jafa21
14th February 2015, 16:44
Hey guys.
I have recently converted my road bike into a track bike. I thought i share my experience and associated costs if anyone is looking to do the same.
Note: I am not a racer or claim to be any good. Actually i am pretty shit. I have only been riding on the track for a year or so. Done 6-8 track days approx. I got cornered into turning my bike into a track bike. Couple of minor crashes on the track and insurance costs didnt add up. So made the decision to turn my bike into a track bike.
I have done the absolute minimum to turn into a track bike. I havent done any mods to the engine, suspension, brakes, tyres. Not running tyre warmers or slicks. Just some Q3s.
Items you need:
1) Fairings
2) Trailer
3) Tow bar
Thats it :)
Alright lets get into the details.
1) Fairings - This is probably the most important part (for me atleast). There are multiple options online (ebay, websites, chines fairings, armour body fairings).
I was originally going to go with Armour bodies from California. The cost was approx $750 usd incl shipping with a 6 week wait. Armour bodies are supposed to be one of the best. The California superbike school instructors use them on their bikes in NZ.
I also enquired with Just Fairings (JF). JF could do them around the same price and around the same time (because of christmas holidays).
JF also agreed to remove my old fairings and put new fiber glass ones for a very modest price. So i thought its probably better to get it done from JF considering its NZ made, high quality and JF will stand by their product if something goes wrong or doesnt fit.
I gave JF a deposit and JF made them in the promised time. I then took my stock bike (on a trailer) to the JF workshop in Hamilton and after 4 hours of labour the bike was done. After witnessing the removal process i was so glad i got it done by JF. It would have taken my days to remove the fairings. Its not an easy process. (again for me atleast).
All up i paid $1000 NZD for the fairings and labour (approx 4 hours). I couldnt be happier with the product. They are very high quality, easy to remove and fit perfectly.
I also had to remove the cat convertor on the bike as its too big. Bought a mid pipe off ebay but it dodnt fit properly so i got custom chambers to weld it up for me.
2) Trailer - Trailers (for some reason) are expensive. A crappy one with no warrant and rego goes for a grand on trademe. I shopped around and found a decent one for $600. Its a lot bigger than i need but it does the job and it has current 1 year rego and wof. I also had to buy some tie down eye bolts and purchase good quality tie downs. I had to purchase some ramps as well. I wanted to buy really wide ones so i ended up buying steel ones (pair). Costed me $200 from Topmaq.
http://www.topmaq.co.nz/item/view/2pc-Steel-Curved-Folding-Ramp-600kgpr?sku=AVRA1920
3) Towbar - my car didnt have a towbar either. Costed me $550 from North shore tow bars. It was the cheapest i found. Some quoted upto a grand.
Total costs: $2800
breakdown
Trailer - $600
Towber - $550
Just fairings - $1000
New battery - $250
Mid pipe/cat convertor - $200
Sundry items - $200
This is what it costed me. I am sure a lot of the more experienced riders will have a lot more costs due to sophisticated mods.
But i feel the level i am at i can improve a lot more of my riding before i need to do anything to the bike. The bike is plenty fast as it is :)
Feel free to ask any questions/clarifications and or suggestions/advise for the future.
Photos of the bike before and after are attached :)
I have recently converted my road bike into a track bike. I thought i share my experience and associated costs if anyone is looking to do the same.
Note: I am not a racer or claim to be any good. Actually i am pretty shit. I have only been riding on the track for a year or so. Done 6-8 track days approx. I got cornered into turning my bike into a track bike. Couple of minor crashes on the track and insurance costs didnt add up. So made the decision to turn my bike into a track bike.
I have done the absolute minimum to turn into a track bike. I havent done any mods to the engine, suspension, brakes, tyres. Not running tyre warmers or slicks. Just some Q3s.
Items you need:
1) Fairings
2) Trailer
3) Tow bar
Thats it :)
Alright lets get into the details.
1) Fairings - This is probably the most important part (for me atleast). There are multiple options online (ebay, websites, chines fairings, armour body fairings).
I was originally going to go with Armour bodies from California. The cost was approx $750 usd incl shipping with a 6 week wait. Armour bodies are supposed to be one of the best. The California superbike school instructors use them on their bikes in NZ.
I also enquired with Just Fairings (JF). JF could do them around the same price and around the same time (because of christmas holidays).
JF also agreed to remove my old fairings and put new fiber glass ones for a very modest price. So i thought its probably better to get it done from JF considering its NZ made, high quality and JF will stand by their product if something goes wrong or doesnt fit.
I gave JF a deposit and JF made them in the promised time. I then took my stock bike (on a trailer) to the JF workshop in Hamilton and after 4 hours of labour the bike was done. After witnessing the removal process i was so glad i got it done by JF. It would have taken my days to remove the fairings. Its not an easy process. (again for me atleast).
All up i paid $1000 NZD for the fairings and labour (approx 4 hours). I couldnt be happier with the product. They are very high quality, easy to remove and fit perfectly.
I also had to remove the cat convertor on the bike as its too big. Bought a mid pipe off ebay but it dodnt fit properly so i got custom chambers to weld it up for me.
2) Trailer - Trailers (for some reason) are expensive. A crappy one with no warrant and rego goes for a grand on trademe. I shopped around and found a decent one for $600. Its a lot bigger than i need but it does the job and it has current 1 year rego and wof. I also had to buy some tie down eye bolts and purchase good quality tie downs. I had to purchase some ramps as well. I wanted to buy really wide ones so i ended up buying steel ones (pair). Costed me $200 from Topmaq.
http://www.topmaq.co.nz/item/view/2pc-Steel-Curved-Folding-Ramp-600kgpr?sku=AVRA1920
3) Towbar - my car didnt have a towbar either. Costed me $550 from North shore tow bars. It was the cheapest i found. Some quoted upto a grand.
Total costs: $2800
breakdown
Trailer - $600
Towber - $550
Just fairings - $1000
New battery - $250
Mid pipe/cat convertor - $200
Sundry items - $200
This is what it costed me. I am sure a lot of the more experienced riders will have a lot more costs due to sophisticated mods.
But i feel the level i am at i can improve a lot more of my riding before i need to do anything to the bike. The bike is plenty fast as it is :)
Feel free to ask any questions/clarifications and or suggestions/advise for the future.
Photos of the bike before and after are attached :)