Looking for a bike to start racing/trackdays

[jackass]

Any suggestions on a bike to start racing/trackdays?  I will be spending the majority of my time at Barber's.  In the past past I had an SV and enjoyed it.  Is it better to buy and SV and put money in it to make it fast or bite the bullet and buy a 600 or 750 and spend my time and money taking riding schools on a somewhat track ready bike.  

[Pierre - Team PMR]

If you want a fun reliable bike for CHEEP, I have a 1996 Honda CBR 600 F3 that I would be willing to let go for $2,500 (including a bunch of spares & an extra set of wheels / rotors for your rain tires). This bike is already converted to a track bike, including bodywork, Trackside Engineering forks, Ohlins shock, EBC rotors & pads, braided lines.  The bike is CCS legal & all safety wired.

Please PM me if interested.
p.montsion@att.net

[Scott]

Not to get too competitive but....

Right now on ebay is my 2001 Honda CBR600F4i

Just go to ebay, type in F4i and look for the bike that looks like the one in the picture right under my name.

Bidding starts at $2,995 and there is no reserve.

[Roger@ASMA]

How fast do you want to go? If you get an SV plan on spending some money fixing the suspension. Depending on your region, you may end up spending way more for a competitive SV then a 600 and do slower lap times. If your region has a bunch of SV's and people haven't lost their mind by getting 95hp out of them it will be a great bike.

On the other hand, a 600 is a nice, cheap way of going racing or trackdays. It's all personal preference, I dig small bikes, they're a blast. But, I've been racing 600's and bigger bikes since 95 because the competition is better. One thing to stay away from if you're planning on eventually racing is buying a really old bike. Stay with something no older than 2003, with the exception of the R6.

If it's mainly trackdays you're looking for, buy an F3 or F4, they're cheap, very stable and they crash well. The performance isn't going to win races though.

[Jeff]

Figure your budget...

A race prepped bike will be cheaper in the long run than buying something and then prepping it.  

SV is a rock solid bike which has a lot of knowledge base around it and ample parts.  Very easy on tires, a lot of fun to ride (or so it would seem).

An inline 4, 600 or 750 will eat more tires, but can be more competitive in a middleweight/heavyweight class..

If I were spending your money, I'd look for a prepped SV.  But if the right deal came along on an older Honda/Yamaha, I'd consider it...

(that F3 with spares doesn't sound bad)

[Jeff]

Roger, I couldn't have said it better myself...  Period...  Everything in that post is very valuable...

[Super Dave]

Tires are expensive.

High HP bikes aren't that much faster than similar bikes with less HP.

Tires are expensive.

You've still got to set up the bike (most important) and then ride it.

Tires are expensive.

Early model SV's are great.

F2's are great too.  Pierre's F3 would be grand.  I've ridden it, and it's really good.  

If you're gonna race, things might be a bit different.  Something a little more current can be better as more people will be racing something similar to what you have.  If you've got lots of spares, you're in better shape.

Good luck!

[cardzilla]

Also, if you're going to race get a bike that is already a race bike.  You'll spend less than the same bike in stock trim plus you won't spend the money buying the parts... a win-win situation.  Also, most people selling their race bikes will be including a good amount of spares, again a savings for you.

[roadracer18]

I GOT A 1993 F2...SELLING FOR $2,000 WITH SPARES AND EXTRA TIRES!!! EMAIL WITH QUESTIONS...ERICHR8@WI.RR.COM..AND DONT BUY PIERRE'S BIKE..CAUSE IM BEATING AS IS!!!

[tshort]

All of above is great input, especially the bit about tires.  For trackdays perhaps that's less of an issue.  But for racing, all things being equal, I've gotta believe the SV is cheaper to run than a 600.

And remember this:  


Bikes are not fast - riders are.

[Chuck]

Just in case DAve didn;t clarify enough...tires are expensive.  I've heard of guys making tires last 2-3 weekends on an SV...  :o

[Super Dave]

And a fast rider on a 600 will use up the best part of a rear tire in about twelve laps.