Getting into racing?

[sharp2183]

In that case ....

You'll win your 1st race on a $500 ZXR400 and immediately be swamped with offers of sponsorship from multi-national corporations and gorgeous celebrities. End up on a superbike that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to put together, built by a team of 30 people that are all devoted to getting you to the finish line 1st.

Reality is, if you're not sleeping in the back of the car wrapped up in a tarpaulin cos you forgot a sleeping bag, texting the wife and telling her not to do any groceries this week and to take the kids around to see grandma for a surprise visit before dinner time then you're not racing.

Commitment and no money!!! That's what racing is all about.

Funnily enough that's what everyone seems to be telling me? Perhaps it's the truth...

Anyway thanks for the great response. It seems that in order to protect my rather nice Ducati, I should look at purchasing a prebuilt race/track bike eligible for a class like F3/pre-89 or whatever and just go out there and not be too serious until I figure out what I want.

Sound like a reasonable plan?

[Mental Trousers]

Sounds like the ideal way to get into racing. It's basically what I did and I've been having a ball. Jumping in at the expensive end ruins things very, very quickly.

Having scared you a bit, going racing is something you won't regret. It's fun, you meet lots of great people and it's horrbily addictive.

[Grubber]

Bugger!!!
Wish i hadn't read all this now..
Had this half beaten idea that this could be a great thing but it looks like a i may have to sell the wife now!
Oh well, it was nice knowing her i guess and shes got other friends i'm sure.
Racing it is then
fuck i hope she isn't reading this

[Billy]

Funnily enough that's what everyone seems to be telling me? Perhaps it's the truth...

Anyway thanks for the great response. It seems that in order to protect my rather nice Ducati, I should look at purchasing a prebuilt race/track bike eligible for a class like F3/pre-89 or whatever and just go out there and not be too serious until I figure out what I want.

Sound like a reasonable plan?

OR,You could lease one of our raceprepped Prolite 250s for a few meetings and see if its for you first,Then if you decide its what you want to do,Then do your own thing.

Our bikes are delivered too the track ready to race,Contact me at www.racefairings.co.nz or PM me on this site.

[ClutchITUP]

Man those guys are commited or should be.
Wire up the sump plug of the Duck. join a club for 50$. Turn up an race in Clubmans by getting a day license. An dont crash..... thats the key You would be pretty unlucky if someone crashed into you

I have raced about 15 times over the last 2 years an had a blast here in Chch on my road bike it hasnt cost me buggar all! other than race fees an you can see that money is needed to run the whole shabang

[discodan]

You should consider an SV650 as an alternative, they are more modern and reliable and will be much more competitive than most of the 400s.

I will have a couple for sale shortly both of them competitive at national level and one of them for not much more $ than a 400. Plus there are a few on Trademe at the moment.

[lukemillar]

You should consider an SV650 as an alternative, they are more modern and reliable and will be much more competitive than most of the 400s.

I will have a couple for sale shortly both of them competitive at national level and one of them for not much more $ than a 400. Plus there are a few on Trademe at the moment.

Are you switching classes, Dan?

[sharp2183]

You should consider an SV650 as an alternative, they are more modern and reliable and will be much more competitive than most of the 400s.

I will have a couple for sale shortly both of them competitive at national level and one of them for not much more $ than a 400. Plus there are a few on Trademe at the moment.

Interesting, how much is 'not much more' if you don't mind me asking? One of the reasons I was looking at the 400s was that I could get into a pre-89 class. Meaning I could at least start with a bike worth not too much, just to have a good time and decide what to do. Or is it worth skipping that altogether?

[CHOPPA]

Dans will be better but this is where they start

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-357588911.htm

[discodan]

Are you switching classes, Dan?

Yea Mate, I'm gonna have to lay low for a bit to get some cash together but I'm thinking 600 SSTK looks like it is going to be fun next year!

Interesting, how much is 'not much more' if you don't mind me asking? One of the reasons I was looking at the 400s was that I could get into a pre-89 class. Meaning I could at least start with a bike worth not too much, just to have a good time and decide what to do. Or is it worth skipping that altogether?

That's the good thing about 400s but if your no slouch you can cross enter into the 600 class on an SV as well. Mine would probably be around 5-6K with an Ohlins shock and a bunch of tyres if you want. I've just got to tidy up the fairings for it and take it for a test run as I haven't used it since it had a big crash last year.

PM me if your interested and I can give you all the details.

[das134]

Dan I will be in touch...

The reason I was leaning towards a 400 is due to the lower cost in purchasing a race bike. My theory was that I could do a few months on it and if I really felt like moving up, I could do so without losing heaps of money.

I know it would hardly be competitive, but is a 400 worth having a go in clubmans?

At this stage I live in Christchurch. What classes are being run here that are social(ish). I'm thinking clubmans/pre-89.

Lastly, as an example, would either of these two bikes be worth looking at just to get into it?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=346175692

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=362890345

These seem within my purchase price range, and I don't mind going slightly slower (compared to an SV) if I get some good experience in exchange. I.e. I'd rather bin a cheap bike for starters.

Thoughts?

[discodan]

Dan I will be in touch...

The reason I was leaning towards a 400 is due to the lower cost in purchasing a race bike. My theory was that I could do a few months on it and if I really felt like moving up, I could do so without losing heaps of money.

I know it would hardly be competitive, but is a 400 worth having a go in clubmans?

At this stage I live in Christchurch. What classes are being run here that are social(ish). I'm thinking clubmans/pre-89.

Lastly, as an example, would either of these two bikes be worth looking at just to get into it?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=346175692


http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=362890345

These seem within my purchase price range, and I don't mind going slightly slower (compared to an SV) if I get some good experience in exchange. I.e. I'd rather bin a cheap bike for starters.

Thoughts?

I haven't personally owned an older 400 but they look like pretty decent bikes for the money to me.

You should check out these guys for races in your area - http://www.mci.net.nz/

Clubmans is a good place to start and a 400 would provide plenty of fun in that class except that your competition may be on 1000cc rockets holding you up in the corners and then blasting past on the straight!

[sharp2183]

I haven't personally owned an older 400 but they look like pretty decent bikes for the money to me.

You should check out these guys for races in your area - http://www.mci.net.nz/

Clubmans is a good place to start and a 400 would provide plenty of fun in that class except that your competition may be on 1000cc rockets holding you up in the corners and then blasting past on the straight!

That was the main worry yeah. But a track ready bike for under $3000, I figure it doesnt really matter if it isn't the fastest bike on the straights... I will get in touch with Motorcycling Canterbury I think.

[Billy]

That was the main worry yeah. But a track ready bike for under $3000, I figure it doesnt really matter if it isn't the fastest bike on the straights... I will get in touch with Motorcycling Canterbury I think.

If your in Christchurch,Get in touch with Jenni Gibson,I think her contact number is on the MCI website,She is handling the junior development for the club following Peter Jones withdrawing,

Shes committed to the cause and MAY be able too help you with a club bike to try out,They used to do that when Peter Jones was running it,Definitely worth a shot.

Otherwise you could pm Swerve on this site as hes one of Jenni's righthand men and Im sure he'd be only too happy to help out.

[sharp2183]

If your in Christchurch,Get in touch with Jenni Gibson,I think her contact number is on the MCI website,She is handling the junior development for the club following Peter Jones withdrawing,

Shes committed to the cause and MAY be able too help you with a club bike to try out,They used to do that when Peter Jones was running it,Definitely worth a shot.

Otherwise you could pm Swerve on this site as hes one of Jenni's righthand men and Im sure he'd be only too happy to help out.

Cheers Billy, would be good to get some advice from someone down here. I need to start way at the bottom so hopefully she has some ideas. Cheers again