Suggest a track bike to me?

[loply]

Hi folks,

I pretty much gave up riding about 2 years ago when I sold my RSV.

I've got some more garage space now so I'm considering buying a bike purely for doing 4 or 5 trackdays per year.

I'm quite tall (6'4") and I want something that fits me and is not too powerful, so that I can push it to it's limits.

Anybody got any suggestions? Ideally well under 100hp because I want to be better than the bike, not the other way round.

I'm considering an SV650, had one years ago with modified suspension and it was fun on track, but I think I might outgrow the handling quite quickly.

Would consider a 400 but I think they're too small for me.

Cheers,
Rich
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[Chalky.]

Any 600cc made in the 90s, will be about a grand - CBR600f etc.

[P.]

Surprisingly, I love the SV on track.

I also love the Daytona 675.

I feel like I can thrash the SV more, but feel I make better progress on the Daytona.

Likely a good rider can whip my SV round quicker than I can, so can't see a big problem with getting one

[loply]

Yeah to be fair maybe the SV is perfect... They're big, cheap and not very powerful.

I had a carb R6 but I felt I had more fun on the SV on track, because the R6 took a bit too much skill and commitment to thrash, whereas I could ring the hell out of the SV...

I actually found mine handled well, it had progressive aftermarket fork springs and a GSXR600 rear shock, but everybody else seems to think they handle poorly...

Was just sort of wondering if I could get something similar but with slightly better handling in case I outgrow it...
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[P.]

In that case, a 675 is ideal. You dont have to rev it massively high to get similar go as your would a 600 il4.

SV handles "ok" but I'm far less capable than the bike... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoJ4br2Vkl0

[lihp]

CBR600F2/F3
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covent.gardens: lihp is my most favourite member ever

[Slacker24seve...]

Any 600. You will quickly tire of a 650 on longer tracks - it may ultimately make you a better rider but if you don't actually like it, whats the point?

A 600 is still slow enough to make chasing down litre riders huge fun, as well as having some semblance of a powerband.
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[loply]

How would a 95-100bhp 600 go on tires? I was sort of under the impression it will eat them a lot quicker than an SV650... Someone told me he was more or less using a set at each race meeting once (albeit that's enough track-time for 2 or 3 trackdays probably...?)
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[Musketeer]

I would get IL4 600 as a track bike, something newer with good chassis. Not too fast, not too slow that suits all UK tracks.
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Current Bike: Yamaha XSR900 Previous bikes: Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja, Aprilia RS125 2-stroke

[G]

While I liked the SV for racing, I'd prefer a 600 for a track bike.

I'd just keep an eye on motoforum, ebay and the like and get whatever that's in ok nick, good value and isn't particularly tuned.

[Old Git Racing]

600 4 or a 675. Personally I'd go for a 675, quite a few race prepped ones about if you search. Bit more grunt than a 600 and not as revvy but just as quick. Not as small as some of the 600's either.
As for tyres, if you were running at the front in good level club/nationals then maybe every meeting. On track days maybe every 3 or 4? Depends how you ride it. On a track day you won't push as hard as in races.
Under 100 bhp would be boring at Cadwell, never mind somewhere like Snetterton. Do 4 or 5 days a year and a 600 will start to feel boring if you're any good.
My ideal track day bike was a Gixxer 750, plenty of power but not too much you couldn't use it.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[G]

For me, I always felt that a 600 bridged the gap between skill levels enough with power that a litre bike rider would have to be not too far off my skill level to be getting in my way.

On a 'pace day' (organised by laptimes) on a 64hp SV I was grouped with a few litre bikes, which turned out to be irksome what with me doing similar times, but doing so with corner speed/braking/acclerating, while they were doing it in a straight line.

Ok, by the nature of the day it was going to make it worse, but generally I found less issues with 100hp. Never really felt a big need for more than that on trackdays as I'd prefer to try and get more use out of that 100hp than have an easier time with 120-150hp+.

[loply]

Thanks for all the advice folks.

Think I'm not quite looking to spend enough to get a 675, will quite possibly opt for a 600 though now.
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!