I've been riding on the street for a couple years now. After a wreck i came to the conclusion that fast riding on public roads just isnt worth the risk. So now i've decided that i want to get into racing. The problem is that i dont know where to start. I was thinking about going to a school, running some track days, then once i feel comfortable i'll enter a novice race. The problem is that i have an R1 which is way too much bike for me to learn proper racing technique on. Does anyone have any suggestions about how I should get started, what bike i should buy and where i can enter races where i wouldn't get completely worked by the competition.
Brian:
You may want to post the location that you are from so that people can give you ideas of tracks, schools, and track days in the area. Plus if you can pick up a lightweight bike like and SV, FZR400, TZ250 ect. You will learn a lot more about going fast verses just HP your way down a track.
My $0.02
Dawn ;)
Apply for a couple Platinum credit cards!
And watch out for those photos guys--always trying to sell you something! ;D
I live in NC. About an hour and a half from VIR. I was thinking about attending the cornerspeed school. They seem to have a decent reputation and good instructors. If i bought an SV would I need to put clipons and a full fairing on it? Also I'm a big guy. 6'3 and around 175 so cant really fit on small bikes.
Brian Blangsted of Midwest Rider was running some modified handlebars on his SV, they turned down, so you wouldn't need clip-ons. You don't need bodywork, just a catch pan. With the SV you'll need front fork work and a shock is always a plus. Getting something already prepped can save $$$
QuoteThe problem is that i have an R1 which is way too much bike for me to learn proper racing technique on
MonTEZ Stewart started on an R1, and he goes pretty good ;D 8)
"get a 600"
"no, get an SV"
"their both wrong, get a TZ250"
:D
Get whatever you can afford, just 'get' to the track :)
If you want track time, join NESBA, they frequent VIR.
I'm in Raleigh, where are you Brian?
Definitely go for a LW bike.. I went from a ZX-7 to the RS250.. I love it. It really teaches you how to ride.
QuoteAlso I'm a big guy. 6'3 and around 175 so cant really fit on small bikes.
My husband is 6'4" and 225 rides a stock SV
Chris Onwiler is 6'1 and 230 (?) and won championships on and FZR.
Dawn :)
ECU i live on Brent Rd. Where are you?
Unfortunately i dont think i can afford to own a track bike and a street bike. But i'm also not willing to give up the joys of street riding. Would it be plausible to buy and R6 to run on both the street and track or would it be too powerful? Anyone know where i could pick up a cheap sv or R6 with only cosmetic damage? I would be willing to drive a ways to get it.
The salvage market gets pretty out of control right now with guys trying to build bikes for spring.
As for street riding, after you've done enough racing, street riding can seem ...um...kind of boring but dangerous. I like a street ride, very rarely, but I haven't owned a street bike in years. But that's me... :P
I really like to put my money into the "black hole of racing..." ;D
Dave I found that BLACK HOLE. Well my wallet found it first. I do agree with you I have done many track days and spend countless weekends help'n my buddy's @ the track. I was out riding one night and came to the conclusion that this is lame. I now have the race virus and don't see a cure in the future.
Also street riding can end up putting habits into your riding style which often times are counter productive on the race track. But on the other hand, keeping that synchonicity of man and machine on a daily basis could have it's benefits also.
I use to change over my GSXR 750 after many of the events and ride it on the street. That was definately more of a hassel than anything (mabey the bike you choose won't have so much stuff to change back and forth). I also found that if I didn't change the jetting back to something more streetable, the plugs would get all loaded up by the time I went to race again. If I went out for practice in the morning without changing the plugs it would take a whole session for them to blow out all that carbon build-up. Even after that it seemed like they still weren't 100%.
I'm up on Leesville, N. of 540. My buddies used to live on the corner of Brent & Gorman. They moved ~1 year ago. I'm buying a trailer next month, if you start getting into it, we might have room for ya if you need a ride.
I agree with Dave and Diesel... After just 1 track day, I went to ride on the street the following week.. it sucked. It only took me 1 trackday to not want to ride on the street anymore.
Interesting. I used to own an R1. Took a racing school on it (realized I didn't want to race something like that).
Sold it and bought an 01 GSXR600 to race. I miss the street sometimes. But then I realize how crazy I used to ride to keep up with Speedballer on the street ;) and thought better of riding on the street (too dangerous for me).
I think you should buy a 600 (plenty fast enough, not too fast), and maybe a wrecked SV for the street.
Ask Speedie about riding your track bike on the street all the time :) or is it street bike on the track? ;)
Well it looks like once i get organized i'll sell my bike and buy a 600. I'm sure i'll miss the effortless wheelies and gobs of torque but i'm sure the trade will be worth it. I cant afford to not own a streetbike because i'm still in school. The convience of being able to park right next to my class and not have to ride the bus outweighs any potential problems. Guess i'll just have to become an expert at changing my bike back and forth from race to street trim ;D
The other good option is to buy something like a Zuma and ride it on the street. It may not be fast but you can also use it at the track as a pit bike (since a number of the tracks are changing their policy and not letting you use anything that isn't licensed for the street as a pit vehicle - bunch of B/S!)
QuoteWell it looks like once i get organized i'll sell my bike and buy a 600. I'm sure i'll miss the effortless wheelies and gobs of torque but i'm sure the trade will be worth it. I cant afford to not own a streetbike because i'm still in school. The convience of being able to park right next to my class and not have to ride the bus outweighs any potential problems. Guess i'll just have to become an expert at changing my bike back and forth from race to street trim ;D
Well then, keep the stock tail section. You can use that to race, and its easy to take the taillight out, and put it back in. Not so easy to do on a race tail section.
QuoteAnyone know where i could pick up a cheap sv or R6 with only cosmetic damage?
My husband found an R6 on eBay, and all it had was cosmetic damage. A salvage yard was selling it.
QuoteI cant afford to not own a streetbike because i'm still in school.
Um, out of curiosity, how much more school do you have left? Just asking because racing is addicitve, and can take concentration away from other areas (like school). I stayed away from the track until I had graduated and found a job, and that way I could fully enjoy the hobby. If I tried to balance both school and racing, both would have been compromised. I'm not saying work and racing isn't a balance, but at least work pays for racing. ;)
I've found a few bikes on ebay but most of the sellers are looking for prices that are too high for what youre getting. I also checked out cycletrader.com and had slightly better luck.
I'm currently on the 4 and a half year plan so i will hopefully be graduating in a year and a half not counting this current semester. I could see where racing would distract me from school but i think the compromise would be worth it.
As for buying a street legal pit bike to ride around on. I dont think i could bring myself to do it. Half the enjoyment of riding to school is the release i get from pulling wheelies and goin fast during the commute. It helps to keep me sane while i'm bored out of my mind in class. Plus i dont own a car so it would make the trek to work tedious.
You won't want to ride fast on the street anymore after you get on the track, you may not want to ride on the street anymore at all. Racing puts the limits of and danger of fast street riding into perspective. I seriously don't understand how I survived on the street looking for thrills for eight years. One weekend of racing eclipsed any high I got from street-riding. A couple of ton-plus speeding tickets helped me to the track as well. I now have a dirt bike and a racebike and that's more than enough. If you decide to skip lightweight racing and go straight to a modern 600, you'll need way more throttle control or expect the highside to be part of your learning curve. Without naming names, the am600 class is by far the most dangerous class to run in. Debate it if you will, but I've been racing 5 years now and over the years I've heard the am600 class called "a bunch of morons", "amatuer hour", "suicdal", etc.. An am600 race at blackhawk without a redflag is highly unusual. Don't get me wrong, I'd fit right in. Just letting you know.
Matt
Sounds like fun to me. ;D Honestly I would prefer to run an SV on the track then my R1 for the street. Unfortunately this isnt financially viable. To me it seems like buying a 600 is the best comprimise. Its not perfect for either enviornment but it would end up doing both street and track work decently well.
Racing what you can afford cuz it's better than no racing at all. Get that suspension set-up by a fast-local guy and enter the battle of the crazies.
I really appreciate all the comments. I have one other question. What do you guys do for insurance? I have regular coverage but it doesnt apply to racing.
QuoteI really appreciate all the comments. I have one other question. What do you guys do for insurance? I have regular coverage but it doesnt apply to racing.
You didn't specify if the insurance is for your bike or yourself.
Your bike - you're SOL.
Your body - unless your medical policy specifically excludes it, you should have medical coverage.
Dawn :)
just to clarify i was talking about my body.
Quotejust to clarify i was talking about my body.
Grab your policy and either e-mail me or type the exclusion here. Some people say racing is not covered or just assume it wouldn't be.
Dawn :)
Or you could just call them and ask.. that's what I did. I made sure and asked them if there was anything that I could do that wouldn't be covered..., like racing, skydiving, anything crazy or 'risky' as they say.. the woman thought I was crazy for asking, and said I was covered no matter what.
www.ozcyclesalvage.com these guys have bikes for sale and they help racers
Quotewww.ozcyclesalvage.com these guys have bikes for sale and they help racers
They just took in an SV650 with bent forks and a street straight title. It was nice. I saw it. Ask for Brad, and tell him the Chitown Hustlers sent you.