I'm ready to start attending track days and learning to race, but I'm looking for a race-ready bike and don't know where to go to buy one. I've attended the Kevin Schwantz school at Road Atlanta and have been riding for about a year and a half. I'd like to find a GSXR 1000 that is used and race ready to take to track days and other schools, but can't find where to buy one? Are there web-sites or mags or speciality bike shops that sell used race bikes?
Online & trackside are pretty much your best bets...
ccs forum, wera forum, roadracingworld, etc.
Allow me to be the first to question your choice on a starter bike...
Any particular reason you're looking for a liter bike?
And if you can, try to stay away from a GSXR1000, or a liter bike, unless you have a large amount of funds to keep tires under it.
That is going to be a major, major expense...
and funding new helmets & medical deductibles from highsides...
The first thing that will amaze you when you start racing is how little throttle control you have versus how much you THOUGHT you had... The margin of error in the throttle department on a liter bike is incredibly small. It's bad enough on a 600, but on a 1k, it's crazy...
Quoteand funding new helmets & medical deductibles from highsides...
The first thing that will amaze you when you start racing is how little throttle control you have versus how much you THOUGHT you had... The margin of error in the throttle department on a liter bike is incredibly small. It's bad enough on a 600, but on a 1k, it's crazy...
Throttle control.. its all in the elbow. ;D
See, you're doing it wrong already....
I already have a 600 street bike - and it seems the 600 class is swamped at the races - so I was looking for a class with less bikes - and a ride that required more technical skill - even if I'll rip thru tires. Still a bad choice??
Still a bad choice IMHO...
Want fewer bike classes? Race lightweight or super-twins.
Or race up a class... I have run 600's competitively in heavyweight and unlimited classes for the last 5 years...
On the technical skill point... master the basics first...
Quoteand a ride that required more technical skill
If you are looking for a bike that requires technical rider skills, get a 125 GP bike. When there's little power, it ALL depends on technique.
Places to look for a 125 are the forums at www.usgpru.net and www.tz250racing.com. And all the GP bikes are race ready - they came that way from the factory.
-z.
QuoteI already have a 600 street bike - and it seems the 600 class is swamped at the races - so I was looking for a class with less bikes - and a ride that required more technical skill - even if I'll rip thru tires. Still a bad choice??
It's very hard to take a current production 1000 and ride it faster than a 600...
600's and 750's can and do race "up" into the unlimited classes with results that often place them in front of liter bike riders at the club level most often.
Lightweight bikes like the SV650 really do offer excelent opportunities as they don't destroy your wallet through tires, they are plentiful at the track so if you need a part to replace, one of your racer friends probably has it.
Which 600 are you riding now?
Yeah, a 125GP bike is good... Loads of fun. Simple, efficient, and they are just way cool.
I'd like to have a TZ125 myself, if anyone knows of any...
I would say start on a lightweight bike for now to get your feet wet and then move up from there. Its a whole different ball game from doing track days to racing. I did track days for 3 years until I decided to race. I thought it was going to be easy to race, well I was wrong about that my first year racing. Just my 2 cents. To answer your question about buying a race bike, look in roadracing world or on this forum in the classified section.
All good advice - I started on a Katana 600 and now ride a GSXR 600 - I guess I'm still in "upgrade and go faster" mode - good advice on costs of tires and "speed isn't everything" - Thanks a bunch - My plan is to buy a bike, spend 06 at racing schools, track days and attending CCS events and be ready for race #1 at Homestead in Feb 07. I'd appreciate any other tips to getting started in CCS.
Hit me with another e-mail...
QuoteAll good advice - I started on a Katana 600 and now ride a GSXR 600 - I guess I'm still in "upgrade and go faster" mode - good advice on costs of tires and "speed isn't everything" - Thanks a bunch - My plan is to buy a bike, spend 06 at racing schools, track days and attending CCS events and be ready for race #1 at Homestead in Feb 07. I'd appreciate any other tips to getting started in CCS.
You've already got the bike, now buy the best safety gear you can get, don't do _anything_ to the bike other than minimal track prep (only what they make you) and tires... Gotta have tires... and GET TO THE TRACK!
Lithium Motorsports can help you find a used racebike or race prep the one you have. They can also aquire the brand new bike of your choice, race prep it, and ship it to your door. Owner Rob Oliva also offers package deals if you're putting a program together, and that can save you a ton of cash. He can help you to decide what you really need, and where you can save money without compromising performance. Lithium is a full service race shop with in-house suspension and dyno work. They have prepped biks from club to pro levels, and have the championships to prove that they do a good job. Half their business is mail-order, so it's not a problem that you don't live in Iowa.
1-712-546-7747
Maverick,
I race an SV. I own a GSXR1000 too. (Don't ask why. Owning bikes is a sickness.) Even as an experienced racer I don't race the GSXR1000 as outstanding a bike as it is.
What everyone's telling you is absolutely right. Start with an SV. Or with your 600 if you want to race up a class. There usually aren't that many in the heavyweight grids. That should also tell you something.
Whatever you do. Keep your ego out of everything! Bigger isn't always better. You'll have plenty of fun and excitement in LW or with your 600 and you'll be a better rider than if you jumped on a 1000. Plenty of time later for the 1000 if you decide to go that way.
Just my $0.02
QuoteLithium Motorsports can help you find a used racebike or race prep the one you have. They can also aquire the brand new bike of your choice, race prep it, and ship it to your door. Owner Rob Oliva also offers package deals if you're putting a program together, and that can save you a ton of cash. He can help you to decide what you really need, and where you can save money without compromising performance. Lithium is a full service race shop with in-house suspension and dyno work. They have prepped biks from club to pro levels, and have the championships to prove that they do a good job. Half their business is mail-order, so it's not a problem that you don't live in Iowa.
1-712-546-7747
Nah! Go to Allbrands and tell'em Ralph sent ya!
;D
QuoteI already have a 600 street bike - and it seems the 600 class is swamped at the races - so I was looking for a class with less bikes - and a ride that required more technical skill - even if I'll rip thru tires. Still a bad choice??
Yeah it's not a great choice. What everybody else said and it will suck when you're struggling to get into lower laps times on your 1000 and a fast guy rips past on his 600! :o Look at the lap times at BHF and you won't see much difference between 600s 750s and 1000s among the leaders.
Road America is a different story but smaller more technical tracks depend on the pilot more than the bike.
Thanks K3!!! Feel free to call me anytime if you have any questions etc. Even if you aren't buying from us I will be happy to answer any questions you have about anything you may be looking at. I would rather you be happy with what you are riding and don't go broke in the process. We'd like to see you around for a while! :)
QuoteI'm ready to start attending track days and learning to race, but I'm looking for a race-ready bike and don't know where to go to buy one.
I have two GSXR 750's for sale, race ready. '03 & '04. Give me a buzz if you want more info: 262-853-1211
QuoteIt's very hard to take a current production 1000 and ride it faster than a 600...
I race a gsx-r1000 and I'm positive I went faster on my R6 everywhere but elkhart.
big bike + scary horsepower = slower lap times. Dave is right...
Believe the advice these guys are saying. I had all kinds of street bikes from my first FZR600, GSXR-750's, to a Ducati 944 and felt real comfortable on the street. When I made the decision to go racing this year with over 10 years riding experiance I bought a race preped 01' GSXR-750. It is fast and I'm not even close to riding this bike to it's potential. I had the mindset that I would grow out of a SV650 to fast and I didn't want to be in the 600 class because there are so many of them. The truth behind it is you will be racing with the 600's in heavyweight or unlimited classes anyway. All the guys on 600's race up in classes anyway so the idea of smaller fields really isn't there. If I had to buy a bike over again I would buy a 600 or somthing to race in supertwins. As to where to look I got mine of of ebay and I know some other poeple that Have bought there race bikes there. Watch it daily there are always new bikes on there. Try and find something with spares.
Just my $.01 my opinion isn't worth$.02
Maverick - met this guy Don at the track a few years ago. He went expert and got a new bike. I think it's a 2004. It's a GSXR600 with a bunch of nice top line extras on it. Fast and well maintained! He was #30 here in the midwest and finished really good for not even doing a whole season. I saw him out a month ago and the bike was still for sale. Shoot him a note at Don@ftfracing.net :)
My Race Bike in 05 was a 2004 R1...It was my street bike also...
I did ok, but I look forward to going faster on a 600 in 06 as I have a new 06 R6 on the way ;D
I'll race the R1 at RA, but that will probably be it after that...
I found myself worring to much about when I can or can not get on the gas, takes alot of mental power...I did not have any highsides, but I only won one race all year also...
I look forward to going faster on a slower bike ;)
We have a few in the shop now from a 636, 6rr, gsxr750...Or we can build from ground up...
Roy C.
www.absolutecp.com
1-877-382-9800
http://www.racemotorcycles.com/cgi-bin/board/YaBB.pl?board=ccsclass;action=display;num=1135399074
Maverick, check out my new post... Rider Wanted, Racebike to lease. Unless you are set on going with CCS, this might be an oppurtunity for you.
lonewolfcycles@optonline.net