Create New vs. Buy used racebike

[MadXX]

I have the opportunity to purchase a spankin new 2003 sv 650 for not much more than the cost as a used racebike.  Now I know there are a number of mods already added to most used racebikes for sale but I cant help but think there are often hidden problems that you dont know about as well.  

So my question is this: Is it worthwhile for a new racer (plan on starting in 2004) to start with a clean bike and add my own customizations as I improve my skills and understand more of what I want or should I buy something already put together by someone else and just deal with the problems as they come up?

I know I take the risk of losing my investment in a crash either way so I am not concerned with the cost aspect so much.  What I am concerned with is improving my skills without the bike being the limiting factor.  I want a solid machine under me so I can concentrate on being a better pilot.  I also want to be able to fully understand the effect of any mod on the bike and how it affects the performance of the machine.

Thanks in advance.

[Dawn]

My $0.02 and I am probably a penny short.

You buy a new street legal bike you will need to do change the body work for race use and update the suspension.  Both of which is going to cost you money.  The race bike you purchase probably has this done already.

You will also saftey wire the thing.  Time consuming, and at times, drill bit consuming.  The race bike would have that done already.

If you are worried about hidden problems associated with a current race bike...  Well, my experience has shown that if you purchase and SV that has not been superbiked, they are pretty much indistructible.  Paul's SV has three race seasons on it and it's still going strong.  Craig Schock's two, and there is a guy that used to race that had 9000 miles on his SV before putting it on the track with no motor work.

My sugguestion, by the race bike.  

Good luck!

Dawn   :)

[Zac]

It really comes down to finding the right used race bike.  One that's set up well, was well maintained, and in decent shape.  If you come across this bike and the price is right, grab it.  Make sure the bike was set up for someone about your weight, or you'll still end up buying the right springs.

Personally, I bought my current race bike as a pre-crashed street bike.  Mine still has a clean title, but many are on a salvage title.  You can pick up the pre-crashed bikes fairly cheap, because they would take quite a bit of money to bring back to being a nice street bike again and noone wants to buy them.  Mine was a low side, so half of the stock bodywork was good.  Selling that almost covered the cost of my race bodywork.

-z.

[xseal]

That is right.
I bought a good used 2000 zx6r on ebay, took it to a good shop and spent the cost of the bike to make it street legal track ready (used Ohlins, forks springs, steering damper, tires, wiring, front brake lines and pads, rear sets, 520 kit). After riding it (and loving it) on the track, I was going to covert it to a full track bike. The cost was going to be $500 for used body work, $300 to revalve the forks, maybe $200 for some more wiring, $600 for a race pipe, and maybe $3k for a solid engine job - $4600.  After some looking, I found a 02 zx6r race ack bike for $5k, spent $500 having a shop go over it and ensure its condition. The way I look at it, I got the street legal bike for $1100.

[MadXX]

Thanks for the info everyone.  Are there any good resources for finding used racebikes?  I know about the classified section of this board, ebay, and the races themselves.  I was wondering if there was any place else I am missing?

Thanks

[brian_gordon]

because of the fuel injection on the new sv's you can pick up a used one with all the little things done already real cheap. try and find one with no engine mods, those bikes run great stock. also find one with tons of suspension work done already, thats a big price tag on those bikes. look on the wera site, they always have lots of svs for sale and also try the on line classified section on road racing world.

[xseal]

go to good shops (4&6 in Chicago, Speedwerks in DE) and ask them if they know of any.

[MadXX]

Thanks for the tips and help.  I'll start looking around.

[jp233]

my bike is for sale, 99 GSXR750 race ready. allt he drilling and wiring and stuff is done. email me jp233@yahoo.com :)

[Super Dave]

You're always on a fine line buying used race bikes.

Parts don't make the package, and sometimes the package is really bad. I've seen some bad SV's where they just weren't what they were supposed to be.  Then, the rider had to try to figure out problems...or more, I had to help my student figure out what was wrong.  Money needed to be spent, etc.

So, if you're going to buy a used race bike, get one from a reputable person that can tell you good info about the bike.  When I sell my bikes, I usually offer a school or something to get the person comfortable.

[MadXX]

JP: A GSXR 750 is a nice bike, but more than I want at this point.  I want to start out smaller and gain my skills there before I get involved with the larger bikes.  I plan on racing for a lot of years so I am in no hurry to go big.

I ended up buying Toby's #31 SV at the last blackhawk.  The only thing I can find that I need to do with it is paint the white plates yellow and change the springs. (I am a bit heavier than the previous owner)

I was very leery for buying a used bike.  I have seen a lot of really beaten and bent machines out there.  But from all accounts I could find this one is a nice package.  Now to get the suspension sprung correctly for my weight, get all my gear, and find a decent trailer to haul everything around with by next spring.  In the meantime I will be cornerworking and hanging out.

[cuda]

I have a used SV that I bought in full race condition.  I really feel like that is much better, but dave is right that a lot of these bikes may be less than desirable.

 When I bought mine it was a little more than most of the other SV's I had seen, but the bike was VERY clean.  It had ALL the mods, not just a few (even steel lines on the back, who uses that?) :)    

I bought it from a winner (Jeff Caco) and it was already set up better than I could do.  I recommend looking at some of the finishes the bike had.  You can have a fast, clean bike with a slow rider of course, but if the bike is a winning chances are it is tight.  My bike did great all season and I only had to change oil.  Plus is was always one of the best looking bikes there.