Done two track days, what's next and what bike should I go for?

[lostinflyz]

wicked, thanks all. some good stuff here.
No! Not the suspension fault! Had Robert Taylor recondish the other week. Bike was up to 40,000ks so due anyways but figured it good timing given the plan to try the track again. Definitely on the money regarding binning teh ninja though - it is my transport to work and I don;t have the 8-9k to replace it if it got totalled. I think I would relax more and loosen up on a bike that didn't have quite the same price tag..

So yeah I guess it is combination of things. One being that I do want a separate bike to have a bit more of a play on so as to not risk more than I can afford and secondly to be able to extend my own abilities while still going what I think is flat out I get what one armed is saying re go easy on the straight and focus on the bends but I think I would be happier feeling like I was going for it the whole time, plus would get to see improvements in the laptimes. I enjoy lean angles more than I enjoy outright speed anyways so perhaps a smaller bike would suit my riding anyways..

So would I be making a mistake to nab a VFR400 for a couple of grand? Are they likely to explode given they are all 20 odd years old? This is the most appealing choice from a low initial cost perspective - but could be false economy as likely as not it would be unreliable?

I just sold my rvf400, raced for 2 seasons, no issues, only normal maintence. I know of plenty of others that go the same, and i can only think of 1 in the past 2 years down south thats gone pop.

[owner]

Some bloody good advise here from all posters.....
This is KB right? Had to check.... I had to check too

Have a read of Twist of the Wrist 2, if you haven't already.... It will make your road riding much smoother too.

Twist of the wrist is now on video!! down load it and is bloody good although sounding much like
80s porn its great I would rather watch a vid then read a book

[owner]

I am in the same boat. I have a shiny 600 I am scared to crash but I think SS150 could be the go for me and about the 400 option I got a 400 92 gsxr it lasted 2 weeks before it exploded. It cost me 3000$ Great thread

[bounce]

If you want to learn to race (i say race cause racing and learning to ride a track is quite different) then the pro light, 250 street stock class has got to be where its at. New bikes, not too much power, level (ish) playing field.

It's a really good point that. It is more learning to ride a track that I am after in the first instance. perhaps getting something cheap and get to another half dozen track days could be the ticket for starters. If the bike makes it out the other side trade it up, down or across to an EX250 for next year since chasing another bike around the track is awesome fun. Reason I was thinking 400's is that they are the pretty much the cheapest bikes around plus have pretty sharp handling and braking - so would be a blast to ride on the circuit. Primary goal is to improve riding skills, ride smoother and get more out of the bike I am on. Figure any bike control learnt on track is still going to translate pretty well back to the road.

[bounce]

Twist of the wrist is now on video!! down load it and is bloody good although sounding much like
80s porn its great I would rather watch a vid then read a book

Good call. watching it now (Twist of the wrist not 80's pron) Smooth and constant roll on of the throttle out of a turn is a good one for me. Currently employing more of a 'can I see the next corner yet? cool. Pin it!!' type approach

I am in the same boat. I have a shiny 600 I am scared to crash but I think SS150 could be the go for me and about the 400 option I got a 400 92 gsxr it lasted 2 weeks before it exploded. It cost me 3000$ Great thread

Cheers for that. haha gsxr400 off the list!

[TOTO]

get a GSXR thou - designed to be trashed, smashed and thrown away.

[lostinflyz]

Cheers for that. haha gsxr400 off the list!

haha funny that, the only 400 i know thats popped was one to. something about the valve retainers not being the flashest.

400's don't need to be fast, but alot of them ride on really poor suspenders (be it by age/poor maintence or inherent design). thats where some are really cheap. Until they throw you off (and they will).

[PirateJafa]

get a GSXR thou Suzuki - designed to be trashed, smashed and thrown away.

Fix'd.

It's a really good point that. It is more learning to ride a track that I am after in the first instance. perhaps getting something cheap and get to another half dozen track days could be the ticket for starters. If the bike makes it out the other side trade it up, down or across to an EX250 for next year since chasing another bike around the track is awesome fun. Reason I was thinking 400's is that they are the pretty much the cheapest bikes around plus have pretty sharp handling and braking - so would be a blast to ride on the circuit. Primary goal is to improve riding skills, ride smoother and get more out of the bike I am on. Figure any bike control learnt on track is still going to translate pretty well back to the road.

Get an NC30. I've had three and a half of 'em now, and haven't had any trouble with any of them, despite putting a lot of k's on them at a pretty decent pace. Gear-driven cams, reliable as hell (apart from some of the electrickery bits - reg/rec), brilliant handling and braking, and have enough power to have a good bit of fun with, while not being quite as silly as our ninjas - and they don't chew through the tyres as fast either!

Plenty of second-hand parts out there for 'em at reasonable prices too - the bright side of running an "older" bike. Not to mention if you get a '89, it's eligible for both F3 and post-classic pre-89!

[scracha]

400's don't need to be fast, but alot of them ride on really poor suspenders (be it by age/poor maintence or inherent design). thats where some are really cheap. Until they throw you off (and they will).

Fucked suspenders teach you how to ride though :-)

[sinfull]

Good call which ever way ya go Bounce, ya got the bug but don't wanna throw ya 600 away, wise man i say lol !
I have to say i like the idea of the new 250 class, it's gonna grow real quick i recon (think it's run with the SS150 at the moment ? ) close racing and cheap to get into and race a season without the banks busting ya door in !

[puddytat]

I have to say i like the idea of the new 250 class, it's gonna grow real quick i recon (think it's run with the SS150 at the moment ? ) close racing and cheap to get into and race a season without the banks busting ya door in !

Down 'ere it is , the twins with the 150 smokers....reckon itd be big fields if the FXRs ran with 'em to...be a hoot,like a dog thru chooks!! We ran with the buckets at the endurance meet & I think there was 45 bikes on track

[glice]

Yea run the 250. or if you want more awsomness get a 125gp bike!