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Track bikes for the road?

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AppleJoe
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Joined: 02 Dec 2007
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PostPosted: 17:11 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Track bikes for the road? Reply with quote
I have seen a few 'track bikes' for sale in various places, all of which seem to be cheaper than an equivalent normal road bikes. Why are they cheaper? Surely with the work that has been done on them they should be more expensive?

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L3G3ND_MTX
Spanner Monkey



Joined: 13 Feb 2008
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PostPosted: 17:15 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote
They need servicing and re-building more often maby thats why there cheaper.
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thegubner
World Chat Champion



Joined: 25 Mar 2007
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PostPosted: 17:18 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote
It also doesn't matter how many times its been flung down the roa....err track.

No road legal necessities on the bike, not as many people want an all out track bike as there are people who want the road legal equivalent which means less demand?

Just my thoughts.
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quacker_boy
Cuddle Bitch



Joined: 06 Sep 2005
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PostPosted: 17:19 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote
Track bikes usually have had the shit ragged out of them, and the work entailed on Average Joe's track bike isn't going to be that much more than what the averagesunny Sunday rider has had done to his (braided hoses, exhaust/full system, jetted/power commander), the main difference is obviously the fairings.

Oh and track bikes are usually a bastard to put back on the road as most won't come with a V5. If you take a look at some serious high end track bikes on eBay they go for a much higher price. That's because they've got trick suspension, rebuilt more times than a student has hot dinners and are a lot more looked after.
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Polo
World Chat Champion



Joined: 05 Sep 2007
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PostPosted: 17:21 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote
Why would they need servicing? I would probably service a track bike more if I am going to be wringing it's neck.

I know a lot of people turn crash damaged bikes into track bikes. Outside of that then maybe the bikes do not come with everything needed to get it back on the road.
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MarJay
But it's British!



Joined: 15 Sep 2003
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PostPosted: 17:41 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote
Minty wrote:
Why would they need servicing? I would probably service a track bike more if I am going to be wringing it's neck.

I know a lot of people turn crash damaged bikes into track bikes. Outside of that then maybe the bikes do not come with everything needed to get it back on the road.


Getting a trackbike roadworthy is something akin to building a streetfighter or fixing a damaged repairable. It is doable in some cases, but will probably cost you more than it would if you bought an equivalent mint road bike.

As mentioned a lot of track bikes don't have paperwork. That is either because they are write offs, can't be made roadworthy again or in some cases because they have a chequered history. Most don't have clocks or a wiring loom, and a lot run total loss charging systems without a generator/alternator which means you'll need to charge the battery up every time you want to ride it.

Some have a frame from one bike, and an engine from another requiring a Q plate at best. They WILL have had a hard life, and WILL need looking after. If its done one or two seasons racing, fair enough - but if its a trackday hack or has done ten seasons racing it may well fail at some point, perhaps spectacularly. Also its impossible to determine the mileage of a trackbike.

Basically its a minefield. If it was easy trackbikes would either be the same price as the equivalent road bike, or everyone would be buying them to convert. Neither of these is the case.

(Oh and G bought a track ZX9R which he converted into a streetfighter, but it has a dent in the frame a very suspect wiring loom and isn't exactly pretty. Its a good deal if thats the kind of bike you want, but you aint going to get something shiney and reliable from a converted trackbike IMO. )
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bazza
World Chat Champion



Joined: 27 Aug 2004
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PostPosted: 18:49 - 09 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote
quacker_boy wrote:
rebuilt more times than a student has hot dinners and are a lot more looked after.


Pot Noodles are not hot dinners.
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Bendy
Mrs Sensible



Joined: 10 Jun 2002
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PostPosted: 08:12 - 10 May 2008    Post subject: Re: Track bikes for the road? Reply with quote
AppleJoe wrote:
I have seen a few 'track bikes' for sale in various places, all of which seem to be cheaper than an equivalent normal road bikes. Why are they cheaper? Surely with the work that has been done on them they should be more expensive?


Because you generally won't get any road fairings or lights with them. They can be damn expensive and sometimes hard to find.

Because you might not even get wiring loom, switchgear, locking fuel cap, key-operated ignition... lots of little things that add up when you need to get hold of them.

Because there's a fair change it's scuffed and scraped and gravel rashed to hell.

Because it might be a write off / mash up / not actually be allowed back on the road.

Some trackbikes will be lovely and had loads of work done on them - to make them good on track (so quite possibly shite on the road). Some trackbikes will just be roadbikes with all the unnecessary bits removed and sold. Either way, you could be buying yourself a load of hassle.

The servicing argument's a bit half n half. Not all trackbikes are tuned so saying 'they need more servicing' is false - you would revert to the recommended service intervals for normal use. I serviced my bike more when it was being used on track, cos I was aware it was being thrashed. I was also more inclined to look for problems before they happened. But, just like buying a used roadbike, you're taking a chance on how the previous owner looked after it.

Given how cheaply ready-to-go roadbikes can be found, I wouldn't bother.
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quacker_boy
Cuddle Bitch



Joined: 06 Sep 2005
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PostPosted: 13:26 - 10 May 2008    Post subject: Reply with quote
bazza wrote:
quacker_boy wrote:
rebuilt more times than a student has hot dinners and are a lot more looked after.


Pot Noodles are not hot dinners.


Laughing Laughing That would have been more appropiate i guess.
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