Track bike question??????

[travisj]

Ok here’s the situation. I want to start going to track days, but I am not real keen on putting to 600RR on the track first off. I am looking at buying an older bike that I can dedicate solely to the track. Ultimately I would prefer something around the 01 to 04 year but I am not sure just how much I am going to be able to spend at the moment. I was also thinking about going with something a little older and cheaper around the 98-99 range. I am not really worried about power, I am however curious about suspension.

My question is, with an older bike like a 98 or so how good would a stock set up be? Would I need to invest in a whole new suspension or would stock suffice for just starting out. Keep in mind I am not looking to get into racing, just more honing of skills and enjoying the performance of the machine in a safe environment.

Any input would be greatly appreciated and thanks in advance. T

[whitman]

It would help to know what tracks you are near, an sv650 is the best bang for the buck bike and you can buy and you can find them for 3-4 k all ready to go and they are affordable to run. check it out.

[travisj]

Roebling Roads is the closest one to me, just right down the road, but I also planned on hitting Jennings when I can, it's only about 4 hours away. Heres a link to RR, it doesn't seem to be geared towards bikes like it does cars, but anything is better than nothing and it's only 30 min's down the road. Thanks for the thought about the sv, i'll have to look into them as well.

http://www.roeblingroad.com/track.html

[whitman]

The sv is also a blast to ride, and the fun factor is awesome. otherwise look into a gsxr 600, the parts are plenitful and you should be able to find them cheap. I asked about the track because of how much motor you might need. but any smaller track, except say road america or even road atlanta will require more power maybe, but say roebling or barber will be a riot but you dont need more than a six hundred or an sv.
whit

[travisj]

Thanks man, I hadn't planned on anything bigger than a 600. I think that will be plenty for what I have in mind. Do you think an older GSXR 98-00 would have a descent stock suspension, or would modifications be something I should look into?

[nig]

You can have plenty of fun on stock suspension, especially if you're relatively light. Ultimately you're going to have to decide when it's worth it to upgrade.

[OreoGaborio]

I'd say it entirely depends on your budget.

a sorted, race-ready ex500 - 1 to 2g's
a sorted, race-ready sv650 - 3 to 4g's
a sorted, race-ready 600SS - 2 to 6g's or more depending on mods & the year.

Obviously there's other options out there in all price categories, what you get just depends on your taste & budget.



If you haven't yet given track days a try, I'd seriously consider just using your 600RR for a time or two. Because the environment you're in is controlled, the chances of you crashing your bike depend much more on your willingness to push the envelope. As long as you don't go out there & ride over your head trying go as fast as you can go, the chances of you crashing your bike are pretty slim and the old adage "If you're not crashing you're not learning" is total BS. In my 3 years of riding on the track I've only crashed twice on the track w/o the "help" of others and I've learned an immeasurable amount.

Basically, to sum it up, riding on the track is much safer, which reduces your chances of crashing.... but because it's safer you push the envelope more, which increases your chances of crashing.... so it's all up to you.

[GooseKZ1000]

If you get a stocker, the only thing that I will suggest is to make sure the tires on it are decent and I would get steel braided brake lines first. In case you dont know the rubber will expand under braking pressure and through the course of a session you might feel it getting a little weaker. With the steel braided ones the outside steel keeps the inner rubber hose from flexing giving you the same feel over the couse of a session. If you cant afford front and rear at the same time just get the front ones since they are the brakes that you bill be using the most at the track.

[silent_R1]

I would also add if you get a bike and decide to keep it stock, at least do the following:

change the tires
Add SS lines
Change out your fork oil
make sure you can adjust your rear ride height.

AFter that then you can consider upgrading your suspension. You might check the WERA/CCS/Nesba board for some bikes that are already upgraded too in your price range.

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

Originally Posted by GooseKZ1000

If you get a stocker, the only thing that I will suggest is to make sure the tires on it are decent and I would get steel braided brake lines first. In case you dont know the rubber will expand under braking pressure and through the course of a session you might feel it getting a little weaker. With the steel braided ones the outside steel keeps the inner rubber hose from flexing giving you the same feel over the couse of a session. If you cant afford front and rear at the same time just get the front ones since they are the brakes that you bill be using the most at the track.

I do agree that braided steel lines will provide better braking 'feel' and quicker braking due to restraining the line from expanding, but I don't suggest putting them on the rear brake. Why? Because the rear brake really shouldn't be used in the 1st place on a race track till you REALLY know what your doing (I've raced since 1996 and I have yet to use the rear brake while racing). The chances of losing control are greatly increased if you use the rear brake because under heavy braking the rear tire has very little weight on it and will lock up very easily if applying much brake at all. So in this case you wouldn't want the 'sensitivity' or 'suddeness' that a braided line will provide, it's better to have the rubber line on the rear brake to let the braking action be a little 'mushy' so your not locking up the rear tire almost instantly if you go for that brake suddenly. If you get to the point where you need to squeeze out those last few 1/10ths of a second on your lap times then I would mabey look into a braided rear line, but since you said you don't plan on racing your probably never going to get to that level by just doing track days anyways, so in my opinion don't waste the money on a braided rear brake line.

[travisj]

Thanks for all the input everyone, I might have located a 99 zx6 if he still has it and the price is right, under 3k. So I am hoping to hear back from him soon, i'll keep ya updated. But if anyone else has anything for the first timers please post. I am up for any suggestions and help. I would love to take the RR out on the track but if in the event it ever went down, I couldn't stand to be with out it while it was being fixed. But like I said i am up for any tips and help you have to offer. Thanks again T

[fiveninerzero]

get a set of race fairings for your RR, my buddy has one that he races and wrecks every time and when he puts his OEM fairing back on it looks bulletproof

[travisj]

I have tried to search for them but I haven't had any luck. Anyone point me in the right direction to find some?

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

Originally Posted by travisj

I have tried to search for them but I haven't had any luck. Anyone point me in the right direction to find some?

POLL: What race plastics are you running?

[travisj]

Thanks for the link, i'll have to look into it and see what I can come up with. Thanks again. T