'Not used on track'

[Bendy]

Just a musing on something cos I'm bored and hot and want to go home.

You often see in adverts 'bike never used on track' as a positive selling point. But is it really a plus? I can't speak for anyone else, but since I started trackdaying my bike I actually look after it better than I did when I just used it on the road - oil changes are a case of 'I've done a couple of trackdays, better change it' rather than slavishly abiding by the manufacturer's guidelines (the last lot was still pink when it came out!), I check all the odds and sods before every trackday because I'm aware that I'm going to be going very quickly and will need things like brakes to work to their full capacity. So little niggles will be found early and sorted, rather than suddenly making themselves apparent by something going wrong.

Most noticably, given a damn good thrashing seems to clear everything out - it runs much better these days than when I used to commute everyday only using about half the rev range.

[Dom_]

Possibly because not everyone like yourself will carry out maintainance more often. Buyers may think it's been "ragged" around a track, whereas this other one for sale isn't. They may then make the judgement that the none track used one will be less "abused" and "battered." Just my thoughts on it. I wouldn't mind if a bike has been on track, as long as it's not been a trackbike all it's life. As hard regular abuse will obviously put more strain under most components in the bike.

[Wave2k]

they should say ' not toured on'
as that makes noticable wear and tear on your bike
as well as making the 'if its mint' bodywork tatty.
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

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[G]

More odd is ones that say 'never raced' on a bike that the closest it could have got to a race track is the carpark.

I know they race some weird things, but when you see it on a cx500?

[Kickstart]

Hi

Most of the wear is from starts, so track use means extra starts and the engine being thrashed hard. Brakes getting some serious abuse, same for chain and cush drive.

Oil changes help, but oil goes black from stuff blowing past the rings normally. Black oil is not worn oil, it is dirty oil.

I probably would prefer a bike that has not been thrashed around a track, but saying "not used on track" tends to make me think that someone has a guilty conscence. However I would still be most worried about the rider and condition. Turning up to look at a bike and having the owner start it and rev it hard to warm it up would be of far more concern.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

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[Bendy]

[dodsi]

I wouldnt say that, you can usuially get a good idea about the bike from the advert.

someone having LOADS of pictures of the bike is allways a good thing.

[Kickstart]

[Silver]

Not to mention a lot of people thrashing the bike before it's warm. What did one of the oil comanies recently recommend? 20 minutes of running before any heavy use? Imagine that on a track... "Right, 20 minutes gone, here we go! Oh, chequered flag, dammit!"

[Bendy]

Maybe not actually moving, but by the time I've faffed about lining up to go out on track the bike's had lots more warming up time than I ever give it on the road.

[Silver]

I'm guessing you probably don't redline it in every gear all the way to your destination though. Or do you...?

[Kickstart]

[Zoffo]

One of the first things I look at is the chicken strips. Now most people would think that if they're wide then it hasn't been thrashed. I think it's more likely that it's been owned by someone who doesn't know shit about bikes. Anyone who has put enough years of biking in to know how to look after it isn't going to have 2 inch wide chicken strips
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[stinkwheel]

Even classic racers tear down and rebuild the engine every two or three races. This implies to me that they are taking something of a hammering, they wouldn't do it otherwise. I presume you will be pushing the engine of your bike just as hard on a track day.

Very first thing I would do if I was buying a commonly raced bike (the 350 powervalve is a good example) is to check the sump plug. If there were lockwire holes in it, I would turn round and walk away.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Bendy]

How many people have bought a low mileage 'bargain' to find that the low mileage is cos the damn thing never works properly?

craig did anyway


How about 'never seen rain' then?

'One lady owner'?

[stinkwheel]

Comes with many spares

Unfinished project, all complete, requires some assembly for MOT
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Zoffo]

[McJamweasel]

[mrchips]

RS125 adverts always amuse me.

Recent rebuild - 17 year old owner has been doing 100 everywhere
Genuine reason for sale - owner has lost his license for the said 100mph.
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