Im looking for advice on bikes. What Im trying to decide is this. Should I upgrade my 2000 gsxr750 or buy a new bike.
Little background. Im the headtrackmarshal at AzTrackdays. I dont race anymore, but Im on the track, ALOT! Probably 3/4 of the sessions at every trackday. Im NOT horribly fast but I dont think Im a total slug. My best times are 7-8 seconds of the track record at Firebird East.
My 2000 GSXR is mint, makes about 128 rwhp, has braided lines, Brembo master cylinder and I usually run a S2/M2 tire setup.
The plan is to add PVM wheels, 520 chain kit, Penske/Ohlins/Elka shock and racetech fork internals and some rearsets.
The question is, would the upgraded 2000 be a better trackbike than a new GSXR 750?
hello we probly know each other
i used to do az trackdays
its my picture on the opening page of the website
i have a 2000 750 and a 04 750
the new one is way better than my old one
they are set up about the same
the new one is alot smaller, brakes are better, handling is better, power is a little better but overall a better bike
as it turns out im selling both of mine and have oz 16.5 rims for sale but you probly dont want 16.5 rims for trackdays
but the 750 is ready to go, it needs nothing
you can ask ted on how i take care of my bikes
mark Ledesma knows me and has seen my bike
Hey Brian:
Can you send pics and price for the OZ rims to matt@bmgracing.com? What bike are you getting for next year?
Go with Penske/Racetech. Upgrade the brake pads, and use steel braided lines. Keep good tires on it. I'd save the rest of the money for tires.
You already own the perfect track day bike.
Generally more HP won't make you considerably faster, so a newer bike for HP wouldn't neccesarily give you what your looking for. Suspension is the absolute must have, along with tires. I personally am a devoted RaceTech Gold Valve user and have no complaints about their products. The amount of time your looking to make up per lap is most likely more about you than your bike right now. I would definately have the suspension done to your application before doing anything else. After that I would seek some qualified instruction from someone like SuperDave to give you advice as to what you need to do to improve. I'm afraid throwing lots of money at your bike or buying a newer 1 may not bring the results your looking for. Good luck! :)
Set up, set up, set up.
New bike might feel better in a way that you didn't necessarily think of that allows you to go faster more confidently. The HP won't make you go that much faster. But a good set up will.
Oh Im not worried about horsepower. Not really even that worried about lap times. I just want the best handling bike I can get. Im also lucky enough to be friends with Terry Embry who helps me on the track regularly along with several of the other local fast guys.
I guess the question boils down to this. Will the 2000 with nice aftermarket suspension and wheels handle better than a new bike?
QuoteI guess the question boils down to this. Will the 2000 with nice aftermarket suspension and wheels handle better than a new bike?
Yes....
Thanks Dawn, leave it to the ladies to be clear and concise. :)
my 04 750 handles better than my 00 750 and they are set up the same
its lighter and smaller than the 00
i know terry pretty good hes a good help
but the big difference between the 2 bikes is handling the difference in horse power is like nothing
thats why it changed for better handling the new bike will handle better than the old, when they change things its for the better not worse
my 2 cents
hi super Dave
QuoteOh Im not worried about horsepower. Not really even that worried about lap times. I just want the best handling bike I can get.
Sounds like what you really want is a 250.
-z.
I would love to try a 250, but for getting around in the beginner class where passing in turns is a no no, its nice to have the power to just motor them.
Thanks for the help guys! I think Ill spruce up the 2000 for now and see how that turns out.
get a 250, screw the beginner class, learn to ride it even decently and you can hang with most bikes, make passes any damn place you feel like it,
picture the same beefy gsxr750 suspension/brakes on a bike that weighs 240 lbs = TZ 250
and I used to race a gsxr750..... 250 is WAY MORE FUN
QuoteQuoteYes
Always giving the alternative view...
My answer is no.
Lots of variables.
I have raced many bikes. Some I really liked. My current R6 is at the top. My CBR600F2 from 1993 was very good. As was my 600 Katana in 1988. In 1989, we changed the Katana's suspension and wheel combination making it not as good.
Other things. In 1988, Doug Polen raced for Yoshimura on 1987 GSXR's in Superbike as the number one rider. Additionally, Davide Tardozzi raced an FZ750 in the early World Superbike Championships when the FZR750R's were avaiable.
It will always go back to set up.
The new components can make the current bike work better IF they are worked to get the chassis to work better for your feel and comfort.
My CBR600F2 was massively bent. Worked very well though with the set up we had. Won lots of races and championships, and I was a regular AMA competitor. The next year, I raced a new ZX6E...couldn't get that to work right. Went backwards in many ways.
I guess the question is: do you have the ability to set up the bike...the ability to recognized what needs to be done, the forsight to recognize what the feelings are from the chassis, and the knowledge to change things on the bike to get it right.
If not, I ususally recommend GMD Computrack like http://4and6.com
I know where I want stuff, basically, but I really don't care to spend a whole long time trying to get it in the ball park. I'd rather start close to the center and then refine.
Your bike is certainly good, but it could be better. The new suspension components won't necessarily make it great, but it will allow you the opportunity to make it better if the geometry and spring rates can be done up to work the right way.