What would it cost?

[Fat_Nate]

Out of curiousity, what do you all guess it would cost to buy and run for a season (assuming three or four races per race weekend) either (1) a 250 GP bike or (2) a Buell 1200?

[Jeff]

How much prep work and how much crash damage allocation?

[Jeff]

Crude and quick...

Figuring $5k for a prepped bike in fair running condition.  Also assuming you have all gear/tools/transport vehicles.

Column on left is per incident cost, column on right assumes 10 weekend season.

Bike      5000      
Races      190      1900
gate      50      500
Race fuel      60      600
tires      200      2000
transpo      100      1000
Food      150      1500
maint      50      500
Repairs      100      1000

Total      14000      

This is extremely modest as you will have a lot more costs that aren't covered.  License, rain tires, twin sprint weekends, etc...

[tzracer]

For the 250 the cost depends on how often you replace parts. The older TZs (pre 2000) can run pistons longer than the newer ones.

I used to run a 12 weekend year (GTO,GTU,LWGP,ULGP,MWGP). All parts were less than $2000 per year (assuming no crashes). Tires lasted 2 weekends. Depending upon the brake pads, they could last more than half the season. Excluding entry fees, you could run a 250 a season for less than $5000. 2 strokes are so easy to work on that you can do all the maintenance yourself (I do all except crank rebuilds), with very few special tools needed.

You will have way more fun than you could have on any 4 stroke. 125s are as much, if not more fun at half the cost. 2 stoke guys will bend over backwards to help any new 2 stroke guys (ask jp233).

[Protein Filled]

Brian is right. 250's are a hoot to ride, but they do require proper maintenance. If you try to get away from the scheduled stuff, you will pay more in the long run.

Also, you have a limited number of classes that you can run competitively. LWGP is the only class where you would run with the Lightweight classes, otherwise youi are racing the 600's or bigger machines.

[Fat_Nate]

A 250 GP can run with 600s, can't it?  I would have thought you'd do okay against even 750s, but maybe I'm thinking of what it was like 15 years ago . . .

I was looking at the Buell 1200 specs (weight, bhp, torque) and wondering why they don't crush SV650s all the time.  Anyone?

[Jeff]

I was looking at the Buell 1200 specs (weight, bhp, torque) and wondering why they don't crush SV650s all the time.  Anyone?

because the riders are too busy catching the parts that rattle off...

[Fat_Nate]

Well, shouldn't they be safety wiring that stuff?

[spyderchick]

Well they do, but the oil makes their fingers slippery and they don't do the best job.  ::) :o ;)

(Sorry Paul...except for you)

[PJ]

A 250 GP can run with 600s, can't it?  I would have thought you'd do okay against even 750s, but maybe I'm thinking of what it was like 15 years ago . . .

I was looking at the Buell 1200 specs (weight, bhp, torque) and wondering why they don't crush SV650s all the time.  Anyone?

The Buell 984/1200 XBs are a good match for a well prepped SV 650/700. They both have about the same power to weight ratio.

Unless, of course, you're talking about Ed Key's or Brian Lacy's titanium laden SVs.  ;)

[Mark Bernard]

because the riders are too busy catching the parts that rattle off...

Ouch!

[Mark Bernard]

Well they do, but the oil makes their fingers slippery and they don't do the best job.  ::) :o ;)

(Sorry Paul...except for you)

Double ouch! WTF....!