I was racing 600cc but was thinking 250gp would be less expensive? Can anyone fi

[cowdog71]

CAn anyone fill me in on the expense differences between the two and also where I would look for a 250 gp bike? Thanks, I really appreciate it!

[Super Dave]

I think tz250.com will help you while looking...and some others can chime in.

A 600 can be good in that you can, generally, turn the key, push the button, and you're ready to race.  A 250 certainly requires an amount of work during the weekend, and an amount of maintenance between events to keep it in reasonable order.  To go faster, it will require a bit more work on the engine to keep it highly tuned.  Ridden properly, they are awesome. 

Some like to ride the 600's because they are versitile;  they can competitively race in classes for middleweight, heavyweight, and unlimited classes in supersport through grand prix trim.  A 250 GP bike is limited in it's opportunities.

[clutch]

I have come to realize that all this crap is too expensive no matter what bike you ride ;)

[Super Dave]

Bowling is cool!

[ecumike]

Cowdog, post the question on the USGPRU forum:   http://www.usgpru.net/forum/

Guys on there can give you an idea of what running costs of a 250 are.

Also take a look at a 125.  They are definitely cheaper, and sometimes the lap time differences between a 125 and 250 are only a couple seconds.

AND... you'd get to race with on the AMA weekends with the AMA.

[cowdog71]

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it. Why is it that anyone can race 125s in AMA? Maybe I'll just stick with my r6.....It is very reliable and fairly maintanence free...Thanks!

[Super Dave]

AMA?  Is the USGPRU teaming up with the AMA?

The AMA wouldn't be licensing the riders.  They only do that for Supersport, FX, Superbike, and Superstock.

[Monkey_Star]

I'll sell you mine for $13,000 with a years worth of spares.

[tzracer]

AMA?  Is the USGPRU teaming up with the AMA?

USGPRU (125 only) is racing at Miller on the AMA weekend.

[Roach]

For most people a 250gp bike is going to be more expensive.

I say "most people" because a lot of guys are running basically stock 600s that don't require engine work after every season (unlike if you have a real SS 600 that's going to need to be freshened up in the off-season).

All other things being equal, here's your 250gp costs over a stock 600:
Top end every 2 weekends: ~ $110
Crank every 12 - 15 weekends: $750 TZ rebuild / $950 Honda new / $1200 TZ new
Fuel - you need to run race gas. Prob leaded. +$4/gal over pump

If you're running a SS (or SB) 600 that requires care and feeding, your costs are going to be almost the same as a 250gp bike.  Tire costs are only slightly cheaper on a 250 as you're buying a 160 rear vs. a 180 or 190 rear.

- Roach

[catman]

Hey Brian heres to you+1 - i'll be down to pickup my sv700 in your shop- glad to see ya here! john You guys do great werk!

[Roach]

A 250 certainly requires an amount of work during the weekend, and an amount of maintenance between events to keep it in reasonable order.  To go faster, it will require a bit more work on the engine to keep it highly tuned.  Ridden properly, they are awesome. 

Forgot to also mention here:

Unless you're fast enough to challenge for the podium, you don't need to do a thing to your bike during a weekend unless there's a drastic air density change. When I first started racing GP bikes, I ran the same set of jets in my TZ250 all year (running rich) and won novice races (the wera F2 championship, actually).

Guys that think they have to mess with their bikes all the time are usually the ones blowing them up.  If you're rich, yes, you're making less power than you could be ... but it really won't matter much when you first start out. The learning curve to riding a 250 fast is STEEP and rider skill is more important than 2hp. When you're cutting times that put you at the front of the USGPRU grid, then worry about eeking out that last couple HP with perfect jetting.

- Roach