New to this Bucket thing, and NZ!

[Buddy]

Evening all,

I have recently arrived in NZ from the U.K. and am looking to get into some racing. I have spent the last 3 year racing in the British Scooter Racing Championship. I have pretty much worked out there is no scooter racing happening here really. :(

So, after looking on here, Bucket racing may well be my next option. I have a few questions to ask, i have looked around on here and mnz, amc websites.

- I am located in Auckland - Is there a race calendar for the north island.
- Is it just one club that organise race meetings or are there various ones
- What class options are there. Have seen a bit about F4 - F5. What are the A and B grade bits all about?
- What bikes are commonly used. ( Quite fancy sticking to 2T)!!
- When is the next meeting so I can come watch and chat to people!? :yes:

Sorry for the bombardment and ignorance of some of my questions.

Thanks
Buddy

[F5 Dave]

S'all good. Pop along to the next Auckland meet at Mt wgtn kart track & suss it out. MNZ rulebook will explain classes but F4 split into A & B most places to limit numbers on track with speed diff. Still heaps of 2 stroke options about with a bit of DIY which you'll be use to.

[cotswold]

Sorry for the bombardment and ignorance of some of my questions.

Thanks
Buddy[/QUOTE]

Like Dave said pop along to mount wellington next month 1st is practice, 2nd race day.

F5 is 50cc 2 strokes and 100cc foul strokes
F4 is up to 100cc water cooled 2t or 125 aircooled 2t with a 24mm carb restriction and the foul strokes get to have up to 150cc, this is a simplified version so best to check out the rule book, oh and they all have to be based on a road bike motor.

The grades are just based on lap times, "A" fast boys, B and C getting slower.

[Pumba]

Right to answer your questions:

- AMCC calander at this Link http://amcc.org.nz/index.php/menu-bucketracing.html we also have the NI Series which we had a thread for http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/161135-North-Island-Series-2013-14. Wellington I have no idea on how to find thier dates.
- Different Clubs run different events. AMCC runs the Auckland events and has tacken on the permits for the NI Series. Wellington runs under the Kart Club most of the time. Both (and correct me if I am wrong) Victoria MC Club and Pacific MC Club run events you can enter your bucket into as part of thier series races at both Taupo and Manfield.
- Dave covered this off, but yea there is only F4/F5 Solos and F4 Sidecars. A, B, (and sometimes C) refer speed and ability cutoffs within the classes. For example Mt Welly track for a fast guy is a 31sec lap. Its not hard for a slow rider to be 10sec down on this time which means you can catch them (or in my case be caught) real quick. Tracks also arnt very big and cant accomadate more than about 20 riders at any one time.
- We had a list that was being used on Skunks website. THought we had a thread on here as well. I cant seem to find ethier (will try again tonight).
- Refer back to Answer 1

:Punk:

[Skunk]

The bucket racing website hasn't had the domain name renewed and I ran out of time to keep it updated. No one took it on. It's still there but not accessible.


If it ain't smokin' - it's broken.

[koba]

The bucket racing website hasn't had the domain name renewed and I ran out of time to keep it updated. No one took it on. It's still there but not accessible.


If it ain't smokin' - it's broken.

Yeah, I turned out to be all talk there!

[jasonu]

Evening all,

I have recently arrived in NZ from the U.K. and am looking to get into some racing. I have spent the last 3 year racing in the British Scooter Racing Championship. I have pretty much worked out there is no scooter racing happening here really. :(

So, after looking on here, Bucket racing may well be my next option. I have a few questions to ask, i have looked around on here and mnz, amc websites.

- I am located in Auckland - Is there a race calendar for the north island.
- Is it just one club that organise race meetings or are there various ones
- What class options are there. Have seen a bit about F4 - F5. What are the A and B grade bits all about?
- What bikes are commonly used. ( Quite fancy sticking to 2T)!!
- When is the next meeting so I can come watch and chat to people!? :yes:

Sorry for the bombardment and ignorance of some of my questions.

Thanks
Buddy

Don't buy a Forza and expect to ride it in Bucket events.

[Buddy]

Awesome that is real helpful...

Pretty much got all that! :niceone: So first and 2nd of March is next meeting at Mt Wellington. What kind of time does it start / good to get there?

Was considering bringing over the race bike from home but as i mentioned before scooter racing is pretty much non existent here. Am i right? Plus it doesnt meet the technical specs, by a long way!! Just miss riding it so much! :(

Pretty exciting to come see and get on with building one at some point. Should be interesting venture into the world of 'big wheel' racing.

What kind of power do most the bikes output range between? Is there a preferred choice of engine / chassis that people go with to get start / gradually become competitive with?

[mr bucketracer]

Awesome that is real helpful...

Pretty much got all that! :niceone: So first and 2nd of March is next meeting at Mt Wellington. What kind of time does it start / good to get there?

Was considering bringing over the race bike from home but as i mentioned before scooter racing is pretty much non existent here. Am i right? Plus it doesnt meet the technical specs, by a long way!! Just miss riding it so much! :(

Pretty exciting to come see and get on with building one at some point. Should be interesting venture into the world of 'big wheel' racing.

What kind of power do most the bikes output range between? Is there a preferred choice of engine / chassis that people go with to get start / gradually become competitive with?most that start of like fxr150's ..reliable and can put out good power ..anywhere from 14- 25hp .. very very high end is 30hp

[Pumba]

most that start of like fxr150's ..reliable and can put out good power ..anywhere from 14- 25hp .. very very high end is 30hp

And in my opinion, and what is missed by most, what makes the FXR the most attractive bike is that the frame and handeling is not half bad for a cheap comuter bike. As well as realitvly reliable and good preforming engine.

If you want to stay with the 2T you need to be looking GP125, MB100, TF125, etc. fact is though that you will need to fit these engines into a modern frame. Lets be honest there is not an off the shelf solution for a 2T like the 4T.

[Pumba]

Don't buy a Forza and expect to ride it in Bucket events.

+1,000,000,000

[Buddy]

Don't buy a Forza and expect to ride it in Bucket events.

Forza? this being a FRZ? excuse my ignorance!

[TZ350]

- What bikes are commonly used. ( Quite fancy sticking to 2T)!! Buddy

From last years rule book.
293763

Hi Buddy, I would not recommend starting with a 2T. As pretty much any eligible 2T engine available here is something from the 80's and there are no readily available off the shelf 2T solutions like there are for scooters in the UK. So you would be stuck with building a special from scratch and from experience that takes about a year.

The easy path is an FXR150 for F4 and I would suggest its the best way to get started, the sharp end of Buckets is very competitive from a riding and machine prep/development point of view so if your still real keen to build a 2T later for F4 or F5.

There is a lot of 2T tuning info on the ESE thread, click through to Buckets post and you will find links to an easy to build 27hp Suzuki GP125 and a 30hp version if you like living on the edge.


Page 500 .....

No need to have a peaky engine. Here are Two Very useful Tools. EngMod2T a 2-Stroke simulation package and a handy (and cheep) Porting Calculator from:- http://www.porting-programs.com/ which is based on Blairs work.

[TZ350]

Forza? this being a FRZ? excuse my ignorance!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/parts-for-sale/complete-engines/auction-695457196.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/parts-for-sale/complete-engines/auction-696917520.htm

293769

Forza 150 (actually 155cc) great engines but considered illegal for Buckets as they are 5cc over size from new and sold as competition engines, and so are regarded as ineligible, likewise for off the shelf racing engine parts.

Buckets is about taking a basic non competition road/farm bike/scooter/engine and getting the best out of it with home grown solutions like a hand made part or a better part adapted from another eligible bike.

[F5 Dave]

Yeah a quick search on Trademe (our Ebay equiv) finds a few bucket racers, some ok, some sheds, some over priced.

. . .and then some crazy stuff that is no way legal listed by dreamers who don't know the rules, or don't care.

[Pumba]

Here we go THE BUCKET LIST (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/97763-The-Bucket-List?highlight=list)

[Henk]

This

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/pocket-pit-bikes/auction-695457225.htm

Is what you should be avoiding at all costs, the auction on trade me implies it is bucket legal but as they are built and marketed as a competion bike they aren't. We also had some issues at a two hour a few years back where the different riding style required caused more accidents than we were happy with so in Auckland they are welcome at practice days but not at race days.
Best thing to do is turn up at the next meeting, have a nosy around and ask as many questions as you can think of.
If you can make it on the Saturday this is the best time to come along as the majority of the organising team race as well (some in more than one class) and can get a bit pushed for time on race days.
If you drag your gear along on Saturday there is a chance you might be able to blah a ride on someone's bike as well.

The gates are supposed to open at 9am but if you get there and it's still locked up wait around. I try to get there on time but I'm not fanatical about it as often nobody else gets there before ten. We also never cancel on account of weather, torrential rain may slow people up getting on track but there is usaly someone stupid enough to go out regardless of conditions.

[Yow Ling]

seems like what they are saying is get a fxr

[Buddy]

Looks that way!!

I wouldn't expect to be competitive at all to begin with. For starters riding a bike with wheels bigger than 10" will take enough getting used to! Christ, im used to 33HP and 10" wheeled Italian ladies shopping trolley!

Still, all the information you guys have provided is pretty helpful to say the least, especially the 'list'! In way of chassis, many people tend to build / modify there own. Or does that just completely take away from the idea of bucket racing.

What are the most common sources for spares and for what engines, chassis etc. As you say older setups must be more difficult to come by right?

Look forward to seeing it all happen in a couple of weeks. I fear the bug may be caught!!!

[Henk]

The majority of buckets at the moment are FXR's there are a few who have moved the engines into other frames but as a starter bike a stock FXR is fine.
The main reason these are so prevalent at the moment is that they are reasonably late model, reasonably competitive and still readily available.
To run at the front you'd need either more power, a better frame, inhuman talent or all three.
The fastest FXR based buckets out there at the moment all have different frames (some hand built by the hillbillies) and a reasonable amount of engine work.
There are other options for seriously fast bikes but most of those at the moment seem to involve two strokes with a lot of development and the amjority of those are using RS125 GP frames.
There are exceptions, Farmaken has a fast strokes in a road bike frame and Brians two stroke goes well in an NSR frame (I think).
Easiest way to get involved is the FXR, with a weekend in the shed (or less) you can go from buy to race, main issue is nylon track protection, it won't be super competitive but will get you out there and should manage anything from the back of C grade to mid pack A depending on rider ability.

[cotswold]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-692303844.htm

this is not a bad buy

[Henk]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-692303844.htm

this is not a bad buy

I was all set to abuse you as an idiot but is this instance you are right. Well sorted bike that goes well and is only really missing a second set of wheels. Good price too.

[Dutchee]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-692303844.htm
they may well be able to bring to Mt Wellington next meet, or Tokoroa GP the following weekend.
and just got abused by Henk for posting the same link Cotswold had posted above lol

[jasonu]

From last years rule book.



There is a lot of 2T tuning info on the ESE thread, click through to Buckets post and you will find links to an easy to build 27hp Suzuki GP125 and a 30hp version if you like living on the edge.

and regularly not finishing races...:msn-wink:

[FastFred]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-692303844.htm they may well be able to bring to Mt Wellington next meet, or Tokoroa GP the following weekend. If your into two strokes buying Chris's bike would have to be a very good way to start out in Buckets.

[Buddy]

Yeah I saw that on TM the other day. I think it would be ideal to start. I need to look at money's as this skilled migrants visa is $$$$!!

Shall have to look into it. How often do bikes, unfinished builds, chassis and engines come up for sale? I'm pretty happy with starting on a 2T I guess OCD and a dad that tuned them keeps me on my toes!! Still it will be down to what ever comes along and gets me on Tarmac most efficiently!

What are these trellis framed bikes and aprillia swing arms I have seen in a few pics on Facebook and Google? They NZ built or some sort of Ducati monster derived chassis.

[Henk]

If you are talking about the trellis framed things with RS125 running gear, Scott Griffiths from palmy builds them. They are all running FXR engines in them now. Bert had a two stroke in one but since he decided he'd quite like to finish a race now and then, when he isn't busy running over his mates, he went to the dark side and got an engine with poppet valves.

[mr bucketracer]

If you are talking about the trellis framed things with RS125 running gear, Scott Griffiths from palmy builds them. They are all running FXR engines in them now. Bert had a two stroke in one but since he decided he'd quite like to finish a race now and then, when he isn't busy running over his mates, he went to the dark side and got an engine with poppet valves.Ha Ha classic:lol:

[mr bucketracer]

have a look here buddy www.GPRnz.com
lots of good videos two

[Henk]

have a look here buddy www.GPRnz.com
lots of good videos two

Any good videos of Banjo Solos?
Sorry Buddy, I'll stop hijacking your thread with the usual bucket piss taking now.

[Buddy]

That's the ones I think. :) was just curious. Looked pretty well done. Think I have an idea now. Bit of a plan set out in my head. Has a scooter ever entered in buckets? Be quite interesting!

[Henk]

There used to be a scooter class at Mt Wellington but it has gone the way of pocket bikes and street magics, I.e. It died through lack of interest.
If enough turned up (6) we'd give their own class, we wouldn't let them run with buckets, the lines taken are too different so it gets a little on the dodgy side from a safety perspective.

[Pumba]

Rich ran a scooter in Wellington until he saw the light and started destroying FXR engines for fun.

Got to be honest though, IMO it is not a great idea for a long term option.

[Buddy]

And to much $$$ to run. Shame but still....:)