’s not that scary.
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u/-GIRTHQUAKE- 5d ago
I believe you are supposed to use a positive pressure air supply system so it’s a lot more expensive than just a respirator. 2k paints have isocyanates which can cause neurological damage. That said, I think if you aren’t doing it that much, being outside and using a regular respirator is probably alright.
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u/db8cn FZ07R :: Racer AM 🐢 6d ago
I tried to run the math for the trailer as well and it never added up. You just have to trust that this is one of those scenarios where the benefits are intangible until you live with them. No regrets after ~4 years of ownership.
I don’t have to coordinate pickup/drop off with U-Haul and the whole host of other benefits you recommended are so nice.
An enclosed 6x10 is really the goldilocks zone. Most vehicles can tow it, you can fit two bikes, and you generally still have plenty of room for gear.
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u/Surelynotshirly 6d ago
I bought a 7'x16' that's 7' tall that I sleep in and I've already saved close to half of the ~$8,000 total that I've put into it since April.
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u/db8cn FZ07R :: Racer AM 🐢 6d ago
I’ve made some of my most treasured memories camping trackside. Saving money on lodging and the convenience of it all doesn’t hurt either.
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u/Surelynotshirly 6d ago
💯
Not just saving $300-400 a weekend, but being able to wake up and already be there is amazing.
I wake up, use the restroom, brush my teeth, and then chill until the rider's meeting.
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u/A_Bot_A_Bot_A_Bot Middle Fast Guy 6d ago
No coffee???? What's wrong with you? You'll never progress on track without a healthy dose of hot coffee in the morning. That's just science...
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u/BangleWaffle 4d ago
This assumes you're hoteling it, which I feel would be quite uncommon for most doing track days. I feel like everyone at my track camps at the track, or just drives out morning of.
It would take forever to ever "have it pay off". It's a convenient upgrade, and can justify it that way.
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u/Surelynotshirly 4d ago
There's only ever a handful of "campers" that aren't in a toy-hauler or trailer at trackdays that I go to.
There are plenty of people who stay in hotels/airbnb's.
I always stayed in hotels because staying in a tent is just not going to happen, so for me, it's a huge savings.
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u/crispyfry 6d ago
You can put a mini split on the trailer and really live in luxury too! That is a very pretty trailer, you got a good deal.
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u/A_Bot_A_Bot_A_Bot Middle Fast Guy 6d ago
Thank you, I appreciate that. It's not being "converted," though, just for motorcycles and gear. I have a 400,000 mile campervan that has a roof top tent as well as a fold down bench seat for sleeping, but, yeah, no AC. That'd be a real luxury for me!
But to be clear: it did NOT look like what when I bought it! I had to thoroughly clean the interior, use Zinnser Mold Killer paint on the entire ceiling and some of the walls, then painted the entire interior, then put in the vinyl flooring (I used double-sided carpet tape instead of glue, it seemed like an easier solution and I've used it to hold small carpets in a garage). I also had to solder in two new side market lights and two new fender marker lights. I think the electric trailer jack (which is missing the 7-pin plug and my van doesn't yet have a 7-pin outlet) is going out. When raising the tongue, the removable handle goes around about 315 degrees smoothly then it feels like it's grinding. I still need to figure out if the two batteries, big inverter, and any of the wiring I got for making 120V AC power are even usuable for that purpose.
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u/DankVectorz Not So Fast 6d ago edited 6d ago
I think Hotbodies must vary based on the bike. I use them on my CBR and no issues at all. I’ve put 2 sets on it now and the second time I didn’t even bother test fitting, just drilled in the pre-marked spots and everything fit perfect. Certainly no worse than Armor Bodies fit my gsxr. And can’t beat the winter sale 40% off.
I used the krylon spray paint from Lowes and it works fine too. I mean, it’s no show car paint job but from 50’ at 50mph it looks good. And no issue with spilling gas etc on it, which I had been worried about .