Expensive buckets?

**F5 Dave** · 15th January 2011, 20:58

Originally Posted by jasonu

What is this word 'sponsor'???

A pseudonym for wife perhaps?

**Deano** · 15th January 2011, 21:03

Nope. But wife has a lot to say in the matter !! Lucky for me I found a keeper !!

"Sponsors" - you have to work reciprocal agreements and give something back to them, the more tangible the better !

**Buckets4Me** · 15th January 2011, 22:20

Originally Posted by F5 Dave

A pseudonym for wife perhaps?

I think it's short for VISA or MASTERCARD

**gatch** · 17th January 2011, 18:28

One of my mates bought a cb125 for $600. He let me use it in the A grade races at kaitoke yesterday, while he was in the B's. Not fast enough to win the A's, maybe the B's though with some dedication..

$45 for entry fee (each), maybe $6 for gas (for both of us). For about an hours flat out track time (each).

In comparison, I have entered the classics festival in feb. The Dominator (also not mine) would have a few 1000hrs invested over 20odd years of ownership, money I can't comprehend spent on it.. Entry and practice day $180 (plus mnz license and club subs approx $170 for the year). Methanol @ about $2.50/litre will be $100-$140 for the weekend. Might get 2-2.5 hrs track time over 3 days. Not including any other variables, food, travel (from palmy to auckland) etc etc. It's pretty costly.

**F5 Dave** · 18th January 2011, 08:44

Ahh I was wondering who you were, thought you may be older having raced a brit nail. I was the chap who was commenting on the poor old CB's front wheel hop. I know that bike from the 90s & it never used to do it.

**oyster** · 18th January 2011, 10:20

In theory a bucket should be way faster than a Streetstock bike. The SS has to run crap tyres, can't be tuned, (engine or susp) and weigh a tonne.
In buckets the sky (chequebook) is the limit. Some people even use an ex GP chassis (a crime in my view) which enables warp speed cornering.
In chch the fast ones are the race specced CBR's of Nick Cain and Al Hoogie
but remember, it's not just the bike, it's the rider too!
Al is the current 125GP champ, won easily, now smoking on a 600. Nick went to Manfeild meeting recently for a 'guest ride' on a 450 in F3. He'd never ridden an F3 bike of any sort before and ended up on pole. Then Al's older brother, James rides a bog stock FXR, complete with lights,air box dead quiet muffler etc and is about 3rd in the rankngs
Cost much? yes CBR's cost a fortune to buy and keep going, the FXR is the best. My son's one cost $800. The day after we sold off all the surplus bits on TM so back to about $200 then an exhaust, carb lying around stuffed RS fairings and it runs within a second a lap of the CBRS and (touch wood!) totally reliable
F4 is all about staying upright, having fun and developing your riding skills

**Camshaft** · 18th January 2011, 10:32

???????????????????????????

**gatch** · 18th January 2011, 11:13

Originally Posted by F5 Dave

Ahh I was wondering who you were, thought you may be older having raced a brit nail. I was the chap who was commenting on the poor old CB's front wheel hop. I know that bike from the 90s & it never used to do it.

Ahh right on, always good to put names to faces yeah.

I know what you mean about the wheel bouncing, I could see it myself when I was cornering. Didn't concern me too much, just added to the excitement really.. I didn't notice it in a straight line, may be something as simple as changing the fork oil/getting the level right. And checking there isn't a ridiculous amount of preload spacers.

**Trudes** · 18th January 2011, 11:51

Originally Posted by oyster

F4 is all about staying upright, having fun and developing your riding skills

That's my philosophy too. Then again, I suck so if I didn't find some fun in it I wouldn't be doing it.
Also I enjoy learning about engines, tyres, suspension and all sorts of other useful things to improve the staying upright, having fun and developing the skills. I like to know I've done what I can towards ensuring me and my bike finish the day all in one piece before I even get on the track.

**richban** · 18th January 2011, 11:54

Originally Posted by oyster

Then Al's older brother, James rides a bog stock FXR, complete with lights,air box dead quiet muffler etc and is about 3rd in the rankngs

At BOB me and my Bro started calling him the dive bomber. Just when you think you have some space on him he would come back with the most amazing breaking, tip in, still managing corner speed action I have ever seen. Then be back on your wheel again ready for an attack in the next turn. Skills to pay the bills. Puts a smile on the dial thinking of some of them moves I witnessed. I would love to race in CHCH again.

**quallman1234** · 18th January 2011, 12:27

This thread explain why my bucket doesn't go go and is tied up high in my garage...

I spend more on a weekend on the 125GP bike than i do on my whole bucket the time i've had it...

Hmm time to spend some money!

**k14** · 18th January 2011, 14:30

Originally Posted by Skunk

Now consider the cost of developing an F3 bike...

Well it starts with 25 and is still counting. You can probably guess how many zeros. And I am pretty sure others have spent over twice that.

For my bucket, $300 for the base package. Lots of bits given for free or very cheap. Probably spent $450 all up to get it racing. Then until 18 months ago hadn't spent a cent on it (and won the odd race on it). Then spent around $500 on the engine, $350 on an ignitech and even a new chain. Now it will keep up with the FXR's but the chassis is severely lacking. That will be the next step. So far it still has cost me well under $1500 though.

**F5 Dave** · 18th January 2011, 14:44

Right so now you need a couple of FCRs, say buy a bank of OW01 or RC30 carbs & slice em in half, will only be 39s so bore 'em out a bit for those big juicy cylinders. . .

why spend money on boring stuff like chassis when there is more to be spent on the hot metal bit in the middle?

**Buddha#81:Me** · 18th January 2011, 14:58

Originally Posted by oyster

In theory a bucket should be way faster than a Streetstock bike. The SS has to run crap tyres, can't be tuned, (engine or susp) and weigh a tonne.
In buckets the sky (chequebook) is the limit. Some people even use an ex GP chassis (a crime in my view) which enables warp speed cornering.
In chch the fast ones are the race specced CBR's of Nick Cain and Al Hoogie
but remember, it's not just the bike, it's the rider too!
Al is the current 125GP champ, won easily, now smoking on a 600. Nick went to Manfeild meeting recently for a 'guest ride' on a 450 in F3. He'd never ridden an F3 bike of any sort before and ended up on pole. Then Al's older brother, James rides a bog stock FXR, complete with lights,air box dead quiet muffler etc and is about 3rd in the rankngs
Cost much? yes CBR's cost a fortune to buy and keep going, the FXR is the best. My son's one cost $800. The day after we sold off all the surplus bits on TM so back to about $200 then an exhaust, carb lying around stuffed RS fairings and it runs within a second a lap of the CBRS and (touch wood!) totally reliable
F4 is all about staying upright, having fun and developing your riding skills

I dissagree with some of the above Pete. Most of the CBR/FXRs are running very simular suspension (ie commuter suspension) but have to contend with (on the most) heavier pilots. A water cooled 150cc motor will always have (and should do) far superior power to a 150cc 4 stroke, end of the day why is it 250 4's are in the same S/S class? Its usually the higher skill level that put buckets on a level footing in lap times. This is what makes the combination of S/S and F4 on big tracks so dodgy and exciting, its the ammount of passing you get with the mixed classes. I have alway been outspoken that F4 should be off the front of these mixed grids with a split start so you will only have the experienced S/S pilots passing and mainly on the straights due to their higher top speeds (a much safer situation).

......and the clincher F4 is far from "staying upright, having fun (which most of us do anyway) and developing rider skill". 90% of us take bucket racing seriously and that shows in the presentation of most of our bikes, gear and attitude. The problem only arise from clubs, organisers and individuals that still have the "its only buckets" mentality. But of late this attitude has started to change......thankfully!

**richban** · 18th January 2011, 16:20

Originally Posted by Buddha#81

I dissagree with some of the above Pete. Most of the CBR/FXRs are running very simular suspension (ie commuter suspension) but have to contend with (on the most) heavier pilots. A water cooled 150cc motor will always have (and should do) far superior power to a 150cc 4 stroke, end of the day why is it 250 4's are in the same S/S class? Its usually the higher skill level that put buckets on a level footing in lap times. This is what makes the combination of S/S and F4 on big tracks so dodgy and exciting, its the ammount of passing you get with the mixed classes. I have alway been outspoken that F4 should be off the front of these mixed grids with a split start so you will only have the experienced S/S pilots passing and mainly on the straights due to their higher top speeds (a much safer situation).

......and the clincher F4 is far from "staying upright, having fun (which most of us do anyway) and developing rider skill". 90% of us take bucket racing seriously and that shows in the presentation of most of our bikes, gear and attitude. The problem only arise from clubs, organisers and individuals that still have the "its only buckets" mentality. But of late this attitude has started to change......thankfully!

What he said. I totally agree.