what bike for formula 3?

[bumsex]

I want to start racing and am looking at getting into the formula 3 class. I see lots of different bikes in that class up to the sv650s. I cannot afford an sv and want a bike that is going to be reasonably competitive. Which bikes do you think have the best potential and can be obtained fairly cheaply? I was thinking a vfr400?

Any comments are much appreciated.

Chris

[HDTboy]

A ZXR400 would do the trick, I think there may possibly be one coming up for sale here at some stage soon

[Two Smoker]

A ZXR400 would do the trick, I think there may possibly be one coming up for sale here at some stage soon

My ZXR400L8 will be up for sale exactly at then end of April....

[rustys]

Hope this helps for F3 class machine,you are looking for.
Multi-cylinder four stroke up to 450cc
Multi-cylinder and twin-cylinder two strokes up to 250cc
Twin cylinder two valve air cooled four stroke up to 750cc
Twin cylinder multy valve air or water cooled cooled four stroke up to 650cc
Single cylinder four stroke 126cc- open capacity
Single cylinder two stroke 126cc- 500cc

Twin cylinder four strokes shall be limited as follows;
(a) Up to 500cc no restrictions apart from fuel ( rule 10-17)
(b) Over 500cc, two valves per cylinder,are restricted to 750cc
and fuel as (rule 10-17), over 650cc must not be water cooled.
(c) Over 500cc three or more valves per cylinder,are restricted to 650cc and fuel as above.Must contain std air box, air filter element and carburettor
(with exception of removable jets)

Hopes that helps in selecting a suitable machine, that is why you do see a lot of different types bikes out there, its a shame that its got this far as F3 was orginally set up for cheap affordable jap imports the 250s / 400s.As you can see there is less of these bike racing in this class, and its bloody hard to be competitive as there is some late model expensive machinery in F3.

I my self race in F3 on a stock std ZXR 400, the bike has been totally reliable over several seasons,i spend very little money on up keep on it,tyres slicks will last a season, regular oil and filter changes thats all.
I am a young 59 year old started racing 3 years ago, meet lots nice people and having shit loads fun doing it!!! ( GO FOR IT BRO !!)

having fun and

GROWING OLD DISGRACEFULLY

[FROSTY:Me]

Dude --backing up what Rustys said- You are generally wasting your time initially getting a really fast bike. You need a solid reliable machine.
Youll find that in your first few races you will chop the biggest chunks out of your lap times --as You get faster youll start thinking about spending the bigger bucks.
A vfr is a pretty darn good bike --but save yourself a LOT of frustration either buy an ex race bike or budget to send your new toy to someone like AMPS or GP motorcycles to get the speed/rpm restricters removed -Itll cost ya $400 but well worth it I promise.
Ohh and end of april mella yella is up for sale too--1989 zxr400--the advantage of that bike is you get twice the races because it runs in pre 89 class as well

GUYS--a little not about the ol SV650's -- watch trade me --Im betting that 99-02 sv's are gonna be dropping in price ALOT -I saw one on there for 4k
Interesting though--at Pukiehole the sv's except for the top couple still aint setting any new lap records -so they aint much faster than the 400's
-To keep the class alive we need to move with the times --Decent 400 fours are getting harder and harder to buy and maintain.

[HDTboy]

My ZXR400L8 will be up for sale exactly at then end of April....

Figjam huh? Twas yours I had in mind.

How much are you looking for for it?
Frosty, how much are you looking for for yours?
I thought you could go up to 450cc multi

[rustys]

HDT BOY, Frostys got the bike for you good starting level,and yes mines a pre 89 as well so most race meetings for one fee, i get four practise sessions, 3 races F3, 3 races post classics pre 89, what more do you want. A bloody good days racing.

Having fun; and :

GROWING OLD DISGRACEFULLY

:

[Kwaka-Kid]

Go the VFR400 i tells ya!! haha no im completely biased, i would put the ZXR400 infront of it.. excepting that the VFR is a touch nicer feeling

But never worth modding up... FZR = wickedly lightweight 3TJ's that is.

Otherwise, there might be a VFR400 up for sale, as soon as i finish building it, bahaha

[kickingzebra]

Quote Frosty '"-To keep the class alive we need to move with the times --Decent 400 fours are getting harder and harder to buy and maintain.""

Is that your way of saying you think perhaps it is time to go the way of the twins etc? an SV seems like not a bad way to go, but then some 400s are going pretty cheap!

hell, there is a 200 ducati 748 on trademe, all race prepped, going for less than 10k, Is that a viable option, or an overcapitalisation for a beginner (like me, soon to be!!)

Soo much to come to grips with, Must Race, brain slowing down, only room for racing....

You guys really should warn the rest of the world that going fast legally is so addictive!!

[Two Smoker]

HDT BOY, Frostys got the bike for you good starting level,and yes mines a pre 89 as well so most race meetings for one fee, i get four practise sessions, 3 races F3, 3 races post classics pre 89, what more do you want. A bloody good days racing.

Having fun; and ::

Bugger off!!! Mines better!!! Its been proven that its faster....hehehe Just joking... Mella Yella is more than good enough

[Quasievil]

Well for my pennies worth, I race a GSXR400, good enough bike to get out amongst it, I aint the fastes dude thats for sure but for $1500 and another $2000 for setup etc and its a little ripper, very reliable and still manages to tickle a few bikes rear ends. In honesty though I think the NC30 or the ZXR400 would be my preference. Some of the above mentioned bikes would be good purchases, I can also offer you mine for an excellently priced $10,000

[TwoSeven]

So what class do the old 600s go in. I suspect these days they are getting closer to being nearly 40-50bhp down on the new ones.

Edit: I mean 92-95 model years.

[Quasievil]

So what class do the old 600s go in. I suspect these days they are getting closer to being nearly 40-50bhp down on the new ones.

Prolly post classics, I run 60 HP and thats about average in F3

[FROSTY:Me]

zebra--all Im saying is that the 400's are all getting pretty old.If F3 is to stay viable as a class I believe bikes must be available to buy new as well as second hand.
The top 400 jockeys have spent moonbeams on em (ignoring TS who is a frigging freak of nature) By moonbeams I'd suggest well over 10k on engine work and another 3-5 on suspension.

Back to the origonal question.
My suggestions for an entry leval F3 bike
Mella yella Or another zxr 400--well it is mine gotta put it first.
VFR400 nc30 or rvf400
gixxer 400

[muzz]

[QUOTE=

hell, there is a 200 ducati 748 on trademe, all race prepped, going for less than 10k, Is that a viable option, or an overcapitalisation for a beginner (like me, soon to be!!)[/QUOTE]


No good for F3 as it is a 4 valve