Track bike

[sv4me]

After reading about one of the guys in MCN getting a mashed up CBR RR for £1700 and doing it up,got me thinking. I want a track bike! \:D/

Got a few questions though,what are the categories of write off I should avoid and what type of damage will be expensive to repair? Im guessing frame,engine parts,swingarm might be costly :?

Not thinking of one bike to look out for in particular as I couldnt decide anyway and guess it just depends on what pops up. I saw a 916 without the lowers and radiator damage. Is having a twin as a raceday bike a good idea though? And an SV is a no no :wink: I was looking for something with a bit more poke!

I know of blacks bike shop just down the road from me and cheshire salvage. Anyone know any other dealers,preferably in the north?

And is it cheaper to buy an already prepped race bike? I saw an RSV Mille for £2400 ready to race. Kind of takes the fun out of getting the bits and rebuilding it though! :)

Sorry for all the questions :oops: just want to make sure I do this right :D

[M.C.]

i would say get somthing like a gixer 6 loads of parts for these and you should be able to get one quite cheap.

[Skip]

I have gone in on a track bike with two friends. Its a 1993 CBR600 with a Micron can, uprated filter and has been jetted, two almost new Pirelli Dragon Evo tyres and completely stripped apart from a rev counter and temperaure gauge... Get my first chance to try it on the 15th at Snetterton... how much did we pay you ask.... £200 each! Yes thats £600! eBay bargain! :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/skip665/CBR600.jpg

[carelesschucca]

well chuffed for ya mate at £200 each its not that bad if one of you bins it... they'll just have to buy the next few rounds at the bar!!!

[Flamin_Squirrel]

And an SV is a no no :wink: I was looking for something with a bit more poke!

Have you ridden on the track yet? :shock:

[kwak zzr]

better than tracking your road bike! an sv track bike should be plenty.

[sv4me]

And an SV is a no no :wink: I was looking for something with a bit more poke!

Have you ridden on the track yet? :shock:

Err yes :? i took my ninja to Oulton park. Its abilities still outweigh mine I think but maybe thats just me being modest! I still caned the living daylights out of it just as I usually do on the road :)

the SV just doesnt have enough power on the track and as ive already had one would prefer something different

The reason why I got the ninja was because I was riding the SV like an IL4 and revving the brains out of it all the time. I definitely outgrew it and dont think im being big headed there. And the reason I want a track bike is I dont want to chuck my lovely ninja down the road....closely followed by my big head :P

Im looking at early fireblades at the minute,wouldnt mind a CBR1000 but cant have everything :roll: :mrgreen:

[Mike1234]

I actually think that a well set up SV650 is the perfect track bike.

You can rag the thing stupid and it just keeps on going. It rewards you for not making mistakes and, due to the power deficit, can really show up problems with your riding.

I have yet to instruct on a track day where there has been anyone (other than racers of course) on 600s or 1000s that my little 650 can't keep with.

Now maybe I'm doing the wrong track days but I think it is the most rewarding bike I've ridden on track and the list includes British SuperSport 600s, Aprili Challenge RSV-Rs, etc.

[Flamin_Squirrel]

And an SV is a no no :wink: I was looking for something with a bit more poke!

Have you ridden on the track yet? :shock:

Err yes :? i took my ninja to Oulton park. Its abilities still outweigh mine I think but maybe thats just me being modest! I still caned the living daylights out of it just as I usually do on the road :)

the SV just doesnt have enough power on the track and as ive already had one would prefer something different

The reason why I got the ninja was because I was riding the SV like an IL4 and revving the brains out of it all the time. I definitely outgrew it and dont think im being big headed there. And the reason I want a track bike is I dont want to chuck my lovely ninja down the road....closely followed by my big head :P

Im looking at early fireblades at the minute,wouldnt mind a CBR1000 but cant have everything :roll: :mrgreen:

Just because you cain the living daylights out of a bike, doesn't mean you're fast.

Unless you've got alot of track experience, I very much doubt you can ride the SV to its limits. Untill you can, what's the point getting something faster?

[Jelster]

It also depends on what tracks you intend doing. If you're looking at riding the GP circuits at Silverstone, Brands & Donnington the SV's legs are a bit short.

When I did Silverstone GP on my Gixer, there was a guy on an SV who kept with me all through the bends but I left him on the longer straights. But if it were a tighter twisty circuit, then he probably would have been quicker than me. He was a better rider than I, but I had a bike better suited to the track.

You can find plenty of wrecked CBR600's and Gixxer 600's about. I'd still consider an SV as a track bike, hust think about what you could do by losing 2 or 3 theeth off the front, and a bit off tuning.... Would be a great laugh :lol:

.

[Skip]

I am doing Snetterton on the SV and will also be testing out our new CBR, I am fully expecting to find the SV a bit lacking on the two long straights, but I am sure it will be waaaaay ahead of my abilities in the corners! :lol:

[sv4me]

And an SV is a no no :wink: I was looking for something with a bit more poke!

Have you ridden on the track yet? :shock:

Err yes :? i took my ninja to Oulton park. Its abilities still outweigh mine I think but maybe thats just me being modest! I still caned the living daylights out of it just as I usually do on the road :)

the SV just doesnt have enough power on the track and as ive already had one would prefer something different

The reason why I got the ninja was because I was riding the SV like an IL4 and revving the brains out of it all the time. I definitely outgrew it and dont think im being big headed there. And the reason I want a track bike is I dont want to chuck my lovely ninja down the road....closely followed by my big head :P

Im looking at early fireblades at the minute,wouldnt mind a CBR1000 but cant have everything :roll: :mrgreen:

Just because you cain the living daylights out of a bike, doesn't mean you're fast.

Unless you've got alot of track experience, I very much doubt you can ride the SV to its limits. Untill you can, what's the point getting something faster?

I know it doesnt,you have to have control and smoothness with it. I learned that riding the SV when my mates had big twins and supersports bikes,I had to have good corner speed if I was ever going to keep them in sight!

I know people will stick up for the SV,funny that :) but I used to scrape the pegs on mine all the time and thats just riding it on the road. I used to ride it to its limits I believe,it has only got 70hp remember. And I can handle a 600 easily enough so I was thinking along those lines. The SV is a great bike through the corners 'cause its so light and flickable,but a good rider on a 600 can still beat it. Better suspension for a start.

Although all depends on budget. How much to enter mini-twins? :D

[Flamin_Squirrel]

And an SV is a no no :wink: I was looking for something with a bit more poke!

Have you ridden on the track yet? :shock:

Err yes :? i took my ninja to Oulton park. Its abilities still outweigh mine I think but maybe thats just me being modest! I still caned the living daylights out of it just as I usually do on the road :)

the SV just doesnt have enough power on the track and as ive already had one would prefer something different

The reason why I got the ninja was because I was riding the SV like an IL4 and revving the brains out of it all the time. I definitely outgrew it and dont think im being big headed there. And the reason I want a track bike is I dont want to chuck my lovely ninja down the road....closely followed by my big head :P

Im looking at early fireblades at the minute,wouldnt mind a CBR1000 but cant have everything :roll: :mrgreen:

Just because you cain the living daylights out of a bike, doesn't mean you're fast.

Unless you've got alot of track experience, I very much doubt you can ride the SV to its limits. Untill you can, what's the point getting something faster?

I know it doesnt,you have to have control and smoothness with it. I learned that riding the SV when my mates had big twins and supersports bikes,I had to have good corner speed if I was ever going to keep them in sight!

I know people will stick up for the SV,funny that :) but I used to scrape the pegs on mine all the time and thats just riding it on the road. I used to ride it to its limits I believe,it has only got 70hp remember. And I can handle a 600 easily enough so I was thinking along those lines. The SV is a great bike through the corners 'cause its so light and flickable,but a good rider on a 600 can still beat it. Better suspension for a start.

Although all depends on budget. How much to enter mini-twins? :D

It's nothing to do with sticking up for the SV, I'm just saying that unless you're an extremely experienced track rider, there's no point getting anything that's quicker.

You might be quick on the power and lean right over in the corners, but that's the easy part and anyone can do it. Stringing it all together is the difficult bit, and if you can't do it on the SV, no point getting anything faster.

[sv4me]

Not anyone can do it,going off what ive seen :?

Im not saying id win the mini twins series and I certainly need to work on my throttle control and braking into corners. But im pretty fast already and would like to get quicker,I want a bike that can do that with me

Simple 8)

[Mike1234]

The SV is still far more capable than you I'm afraid.

Why not have a go at the MiniTwins. There are people at every level, including those I can beat using just one gear and no brakes, and then there are those that I can only dream of beating.

If you want to win it you will need to do these times:

Brands Hatch (Indy)
0:51.83
Brands Hatch (GP)
1:39.53
Cadwell Park (Full)
1:40.08
Croft
1:32.02
Croix en Ternois
0:57.98
Knockhill
0:57.71
Lydden Hill
0:44.25
Oulton Park
1:54.35
Pembrey
1:03.67
Silverstone (National)
1:09.19
Snetterton
1:15.81

[Mike1234]

I know people will stick up for the SV,funny that :) but I used to scrape the pegs on mine all the time and thats just riding it on the road. I used to ride it to its limits I believe,it has only got 70hp remember. And I can handle a 600 easily enough so I was thinking along those lines. The SV is a great bike through the corners 'cause its so light and flickable,but a good rider on a 600 can still beat it. Better suspension for a start.

Scraping the pegs can be as much a factor of poor riding style than going quickly. Think of the number of people you can ride round the outside of on a track day with their knee on the deck and you don't have anywhere near enough lean angle to do the same!

[sv4me]

Let me build up to it 1st! :lol:

How do you work out if the bike is more capable than you? If youre using all its braking ability going into a corner,leaning it as far as possible and revving its brains out down the straights then surely youre getting close?

Still it comes down to the fact ive had an SV and would like something different + I dont like them ******* sportsbikes howling past me on the starights and scaring the **** outta me! :oops:

Usually the pegs thing or knee down was just to show off or prove to people(including myself I could do it!) my usual riding I lean over pretty far but nowhere near decking out. Fastest guy ive ever been out with left me for dead on a road I know well and he never once stuck his knee out. Seemed pointless after that! :notworthy:

[Flamin_Squirrel]

How do you work out if the bike is more capable than you?

When you're in the advanced group on an SV, beating people who have litre sports bikes.

[sv4me]

Thats as much them being **** poor as you being good but I know what you mean. Still doesnt make the SV more capable than you

Mike1234 how much does it cost to enter the mini twins? I was only really looking to get a track bike to practice round oulton and aintree and build up on but im quite tempted if the prices arent too high 8)

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Thats as much them being p*ss poor as you being good but I know what you mean.

In the novice group, yes. In the advanced group, no.

Untill you can do it the SV is better than you so there's no point getting something faster.

I'm looking to get a faster bike next year, but for the road, not the track. I always thought it would be the other way round too.

[Carsick]

How do you work out if the bike is more capable than you?

When you're in the advanced group on an SV, beating people who have litre sports bikes.
Surely if you're on an SV beating people on more powerful bikes in the advanced group then you and the SV are similar. It would seem absurd to say that you're still not good enough even when you're beating everybody else.

[Mike1234]

Thats as much them being p*ss poor as you being good but I know what you mean. Still doesnt make the SV more capable than you

Mike1234 how much does it cost to enter the mini twins? I was only really looking to get a track bike to practice round oulton and aintree and build up on but im quite tempted if the prices arent too high 8)

A season of entries is about 1500 quid, probably 800 - 1000 quid on tyres depending on how hard you ride plus your petrol, etc. to get there.

You would probably need to invest in tyre warmers and would need to borrow or hire a generator for a couple of rounds where there isn't any power.

A spare set of wheels for wet tyres would be useful but isn't essential.

G'wan give it a go you will never worry about track days again.

[Flamin_Squirrel]

How do you work out if the bike is more capable than you?

When you're in the advanced group on an SV, beating people who have litre sports bikes.
Surely if you're on an SV beating people on more powerful bikes in the advanced group then you and the SV are similar. It would seem absurd to say that you're still not good enough even when you're beating everybody else.

Gah, worded that wrong. You know what I mean :wink:

[sv4me]

A season of entries is about 1500 quid, probably 800 - 1000 quid on tyres depending on how hard you ride plus your petrol, etc. to get there.

You would probably need to invest in tyre warmers and would need to borrow or hire a generator for a couple of rounds where there isn't any power.

A spare set of wheels for wet tyres would be useful but isn't essential.

G'wan give it a go you will never worry about track days again.

:-k tempted,very tempted :lol:

Only thing is getting down to the meetings all the time,might have other commitments and dont drive so #-o

Quite like the idea of working upto it without the pressure of a race too

Ooh bugger,dont know what to do now!

[Mike1234]

Get your ACU license and try a couple of rounds to see if you like it.

[Flamin_Squirrel]

How do people gain the experience to race? Are most people who start very experienced trackday riders, or are they novices learning as they go?

[Mike1234]

Bit of both really. In order to get your license then you need to have done a race school, sit a short test and then you are ready to go.

Some people have done hundreds of track days, some haven't done any. I don't think there is a 'standard' background to any racer.

Best advice would be to do a race school and speak with your instructor about your riding and see what they say.