Should you be allowed a spare bike?

**Shaun P** · 9th March 2009, 12:30

With proposed rule changes etc http://www.mnz.co.nz/Proposed_Rule_Changes.aspx#roadI would have thought also restricting competitors to 1 bike per round to be a way of levelling the competition and cost?

**vifferman** · 9th March 2009, 12:32

It's OK if all competitors are in the same boat, but otherwise it becomes too much a case of "he who has the most resources / fattest wallet, wins."

**Benk** · 9th March 2009, 13:12

You can only ride 1 bike at a time. I agree with levelling costs, but limiting riders to one bike surely doesnt affect this at all does it? What difference to anyone (except the rider if they happen to fall off) does it make if someone has 1 bike or 10. Surely the specifications of that 1 bike (or 10) is far more important. Its not like the top guys are falling off every race.

**slowpoke** · 9th March 2009, 13:24

Nah, take as many bikes to the track as you can fit in your van/trailer I reckon. No one throws 'em away Ruben Xaus style constantly looking for then reaffirming the limits, well not in NZ anyway.

We've all seen innocent riders get caught up in other peoples mistakes so what of the poor bugger who can't race 'cos his first bike is ferked through no fault of his own? If you can afford to run two bikes then go for it, you are obviously doing something right, be it on or off the track.

**3umph** · 9th March 2009, 13:25

can the multi bikes be used when racing has started??
eg if you race bike 1 in race 1 and 2 but crash and stuff bike in race 2 and then race bike 2 in race 3??

if thats the case then I do not think you should be able to have more then 1 bike...

if you take more then 1 bike to an even then you should be able to use either for the practice but have to choose which one bike is used for the racing.... and only one for the racing

**wharfy** · 9th March 2009, 13:28

Originally Posted by Benk

You can only ride 1 bike at a time. I agree with levelling costs, but limiting riders to one bike surely doesnt affect this at all does it? What difference to anyone (except the rider if they happen to fall off) does it make if someone has 1 bike or 10. Surely the specifications of that 1 bike (or 10) is far more important. Its not like the top guys are falling off every race.

Typically (overseas, I don't know of any local teams that run to multiple bikes in the same class) teams have a "dry" bike and a "wet" bike with softer engine,suspension and wet tyres of course. If the "dry" bike craps out the "wet" bike is quickly pressed into service. And of course if the meeting is wet the "wet" bike is used. I don't think many teams have two identical bikes. My budget doesn't run to a set of spare rims, but I hope it will by the time the winter series is in full swing

**Benk** · 9th March 2009, 13:32

Originally Posted by 3umph

can the multi bikes be used when racing has started??
eg if you race bike 1 in race 1 and 2 but crash and stuff bike in race 2 and then race bike 2 in race 3??

if thats the case then I do not think you should be able to have more then 1 bike...

if you take more then 1 bike to an even then you should be able to use either for the practice but have to choose which one bike is used for the racing.... and only one for the racing

They would both need to go through scrutineering, but other than that its fine to have 2. Why would it not be?

Some may have 2 identical bikes, one setup for dry, one for wet, and use the most appropriate for the race. If you are going to try stop that, you may as well stop everyone from having 2 sets of wheels/tyres to make it even for those who cant afford spare wheels and wets (me at the moment).

I think alot of thought has gone into making racing cheaper, and we are just talking ourselves out of it. Who gives a shit what others are up to, normally (speaking from personal experience) its the rider thats holding the bike up anyway, just get out there on what you got, and go as hard as you can. Start simple, then add complexity.

**Benk** · 9th March 2009, 13:33

Originally Posted by wharfy

Typically (overseas, I don't know of any local teams that run to multiple bikes in the same class) teams have a "dry" bike and a "wet" bike with softer engine,suspension and wet tyres of course. If the "dry" bike craps out the "wet" bike is quickly pressed into service. And of course if the meeting is wet the "wet" bike is used. I don't think many teams have two identical bikes. My budget doesn't run to a set of spare rims, but I hope it will by the time the winter series is in full swing

Haha, beat me....

**CHOPPA** · 9th March 2009, 13:41

Having a spare bike makes you ride faster

**sinfull** · 9th March 2009, 13:42

Originally Posted by slowpoke

Nah, take as many bikes to the track as you can fit in your van/trailer I reckon. No one throws 'em away Ruben Xaus style constantly looking for then reaffirming the limits, well not in NZ anyway.

We've all seen innocent riders get caught up in other peoples mistakes so what of the poor bugger who can't race 'cos his first bike is ferked through no fault of his own? If you can afford to run two bikes then go for it, you are obviously doing something right, be it on or off the track.

Originally Posted by 3umph

can the multi bikes be used when racing has started??
eg if you race bike 1 in race 1 and 2 but crash and stuff bike in race 2 and then race bike 2 in race 3??

if thats the case then I do not think you should be able to have more then 1 bike...

if you take more then 1 bike to an even then you should be able to use either for the practice but have to choose which one bike is used for the racing.... and only one for the racing

Originally Posted by Benk

Haha, beat me....

Yeah like hello ! I think i might save the best/fastest bike till the last race !
Edit : oh wait, i am !!

**3umph** · 9th March 2009, 13:45

Originally Posted by Benk

They would both need to go through scrutineering, but other than that its fine to have 2. Why would it not be?

Some may have 2 identical bikes, one setup for dry, one for wet, and use the most appropriate for the race. If you are going to try stop that, you may as well stop everyone from having 2 sets of wheels/tyres to make it even for those who cant afford spare wheels and wets (me at the moment).

I think alot of thought has gone into making racing cheaper, and we are just talking ourselves out of it. Who gives a shit what others are up to, normally (speaking from personal experience) its the rider thats holding the bike up anyway, just get out there on what you got, and go as hard as you can. Start simple, then add complexity.

Yeah I know they would both have to be scrutineered and fine to have 1 wet and 1 dry bike (if thats what you want) just once the official racing (not practice) has started then only 1 bike should be able to be used for all the events races and not swapping from dry bike to wet bike as the race day turns to rain but if that happens then they have to alter the bike they started the racing with to a wet setup...

how many other forms of motor sport allow the use of multiple vehicles during a race day/weekend???

**Tony.OK** · 9th March 2009, 13:45

Originally Posted by CHOPPA

Having a spare bike makes you ride faster

Totally agree with ya Chop...............it took me 1/2 the winter series to realise my fear of crashing/breaking bike was holding me back. And still is to a certain degree.

**CHOPPA** · 9th March 2009, 13:53

I looked at those proposed rules, whats all this valve cutting, porting bla bla bla looks like the only thing they say you cant do is change the cams which is about the only thing i can afford to do as you dont have to pull the engine out!!

I dont really see why they wanna piss around with all these rulings as you can pretty much do anything you want! Even if they say "standard" engines. My idea with a standard engine is just that as i picked it up but the rule will be open to rebuiling an engine etc where theres untold mods that can be done and still be "standard"

The better option would be to say you can do anything you want but we will be spot dyno checks and your bike cant be more then 180 hp atw easy!

**Shaun P** · 9th March 2009, 13:54

Originally Posted by CHOPPA

Having a spare bike makes you ride faster

Yeah thats the main point really, so unless everyone in the class has a spare bike there is a psychological advantage as well

**Shaun P** · 9th March 2009, 14:10

Originally Posted by CHOPPA

I looked at those proposed rules, whats all this valve cutting, porting bla bla bla looks like the only thing they say you cant do is change the cams which is about the only thing i can afford to do as you dont have to pull the engine out!!

I dont really see why they wanna piss around with all these rulings as you can pretty much do anything you want! Even if they say "standard" engines. My idea with a standard engine is just that as i picked it up but the rule will be open to rebuiling an engine etc where theres untold mods that can be done and still be "standard"

The better option would be to say you can do anything you want but we will be spot dyno checks and your bike cant be more then 180 hp atw easy!

Yeah wots the point in worrying about cams when you can have a spare bike? Huge cost/advantage there I would say. You can still have a wet setup with a seperate shock, they are quick enough to change. Dont know about restricting hp though to many varying dynos.

Heres another question should you be allowed to remove 1 of the compression rings on the pistons(advantages less mechanical resistance more hp-disadvantage wears out faster) as 1 race team does? I would say not, as not everyone wants to or can rebuild engines through a season