Track bike questions

[PyroUK]

It's a bit late now but when I wrote my old pointy off I had thought about buying it back and fixing it up. Decided against it as wasn't going to have enough cash.

However I did think afterwards it would have been useful as a track day bike.

So I have been thinking about this more and more and lots of people have said I should do a track day to get more experience, I just can't risk binning my only mode of transport on the track.

So I have a few questions:
1. Can you buy the write off bikes from salvage companies? Ie if it is not your wreck? If so anyone know the names of any?
2. If it is purely going on the track for track days does it need to be MOT'd and taxed?
3. Will "race prepping", whatever that means, it be ok for track days as opposed to racing?
4. Anyone done this that can advise how much it may cost to prep it? Other than the buying of the bike.
5. What stuff is recommended for prepping it?

Cheers!

[Tomor]

Answer to number 1, check out copart. Where my dads bike got sold to when it was written off by a dozy lady.

[jambo]

You can buy write offs, various salvage auction companies specialise in this, or just keep an eye out on eBay and the forum.

Track bikes require no mot or tax, though if you're the registered keeper you'll need to respond to the dvla every 12 months to sorn it, or they fine you on the assumption you're driving it without tax or insurance. Don't ask.

Track prep can mean whatever you want it to mean. Your road bike is track ready right now provided it's got decent brakes and tyres on it. Alternatively you can lighten it, fit race body work and have tyres for different conditions. I'd personally say don't make it harder than it had to be, get a cheap bike fit a set of road sports tyres, make sure the brakes are in good condition and get on with it :-)

Jambo
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[Fallout]

Really, they don't need an MOT? I always thought they did, although maybe I'm thinking of the car world. Do they do any sort of safety checks at all?

[jambo]

MOT not needed. If you're doing a race then your vehicle must pass scruiteneering. For a track day they will stop you if there is something horrifically obvious as you line up, but that's it. A race bike would fail an mot, so they're not relevant. Slick tyres, no lights, no clocks, loud exhausts, no horn, none of these will get you vosa thumbs up, but are fine on track.

Jambo
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[PyroUK]

Awesome, cheers for the info Jambo 😀

[jambo]

I'll get a thread up soon on the track bike that a few of us got built for as little money as possible over the last couple of months. We didn't spend much, but it goes well enough. Spend as little money as possible, anything that isn't functional is just dead weight, fairings are only useful if you need somewhere to thank your big money sponsors ;-)

Jambo
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