Thunderbike Questions

[Ungwaha]

From reading the rule book I see that the GSXR 1100 Oil cooled is legal for this class but a 1992 ZX7 is not correct? Didn't the 1100 have more horsepower than the 92 ZX?  The reason I am asking is that I have a ZX7 that I am racing in AHRMA and would like to find another org to race some more closer to home.

[LWT Racer]

You can race the ZX7 in WERA Vintage.

[britx303]

HELL YEAH!! WERA V7 with us. We could use some more guys in there with us. The Thunderbike structure does seem a bit of an Odd/Old class,so thats where i got him(Kevin Elliot) to let the FZR400/600's in,which is where i run on CCS weekends. What region are you in?

[Ungwaha]

HELL YEAH!! WERA V7 with us. We could use some more guys in there with us. The Thunderbike structure does seem a bit of an Odd/Old class,so thats where i got him(Kevin Elliot) to let the FZR400/600's in,which is where i run on CCS weekends. What region are you in?

I am in Orlando FL and was looking at WERA also.  I got my licence with WERA last year but never made it to the track with them.

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Old oil cooled 1100's were around 120-140hp (crank) and were near 460-500lbs dry (depending on year). ZX7's were about 110-120hp and 430-ish lbs dry. Street trim numbers.

GSXR 1100 oil cooled aren't allowed in Thunderbike anyways. 4cyl oil cooled pre-1990 up to 860cc's.

A heavyweight thunderbike class would be fun (have a YZF750R myself that would be fun to play on the track with) but my guess it would be a very very small class that wouldn't be utilized enough. Would love to see a bunch of the old school "superbikes" of the 90's out playing together again.

[MACOP1104]

Old oil cooled 1100's were around 120-140hp (crank) and were near 460-500lbs dry (depending on year). ZX7's were about 110-120hp and 430-ish lbs dry. Street trim numbers.

GSXR 1100 oil cooled aren't allowed in Thunderbike anyways. 4cyl oil cooled pre-1990 up to 860cc's.

A heavyweight thunderbike class would be fun (have a YZF750R myself that would be fun to play on the track with) but my guess it would be a very very small class that wouldn't be utilized enough. Would love to see a bunch of the old school "superbikes" of the 90's out playing together again.

WERA Vintage 7 heavyweight. 

[apriliaman]

Look at the rule book again.You can have the first year 1989 ZX7 and 4 cylinder Aircooled up to 1200cc.So you can have a GSXR 1100 up to 1991 model.

[Eric Kelcher]

Look at the rule book again.You can have the first year 1989 ZX7 and 4 cylinder Aircooled up to 1200cc.So you can have a GSXR 1100 up to 1991 model.

The Suzuki GSXR (and GSX) models were never air cooled, they have ways been liquid cooled first via Suzuki Advanced Cooling System (oil cooling) then thru water cooling. Ie GSXR (or GSX) 1100 of any year is not legal.
The Suzuki GS models were air cooled; a GS 1100 (or 1150) would be legal.

[apriliaman]

Liquid cooled is Antifreeze correct?? Like an SV650--Air cooled is Like an Ducati 1000DS but it is cooled with OIL so is that liquid cooled??

[apriliaman]

GSXR 1986-1992 was Air/oilcooled------------1993 and up is watercooled. 2013 at Jennings there was a rider racing the old GSXR 750 with the 1100 engine in thunderbike and it was allowed then.

[LWT Racer]

The Suzuki GSXR (and GSX) models were never air cooled, they have ways been liquid cooled first via Suzuki Advanced Cooling System (oil cooling) then thru water cooling. Ie GSXR (or GSX) 1100 of any year is not legal.
The Suzuki GS models were air cooled; a GS 1100 (or 1150) would be legal.

So if that's the case, then none of these Ducati's should be legal in lightweight right? :)  As they all have big fancy oil coolers.

[d0wn5h1ft]

2013 at Jennings there was a rider racing the old GSXR 750 with the 1100 engine in thunderbike and it was allowed then.

Doesn't it say that the engine has to be from the same production model motorcycle?

I had some questions about the thunderbike rules too.  It says Thunderbike Lightweight allows for '90-'92 up to 650cc.  So what do they judge the year by?  The number stamped on the frame or the number stamped on the engine cases or do they have to match?  The reason I ask is I have a 1994 FZR600.  From '90 to '98 they are almost completely unchanged (except for foxeye FZRs)  I assume I couldn't race this in the Thunderbike LW class?  But according to the "engine from the same production model motorcycle" I could buy a '90-'92 FZR600 frame and swap all of my '94 stuff into it.  Seems a bit stupid since the '90-'92 FZR600's are identical to my '94 and all of that work would be just to have a frame that said '90-'92...

[LWT Racer]

Oil going through cylinders?

[LWT Racer]

Doesn't it say that the engine has to be from the same production model motorcycle?

I had some questions about the thunderbike rules too.  It says Thunderbike Lightweight allows for '90-'92 up to 650cc.  So what do they judge the year by?  The number stamped on the frame or the number stamped on the engine cases or do they have to match?  The reason I ask is I have a 1994 FZR600.  From '90 to '98 they are almost completely unchanged (except for foxeye FZRs)  I assume I couldn't race this in the Thunderbike LW class?  But according to the "engine from the same production model motorcycle" I could buy a '90-'92 FZR600 frame and swap all of my '94 stuff into it.  Seems a bit stupid since the '90-'92 FZR600's are identical to my '94 and all of that work would be just to have a frame that said '90-'92...

You cannot swap engines in Thunderbike.  If the model changed according to Yamaha, then you can only use the 90-92 motor.  That being said, SV and ER6 guys use cross generation motors as they are basically the same. So idk...

[d0wn5h1ft]

You cannot swap engines in Thunderbike.  If the model changed according to Yamaha, then you can only use the 90-92 motor.  That being said, SV and ER6 guys use cross generation motors as they are basically the same. So idk...

That's the thing, the FZR600 model was made from '89-'98.  With the only major change being a wider wheel and 4 piston calipers in '90 which doesn't matter because brake upgrades are apparently unlimited in Thunderbike.  Why is it then you can only use '90-'92 FZR600's in that class?  I wouldn't have a problem buying a '90-'92 frame and swapping all my '94 components into it I guess but that seems like a lot of work seeing as they're the same Yamaha model name

[britx303]

Doesn't it say that the engine has to be from the same production model motorcycle?

I had some questions about the thunderbike rules too.  It says Thunderbike Lightweight allows for '90-'92 up to 650cc.  So what do they judge the year by?  The number stamped on the frame or the number stamped on the engine cases or do they have to match?  The reason I ask is I have a 1994 FZR600.  From '90 to '98 they are almost completely unchanged (except for foxeye FZRs)  I assume I couldn't race this in the Thunderbike LW class?  But according to the "engine from the same production model motorcycle" I could buy a '90-'92 FZR600 frame and swap all of my '94 stuff into it.  Seems a bit stupid since the '90-'92 FZR600's are identical to my '94 and all of that work would be just to have a frame that said '90-'92...

Sorry,i always get confused.....is the foxeye what later became the yzf600? I know the headlights you are talking about,but i never checked to see if it was a re-bodied FZR,or the frame was different too. I wish CCS would just have a 90's superbike/forgotten era class for Pre-99ish bikes ::) Especially right now with the Mid_atlantic V6+V7 guys looking for a place to race without having to drive all over the country.Thats how i got here in the first place.

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Doesn't it say that the engine has to be from the same production model motorcycle?

I had some questions about the thunderbike rules too.  It says Thunderbike Lightweight allows for '90-'92 up to 650cc.  So what do they judge the year by?  The number stamped on the frame or the number stamped on the engine cases or do they have to match?  The reason I ask is I have a 1994 FZR600.  From '90 to '98 they are almost completely unchanged (except for foxeye FZRs)  I assume I couldn't race this in the Thunderbike LW class?  But according to the "engine from the same production model motorcycle" I could buy a '90-'92 FZR600 frame and swap all of my '94 stuff into it.  Seems a bit stupid since the '90-'92 FZR600's are identical to my '94 and all of that work would be just to have a frame that said '90-'92...

When I raced a 93 f2 Kevin allowed it in thunderbike since it was unchanged from the 92 model. Also he said fzr600 up to 98-99 also allowed due to unchanged from 92 and earlier.

[d0wn5h1ft]

When I raced a 93 f2 Kevin allowed it in thunderbike since it was unchanged from the 92 model. Also he said fzr600 up to 98-99 also allowed due to unchanged from 92 and earlier.

I assume you just had to email him prior to get approval?  Was there any sort of extra race registration things you had to do to run it?

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

I assume you just had to email him prior to get approval?  Was there any sort of extra race registration things you had to do to run it?

Yeah I emailed him. Kept a copy in my toolbox in case tech said no.

Brit the yzf600 was a totally different bike from the fzr600.