Road Bike to Track Bike and Back Again!

[cunni]

I am obtaining my race licence and joining a club this winter. I have a TL1000r road bike and was wondering about converting it into a track bike, but it would need to transform back to a road bike at the end of the weekend, as it's my main transport!

I am aware i would need to lockwire it, remove the side stand, get a closed belly pan, remove headlights, etc, fit race fairing and bypass the wiring loom for the headlights to get it to start.

Does any one know of a club that holds a race series I could enter on a virtually stock TL-R?
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TL1000R Parts For Sale!

[cunni]

Just thought I'd mention, I am aware of the fact that if I bin it i'm knackered, but for me, the first season is only about getting the Clubman Licence, and all I have to do is finish each race I enter without being lapped, so I can afford some safer riding!
also, am hiring a van to get me too and from races, not riding there, very dangerous!

Any advice then people?
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TL1000R Parts For Sale!

[Barker-CBR 600]

Might wanna ask the same question on the regional forum mate (if you havnt already).

I know on South East Bendy + co have a nice list of recommended, venues, clubs, events and places for most things like this.

Plus you probably would prefer a nearer one.

Apart from that i am no help.
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Previous - Gilera DNA50 / XVS125 Dragstar/Honda CBR 600F/GSF 650 Bandit
Current - 2013 Suzuki VZ800 Intruder
'Is this a rhetorical question?'

[G]

You are not going to be winning anything on an unmodified bike unless you're doing minitwins etc.

Even superstock you have to be very good or have a blueprinted / generally sorted engine and bike.

With a stock r6 I was actually faster around snetterton that someone intending to enter power bikes on an r1, so all is not lost .

Not sure about other clubs, but bemsee offers two options for your bike.
Either clubman 1000 or the sound of thunder.
No reason you can't do both, as it comes out cheaper in a weekend to pay for an extra race or two than to be doing two weekends with half the number of races.


Have you looked at the costs of racing?
Are you intending to do a full season?

It is going to be quite expesnive for a big twin I suspect, so when you consider all the costs you might want to consider a dedicated track bike, or more reasonably, get cheap hack (ie £500 GPZ or something for the road, and keep the track bike as a day time 'fun bike', this way you are not using up expensive tyres that can be sold). Also I suspect there will be quite a lot of work to 'convert it' if you're going to change everything over.


Have a look at www.bemsee.co.uk to compare your track times. Tracktimes from earlier this year are more likely to be of interest, as people will naturally get faster as the year progresses.


Probably worth having a look at the bemsee ACU licence day I posted up in outings and excursions.

[cunni]

I'm going to be doing the full season if I can afford it, but I can't afford to buy another bike until mid-way through. Also, I want to keep riding on the road, so I'd prefer the TL-R on the road than an old hack.
I'm not aiming to win anything in the first year out, as I know it'll all end in tears. I just want to get the clubman licence, then I can get a sorted race bike.
I have looked into the costs of racing and if I had a GP250 bike given to me, I would manage the whole season and aim to get good results, but, expenses as they are, saving for a bike means missing the first few rounds, therefore, I won't be contesting any cup and might be last pick for filling grids and end up not racing that much.
Basically, I really want an RS250 to race, but have a TL1000R road bike instead. Bit confused, but I wanted to race the TL-R, as it's cheaper than track days and then I'd have the Clubmans licence for next season, when I get the RS250!

How do you register to the regional parts of the forum then?
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TL1000R Parts For Sale!

[G]

If you can afford to do a full season on a TL, you can afford to buy a new track bike I suspect.
Personally I would go for an old hack on the road and make sure you keep the race bike good for racing.

I have heard of people doing similar with CB500s and the like, but I suspect you'll have more problems with something like the TL.


My basic estimated costs for a round in rookie 600s:
Note that so far I have 'sponsorship' to get cost price tyres amongst other things
Entry fees, 4 races: £120
(Clubman entry fees 4 races: £120 )
Pair of tyres: £180
Oil + Filter: £25
Petrol for bike: £30
Diesel for van: £60

So that's easily over £400 for a 'baseline', add in food etc etc and it all gets quite nasty, easily way over £500 per weekend.
Especially if you start to add practice days and associated costs in.
If you can afford that you should be able to afford to get a cheap 600 or similar.

A big twin or a GP bike will probably cost more to keep going.


Only on something like Brands GP will it be cheaper than trackdays. Otherwise you pay £30 for a 6-10 lap race. This is probably less time than a trackday session and more money for it as far as most tracks go.


Out of interest, do you know what your laptimes are around Cadwell, Snetterton or Lydden?


*entry fees in bemsee have actually been reduced, so it's not quite so harsh these days, but still not massively pleasant.
It's probably worth entering clubman races or an extra class if you can to use as 'cheap practice', as you're already there, so it's relatively cheaper.

[cunni]

Well, I'm budgeting £700 per race meet all in, although, I'll have paid the race entry fees up front.

Major problem with getting a race bike is that I need to save up for this, approx 4 months. However, I'm in the middle of buying a house, so the saving doesn't start until march. This means I miss the first half of the season and makes it harder to get anywhere.

That's the basic logic behind all these half witted ideas. Well, it's looking like TL-R on test days, as they are cheaper than track days, try and get a race bike (cheap one) buy mid season and do just enough races to get the clubman licence.

Try harder in 2006 I guess.
As for lap times, I haven't had the chance to try any of the tracks you listed, but I'm a very quick learner and I have been studying the braking points, race lines, possible overtake manouvers to protect against and the like, so Ii'm as versed as I can be without going there! Best I could do so far!
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TL1000R Parts For Sale!

[Ste]

You ride in fast group on trackdays and able to hold your place in the group?

I'd say that you'd be best off selling the TL and then buying a cheaper road bike and a track bike rather than trying to get the TL to do both as it won't really work.

[cunni]

Yeah, this is what I've begun to think. But I can't sell the TL, as i've spent £4k buying it and another £3k doing it up! Can't really justify selling it for only £3000 now after all that work. I've only had it for around 6 months.

I think I will get the house purchase and furniture out of the way and then put money towards getting an RS250 and do the back half of the season. Use it alitlle as track days and see what times I can put in!

Concentrate more on 2006.
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TL1000R Parts For Sale!

[G]

I wouldn't want to use a bike I valued at £7k on my first year.

Be far too woried about losing a lot of the money when I crash etc.

Why not not look at getting a cheap 250 2st/400cc 4st for rookie 400s?
Get you 'into' racing and probably be a good stepping stone for a GP 250.

Should be able to get a 250 from about £600 that should at least not leave you trailing too far behind. I think 'trouty' on some other forums was racing a TZR with 44hp or something, at times racing with SS400 and not coming last!

[cunni]

£600? Where from?

The best I saw was an RS250 with all spares, WOW, with spare brake discs, arrow full system, all the works basically, tuned and has been ion 250 challenge and GP250 races. £2000. I really want it, but haven't got two grand and expect it'll be sold when I have got it!

What do you recommend, a crashed road bike and do basics to it, or an ex racer in not too good condition?!

Help needed!
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TL1000R Parts For Sale!

[G]

Ebay, www.motoforum.net, adtrader etc.

Just need to keep an eye out. Don't be looking for a spectacular bike at that price. We're talking an old 2 stroke like a RGV, TZR or KR1S.

Only thing I could find on ebay at the moment:
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=9806&item=4513398560&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Good price for what it is, but I'd go for one that's already a track bike, as you have to spend less to get it going on track and often comes with spares that would cost lots to buy.

[G]

An example: https://www.motoforum.net/index.php?showtopic=6007 . £295, so half what I said!

Would probably be okay for a few races and a lot less work required than swapping road stuff every weekend.