Where to get started?

[numbersixteen16]

Have had a bit of trouble finding somewhere to start with regards to racing motorcycles.
I have a little track experience, but nothing special

Start with track days - or go straight into a race series?
Which class to start with?
etc.

I have about 7k to spend on a bike (want it to be road worthy as well), so an ideal class for me would be an amateurs 600 class - where modding the bike would be limited to a few things (exhaust & tyres - no 20k racing bikes).

I just cant seem to find much info on anything

Thanks to all

[The Singing Chef]

Have had a bit of trouble finding somewhere to start with regards to racing motorcycles.
I have a little track experience, but nothing special

Start with track days - or go straight into a race series?
Which class to start with?
etc.

I have about 7k to spend on a bike (want it to be road worthy as well), so an ideal class for me would be an amateurs 600 class - where modding the bike would be limited to a few things (exhaust & tyres - no 20k racing bikes).

I just cant seem to find much info on anything

Thanks to all

I have an SV650 99' that I am looking to sell, track only at the moment though. 3K and it's yours.

I would get a few track days under your belt first and then look at getting into Clubmans which is supposed to be an entry level racing series.

[FROSTY]

In my opinion you are FAR better served doing as many track days/track training days as you can.
Bang for buck you are going to get a lot more laps for you money and in an enviroment where winning isn't everything. You'll learn lines,flags and a lot of track skills that will translate well to racing.
For racing I'd suggest F3 as a great novice class

[CHOPPA]

Race Supplies have a k7 GSXR600 its full race spec including ohlins cartridges and shock etc full road trim and race trim 10k is all they are asking.

You could run it in clubmen for a start then move into the F2 class. It would be capable of top 10 in the nats so it would be a great bike.

As far as getting started depends where you live...... vicclub.co.nz or amcc.org.nz or http://pacclub.co.nz/press/

[The Singing Chef]

Race Supplies have a k7 GSXR600 its full race spec including ohlins cartridges and shock etc full road trim and race trim 10k is all they are asking.

You could run it in clubmen for a start then move into the F2 class. It would be capable of top 10 in the nats so it would be a great bike.

As far as getting started depends where you live...... vicclub.co.nz or amcc.org.nz or http://pacclub.co.nz/press/

Shhhhhh!...You are supposed to tell him my bike is really awesome and he should buy it! :facepalm:

[scracha]

I have about 7k to spend on a bike want it to be road worthy as well), so an ideal class for me would be an amateurs 600 class - where modding the bike would be limited to a few things (exhaust & tyres - no 20k racing bikes).


Would strongly discourage using your roadbike for track work. Not worth the time, effort and risk. You'll have far more fun and be less stressed on a cheap trackbike.
3K roadbike.
2K trackbike.
1K trailer.
1K tyres, sprockets, pads, beer, whatever.

[trustme]

Hyosung Cup ?????. Yeah so it is only 250's. Good close hard racing , you will learn heaps without spending a fortune to work out whether racing is your thing.

[Henk]

Or Buckets. There's a meeting on at Mt Wellington this weekend if you feel like coming down for a look.

[steveyb]

To quote a friendly Irish man I once met,
"If you want to get there, I wouldn't be starting from here".
You made mistake #1 asking for an intelligent response from here.

You own an FZR250. This would be a fantastic bike to start racing with. If you are a racing newbie, forget all pretentions to 600 racing. Start with the 250 for at least one season and build from there. Ask Simon Volmer what he thinks of 250 4 cyl racing.
You can ride it in road trim because the rules preclude many mods.
Just spend some money getting new parts for it, get the engine fully serviced and get the suspension serviced and fixed up a bit (or buy a new shock absorber and fork internals), buy some good tyres and go racing.

Personally (only my opinion) I would not go for the Hyosung Cup. While it is great racing against similar bikes, the bikes are very difficult to really get anything out of, are not really designed for the task and are not actually all that cheap unless it is a bit shagged. If there was a Kawasaki Ninja version, then I would not hesitate in recommending going for that. If you have the money and don't want to race the FZR, go for a Ninja 250 and race in 250 Production. Best way to learn for not much money.

Join a coaching programme, go to ART days at AMCC, go check out the buckets and have a go there, but forget launching straight into big bike racing if you are as inexperienced as you suggest. That is simply a recipie for disaster and furthermore, racing a bike that is in road trim will just put you off as it simply won't work as well as other bikes that are out there and you will get discouraged, or hurt, or both. And $7k will not get you a 600 worth having if you have to buy other gear as well.

[CHOPPA]

To quote a friendly Irish man I once met,
"If you want to get there, I wouldn't be starting from here".
You made mistake #1 asking for an intelligent response from here.

You own an FZR250. This would be a fantastic bike to start racing with. If you are a racing newbie, forget all pretentions to 600 racing. Start with the 250 for at least one season and build from there. Ask Simon Volmer what he thinks of 250 4 cyl racing.
You can ride it in road trim because the rules preclude many mods.
Just spend some money getting new parts for it, get the engine fully serviced and get the suspension serviced and fixed up a bit (or buy a new shock absorber and fork internals), buy some good tyres and go racing.

Personally (only my opinion) I would not go for the Hyosung Cup. While it is great racing against similar bikes, the bikes are very difficult to really get anything out of, are not really designed for the task and are not actually all that cheap unless it is a bit shagged. If there was a Kawasaki Ninja version, then I would not hesitate in recommending going for that. If you have the money and don't want to race the FZR, go for a Ninja 250 and race in 250 Production. Best way to learn for not much money.

Join a coaching programme, go to ART days at AMCC, go check out the buckets and have a go there, but forget launching straight into big bike racing if you are as inexperienced as you suggest. That is simply a recipie for disaster and furthermore, racing a bike that is in road trim will just put you off as it simply won't work as well as other bikes that are out there and you will get discouraged, or hurt, or both. And $7k will not get you a 600 worth having if you have to buy other gear as well.

Found my first post on here and this site certainly helped me :)

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/60534-Track-days-test-days-racing-etc

[tigertim20]

Have had a bit of trouble finding somewhere to start with regards to racing motorcycles.
I have a little track experience, but nothing special

Start with track days - or go straight into a race series?
Which class to start with?
etc.

I have about 7k to spend on a bike (want it to be road worthy as well), so an ideal class for me would be an amateurs 600 class - where modding the bike would be limited to a few things (exhaust & tyres - no 20k racing bikes).

I just cant seem to find much info on anything

Thanks to all
I agree with the above, get two bikes. 3k could see you on a variety if bikes for the track, and 4k will get you a reasonable bike on the new lams list.

[quickbuck]

I agree with steveyb.
Get a Ninja 250R and enter it in ProLite.

It takes an hour to go from road to race mode if you want.
The racing is very close, and it will teach you much more than a 600 if you are not so experienced at a track.
The 600's are faster than you think...... In the right hands they lap Manfeild FASTER than the new V8 Supertourers!

A Ninja will lap about the same time as a Formula First.... and you will have time to learn lines and race craft, as it doesn't come down to spending big money on tyres etc.

Or, but Singing Chefs SV and enter Clubmans or ProTwin/ F3 if fast enough ;)
DO NOT get anything bigger if you haven't been on a track.

[numbersixteen16]

To quote a friendly Irish man I once met,
"If you want to get there, I wouldn't be starting from here".
You made mistake #1 asking for an intelligent response from here.

You own an FZR250. This would be a fantastic bike to start racing with. If you are a racing newbie, forget all pretentions to 600 racing. Start with the 250 for at least one season and build from there. Ask Simon Volmer what he thinks of 250 4 cyl racing.
You can ride it in road trim because the rules preclude many mods.
Just spend some money getting new parts for it, get the engine fully serviced and get the suspension serviced and fixed up a bit (or buy a new shock absorber and fork internals), buy some good tyres and go racing.

Could you direct me to a link with information on racing a 4 cylinder 250? I haven't found anything on this, which is why I was looking at changing bikes

[quickbuck]

Could you direct me to a link with information on racing a 4 cylinder 250? I haven't found anything on this, which is why I was looking at changing bikes

start by looking here: http://mnz.co.nz/competitionrules.aspx
Then look here: http://vicclub.co.nz/minilites.php

[Str8 Jacket]

Minilites is what you're after. Victoria Motorcycle Club runs them with the pro lites and s/stock 150's. Here is a link to the rules and regs etc...:
http://www.vicclub.co.nz/minilites.php

[numbersixteen16]

Minilites is what you're after. Victoria Motorcycle Club runs them with the pro lites and s/stock 150's. Here is a link to the rules and regs etc...:
http://www.vicclub.co.nz/minilites.php

Anything closer to Auckland? Even driving to Taupo and back + accommodation would cost me $200. Does the minilites not run up here or something?

[Str8 Jacket]

Anything closer to Auckland? Even driving to Taupo and back + accommodation would cost me $200. Does the minilites not run up here or something?

No idea. Check out Auckland Motorcycle Club and Pacific Motorcycle Club websites. PMCC often hold races at Taupo.....

[quickbuck]

Anything closer to Auckland? Even driving to Taupo and back + accommodation would cost me $200. Does the minilites not run up here or something?

$200 is chicken feed for a race weekend.....
You have a bike. Turn it into a race bike for nicks, and use the 7K you say you have as your race budget.
:done:

But if you only want to race in Auckland, then you are better to get a Ninja and race ProLite...

[Henk]

Mini lites don't run in Auckland as far as I'm aware.
If $200 transport etc for a weekend scares you I'd spend some time talking to people racing the classes you are interested in racing on and put together some sort of budget, the results may scare you. If you want to get a lot of racing in, in Auckland, for cheapish come and catch up with me at buckets this weekend. Blue bike number 13. Will be there some of Saturday and all of Sunday.

[roadracingoldfart]

Found my first post on here and this site certainly helped me :)

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/60534-Track-days-test-days-racing-etc

And look where that got you . ;)