Racing: 1000cc vs 600cc?

[Brett]

Ok KB racing locals...

I have finally sold my road going GSXR and am seriously thinking about venturing into racing, nothing serious, largely for fun. (But...I bet that is where most of you racers started?)

I have been riding 600's on the road and for track days for 5 years or so, and am by no means slow on it. I have also ridden a few thousands in the last while, and while not nearly as settled on them as the 600's, I am fairly confident and able to throw them around (at decent ROAD pace, never taken a 1000cc around the track...)

In terms of track handling skills and starting out, would you guys say that there is a distinct learning advantage in starting on a 600cc first, or just jump in on a thou, albeit a little bit more carefully than I would on a 600 and get up to speed (per se) on a bigger machine?

If Raj, the white night in white boots can race a 1000cc after riding a 600...surely anyone can? *said somewhat in jest* (Hope you're still floating around here Raj....I expect some comment).

So team, what's the verdict? Start on 600cc and cement the skills, or venture out on a thou and get used to throwing around a bigger machine?

[DEATH_INC.]

The thing with a 600 is you can cross enter into most f1 races, so ya get twice as many races in 1 day for usually little more expense. On a thou yer stuck in f1 only....unless you race a postie....
btw, the current thous aren't hard to ride.

[White trash]

What the ginger ninja said. With the the addition of "the current thous aren't hard to ride, but they bite a shitload harder"

If I had my time on the track again, I'd stick with the 600 for a few more years. Funnily enough, as another ginger ninja (Mr Harris) suggested.

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

The 1000 takes a lot more physicality to get it around the circuit, needless to say it also has more power so ‘pinning’ the throttle requires a little more patience exiting a corner until you have mastered the art of controlling wheel spin (still learning).
You can get away with a mistake or two on the 1000 regarding gear selection etc in the knowledge that the HP will cover up the wee fuck up slightly, do it on a 600 and backwards you go.

I believe there is an increased skill level required in mastering the power of the 1000 over the 600, the 1000 can bite you real bad…”not hard to ride” depends how you want to ride it, plenty of people ride a 1000 both on the road and the track without any issues at all, its when you start pushing your ability and testing the capabilities of the bike the real difference will show up.

The difference between the two can be seen within there own class, I’ve seen first hand the difference between a 1000cc stocker and a ‘Superbike’ it’s bloody massive! Currently working on getting some fruit in my bike at the moment, when its done I’ll have to start learning all over again and re-calibrating..

If you’re just starting out racing I’d go for the 600 and move up later if you want, there is more to racing than just the capacity of the bike you’re sat on. Better to learn the ‘craft’ on a bike that doesn’t or has the ability to intimidate you and enjoy the learning experience.

[ellipsis]

...if i had the skill, the youth and could afford such a dilemma, watching Cam Jones at Levels last saturday would have made up my mind. He was glued to the back wheel of a very competent racers thou, all day, went past often and managed to hold the thou off down the back at times...(dont know how this would relate to a big horsepower track though)...

[Shaun]

SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE DUDE


Buy My K9 GSXR 750 Track day bike $ 8500---00

[Shaun]

...if i had the skill, the youth and could afford such a dilemma, watching Cam Jones at Levels last saturday would have made up my mind. He was glued to the back wheel of a very competent racers thou, all day, went past often and managed to hold the thou off down the back at times...(dont know how this would relate to a big horsepower track though)...

Cam is a very good rider but, A 600 or 750 will out corner a THOU eer so easy

[Brett]

The thing with a 600 is you can cross enter into most f1 races, so ya get twice as many races in 1 day for usually little more expense. On a thou yer stuck in f1 only....unless you race a postie....
btw, the current thous aren't hard to ride.

That is a very good point which I hadn't thought of yet. Cheers Death.

[Brett]

SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE DUDE


Buy My K9 GSXR 750 Track day bike $ 8500---00

Had a look, couldn't find your post with it in?

[Brett]

What the ginger ninja said. With the the addition of "the current thous aren't hard to ride, but they bite a shitload harder"

If I had my time on the track again, I'd stick with the 600 for a few more years. Funnily enough, as another ginger ninja (Mr Harris) suggested.

The 1000 takes a lot more physicality to get it around the circuit, needless to say it also has more power so ‘pinning’ the throttle requires a little more patience exiting a corner until you have mastered the art of controlling wheel spin (still learning).
You can get away with a mistake or two on the 1000 regarding gear selection etc in the knowledge that the HP will cover up the wee fuck up slightly, do it on a 600 and backwards you go.

I believe there is an increased skill level required in mastering the power of the 1000 over the 600, the 1000 can bite you real bad…”not hard to ride” depends how you want to ride it, plenty of people ride a 1000 both on the road and the track without any issues at all, its when you start pushing your ability and testing the capabilities of the bike the real difference will show up.

The difference between the two can be seen within there own class, I’ve seen first hand the difference between a 1000cc stocker and a ‘Superbike’ it’s bloody massive! Currently working on getting some fruit in my bike at the moment, when its done I’ll have to start learning all over again and re-calibrating..

If you’re just starting out racing I’d go for the 600 and move up later if you want, there is more to racing than just the capacity of the bike you’re sat on. Better to learn the ‘craft’ on a bike that doesn’t or has the ability to intimidate you and enjoy the learning experience.

Cam is a very good rider but, A 600 or 750 will out corner a THOU eer so easy

Thanks for the feedback guys. It kind of confirms what I am feeling, 600 is probably the way to start out.

[Shaun]

Had a look, couldn't find your post with it in?

There is no post of it mate, it sits in my shed in Taranaki. I am in AK with NO photos of it with me or saved on a comp

Std Sspension
Slip On Muffler
Race Body work
ALL STANDARD

4000KZ on motor

[gixerracer]

Cam is a very good rider but, A 600 or 750 will out corner a THOU eer so easy

Absolute Bollocks.
Skatchill had my GPS laptimer on the new GSXR 600 when he set the fastest ever 600 lap at Manfeild recently and I overlayed his with my best superbike lap time fro the National round, The only place he was faster was at the exit apex of dunlop coming on to the front straight other wise his apex speeds where the same or slighly slower than my thou.

[White trash]

Absolute Bollocks.
Skatchill had my GPS laptimer on the new GSXR 600 when he set the fastest ever 600 lap at Manfeild recently and I overlayed his with my best superbike lap time fro the National round, The only place he was faster was at the exit apex of dunlop coming on to the front straight other wise his apex speeds where the same or slighly slower than my thou.

Want me to chuck that lap timer on me GSX550 for a lap or two so you can see where you're slower mate? No need to thank me........., you're welcome.

[gixerracer]

Want me to chuck that lap timer on me GSX550 for a lap or two so you can see where you're slower mate? No need to thank me........., you're welcome.

Dont make me bring up the first time we came accross each other on the track James

[Edbear]

This is a cool thread!

I'm not so au fait with racing classes. Which classes can you race the 750 in and does it have any advantages over racing a 600? Do you race in F1?