Yamaha doubles contingency!!

[MELK-MAN]

I'll agree that paying to fifth is MUCH better, but I disagree with the reason for the year requirement.  Does anyone race a brand new bike?  I certainly never have and I was under the impression that most race salvage or at least used bikes.  Am I wrong on that?  I am for sure not going out and buy an '06 just to make (at best) a quarter of the price back.  My only option is to find a friend with an R1 who will swap frames (fat chance).  Oh well.

does not have to be brand new.. 05 or 06 for 2006..

[scottg22]

What is it to win on a Honda?  $ 1000.00 ?  

~~ JeF4y says:   Yamaha doubles it, but it's still a fraction of what Honda pays!  ~~

[tengonada]

sweet...great money...great bike...now if i could just figure out how to pull up the anchor...i'd be all set!  :-/

[Scotty Ryan]

I'll agree that paying to fifth is MUCH better, but I disagree with the reason for the year requirement.  Does anyone race a brand new bike?  I certainly never have and I was under the impression that most race salvage or at least used bikes.  Am I wrong on that?  I am for sure not going out and buy an '06 just to make (at best) a quarter of the price back.  My only option is to find a friend with an R1 who will swap frames (fat chance).  Oh well.

My novice season I bought an 03'Sv 650 brand new, Last season I bought a brand new 04GSXR 600 and this season we are getting a brand new 600....We were going in the direction of another Suzuki, But after Yamaha had to go and change their payout who knows.......

[Jeff]

What is it to win on a Honda?  $ 1000.00 ?  

I just looked and I can't find it online anymore since the 05 season is closed, but if I recall correctly:

1 - $1500
2 - $1000
3 - $750
4 - $500
5 - $350

I'm positive about 3-5, and am 95% sure on 1&2.

Oh yeah, and the beauty of Honda is that it pays out 5:5.  There is no minimum field requirement and none of this "pay 1/2 the field" crap...

And to answer the question of racing a new bike?  When I started racing, I found it insane that anyone would race a bike off the showroom.  Now, I find it insane that anyone would take that showroom bike and put it on the street...

I started racing new in 03, and bought another new bike in 05.  Depending on the changes Honda makes in 07 I may buy another new bike.  Otherwise I'll stick with my 05.

For contingency, it is nice to get some $$$ back.  It certainly didn't negate my investment, but it helps.  Plus, if you keep current within 2 years, the churn on the bike is very good.

For example, if I buy an 07, chances are many of my parts will swap over which will reduce my costs.  Plus, the 05 will still be worth somewhere in the $5k range.  So...  Take $5k for the 05 racebike, and figure $2000-$2500 cash back for selling off all the street take-off's on a brand new year bike (07), and I've got $7000-$7500 towards a bike which I'll get at cost.  It comes out very near even...

However, if you let it slide 3, 4 or 5+ years, you're racing on a bike that you'll never get your money out of, and the competition in all likelihood, is on a bike with more HP and of a lighter weight.

I've crunched numbers both ways, and honestly, buying new every 2 years works out quite well...