Sidecar Racing

[scrivy]

If you knew anything about the LCR you would know that about 1994/95 they went to a different front suspension set up which you can upgrade the earlier bikes to, of course it probably costs about a gazillon swiss francs because Louis isn't one to charge a pittance

Just as a matter of interest, what lap times did you do around Ruapuna on the old bike compared to the new bike?
....and how much of that is the engine only?

[Kickaha]

How old is Divvos rig?? I thought it was 2003/4ish??

It's a 1992 so it's 20 years old, Pete the Pirate and that other guy have the only LCRs later than 2000, I think the latest one in the country is about an 08

There's a 04 LCR on Steves Place at the moment for 19,000 GBP with an 06 engine and another similar one for 14,600 GBP so price wise they've come down quite a lot from what they were probably close to 50% on 5-6 years ago

You can buy an eighties or early nineties F2 for anywhere from 3000GBP upwards and it'd still be better than 90% of the short bikes in the country

[Kickaha]

Just as a matter of interest, what lap times did you do around Ruapuna on the old bike compared to the new bike?
....and how much of that is the engine only?

On the old bike a low 1.49 and the best I could find was a 1.48 with Frilly onboard, Aaron Lovell on the sister bike with R1 power could do 1.45

We can now run flat 1.45 all day long with roughly 40 less HP and I'm guessing 50kg plus less weight and I think there's a bit more in it yet, I honestly still don't think we've quite got our heads around just how hard it can be pushed as the Lawrances, Adam/Stu and you and Steve are still another 2-3 seconds a lap faster

I think most of the gains are in better handling and less weight although the 1000 is a lot less brutal in the power delivery and doesn't just smoke up everywhere at a touch of the throttle

[scrivy]

It's a 1992 so it's 20 years old.
There's a 04 LCR on Steves Place at the moment for 19,000 GBP with an 06 engine and another similar one for 14,600 GBP so price wise they've come down quite a lot from what they were probably close to 50% on 5-6 years ago
You can buy an eighties or early nineties F2 for anywhere from 3000GBP upwards and it'd still be better than 90% of the short bikes in the country

Cheers for that Kick. I always thought Daves was much later than that. 3K GBP for a shorty!? Fark! That's cheap, and yes, would wipe out the field with a decent rider (oh, and passenger...)!! Why aren't more being imported? What does it cost to get it shipped over here?

On the old bike a low 1.49 and the best I could find was a 1.48 with Frilly onboard, Aaron Lovell on the sister bike with R1 power could do 1.45

We can now run flat 1.45 all day long with roughly 40 less HP and I'm guessing 50kg plus less weight and I think there's a bit more in it yet, I honestly still don't think we've quite got our heads around just how hard it can be pushed as the Lawrances, Adam/Stu and you and Steve are still another 2-3 seconds a lap faster
I think most of the gains are in better handling and less weight although the 1000 is a lot less brutal in the power delivery and doesn't just smoke up everywhere at a touch of the throttle

See, and this is what I don't understand, why are people spending bigger dollars on flasher machines, when if you imported a shorty, for maybe $9K, you'd go faster than 1.45's also. As for the less weight etc, that's a given for racing, but our rig is pretty much the opposite. Ours doesn't handle (we've never even altered the suspension...), is heavier (by lots...), and the Busa is by all comparisons 'brutal'...
If I was starting out in our class, I'd import a later model, ultra light shorty as you've mentioned. You'd cane up!
They are also far more forgiving than long bikes - from what I've seen.

For me, it's gotta be value for money. We spend fark all, and always have fun.

[Fast Eddie]

theres heaps on stevesplace.

'90 lcr with front upgrade for 7kGBP

lushh, then you got windles and bakers and others too..

good question - why aren't more being imported? im going to get me one in the next season or two (how many loans can I acquire lol).. prob from steves place shipping can't be too bad.. 2kish i assumed? NZD

[scrivy]

theres heaps on stevesplace.

'90 lcr with front upgrade for 7kGBP

lushh, then you got windles and bakers and others too..

good question - why aren't more being imported? im going to get me one in the next season or two (how many loans can I acquire lol).. prob from steves place shipping can't be too bad.. 2kish i assumed? NZD

Kai, if there were more people like you out there, then our class would be the best bar none!

This year has seen a few teams/and newbies up their game.
The farm boys, upgrading to a 600 weapon,
Des upgrading to a nice long bike from his shorty, (the long bike wasn't out there the previous 6 years),
Robbie Shorter re-powering Westies long chair with a GSXR1000, (the long bike wasn't out there the previous 12 years),
Rob Edwards and his wife buying the Blackbird Zimmerframe, (wasn't out there the previous 4 years - But unfortunately won't be ready for this season),
Kai re-juvenating his machine to bring it into the 2012's!

Who else have I missed?

[Kickaha]

3K GBP for a shorty!? Fark! That's cheap, and yes, would wipe out the field with a decent rider (oh, and passenger...)!! Why aren't more being imported? What does it cost to get it shipped over here?

I dont understand why more aren't being bought in, I suspect it's the hassle of organising it and buying something sight unseen
dunno if you can see this http://www.steveenglish.com/forum/vi...p?f=45&t=42977 but it's a 1984 F2 bike for $2500GBP with a recent engine overhaul and some spares, as old as it is it'd still be better than most short chassis in this country
There's another one that sold for 2000GBP http://www.steveenglish.com/forum/vi...p?f=45&t=42755[/B]
But when you get into the late nineties outfits you're up around 6000GBP

See, and this is what I don't understand, why are people spending bigger dollars on flasher machines, when if you imported a shorty, for maybe $9K, you'd go faster than 1.45's also. As for the less weight etc, that's a given for racing, but our rig is pretty much the opposite. Ours doesn't handle (we've never even altered the suspension...), is heavier (by lots...), and the Busa is by all comparisons 'brutal'...
If I was starting out in our class, I'd import a later model, ultra light shorty as you've mentioned. You'd cane up!
They are also far more forgiving than long bikes - from what I've seen.

For me, it's gotta be value for money. We spend fark all, and always have fun.

I thnk it's about what people want and what they like, I love the LCRs although I still think if one of the top Euro guys came over on one we'd all look like rank amatuers but we'd probably see that if a top F2 crew came over as well as I think they'd smoke most if not all the F1 bikes here

Given the choice I'd be equally as happy with either an LCR or something like the R1 powered Windle for sale down here

I had a chat about value for money a while ago, basically the more we spent and the closer up the ladder we got the less I found I was enjoying it, the dollar vs enjoyment got all out of kilter

[Kickaha]

Kai, if there were more people like you out there, then our class would be the best bar none!

This year has seen a few teams/and newbies up their game.
The farm boys, upgrading to a 600 weapon,
Des upgrading to a nice long bike from his shorty, (the long bike wasn't out there the previous 6 years),
Robbie Shorter re-powering Westies long chair with a GSXR1000, (the long bike wasn't out there the previous 12 years),
Rob Edwards and his wife buying the Blackbird Zimmerframe, (wasn't out there the previous 4 years - But unfortunately won't be ready for this season),
:

What did Des end up getting? did he sell the short bike because that was very fast with Johnny B on it, high 1.44 at Ruapuna back in 02 with the original FZR in it

Is the bike Robbie bought the one Craig McDonald had with the Kawasaki in it that ran in AFR colours?

[scrivy]

I dont understand why more aren't being bought in, I suspect it's the hassle of organising it and buying something sight unseen. I thnk it's about what people want and what they like, I love the LCRs although I still think if one of the top Euro guys came over on one we'd all look like rank amatuers but we'd probably see that if a top F2 crew came over as well as I think they'd smoke most if not all the F1 bikes here
I had a chat about value for money a while ago, basically the more we spent and the closer up the ladder we got the less I found I was enjoying it, the dollar vs enjoyment got all out of kilter

Those rigs are dirt cheap!!! You would spend $20K to build something like that. Unbelieveable!

As for value for money. As I've said before, Bob and I used to cap our entire season at $5,000 between us. ($2500 each) We were always up the pointy end, sometimes running on canvas (but still did a lap record at Levels as you mentioned previously), but we were the team out there having the most fun - you must agree with that. Just 'cause someone does a National race meeting, doesn't mean they want to be a National Champ - rather than have fun!

[Kickaha]

Just 'cause someone does a National race meeting, doesn't mean they want to be a National Champ - rather than have fun!

I think quite a few people have forgotten the "have fun" part of it

[sidecar bob]

My shit stirring days are over, & id never get into a short bike long bike argument again.
But three weeks ago I was at manfield & caught up with an old racing chum that bought a long outfit a few years ago, after having a ball on a shorty for many years.
The long bike is for sale now & he remarked to me, these things are too complex to set up & I cant get on top of it, im slower, ive got too much money tied up & im not having fun anymore, I wish id kept the short bike.
Thats just a fact as he said it.

[sidecar bob]

I think quite a few people have forgotten the "have fun" part of it

And I dont think people get jealous of people that are faster than them, but of people that are having more fun than them, for less input.

[Kickaha]

The long bike is for sale now & he remarked to me, these things are too complex to set up & I cant get on top of it, im slower, ive got too much money tied up & im not having fun anymore, I wish id kept the short bike.

What is it and how much does he want?

They aren't that hard to set up and the information to do so is easily available

Funny though, Dave reckons he can't ride a short bike and different bikes do seem to suit different people

[scrivy]

Funny though, Dave reckons he can't ride a short bike and different bikes do seem to suit different people

Divvo couldn't FIT into a short bike.....

[jellywrestler]

if a top F2 crew came over as well as I think they'd smoke most if not all the F1 bikes

Biggs/Biggs won the NZTT at Pukekohe one year on an F2