Expensive buckets?

[Tyler_94]

Just out of interest, how much have people spent on there buckets?

I was watching some of the buckets at toupo after blowing mine up and there were guys starting after the street stocks and beating them by miles!

What happened to the old days with the cheap standard GL (loncin) engines??

[speedpro]

I wasn't beating anyone on the second day, just keeping dry.
My motor was built over 4-6 years and cost $2,500ish in the end. The rest of the bike is about $5-700. I paid for the porting and machined every bit of the crank so it all added up. Should last years and be cheap to run though. If you look at it on a cost per month/year basis it isn't too bad.

[Kendog]

$2,000 purchase price ready to race.
Maybe spent another $600 on bits and pieces.

[nudemetalz]

My old Loncin 96 ended up costing me $4K to build :eek: :eek: :eek:...
Even then wasn't as quick as the FXR's

[hmurphy]

I stole my Mum's learner bike, promised I would keep it road legal then took to it with a grinder :blip:.

I pretty much f*cked it up so bad it's an ugly pile of crap but is slowly slowly getting there. I have since paid for various bits and bobs but it's been cheap as chips because I have kept it stock until a few days ago. I just bought another FXR150 road legal and all for $600. Yes... a friggin steal.

Basically, if you can, steal from your parents or friends that are desperate to sell their bikes haha. Yes I have made sure my parents got their money back. I try not to be too spoiled.

[Yow Ling]

If you spent 2 to 4k thats still pretty cheap, its like being married, you probably going to be together for a while. The other classes are just short term affairs you will always be changing looking for a newer more attractive model.

Wallace had a bit of a ring round and found the average spend on a Christchurch bucket was $2700. Most buckets down here are FXRs

[Skunk]

My original bucket was a pair of AX100's at a cost of $200. One I got road legal and sold it for $800.
I've changed many things on the bike with stuff I've been given or purchased. The only part still AX100 is the steering head stem and the backbone (don't talk to me about this new fangled 'twin spar' stuff - it'll never catch on).
Total spend is around the $4000 over 6ish years. That includes a few engines (rebuilds), several chambers, wheels, brakes, clipons, fairings, tailpieces etc - all that I still have for the next bucket (which is nearly complete and has cost next to nothing because it's all 'spare parts'.
So has my bucket cost $4000 or the sum of it's parts ($200+tyres)? Depends how you look at it.

$4k over 6 years? That's $670 per year - less than the tyre bill for an F1 bike for a weekend!

[koba]

Mine was $400 initially.
Spare engine (functional) $200 so far
Frame Nothing because I already had it but would have been around $300-$400 on trademe. Say $350
Old used slicks $40
Rear Brake - $71 Shipped.
Rear Rim - Can't remember exact price but say $200
6 Speed Box - Say $150

$1411 At a guess. (including the functional spare engine.)

But the untold story is the labour...

It all adds up a bit but I think that is still quite cheap for what will be quite a good bike when I'm done with it. The expensive bit for me is going to be buying new engine bits to ensure reliability.

[NOID]

yea i must be at the 2-3k mark, it all mounts up rather fast. new bikes getting the $$$ thrown at her soon :msn-wink:

[richban]

Got mine for 2k with a spare engine and other bits. Ready to race.

Since then wheel conversion rear shock better bars, blah blah.

With the 2 engine builds and dyno time it must be around 5k all up over 3 years, If I had to pay for all the work done on the engine maybe 10K.

On the day if you had wets on and average Bucket you would be close to the SS's

[Buddha#81]

Ex Setchy FXR, $1k ready to race (sort of) wheel conversion (inc front forks) tailpiece and rear shock and after 4500km of race km since I owned it had to do a engine rebuild. It owes me $2500ish and I've had it for four years or so......Bang for bucks hard to go past. Ive haven't factored in consumables maybe another $500 on tyres and pads etc over that time.

[marsheng]

I did a survey of about 30 riders here in ChCh and the average price was $2700. That's why Buckets is out and F4 is in. Well at least as far as the events organizers are concerned.

[kel]

Bought the FXR for $900, told the wife all it needed was a set of second hand slicks and it would be ready to race :innocent: And I was probably right but as it turned out I couldn't ride well enough so I needed extra power and grip, couldnt stop crashing so needed to replace everything that brakes - So after carb, pipe, wheel conversion, bars, foot peg brackets, sprockets, wets, more slicks, oversize piston, raised compression, etc etc etc Id say about $2500 (the wife could tell you to the dollar). I now have a strong reliable bike that should last for many years so money well spent!

[Trudes]

I've kept a running cost of how much money I've spent on mine since I bought the rolling frame and engine about 3 years ago. Including paying for some labour and a set of second-hand slicks I'm up to almost 3K.

[fi5hy]

ZXR frame rolling 4 doz piss @$11 a doz motor $30 and a doz piss all up about $90 to start with. new Loncin motor $595.00 cam $200.00 shock $150 tail section $130.00 fairing $80.00 all up over 10 years $1280.00 = $128 per year:bleh::bleh::bleh::bleh::bleh: EAT SHIT PEOPLE

[F5 Dave]

People get all uppity about how much people spend if it out of their budget. I've often been accused of having a million $ bike

When I started was part time working & couldn't afford much I got a $250 MB50 & bit by bitted it from there with 2nd hand engines.


Current bike was a reconstruction of my first RG50 (which cost me $400 in about 1994). RS Frame, tank, forks $300. Transfer my old engine & mod the wheels to fit ($60 & doz beer). Pipe $160. Footpegs; from old bike & hangers; peice of scrap ally & some time spent on the mill, free. Brakes bars, tailpeice, all transferred from old bike.

Plenty of pistons, rings etc over the years & some quite cheap dyno time but as a 16yr on same engine I'm still in the budget end of buckets. oh actually that engine has had new top end from my spare engine, but you get the picture.

[Tyler_94]

wow, thats cool if you have the money. not so cool if you dont for the bucket class.

I bought my bucket for $1200 3 years ago which is a RS50 frame with a loncin 150 in it. The engine is stock and i have only bought 2nd hand slicks, one set of brake pads and now one intake valve. I cant afford anything else.
Especially around the 2k and over mark. I prefer to spend my money on the big track.

I now see why when/if i go to other tracks i get whipped down the straights. Hopefully Hawks Bay riders dont go over the top with expenses so i can keep in the points for our club.

[ac3_snow]

My little starter pack cost me 200 (plus another 200 to actually get it:weird:)
currently building one from scratch which has so far cost me $1018.70 with about another $600 to go.

[Str8 Jacket]

Ha my bucket has cost me less than $1200-1300 all up in the last 2-3 years I have owned it. That includes WoF's and rego's, tyres, chains, sprockets etc.... ;)

:shake:

Unfortunately I have a strange feeling its going to cost me alot more very soon when the engine gives.... :(

[all4A50s]

At the last count I had just passed retail value (including the bike) of $10,100.

[Buckets4Me]

$900

thats the purchase price of $150 gp125 (with a blowen engine)
and $750 for the rs frame spare wheels and ollins shock and fork internalls :niceone:

dosent include the $1400 engine rebuild i didn't pay for (on old engine I pinched)

so divide that by 6 years and buckets or F4 is cheap racing
stop complaining about the price and go race something els where you need 10k to get started instead of 2-3k (I know you can race a cheap piece of shit but you want to be near the frount dont you):weird:

I know people that would drink more than 2-3k of bear in a year (thats less than $60 a week)
about the price of a good flat screen TV

a mountain bike costs more
so dose a good road bike (peddle power)
you probably pay more going to the gym than building a bike :apumpin:

[jasonu]

TZR rolling chassis $300 RS125 rear end $150 KE125 bottom end from Brice Minto $150 RG400 cylinder $50 RS125 tank mold $150 RS125 seat mold $150 TZ500 pipe came with rat motor $700 for the motor with pipe but only the pipe is used various ali 'borrowed' from previous employer free (actual value maybe $150) various machining done in trade for welding, who knows. ali 415 rear sprockets from Aussie $60 other shit I forgot about and there is a lot of it ???
Countless hours of my time fitting, fabricating, designing, calculating, driving around getting shit done, welding, machining, testing, fixing fuck ups, blah blah PRICELESS!!!
(but would no doubt add up to many thousands if I had to pay for it)
It all depends on what you want and what makes you happy.

[Shorty_925]

I prefer to spend my money on the big track.


Pretty much sums it up.


I now see why when/if i go to other tracks i get whipped down the straights.

Ride harder in the corners to keep ahead, thats how it is for me!

[TZ350]

What happened to the old days with the cheap standard GL (loncin) engines??


.......new Loncin motor $595.00...... up over 10 years $1280.00 = $128 per year:bleh::bleh::bleh::bleh::bleh: EAT SHIT PEOPLE

The days of a good rider and a Loncin are not over as there is always someone who seems to be able to make bigger hp bikes eat shit .......... :eek: ............ fast corner speed shouldn't be allowed........

[saxet]

If you charged for the time and effort ( mental as well as physical ) most buckets would be priceless... apart from Fishies but he's just annoying.

[Henk]

Three FXRs I've built would average at about 2k each, that includes spare rims with wets but not consumables like tyres and all the bits I've smashed or worn out in the last two years or so. Most expensive probably $2500 cheapest $1500.
Then probably about $500 a bike a year to race with tyres oil and entry fees etc if we stick to Auckland, start going to away meets and gas for the van and accomodation can easily run to a $500 weekend. Still hell cheap though when you consider other forms of motorcycle sport, even dirt bikes come out as more expensive since you stilll have the travel and a decent bike is going to run $10+ and need replacing every couple of years, and the entry for an enduro or X country is at the $50 to $65 mark.

[Deano]

Wow some of you have spent a lot of dosh - I bought my 89 CBR400RR for $2000, ready to race in pre 89 Junior and F3.


Running costs are higher but....

[Henk]

Running costs are higher but....

I think the biggest attraction of buckets over other classes for me at the moment is the fact that I can race 11 times a year without leaving town so no need for a huge travel budget.

[jasonu]

I think the biggest attraction of buckets over other classes for me at the moment is the fact that I can race 11 times a year without leaving town so no need for a huge travel budget.

Yes actually showing up costs buggar all.

[speedpro]

don't forget how much track time you get. cost per hour on the track is unbeatable

[Deano]

Yes actually showing up costs buggar all.

Yep - entry fees and transponders are generally $100+ for each event.


I think the biggest attraction of buckets over other classes for me at the moment is the fact that I can race 11 times a year without leaving town so no need for a huge travel budget.

Hell yeah - I need sponsors to help out with petrol expenses or I would be struggling to do it.


Yes actually showing up costs buggar all.

Yep - entry fees and transponders are generally $100+ for each event.


don't forget how much track time you get. cost per hour on the track is unbeatable

Yep again - I usually get 2 races + qualifying = about 30 minutes on the track, all for $100+ entry + fuel + accomodation if needed - thankfully that is sponsored as well.

[all4A50s]

At the last count I had just passed retail value (including the bike) of $10,100.

I would hate to add up the hours I've spent on my beloved bucket, which is my third.

First one (RG50) cost 600 and I spent about a further 300 when I got carried away with fibreglass.

Second cost me $285 for a RX125 for the engine. RG50 rolling chassis was free. $275 for fairing and seat cowling. 200 on chain, sprockets, nuts, bolts, spark plug and the like and about $100 on mig wire on the F&*king exhaust, which insisted on disintegrating everytime I raced, because my welder was fracked.

[Deano]

I would hate to add up the hours I've spent on my beloved bucket, which is my third.

Fun hours with some good mates and good beer ?

[all4A50s]

Fun hours with some good mates and good beer ?

Sometimes too many beers:devil2:

[Deano]

Sometimes too many beers:devil2:

Thank God for the clever mates who know their shit !!

[Str8 Jacket]

Thank God for the clever mates who know their shit !!

Thanks man! :)

[TZ350]

don't forget how much track time you get. cost per hour on the track is unbeatable

Ditto.......


I think the biggest attraction of buckets over other classes for me at the moment is the fact that I can race 11 times a year without leaving town so no need for a huge travel budget.

Double Ditto Ditto.........

And for me its also about being able to indulge in engine/frame/suspension development that would be just totaly unaffordable on my budget in the other classes.........

[Shorty_925]

red paint ( 2 cans) $30 Mitre 10.

Yea right! More like 4 cans with all those repairs! :bleh:

[Damien_Toman]

I bought my Suzuki FXR150 as a road-going bike for $2400 (2003 model with only 13,000 kms on the clock). The bike was in ChCh. I live in Auckland. Flew down, and rode it back. Ferry, nice accomodation, dinner and wine on the way back were additional costs :) - enjoyed the journey and took photographs along the way with chest-mounted DSLR camera and wireless release :).

Spent about $2,500 on XR250/400 carbs, engine rebore, gaskets, piston kit, porting, valve re-grind, barrel skimming, modified cams and exhaust pipe. I used my old dirt bike bars to replace bent FXR bars and spent probably $70 to fit them myself and make a new throttle cable. I still have standard electric start, battery, speedo, rev counter etc. I still use standard FXR rims. I bought new slicks for $470 (they last me 1 year) and a set of second-hand wets ($180). $100 for wheels for the wets off TradeMe.

Additional significant costs for me were leathers, helmet, gloves and boots as I had not road raced for decades.

Was it all worth it? Hell yes!!! Loving it :).

Did I need to spend so much on go-faster bits? Well Tyler, when you get to my age, it helps when trying to keep up with fast kids like you :). A few decades ago, when I first raced (Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Lyddon), my bikes (RD350LC YPVS - and before that RD250 air-cooled) were bog standard (production class but most engines were modified) and I was fairly competitive (on the 350), though not winning club championships like you. Mind you, I did race against guys who became champions :). I'm number 56 in the photo at Druids, Brands Hatch :).

Regards to all

Damien

P.S. Loving these modern slicks :). For proddy racing we had to use road tyres :(.

[Skunk]

F4 and F5 is all about bang for buck. It just can't be beaten. An F3 bike might cost $2000 (that's the build cost of my F3/Pre89 Junior) but the running costs and entry costs are way higher and track time way less. Add the travel costs too.
Buckets don't HAVE to cost over $500, but to be at the front (or because you love developing them) they can. That's what most of us have done. My first Bucket was on the track for $100. I didn't have to do anything to it. I wanted to...
Now consider the cost of developing an F3 bike... :eek:

[jasonu]

Yep - entry fees and transponders are generally $100+ for each event.



Hell yeah - I need sponsors to help out with petrol expenses or I would be struggling to do it.



Yep - entry fees and transponders are generally $100+ for each event.



Yep again - I usually get 2 races + qualifying = about 30 minutes on the track, all for $100+ entry + fuel + accomodation if needed - thankfully that is sponsored as well.

What is this word 'sponsor'???

[Rick 52]

The FXR was $1000 wheels $250 carb $100 then lots of small bits bearing seals tyres total must be $2500 good value .....RS Tf $2500 rolling chasis with spare wheels and frame and a GP125 buggered..total must be over $3500 but I could build another bike with all the bits I have.... Smile on my face after the GP worth every penny !!

[all4A50s]

Thank God for the clever mates who know their shit !!

:Police:here here:Police:

[Buckets4Me]

Now consider the cost of developing an F3 bike... :eek:
so the f3 bike cost 2-3k to get going
instead of 2-$300
then you have the entry fees that are 3-5 times more
you need to spend $$$$$ on making it run up the frount

and you only get 30 mins on the track :weird:

2-3k sounds cheap for a race bike and I think I get 4 decent races on the f4 and another 2 on the f5 + all the practice and prelims I can handle ( normaly I have to get someone els to drive home if I do them all ):sleep:

buckets is cheap at twice the price ( go buy a fast shifter kart )

[Dutchee]

so the f3 bike cost 2-3k to get going
instead of 2-$300
then you have the entry fees that are 3-5 times more
you need to spend $$$$$ on making it run up the frount

and you only get 30 mins on the track :weird:

2-3k sounds cheap for a race bike and I think I get 4 decent races on the f4 and another 2 on the f5 + all the practice and prelims I can handle ( normaly I have to get someone els to drive home if I do them all ):sleep:

buckets is cheap at twice the price ( go buy a fast shifter kart )

That actually annoyed me at Taupo. Because my bike decided to play up, I didn't get a chance to find out if it was okay after Henk had worked on it until the next practice, only to find it was doing the same thing time and time again, and generally unsafe for me and all the other riders coming up behind, as it was unpredictable as to whether it was going to accelerate coming out of corners or not.

Riding around the carpark you couldn't get the same reactions, so it had to be the next practice. Different I guess if you've got a dedicated mechanic, who's not out riding in the same race/practices as you.

I'll just stick to bucket meets on my overpriced fxr (wondering if it's fixed yet, but at least will have the day to stuff around if it's not).

[F5 Dave]

What is this word 'sponsor'???
A pseudonym for wife perhaps?

[Deano]

Nope. But wife has a lot to say in the matter !! Lucky for me I found a keeper !!

"Sponsors" - you have to work reciprocal agreements and give something back to them, the more tangible the better !

[Buckets4Me]

A pseudonym for wife perhaps?


I think it's short for VISA or MASTERCARD :psst:

[gatch]

One of my mates bought a cb125 for $600. He let me use it in the A grade races at kaitoke yesterday, while he was in the B's. Not fast enough to win the A's, maybe the B's though with some dedication..

$45 for entry fee (each), maybe $6 for gas (for both of us). For about an hours flat out track time (each).

In comparison, I have entered the classics festival in feb. The Dominator (also not mine) would have a few 1000hrs invested over 20odd years of ownership, money I can't comprehend spent on it.. Entry and practice day $180 (plus mnz license and club subs approx $170 for the year). Methanol @ about $2.50/litre will be $100-$140 for the weekend. Might get 2-2.5 hrs track time over 3 days. Not including any other variables, food, travel (from palmy to auckland) etc etc. It's pretty costly.

[F5 Dave]

Ahh I was wondering who you were, thought you may be older having raced a brit nail. I was the chap who was commenting on the poor old CB's front wheel hop. I know that bike from the 90s & it never used to do it.

[oyster]

In theory a bucket should be way faster than a Streetstock bike. The SS has to run crap tyres, can't be tuned, (engine or susp) and weigh a tonne.
In buckets the sky (chequebook) is the limit. Some people even use an ex GP chassis (a crime in my view) which enables warp speed cornering.
In chch the fast ones are the race specced CBR's of Nick Cain and Al Hoogie
but remember, it's not just the bike, it's the rider too!
Al is the current 125GP champ, won easily, now smoking on a 600. Nick went to Manfeild meeting recently for a 'guest ride' on a 450 in F3. He'd never ridden an F3 bike of any sort before and ended up on pole. Then Al's older brother, James rides a bog stock FXR, complete with lights,air box dead quiet muffler etc and is about 3rd in the rankngs
Cost much? yes CBR's cost a fortune to buy and keep going, the FXR is the best. My son's one cost $800. The day after we sold off all the surplus bits on TM so back to about $200 then an exhaust, carb lying around stuffed RS fairings and it runs within a second a lap of the CBRS and (touch wood!) totally reliable
F4 is all about staying upright, having fun and developing your riding skills

[Camshaft]

???????????????????????????

[gatch]

Ahh I was wondering who you were, thought you may be older having raced a brit nail. I was the chap who was commenting on the poor old CB's front wheel hop. I know that bike from the 90s & it never used to do it.

Ahh right on, always good to put names to faces yeah.

I know what you mean about the wheel bouncing, I could see it myself when I was cornering. Didn't concern me too much, just added to the excitement really.. I didn't notice it in a straight line, may be something as simple as changing the fork oil/getting the level right. And checking there isn't a ridiculous amount of preload spacers.

[Trudes]

F4 is all about staying upright, having fun and developing your riding skills

That's my philosophy too. Then again, I suck so if I didn't find some fun in it I wouldn't be doing it.
Also I enjoy learning about engines, tyres, suspension and all sorts of other useful things to improve the staying upright, having fun and developing the skills. I like to know I've done what I can towards ensuring me and my bike finish the day all in one piece before I even get on the track.

[richban]

Then Al's older brother, James rides a bog stock FXR, complete with lights,air box dead quiet muffler etc and is about 3rd in the rankngs


At BOB me and my Bro started calling him the dive bomber. Just when you think you have some space on him he would come back with the most amazing breaking, tip in, still managing corner speed action I have ever seen. Then be back on your wheel again ready for an attack in the next turn. Skills to pay the bills. Puts a smile on the dial thinking of some of them moves I witnessed. I would love to race in CHCH again.

[quallman1234]

This thread explain why my bucket doesn't go go and is tied up high in my garage...

I spend more on a weekend on the 125GP bike than i do on my whole bucket the time i've had it...

Hmm time to spend some money!

[k14]

Now consider the cost of developing an F3 bike... :eek:
Well it starts with 25 and is still counting. You can probably guess how many zeros. And I am pretty sure others have spent over twice that.

For my bucket, $300 for the base package. Lots of bits given for free or very cheap. Probably spent $450 all up to get it racing. Then until 18 months ago hadn't spent a cent on it (and won the odd race on it). Then spent around $500 on the engine, $350 on an ignitech and even a new chain. Now it will keep up with the FXR's but the chassis is severely lacking. That will be the next step. So far it still has cost me well under $1500 though.

[F5 Dave]

Right so now you need a couple of FCRs, say buy a bank of OW01 or RC30 carbs & slice em in half, will only be 39s so bore 'em out a bit for those big juicy cylinders. . .

why spend money on boring stuff like chassis when there is more to be spent on the hot metal bit in the middle?

[Buddha#81]

In theory a bucket should be way faster than a Streetstock bike. The SS has to run crap tyres, can't be tuned, (engine or susp) and weigh a tonne.
In buckets the sky (chequebook) is the limit. Some people even use an ex GP chassis (a crime in my view) which enables warp speed cornering.
In chch the fast ones are the race specced CBR's of Nick Cain and Al Hoogie
but remember, it's not just the bike, it's the rider too!
Al is the current 125GP champ, won easily, now smoking on a 600. Nick went to Manfeild meeting recently for a 'guest ride' on a 450 in F3. He'd never ridden an F3 bike of any sort before and ended up on pole. Then Al's older brother, James rides a bog stock FXR, complete with lights,air box dead quiet muffler etc and is about 3rd in the rankngs
Cost much? yes CBR's cost a fortune to buy and keep going, the FXR is the best. My son's one cost $800. The day after we sold off all the surplus bits on TM so back to about $200 then an exhaust, carb lying around stuffed RS fairings and it runs within a second a lap of the CBRS and (touch wood!) totally reliable
F4 is all about staying upright, having fun and developing your riding skills

I dissagree with some of the above Pete. Most of the CBR/FXRs are running very simular suspension (ie commuter suspension) but have to contend with (on the most) heavier pilots. A water cooled 150cc motor will always have (and should do) far superior power to a 150cc 4 stroke, end of the day why is it 250 4's are in the same S/S class? Its usually the higher skill level that put buckets on a level footing in lap times. This is what makes the combination of S/S and F4 on big tracks so dodgy and exciting, its the ammount of passing you get with the mixed classes. I have alway been outspoken that F4 should be off the front of these mixed grids with a split start so you will only have the experienced S/S pilots passing and mainly on the straights due to their higher top speeds (a much safer situation).

......and the clincher F4 is far from "staying upright, having fun (which most of us do anyway) and developing rider skill". 90% of us take bucket racing seriously and that shows in the presentation of most of our bikes, gear and attitude. The problem only arise from clubs, organisers and individuals that still have the "its only buckets" mentality. But of late this attitude has started to change......thankfully!

[richban]

I dissagree with some of the above Pete. Most of the CBR/FXRs are running very simular suspension (ie commuter suspension) but have to contend with (on the most) heavier pilots. A water cooled 150cc motor will always have (and should do) far superior power to a 150cc 4 stroke, end of the day why is it 250 4's are in the same S/S class? Its usually the higher skill level that put buckets on a level footing in lap times. This is what makes the combination of S/S and F4 on big tracks so dodgy and exciting, its the ammount of passing you get with the mixed classes. I have alway been outspoken that F4 should be off the front of these mixed grids with a split start so you will only have the experienced S/S pilots passing and mainly on the straights due to their higher top speeds (a much safer situation).

......and the clincher F4 is far from "staying upright, having fun (which most of us do anyway) and developing rider skill". 90% of us take bucket racing seriously and that shows in the presentation of most of our bikes, gear and attitude. The problem only arise from clubs, organisers and individuals that still have the "its only buckets" mentality. But of late this attitude has started to change......thankfully!

What he said. I totally agree.

[fi5hy]

Ahh right on, always good to put names to faces yeah.

I know what you mean about the wheel bouncing, I could see it myself when I was cornering. Didn't concern me too much, just added to the excitement really.. I didn't notice it in a straight line, may be something as simple as changing the fork oil/getting the level right. And checking there isn't a ridiculous amount of preload spacers.

Just check to see if the tyre has beaded

[Kickaha]

I have alway been outspoken that F4 should be off the front of these mixed grids with a split start so you will only have the experienced S/S pilots passing and mainly on the straights due to their higher top speeds (a much safer situation)...

It's fucken stupid doing it any other way, it may not be so bad now but a several years back at levels it meant we were in amongst the new learner riders within a lap and there were a few "near misses" with them

At the time the fast buckets would clean up 75% (or more) of the SS150 field

My GN cost me $500 about 2002, I would say over 6 years it probably had another $1000 spent on various things, the FXR I bought was $600 and probably had $200 spent on it

[fi5hy]

This thread explain why my bucket doesn't go go and is tied up high in my garage...

I spend more on a weekend on the 125GP bike than i do on my whole bucket the time i've had it...

Hmm time to spend some money!

then please removed head from ass and ride a bucket

[gatch]

Just check to see if the tyre has beaded

Mr F5Dave said the same thing. It looks to be even all the way around..

I am not a tire expert though.

[TZ350]

It looks to be even all the way around...

There is usually a line on the sides of the tire close to the rim and its there as a referance so that you can more easily see if its sitting correctly.

[oyster]

An interesting fact at the weekend. Al Hoogie put his Bucket back into Streetstock spec (made it slower) and qualified on pole for the SS class at the National round with a mid '54. That's moving! He did it just for fun, then didn't ride in the races, preferring the youngs ones to "have their day in the sun"
A few years ago, Al was much lighter but very fast back then too as he set the lap record (still not broken) at a high '53 for Streetstock.
I was up on the bank with Sketchy and we had that discussion too. He agrees completely a bucket to the full boundaries of MNZ rules would smoke a Streetstock bike. Of course he said "let me out there and I'll prove it! And I don't doubt Sketchy would!

[richban]

An interesting fact at the weekend. Al Hoogie put his Bucket back into Streetstock spec (made it slower) and qualified on pole for the SS class at the National round with a mid '54. That's moving! He did it just for fun, then didn't ride in the races, preferring the youngs ones to "have their day in the sun"
A few years ago, Al was much lighter but very fast back then too as he set the lap record (still not broken) at a high '53 for Streetstock.
I was up on the bank with Sketchy and we had that discussion too. He agrees completely a bucket to the full boundaries of MNZ rules would smoke a Streetstock bike. Of course he said "let me out there and I'll prove it! And I don't doubt Sketchy would!

Yeh with the bikes being built these days. 70 odd kgs 25+hp on slicks. They don't really have a show. The best thing is the fields are getting bigger all the time. If all the buckets in NZ turned up to one race meeting there would surly be close to 100 bikes.

[F5 Dave]

That must have embarrassed them somewhat.

Not sure Glen is the chap to prove it, I hear he's a bit slow. I remember, oh it might have been a few moons back, giving him a hurry up at Taupo on my aircooled 125 bucket & he was on his RS125. Must wind him up a bit about that again, been a while.:innocent:

On the other hand on my desk behind me I ave a pic of Av on my 50 with a 250GP bike behind her that she beat in that race 2 months back. That must have been hard to live down. I've beaten the odd 150SS on my 50, but never a 70+hp GP bike!

[Buckets4Me]

On the other hand on my desk behind me I ave a pic of Av on my 50 with a 250GP bike behind her that she beat in that race 2 months back. That must have been hard to live down. I've beaten the odd 150SS on my 50, but never a 70+hp GP bike!


just love that photo

beaten by a GIRL :facepalm: on a 50cc bike :blink:

[Trudes]

just love that photo

beaten by a GIRL :facepalm: on a 50cc bike :blink:

mwhahahahaha!! I love it!!!! :wings:

[gatch]

just love that photo

beaten by a GIRL :facepalm: on a 50cc bike :blink:

That is awesome.