Trackday bike advice?

GreigR · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Karma :

Hi
Having just done my 1st trackday on a friends CBR400, I am toally hooked already. I've just sold my SP2 and on the lookout for a trackbike or a roadbike to convert just for the track.
I know I'm very inexperienced in track riding but have ridden litre bikes on the road for a few years, what bike should I be looking at for the track? I've been thing about the CBR600RR, ZX636 etc, I plan on doing 10-15 days a year, should I go for something bigger, i.e Fireblade and get some instruction to begin with or something between the two, GSXR750 etc?
Budget is around £4-5k.

Thanks for any advice.
Confused

Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

Got a GSX-r 600 SRAD you can have for £1500, with spare fairings and engine.

Gaz

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

A 600's plenty, you'll be hitting your limit long before you're hitting the bike's limit. You only need a bigger bike if you can't corner properly but want to blast past people on the straights.

If you're wanting a serious trackbike, look at what gets raced at club level cos it'll mean a decent supply of aftermarket kit - track fairings, suspension, second hand wheels etc. Though, any modern 600 with a bit of suspension tweaking should be more than capable and keep you entertained for a good while.

Personally, I wouldn't bother with instruction (other than that offered free at trackdays anyway) until you're unable to improve by yourself.

Zimbo · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Karma :

An ex race bike would be ideal. try motoforum.net for starters.
My advice - stick to a low powered bike with good suspension, you'll enjoy it a lot more and learn a lot more too. A litre sportsbike is blindingly fast on the straights but bites you in the corners if you overdo it, so you learn to open the throttle on the straights and corner carefully, in other words you actually learn next to nothing. A low powered bike (sub 100bhp) loses on the straights, so you learn to brake late, carry corner speed, and really concentrate on corner exit speed and lines. In other words, you learn a LOT, and it's a lot more fun, also loads cheaper to buy and on tyres etc.

repsolblade · Nova Slayer Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Karma :

Hi
Tracks days are sent from heaven mate. I started on an old CBR 6oo 98 model great fun that, learnt a lot, then I stepped up to Gixer 750 K2 what a difference but exciting. I tried my blade but its too quick for me on the straights, you have to get the braking spot on to make any time up.

I wouldn't change the way we done it, and I will stick with the 750 still passing R1's and blade all over the place.
hope this helps enjoy.

Fawbish · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Karma :

Well i started on thumpstar's But at 16 il be riding my KR1(250) on trackdays then racing it, not oodles of power but cock on handleing, and its a stroker Smile

Cant wait.

But my opinion would be 400 or 600.
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"Oh....it looks like Average Joe's is forfeiting the match!" - "Yeah, its a risky strategy but lets see if it pays off for 'em Cotton."

Matty21 · Nova Slayer Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Karma :

Sorry lads, that was me(fawbish) was on my brothers account by mistake Thumbs Down

But yeh there's my advice ^^^^
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He who does not dare,does not succeed!
Trackdays half the season, second half racing.