Sell FZ6? Get track bike? Or not?

three3eye · 07-11-2007, 05:52 PM

I have a 2005 FZ6, and let me start by saying that I love it. I can ride it for hours on end without getting uncomfortable, I love the way it looks, I love the way it handles, I love the way it sounds with a drilled out stock muffler, and I love that it has just enough power to keep me satisfied without killing me. In only 2 years I have put 10,000 miles on it. Last summer I moved out of my parents house and refused to even buy a car cause I had my FZ, and I used it exclusively all summer until I had to buy a car in the fall due to cold weather.

Anyways, on to the intention of this post: Last summer I took the FZ to the Poconos FUSA track day with Sportbike Track Time, and I had a blast. I got to really see what the bike was capable of in a safe environment, and I really got to improve my riding ability. However, right when I got to tech inspection this instructor (some AMA champ) said to me "you know this isn't really a track bike right?", and I said "yeah but I'm not looking to win any races, just have fun". And I did have a lot of fun.

But there were 2 things that bothered me. First, after the whole track day, and scraping both of my peg feelers clean off, I didn't have one scratch on my knee pucks. I tried everything to get my knee down, but I just couldn't reach. After the day I checked my tires, and I could see that I still had about half an inch of chicken strips where my tires just couldn't reach due to my footpegs restricting the lean angle. Second, since I couldn't pass in the turns in the novice group, I felt like I could never pass anyone on the straights since their bikes had more power and were lighter (i.e. GSX600, R6, etc).

Since then I have really been itching to get a bike that is less touring and more sporting. However, I am in love with my FZ6! I can't see myself riding an R6 or similar on the road for more than an hour without needing a visit to the chiropractor. I also am worried that if I take a nasty spill on the track, that I will ruin my nice street bike and have no bike while I scrape together funds to repair it.

I figure I have 3 choices:
1) Sell the FZ6 and buy a new bike, like an R6, for the road and the track
2) Keep the FZ6, and buy a bike just for the track
3) mod the FZ6 for the track (i.e. rear sets, clip ons, etc)

I have seen people on this forum mod their FZ's in all sorts of ways, and seen people take them to the track. So my questions for you guys are :
1) Is it worth it to mod the FZ6 for the track, or will I still be wanting more?
2) Will a modded FZ6 feel as good on the street as it does now?
3) If I give up the FZ6, will I regret it when I ride my new bike on the street?

ped · 07-11-2007, 06:17 PM

ive rode both alot, and an r6 is really different and i can ride the fz much harder cause im used to it. that being said its also no more or less comfy if what you are into is commuting and twisties. if you like to tour then the r6 isnt good. but for 6-8 hour total day rides its just as comfortable after you spend a few hundred miles getting used to it.
i want a track only bike too, but i have no room for it. you can buy a used race bike with tons of extras, modded to hell and back for 4-5k all day long. the fz needs all kinds of mods to be a decent track bike too. when you start getting into lap times and body position you're gonna wish you had a SS bike. you'll need rearsets, suspension upgrade, full fairings for back straight acceleration. not to mention you have trouble keeping up with the much lighter r6's and what not.
so i say if you dont tour with it, sell it and get a used track only bike. if you must ride on the street, buy a used SS for more money/lesser deal. its up to you, but thats what i would do. and as i said, if i had the room i would use the fz for street/commute and all other would be racing.

pitts · 07-11-2007, 06:42 PM

I'd look into getting a dedicated track bike. If your gonna start doing more track days, your gonna get the bug and want to upgrade to a better bike anyway. The instructor was right, the FZ6 is not a track bike. It's still fun, but not a race bike.

Also consider the fact that, if your getting into track days, your going to be pushing your limits more and more, and your very likely to crash. It's a lot cheaper to replace the race fairings, and get new/used parts for the superbikes than it is for the FZ6.

A dedicated track bike can be had for pretty cheap too. If I were you, I'd find some of the local racing clubs/associations in your area, and see if they have an online classifieds section. I've seen some awesome deals on the WMRRA classifieds. You should look around just to get an idea of what it might actually cost for a track bike.

pitts · 07-11-2007, 06:43 PM

oh, and how do you have 1/2" chickenstrips with your peg feelers scraped off? That doesn't seem right.

Parabellum · 07-11-2007, 06:45 PM

Quote:

and I could see that I still had about half an inch of chicken strips where my tires just couldn't reach due to my footpegs restricting the lean angle.

How is this possible? I have no chicken strip on my rear tire and I *never* touch the peg feelers....but I have an 07...did they make some drastic change to the placement of the foot pegs???

To answer your question: I would go with #2 - Keep the FZ6 for the street and find another bike to use on the track.

I would try to find a 4-8 year old GSXR or CBR, and then start tracking it out...strip the mirrors, signals, lights, etc....

Mad Cow FZ6 · 07-11-2007, 09:48 PM

I dont scrape pages and I have only about 1/8th inch of chicken strips. Pilot Road rear. It may be the trie profile that makes a difference, but i dont think it would make that much of one.

Were i you I would get a dedicated track bike to reside along my FZ. Look to buy in the winter when prices drop alot. hit up criglist and whatnot. Sometime people get really desperate to sell the bike because it is a toy and they ran into money problems.

ped · 07-11-2007, 10:54 PM

hes probably talking about the fronts chicken strips
ill say it again for your intrests...if you keep the fz6, DONT NOT BUY A REGULAR STREET BIKE!!! go to the wera boards or bike specific boards and get a used race bike. thousands and thousands in extras for usually alot less. ohlins or penske shocks and forks, spare rims, rain tires, aftermarket adjustable clip-ons and rearsets, extra body work, plus all the stuff to put it back to street legal, etc...

lilcurverider · 07-12-2007, 12:24 AM

My two cents. I am keeping my FZ AND buying a track bike. Best of both worlds.........

fraggle1 · 07-12-2007, 09:20 AM

If you've got the funds, just get a dedicated track bike. It makes things so much simpler. Like everyone said, if you pick up someone's old race bike, it'll probably have tons of spares. You can also just keep race rubber on it (which generally sucks on the street).

Or you could just learn to ride the FZ6 faster like it is.

If you've still got strips on the back tire and you're scraping pegs, something's not right with your suspension.

three3eye · 07-12-2007, 09:47 AM

I didn't use a ruler to measure the chicken strips, I estimated. Regardless I can't get my knee down. I'm only 5'8'' so that might have something to do with it...?

My friend has a dedicated track bike, so I definitely have been considering it, and when he bought it he got insurance through Rider in NJ. They told him that it was covered even on the track. I have heard that is true as long as it is a track day and not a race.

Does anyone else bother insuring their track bike? Or has anyone tried to make a claim for an accident on the track and been denied?

ped · 07-12-2007, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by three3eye

I didn't use a ruler to measure the chicken strips, I estimated. Regardless I can't get my knee down. I'm only 5'8'' so that might have something to do with it...?

it doesnt, lean more. and yeah have you bothered to at least set the sag?

three3eye · 07-13-2007, 04:13 PM

I might if I knew what sag was

three3eye · 07-13-2007, 04:36 PM

edit: deleted

spongemonster · 07-13-2007, 06:25 PM

I'm guessing you've now searched for sag and found out you can adjust the rear pre-load and that your bike is set very low for your weight. Sounds a lot like a guy here with a Katana that is fairly heavy and has his sag set really low. He's constantly dragging parts of his bike. Anyhow try that out first.

jrevans · 07-14-2007, 10:59 PM

I vote for keeping the FZ6 and buying a cheap track bike. I used to do a lot of track days, and it was always with my steet bike. First my Kat750, then my CBRF4 and one on my FZ6.

When you ride your street bike on the track, you need to change tires way more than it really needs them for the street, you have to keep prepping/unprepping the bike (I used to put race bodywork on), you're paranoid about wadding your bike on the track, (and unsure if insurance would actually cover it...) and you always have a compromise.

The one thing that I did like about riding my street bike on the track, was that I became very comfortable with the performance of my bike on the street. I somehow managed to always keep a little bit in reserve and not crash my bike on the track, but I had a few close calls and off-road excursions "motos" but I always kept it upright.