How often do trackday bike engines need a refresh? (600cc)

[DaveCR]

Hello!

I've got a CBR600RR (05) and with HRC cams as the main engine mod. It's done about 1000 miles since the last refresh - which included new pistons / rings / mains and big end shells and the cam chain (work done by Ray Stringer). At the time, Ray advised it looked like the valves had very recently been changed.

The bike is used for trackdays these days by me, a low-end fast group rider with what I would call a "slow club racer" skill level (lap times around Oulton at 1:59s).

Please can anyone advise what's a safe mileage to take the engines before a refresh with new valves?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Dave.

[robertw95]

As long as oil and filter is done regularly I dont think you need to worry too much, Id maybe just give the valve clearances a check for piece of mind
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07 Dt125r, sv650s k8, zx6rr 04

[MarJay]

You're joking, right?
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Carvel]

Lol
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2002 Aprilia RSV1000R, Cbr600Fs, Mk1 B12, Vfr400 NC30...

Matt B: I can deal with crushed nuts to beat Ollie.

[monkeybiker]

Isn't the regular engine rebuild more for racing engines were the tolerances are tighter?

[P.addy]

I'd just ride it. Regular oil changes.

[Fisty]

Is this a troll?
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Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[stevo as b4]

As paddy said, unless you've gone all out on expensive engine tuning work/internals that you don't want to trash, then why not do regular services and oil/filter changes and just ride the thing?

Trackday riding is still quite a bit away from race use, but you just need to find a suitable way to equate hours of use to mileage. If your doing regular maintenance you'd pick up on any problems developing most likely too. Things like 1/2ing valve clearance checks and a yearly compression or leak down test would give you engine health indications, as would keeping an eye on oil levels and coolant etc.

How anal do you want to be? You could strip the engine every year and have all the moving parts analysed under the micro scope to look for cracks and plastigauge all your bearing surfaces, and measure the bores and pistons with a micrometer/bore gauge, but it would be a waste of riding time.

I also bet spare engines are cheaper from broken bikes than re-building a modern 600cc lump too.

[DaveCR]

Hi everyone,

Many thanks for all the responses, much appreciated! I've checked the valve clearances today. They are all the same as when it was refreshed apart from one of the exhaust valves which is now .01mm smaller!

Looks like there's a few more miles left in it yet and about £1800 I don't have to fork out

Dave.

[G]

I'd only start worrying about 'refreshes' when you're getting to maybe 15-20% extra power over standard.

And for a trackbike, rather than bike you're trying to win races on; I'd just get a new engine and sell the old for parts, which'll have you quite a few trackdays worth of money better off compared to paying for it to be properly 'refreshed'.

[Ariel Badger]

My bike (which produces double the designed HP) gets a rebuild every 25 miles or so and an oil change every 5.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[MarJay]

I fail to understand why you need such a highly strung 600 as a track day bike? Why not buy a FireBlade instead, and service it once a year?
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[DaveCR]

I did consider changing the bike for a 1000 a while back but decided not to. I've had it for 6 years nearly and it's an ex Cal Crutchlow bike and so don't want to part with it. It's cost someone (Gary Eckerold?) over £20,000 to originally build, looking at the price of all the mods on it!! So it's a bit special.

Dave.

[MarJay]

[G]

Not sure how it'll compare to a newer bike for racing, but it probably makes even less sense to race it - as you still won't be up to newer tuned bikes and will more likely need to spend more cash for the sake of having a slower bike.

I might consider selling the engine if it was mine, if I could get a good price.

Oh and St Bernards don't actually need THAT much space - often littler more energetic dogs that need the space to run around .

[RedPanda]

I think this thread needs pictures.
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CBF125 (2013) -> CBR600F (2001) -> 'Ninja' 300 (2014)