This is going to be my first year with NESBA, and if everything goes right, CCS. Im in the process of making one of my bikes racr ready. Just a few things Im not finding much info on.
Tires: Do I want to run for example, Pilot power for track days then pilot power race for the races? Or can I use the pilot power for both?
Are tire warmers really nessary?
What kind of gloves do you like for the races?
What kind of fuel do you prefer to race with? VP U4?
Track days and ccs events roll together? same place, same weekend? If I race all 4 events, is that all one day, or saturday and sunday? Not sure how the weekend goes...
Any kind of help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys, and Ill see ya on the track.
Where are you going to race at? That will help on the scheduling.
Tire warmers are necessary on some tires, but not all. Some really need warming, some it can be optional. Regardless, you can save some time by having the tires warmed rather than trying to warm them up, worst yet, on a cold track.
Pilot Powers are pretty darn good. For me, I do go slower on the Power vs the proper Pilot Race tire. But the difference is within a second and a half for me at one track. Starting out, yeah, it would probably be a decent option. Good tire. Eventually, your taste might change that you'll need the Pilot Race tires for everything you do.
You can race with just pump gas. Save the money and get the correct springs for the bike, a good chassis set up. When you have that working, then there might be of some value to fuel, but not as much as one might think. With 1000's putting out 30 more HP than 600's, fast guys struggle to even go a second faster a lap with the extra 30HP.
Well, I was confusing NESBA track days with the CCS "friday schedual" so I guess they are different days.
I will be in the mid-west region; black hawk, mid-america, road america, gateway.
Thanks for the info, I know close to nothing about setting up suspension, so You are right. I need to get all that down first.
How many races would a Pilot Power Race last?
Well, a tire will have a shorter life as you go faster. Also kind of depends upon which race tire you use. Some tires are the ones you'd use if you were set on "kill" looking for your best lap times given that your chassis can handle the extra grip. Others won't give you the fastest lap times, a little slower, but they will last longer.
Now, when I'm referring to "last" in this case, we'd be talking about the best part of the tire, the fastest times. From there, the tire goes down hill. Some go down faster. Think of it this way. The rubber on the tire is an insulator that keeps heat where it's needed. As that is worn away, the heat can't stay in. Eventually, it just doesn't do its job of developing traction very well.
Tires are your insurance. If you have worn out tires, well, you can expect to crash at some point.
Rears wear more than fronts. I think that I have replaced rears at a 3 to 1 ratio compared to the front. Depending upon how many races you do, you might put on a new rear then race it and use the rear during practice the next weekend.
At some of the tracks you're going to go to, there is additional practice. MAM has a real different schedule that has a track day on Saturday. That's gonna cost you $150. All your races are on Sunday. There will be very, very, very little practice on Sunday. Gateway will have the same schedule.
Blackhawk will have racing on Saturday and Sunday. Same races as MAM, but more time to do it. You will have a decent amount of practice on both days that are included in your entries. You can also practice on Friday for about $80.
Road America is another beast as it is a three day event with pretty much the Blackhawk two day schedule doubled, generally two races of each class, over three days. I think NESBA or someone might have a track day before, I'm not sure at this point.
That help a little bit?
What are you riding?
Yeah, that helps a lot. Now I have a better idea of how broke I'll be. lol
I have a '06 zx-10 I ride daily (when it's not snowing) and a '02 gsxr 1000. The gsxr is paid off, so thats the track bike. Everyone keeps saying "dude thats a lot of bike!". I understand, but liter bikes are all I have ever ridden.
I have also been told that I should do track days for a couple of years before I start racing. Again, I understand, but I compete, thats what I do. Im doing 2 track days, going to race school, then hopefully be comfortable enough to start racing. Yeah, I wont be the fastest guy out there, but I need tough competion to get better. this year will be full of track days, practice, racing, and adjusting. Im just glad there are people like yourself out there to lend some input.
Thanks for your help super dave, now I have to go work on the bike. Be back in the morning after work.
thanks again!
No problem.
Hey, there was a time when there were no track days, and we still started racing by, well, racing. Yes, they both happen on the track, but the attitudes for each are on a little different spectrums.
The thousand is going to be finanically rough in that it won't use tires, it will consume them. Many a fast rider has started on a lightweight bike to build skills that will transfer to larger bikes, 600's, 750's and 1000's. And there are those that have started on big bikes, move to smaller ones, then back up.
I understand that you've got something to start with, and that might be important as a beginning platform. Try to recognize what you might have to think about down the road.
And since you've got a 1000...pump gas will be fine. :biggrin:
You may want to think about selling the Gixxer 1k and buying a used, race prepped sv650 or a 600. THis way the suspension will probably be pretty close to being set, maybe some spring rate adjustments, but you already have the safety wiring done, probably have a good Penske or Ohlins shock on it, race body work etc.. Trust me, the a good rider on a SV can put down some good lap times, and they are fast, will teach you corner speed and you wont have that mass amount of power to worry about at the rear wheel. Plus SV rear tires are a little cheaper since they are a 160 vs a 180. There are plenty of parts available for them. The 03+ SV's are fuel injected, I personally like the 03+ better than the first generations. Check the classifieds on the wera, ccs and nesba boards.
Quote from: Super Dave on February 28, 2007, 01:02:12 PM
The thousand is going to be finanically rough in that it won't use tires, it will consume them. Many a fast rider has started on a lightweight bike to build skills that will transfer to larger bikes, 600's, 750's and 1000's. And there are those that have started on big bikes, move to smaller ones, then back up.
Quote from: sv814 on February 28, 2007, 03:55:01 PM
You may want to think about selling the Gixxer 1k and buying a used, race prepped sv650 or a 600.
+1! get a 600 before you dump all your cash in the 1000
+1 on the late model SV650's. Could get out of the GSXR1000, take most of that money and get a race prepped SV650, then pay for a lot of what you'll do during the year...depending upon what you did. Tire cost wouldn't be bad, and the resale of the SV would be excellent because it's a platform that hasn't changed dramatically in the lightweight arms race. There are some that are still racing the early model SV650 with outstanding success, but I will admit that I've liked the late model chassis more.
Just to give you an idea of the SV sale and price. I just sold my 03 with a fresh stock motor, quick shifter, power commander 3, penske rear, emulators in the forks, aftermarket fairing braket, sharkskinz bodywork, vortex rearsets, clipons and some sprockets with 520 chain conversion and a pit bull rear stand and a light weight aftermarket aluminum subframe for $3500. This seems to be around the going rate for a 2nd gen SV set up. I am sure you could get at least 5k for your bike, pending condition. I raced it since the start of the 2004 season. The bike was great. I went with a Ducati 800 this year, mainly based on Ducati contingency is what changed my mind. I think being new to the track world, you will learn more quicker and become a better rider on track by going with a Light Weight bike such as an SV than you will riding a Gixxer 1k.
i started riding on the track at track days with my R1 and when i stated racing i jumped into it with what i had at the time. the R1. it was what i was used to. i had fun and i was comfortable on it because i'd riden it all the time.
i switched bikes with a buddy (he had a R6) at a track day and dropped 3 seconds the first time out. just a lot lighter and easier to carry spead on for me. i now have three 600's i'll be racing this year.
you'll have fun no matter what you ride though.
Hey Jes - i just gotta have a pic of you racing three 600s - just gotta have that one- wow 3 seconds? great lesson - nice collection - hope to hear good results and wish i could make the trip out to see the midwest folk- and Super Daves racing classes- k3,spyder lady, etc etc - will post up some daytona pics when i get back from yellin at oliva and rhiannon lucente from T! Good luck and safety to them :thumb:! John in NJ
Listen to these guys and sell the 1000. Not because of the tires or power.
The main reason to get rid of that pig is that it's probably the slowest way to get around the track. You will definitely go faster on a 600, you will probably go faster on a SV650.
If you don't believe it wait untill you're trying to wrestle that sow around Blackhawk, the motor does you no good there.
And get some credit cards, like three or four of them. :biggrin:
Good luck!
SV's are just fun! Never had a 1k, something about having to duck tape myself down scared me away. Got a 750 though and I can't imagine that trying to wrestle that thing around on the track, not to mention it eats enough tires on the street alone.
+1 on shit canning the 1000, I started doing track days and now have a 06 750 after crashing the pig (actually made some money on that deal) the 750 is awsome and gets you out of the meat grinder class of 600s. Good luck and come racing its way more fun for the same risk as td's
and don't forget, you can run a lot more races on a 600. check out last years ccs results. the 600s do pretty damn good against the 1000s. even at the big tracks like road america.
At the :biggrin:DAYTONA 200 :biggrin:- they all race 600's :err::err:- jess man- looks like w'eve failed in our lofty goals who can we piss off next? i just helped in your ruin :kicknuts:---------- :spank:----- :lmao: +1! john
LOL! Cant wait to meet some of you.
Well too late to shit can the 1k. Besides, it was for sale for a while and noone had enough money. Everybody wanted it, noone could afford it. So I said screw it! I'm racing it! I agree with the 600 being light and nimble, but for now, I'm out to have some fun and the 1k is the bike I had, collecting dust.
I have a buddy that owns a bike shop, 'Two Wheel Performance', he is a Amsoil & Parts Unlimited dealer. Since I help him all the time he hooks me up with tires and parts for WAY CHEAPER then going to a dealership or online. So since the 1k is going to eat tires more than it already does, at least im getting a deal on them. lol
By the way, TWP does tires while you wait(instead of dropping your bike off like most places) and the prices are well below any dealer or online supplier. Installed set of tires cost less than just buying tires somewhere else. So if anyone is in or around Davenport, look it up.
Thanks for all the input guys n gals! I hope I get to meet you at blackhawk may 12-13. or somewhere along the way..
davenport??? dude, i'm only an hour away from you.
we'll have to swap info and meet up some time to ride the streets when this snow melts off.
i just moved up here and i don't know a single soul with a bike around these parts.
gotta love this place! forums connect the dots! :cheers: +1 to get ya started :thumb:from a friend of the court Jester! John in NJ