Where's the best place to buy a race-ready bike?

[Maverick]

All good advice - I started on a Katana 600 and now ride a GSXR 600 - I guess I'm still in "upgrade and go faster" mode - good advice on costs of tires and "speed isn't everything" - Thanks a bunch - My plan is to buy a bike, spend 06 at racing schools, track days and attending CCS events and be ready for race #1 at Homestead in Feb 07.  I'd appreciate any other tips to getting started in CCS.

[Super Dave]

Hit me with another e-mail...

[dsb]

All good advice - I started on a Katana 600 and now ride a GSXR 600 - I guess I'm still in "upgrade and go faster" mode - good advice on costs of tires and "speed isn't everything" - Thanks a bunch - My plan is to buy a bike, spend 06 at racing schools, track days and attending CCS events and be ready for race #1 at Homestead in Feb 07.  I'd appreciate any other tips to getting started in CCS.

You've already got the bike, now buy the best safety gear you can get, don't do _anything_ to the bike other than minimal track prep (only what they make you) and tires... Gotta have tires... and GET TO THE TRACK!

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

Lithium Motorsports can help you find a used racebike or race prep the one you have.  They can also aquire the brand new bike of your choice, race prep it, and ship it to your door.  Owner Rob Oliva also offers package deals if you're putting a program together, and that can save you a ton of cash.  He can help you to decide what you really need, and where you can save money without compromising performance.  Lithium is a full service race shop with in-house suspension and dyno work.  They have prepped biks from club to pro levels, and have the championships to prove that they do a good job.  Half their business is mail-order, so it's not a problem that you don't live in Iowa.
1-712-546-7747

[dylanfan53]

Maverick,
I race an SV.  I own a GSXR1000 too.  (Don't ask why.  Owning bikes is a sickness.)  Even as an experienced racer I don't race the GSXR1000 as outstanding a bike as it is.

What everyone's telling you is absolutely right.  Start with an SV.  Or with your 600 if you want to race up a class.  There usually aren't that many in the heavyweight grids.  That should also tell you something.

Whatever you do. Keep your ego out of everything!  Bigger isn't always better.  You'll have plenty of fun and excitement in LW or with your 600 and you'll be a better rider than if you jumped on a 1000.  Plenty of time later for the 1000 if you decide to go that way.

Just my $0.02

[oldguy]

Lithium Motorsports can help you find a used racebike or race prep the one you have.  They can also aquire the brand new bike of your choice, race prep it, and ship it to your door.  Owner Rob Oliva also offers package deals if you're putting a program together, and that can save you a ton of cash.  He can help you to decide what you really need, and where you can save money without compromising performance.  Lithium is a full service race shop with in-house suspension and dyno work.  They have prepped biks from club to pro levels, and have the championships to prove that they do a good job.  Half their business is mail-order, so it's not a problem that you don't live in Iowa.
1-712-546-7747

Nah! Go to Allbrands and tell'em Ralph sent ya!
 ;D

[mike_rbm]

I already have a 600 street bike - and it seems the 600 class is swamped at the races - so I was looking for a class with less bikes - and a ride that required more technical skill - even if I'll rip thru tires.  Still a bad choice??

Yeah it's not a great choice. What everybody else said and it will suck when you're struggling to get into lower laps times on your 1000 and a fast guy rips past on his 600!  :o Look at the lap times at BHF and you won't see much difference between 600s 750s and 1000s among the leaders.

Road America is a different story but smaller more technical tracks depend on the pilot more than the bike.

[LMsports]

Thanks K3!!! Feel free to call me anytime if you have any questions etc. Even if you aren't buying from us I will be happy to answer any questions you have about anything you may be looking at. I would rather you be happy with what you are riding and don't go broke in the process. We'd like to see you around for a while!  :)

[Team-G]

I'm ready to start attending track days and learning to race, but I'm looking for a race-ready bike and don't know where to go to buy one.  

I have two GSXR 750's for sale, race ready.  '03 & '04.  Give me a buzz if you want more info: 262-853-1211

[JBraun]

It's very hard to take a current production 1000 and ride it faster than a 600...

I race a gsx-r1000 and I'm positive I went faster on my R6 everywhere but elkhart.
big bike + scary horsepower = slower lap times. Dave is right...

[dicatirider944]

Believe the advice these guys are saying.  I had all kinds of street bikes from my first FZR600, GSXR-750's, to a Ducati 944 and felt real comfortable on the street.  When I made the decision to go racing this year with over 10 years riding experiance I bought a race preped 01' GSXR-750.  It is fast and I'm not even close to riding this bike to it's potential.  I had the mindset that I would grow out of a SV650 to fast and I didn't want to be in the 600 class because there are so many of them.  The truth behind it is you will be racing with the 600's in heavyweight or unlimited classes anyway.  All the guys on 600's race up in classes anyway so the idea of smaller fields really isn't there.  If I had to buy a bike over again I would buy a 600 or somthing to race in supertwins.  As to where to look I got mine of of ebay and I know some other poeple that Have bought there race bikes there.  Watch it daily there are always new bikes on there.  Try and find something with spares.

Just my $.01 my opinion isn't worth$.02

[mike_rbm]

Maverick - met this guy Don at the track a few years ago. He went expert and got a new bike. I think it's a 2004. It's a GSXR600 with a bunch of nice top line extras on it. Fast and well maintained! He was #30 here in the midwest and finished really good for not even doing a whole season. I saw him out a month ago and the bike was still for sale. Shoot him a note at Don@ftfracing.net  :)