Who races their roadbike?

[puddytat]

Been hummin' & haaing for ages about joining a club & going racing in Clubmans as there just arnt enough trackdays.Living in Murchison & all the travel aspect is also a factor & Ruapuna is realistically the only option.
My last trackday was at Levels & f@#k I enjoyed it!! Because of the small number of riders, the"fast" B graders could ride with the A's & I really enjoyed the step up.Even tho it wasnt racing as such everyone seemed to be going hard & I found it exciting to try & keep up & not be limited to passing only on the outside.:woohoo:
So...Im thinking I might have a crack,but am I stupid to use me roadbike (R6)?
I realise the probability of dropping it is up there,but I also cant afford a racebike either & no I dont want to race a bucket & no I got nothing against them, I like my 100hp. Another point is the rising gas prices & the:Police: which are cutting down my road riding enjoyment so I have also thought of taking the R6 off the road & the money I save from that putting towards racing.Plus once I do 3 closed circuit races I could also try Greymouth & Nelson street races, so there are good options. So wot ya reckon? :crazy:

[glice]

I'd do it. I'm considering racing my 250 in street stock or something like that. I had a mate who used to race his road bike and did ok.

[kickingzebra]

sell R6, buy a race prepped bike second hand for 7 to 10 grand... doing this will save you about 5 to 10 grand on setting up the r6 to race, start racing and then forget about road riding.

This was a 17 thousand dollar lesson I learned the hard way once only,
but whatever really.

[sinfull]

Personally i'd go for it , remembering that
a)you wont be covered by insurance
b)maint costs will skyrocket
c)that you should do it anyway

[sugilite]

Yep, I raced my ZXR750 roadbike on 2006 Actrix series, and just converted it back after each meeting. :yes:

[slimjim]

yea give it a go , put the nice frame sliders on , and set of goody tire's its only usually the street curbs that really fuck ya's bike if in a slide, but sitting back and just thinking about it your'll never know by doing just that

[Matt Bleck]

I'm gunna take me K3 1000 road bike racing.... :D

[MD]

Living in Murch your choices sure are limited. Bloody long haul to Levels too.

I dabbled at racing at Ruapuna and Levels years ago just for fun, when all I had was a road bike. It's a real bummer when you know the bike has to get you to work on Monday. There's no way you can get serious with the racing like that. You can't swap tyres back and forth, remove lights, refit lights etc.

That's why I settled for track days. Still the risk of crashing without insurance cover though.

So if you want to get serious you will need to flag any road riding on the R6.

[HenryDorsetCase]

why not keep your R6 (or sell it and buy a cruiser for road riding) and race your Bros in F3?

[FROSTY]

Normally I'd suggest to ya to do a few track days then get a dedicated race bike if you wanna get semi serious.
In your case I'd say try one meeting on ya current bike.
Itll pretty quickly decide ya if racing is your thing.
After that you need to decide for yaself what you are gonna do.

[lostinflyz]

is it too hard to get a cheap old 400 F3 bike?? there pretty cheap. ok so you wont be a national f3 champ but there easy to run and big field.

itd prob end up costing the same amount as getting a good set of tyres and a set of race fairings ect for a newish r6. and you never have to worry about wrecking an expensive m/cycle.

[The Pastor]

Just Race On The Road - But Stay Away From Cops They Dont Like It.

[wharfy]

I am racing my road bike in the VMCC winter series - I have done all the prep - wired the sump plug, oil filter, handlebar grips attached catch bottle etc. My partner and I ride it to the track remove the bits you have to - race and put them all back on and ride home (or to a nearby motel :) It is not as hard as it sounds.

Riding to the track means only the gear you can fit in your tank bag - No tyre warmers axle stands etc.
If you transport the bike even better do everything in the comfort and privacy of your own garage :-)

I ride this bike to work every day

You wont be insured while on the track but just do it !!

PM me and I will give you all the gory details

[svr]

Don't listen to the pussies - Race ya road bike! Put some old fairings on if you must, but the way I see it, if I crash mine racing, its the excuse I was looking for for a repaint.
I've ridden to 7 meetings on my sv and either got first or second at worst, including 2nd place at the manfield nationals. Its not a problem if you keep a cool head and dont crash - theres a bunch of reasons not to crash, and riding your road bike is just another good one. Forget tyre warmers - they're just another expense and hassle when you start out anyway. Race tyres aren't damaged on the road (they dont get hot) and if you race and road ride you get to wear the whole tyre out i.e. you get your moneys worth.
Why drive a van home when you could be riding home with a trophy duct-taped to the tank! We're motorcyclists not van drivers right??

[puddytat]

Normally I'd suggest to ya to do a few track days then get a dedicated race bike if you wanna get semi serious.
In your case I'd say try one meeting on ya current bike.
Itll pretty quickly decide ya if racing is your thing.
After that you need to decide for yaself what you are gonna do.

Yeah that sounds like damn good advice!!

Actually you all got good points there too..I had thought about thrashin the Bros but I kinda feel sorry for the old girl & have decided to sell her.Ive done a coupe of trackdays on it & had a blast, but I done got addicted to the R6.

Im pretty sure that if I get into racing I will severly curtail my road riding to just a few "must do " rides as really cant afford to do both. Also trying to get some locals to get into racin as well,that way we could split costs in transport. But I aint holding my breath & I will do it anyway.
Yeah so Fark it, the R6'll have to do.:yes:

Oh, I just got a copy of "Twist of the wrist" & been avidly reading it the last few days & boy am I looking at all the trackdays Ive done in the past in a whole different way!! Got me starting to think much more about what Im doing & actually got me already feeling more confident about my next track time:soon:

[glice]

where abouts can you get twist of the wrist?

how hard is it to set up a road bike to be alowed to race?

[scracha]

Personally I reckon riding any semi decent roadbike on a track is nuts. If you can't afford to write it off then don't take it to the track. If you can afford to write it off......well surely you can spend 6ish grand on a well fettled trackbike?

[flame]

where abouts can you get twist of the wrist?


www.fishpond.co.nz loads of other great titles availible there too.

[nsrpaul]

hey puddy tat

think we were parked next to you at levels, I had the black r6, and mate on the kwacka

planning to do king of levels on the 125, whens your next planned meeting?

[Chrislost]

is it too hard to get a cheap old 400 F3 bike?? there pretty cheap. ok so you wont be a national f3 champ but there easy to run and big field.

itd prob end up costing the same amount as getting a good set of tyres and a set of race fairings ect for a newish r6. and you never have to worry about wrecking an expensive m/cycle.

Get a PRE 1989 compatable 400.
theres lots there, and its a lot of fun playing with the bigger bikes that cant actually get around corners properly...
(the ones that can you dont see anyway)
adn then you can cross enter in F3 and post classics junior and have 2x the racing for F/A more $$$:headbang:

[Chrislost]

Oh, I just got a copy of "Twist of the wrist" & been avidly reading it the last few days & boy am I looking at all the trackdays Ive done in the past in a whole different way!! Got me starting to think much more about what Im doing & actually got me already feeling more confident about my next track time:soon:


Good read eh.

[puddytat]

hey puddy tat

think we were parked next to you at levels, I had the black r6, and mate on the kwacka

planning to do king of levels on the 125, whens your next planned meeting?

Yeah man, its me alright.After the Levels wknd being the buzz that it was I'd like to have a crack I reckon.
Not to sure when my next outing will be ,in all honesty money is tight so unless I get someone in Murch to split travel with me, Levels is a tad to far which is a bitch as I really liked the track.
So I'd say maybe the Sth Isl cup rnd 3 & or King of Rua.rnd I
Was good meeting you & Jesse @ Levels,got yer photo yet? Be good to catch up with you fellas again:niceone:

[puddytat]

Personally I reckon riding any semi decent roadbike on a track is nuts. If you can't afford to write it off then don't take it to the track. If you can afford to write it off......well surely you can spend 6ish grand on a well fettled trackbike?

Hmmmmm,..........:yeah:

[vagrant]

I say do it.
I did a couple of trackdays at Ruapauna a few years back, and then joined the club racing in clubmans (run wot ya bring).
I don't know what the rules or classes are now, but that was great racing. All sorts of bikes there as well. Race bikes and road bikes both. Even one old bloke on an ex MOT yamaha, still with the panniers and topbox on it. (he was bloody quick too)

Bike prep was
mirrors off
all lights taped up
center/side stands lockwired up

Thats it.
I ran on second hand slicks, because I could, but you didn't have to have any special tyres.
I even road on them to meetings when there was not enough room on the trailer, with all the "real" race bikes.

I had shit loads of fun doing it, and thats what it's all about.:banana:

[johan]

Personally I reckon riding any semi decent roadbike on a track is nuts. If you can't afford to write it off then don't take it to the track. If you can afford to write it off......well surely you can spend 6ish grand on a well fettled trackbike?

For me it makes more sense to take my sports bike to the track than to share the roads with pill popping boyracers, stiff necked old gramps driving with indicator on since last intersection sliding on half decent oily slippery roads with land slips around the corners.

Or I could cruise around the water front dressed in full leathers with sanded worn knee sliders pretending I'm someone I'm not while the engine spits water as it overheats in the 5kph traffic.

I can only hope when I trash my beloved bike on the track I'll be captured with at least a couple of long lenses from different perspectives using short exposure times for crisp and sharp details of the mayhem.

[slofox]

Have done both in my day......but did more racing of the road bike than the race bike...possibly because the road bike actually went and the race bike rarely did....(temperamental bloody heap of !@!#*&**%$!!! tc etc) but let's not go into that.
I enjoyed both equally. But you do have to think of lack of insurance etc as has been pointed out already. But that said, what the hell - I'd be into it again like a shot given half a chance.....safest place to hoon anyway and NO COPS!!!!

[scracha]

Or I could cruise around the water front dressed in full leathers with sanded worn knee sliders pretending I'm someone I'm not while the engine spits water as it overheats in the 5kph traffic.


Yeah, but they don't overheat when they're parked up and you're sipping a cafe latte.

[slowpoke]

sell R6, buy a race prepped bike second hand for 7 to 10 grand...




Yep, I raced my ZXR750 roadbike on 2006 Actrix series, and just converted it back after each meeting. :yes:

Yep, sell your purdy R6 and buy a set up race bike with road gear for the same money. Then unless you totally munt it in a big crash chances are you've only trashed a few hundred bucks in repairable fibreglass fairings rather than a few grand of OEM plastics and graphics. Chances are the racebike will also have decent suspenders, braided lines etc etc.

That's what I did, and have slowly accumulated spares and other shite to assist in the crossover between road and track.

Riding a bike to a race meeting, to actually participate in the meeting, is just asking for trouble and will bite you on the arse sooner or later.

[johan]

Yeah, but they don't overheat when they're parked up and you're sipping a cafe latte.

mmm, there's nothing like posing in front of your litre bike in full leathers with a soy latte and your pinky finger in the air.

Back on topic, tracking my road bike is the best decision I've made so far. Sure, I'd suck to bin it with no insurance, but rather that than head on car collision with insurance. I enjoy track riding so much more than being silly over the takas, maybe I'm getting old.

And now racing, I don't miss the road at all. One race a month and tweaking in the garage between the rounds, is enough fun for me over the winter.

[scracha]

Horses for courses. Tracking my duc was the worst decision I've made for years. Anyway, you're hardly in the "run what ya brung" category. Taking off the OEM fairing, tank, clocks, mirrors, lights etc is all good. It's the guys that ride to the track and just tape over these things and go out racing with fairings worth quite a few grand that I think are a wee bit nuts. For starters, how are they gonna get home if they crash?

[driftn]

I race my road bike. Last year i just put the fiberglass fairings on for a day and took them off the day after and back to road again.
Same thing this year but im just leaving it as a race bike untill the winter is over.

Thats my story the moral is grow a pair and race the road bike.

[puddytat]

Awwww fuck, it aint getting easier !!! One day Im thinking "yeah use the r6" the next Im thinking "nay, use the Bros" ,or sell both ,or sell one....
Such good advice from you all you see. I could put the R6 up for sale to & if it sells first,put a couple of grand into suspenders for the Bros & thrash that.
Sell the Bros & get race fairings for the arseaxe...
Sell both & get a 4 hundy or ...?
If I knew how to, I could turn this into a poll;)
Ive also got a missus I got to keep happy as well:yawn: & the pair I got should do the job :whistle:

[wharfy]

where abouts can you get twist of the wrist?

how hard is it to set up a road bike to be alowed to race?

Not that hard at all see post #13

[scracha]

Hmm. I love racing the 4 hundy but to be honest, they're getting a bit of a pain in the arse with regards to spares. Sell Bros, blag some cash and buy an already sorted SV650. Dont' race the R6 until you've crashed it on the road :doh:

[FLYMO]

i race scooters all the time
no contest really tough

[svr]

Awwww fuck, it aint getting easier !!! One day Im thinking "yeah use the r6" the next Im thinking "nay, use the Bros" ,or sell both ,or sell one....
Such good advice from you all you see. I could put the R6 up for sale to & if it sells first,put a couple of grand into suspenders for the Bros & thrash that.
Sell the Bros & get race fairings for the arseaxe...
Sell both & get a 4 hundy or ...?
If I knew how to, I could turn this into a poll;)
Ive also got a missus I got to keep happy as well:yawn: & the pair I got should do the job :whistle:

The Bros is a pro-twin ...

[roogazza]

If you don't mind your road bike looking a bit tatty, just fit it with old pipes, tank etc etc. I did it for many years that way and it was just a matter of fitting lights and a plate for the road. (I still do it that way now).
Great way of keeping your eye in, riding the same bike on the road.

Probably a bit easier in those days though cos it was Prod Racing and you had to change very little, you know, tyres were round and black and called
TT100's. Gaz.

[CHOPPA]

use the r6 buy some second hand race fairings, a little crash aint gonna wreck buggar all! Its a motorbike! i cant believe the people that are more worried about a scratch then they are about doing what its designed to do! feed it!

I know from personal exp that its much easier to sell a slightly rough visually, bike for 2k less then it is to sell a tidy one for market price. So if you lose an extra 2k but you didnt have to nana it and you got all you could out of it and it sold quick id be happy.

[Petrolic]

Race r6 and buy another road bike, That way you can buy all the other gear you will need wamers lap timers tyres etc. I only have a track bike now , road riding does not interest me anymore.If you by track bike chances are it wont have ohlims power comander etc unless you spend 10k or more . so ease into it ......

[puddytat]

:apint::doobey::corn:

[CHOPPA]

lets say you crash with your full road fairings on with deals like this it aint too bad....

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=159912806

[puddytat]

O.K Ive decided to use the R6 for a start.I will start off in clubmans & see how it goes & like you say I can get some track fairings pretty cheap.To be honest im not to fussed if I bin the bike, be a bit of a bugger & as long as its not totalled it'll become my trackbike. I can kinda see an end coming to my road riding as the track does it for me more now.
Also I feel that what i could reasonably expect to get for the R6 if I sold it ( and I feel now that people are going to cut back on toys with the economy going the way it is) ,isnt probably going to get me a bike that'd be any better
Another question...what classes other than clubmans could I run in? :drinkup:

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

Yeah raced my old 250 road bike with much success. I took the number plate off as a token gesture, but could have left it on. just taped up lights and went racing. lucky cbr's crash well!!

[TygerTung]

You can race it in F2 as well.

The only issue I can see is that you live in Murchison, and it's gonna be a pretty decent ride back home, not too fun if you're knacked after racing all day, and if you crash it bad enough so that you can't ride it might be a bit tricky to find someone to tempt into giving you a ride home...

[puddytat]

Im planning to put the rego on hold,so more or less take it off the road ,with maybe the odd sneaky blat down the Buller gorge.I will also transport it to the track on my truck,so I wont need to worry 'bout getting home if I ......:(

[puddytat]

Got another step closer this week, joined MCCanturbury & got my MNZ license in the mail:yes:
Brake fluids changed
Oil & filter "
Coolant flushed
All lights out
Catch bottle
Wired the bits that need it
New tyres & numbers on Wednesday...

Trackday @ the end of the month @ Ruapuna:whistle:

[Kickaha]

Got another step closer this week, joined MCCanturbury & got my MNZ license in the mail:yes:
Brake fluids changed
Oil & filter "
Coolant flushed
All lights out
Catch bottle
Wired the bits that need it
New tyres & numbers on Wednesday...

Trackday @ the end of the month @ Ruapuna:whistle:

Or Timaru next Saturday:msn-wink:

[nsrpaul]

dang snow!!!!!

[Quickrik]

Hey Puddy,

I'm based in Christchurch, give us a PM if you want to hook up.

As an ex-racer and an R6 owners, I'm sure I can be of some help!
Always keen to see people get into racing.

Cheers Rik

[puddytat]

dang snow!!!!!

Bugger!! Still lying thick on the ground here....Aaron had a good blat on the Nt yet?

[nsrpaul]

we went for a ride last weekend, nsr bars sorted, goes good man

[puddytat]

Awesome!! See you at KOR rnd 1:woohoo: