The new Pro Twins class

[FROSTY:Me]

Rear sets--The F1 engineering ones cost-400 then add clipons--100-200
It all adds up.
The 20 year old who pays his 6-11k for a bike has to shell out over 4k for ":aftermarket"bits

[codgyoleracer]

Its surprising sometimes how well priced standard OEM stuff is (especially if it from wrecked bikes). Things like the front fairing mount brackets are actually cheaper as an OEM part than a aluminium 'race" item. + becuase they are made of steel - they can be easily straightened & repaired if needed.
I tend not to agree regarding the suspension mods, the ones allowed can get damm expensive, are difficult to install for a beginner (except rear shock exchange) + we need to remember the length the races that these bikes will typically be doing 6-8 laps at club level a maybe double that at nationals. Standard shocks dont get that unstable/inconsistent after this length of race time - well at least not to the point of being "unsafe".

[sAsLEX]

Rear sets are simple. Two holes in a piece of ali for the mounts and one for the peg. Shit take me about 2 seconds to design some, and about a day of cursing and hammering and hacksawing and filing to make me some.

If you want to bling it up go ahead but it needn't cost an arm and a leg.

[HenryDorsetCase]

there is a SV650 on tardme at present in ProTwins trim for $12000.

I think thats pretty reasonable TBH

[slowpoke]

Racing costs money, end of story.

If you haven't got much money you race a bucket or streetstock. If you are casual or exploring the idea of racing with a bigger bike then you have a crack in Clubman's, which is perfect for those with road bikes. So it's not like there aren't options for people with a limited budget or who just want to get a taste.

If you think "yep, I want to get a bit more serious" then I don't think it would come as a suprise that you are also expected to show a bit more financial and bike prep commitment if you want to be at the pointy end.

Having said that I don't see why someone can't rock up to the track with a road bike and minimal prep and excel if they have genuine talent. Look at how Darryl (DSS3) used to show up on his R1 with OEM suspension, OEM fairings etc and ride rings around full on race bikes. That boy could ride and it showed. Same goes for the Pro Twins class, where I reckon a modicum of talent will outshine a worse rider with a Power Commander.

I reckon riders usually underestimate the amount of grip they have with full wets and overestimate their essentially road tyres so there will more than likely be a cost saving associated with fewer crashes if full wets are allowed.

The exhaust rule makes the bikes a more marketable prospect for both spectators, sponsors and participants alike. If they sound great then more people will watch, more people will want to get involved and more sponsors will want to get on board.

[HenryDorsetCase]

the other thing to be borne in mind is the other stuff you need...

car able to tow a trailer (or access to both), or a van, plus some spares plus decent kit and tools etc. Sky's the limit obviously but if you're buying say $7k minimum?

[roogazza]

Its surprising sometimes how well priced standard OEM stuff is (especially if it from wrecked bikes). Things like the front fairing mount brackets are actually cheaper as an OEM part than a aluminium 'race" item. + becuase they are made of steel - they can be easily straightened & repaired if needed.
I tend not to agree regarding the suspension mods, the ones allowed can get damm expensive, are difficult to install for a beginner (except rear shock exchange) + we need to remember the length the races that these bikes will typically be doing 6-8 laps at club level a maybe double that at nationals. Standard shocks dont get that unstable/inconsistent after this length of race time - well at least not to the point of being "unsafe".

My sentiments exactly Glen , I didn't have a problem with Prod bikes , imagine the precious comments on safety if newbies had to ride H2's and the like ????? Harden up ! Gaz.

[GSVR]

there is a SV650 on tardme at present in ProTwins trim for $12000.
I think thats pretty reasonable TBH

Its actually considerably cheaper than that in Pro Twins trim. Has lots of good bits on it as well.

So the interesting question is why hasn't someone brought it as its been on there a long time now?

the other thing to be borne in mind is the other stuff you need...

car able to tow a trailer (or access to both), or a van, plus some spares plus decent kit and tools etc. Sky's the limit obviously but if you're buying say $7k minimum?

Didn't realize all the other expenses. How much is a set of wets and slicks and how many meetings will I get out of them?

[Fatjim]

Some of you guys are pretty narrow minded. If I got on a stock SV650 my weight would make the sucker unsafe. In fact, pretty much any stock bike is unsafe with me on it. We aren't all 5'8" skinny wankers. Some of us have some meat on our bone.

Plus, any weight restriction should be with the rider and measured after the race. I'm sick of this "the bike should weigh such and such".

[t3mp0r4ry nzr]

Some of you guys are pretty narrow minded. If I got on a stock SV650 my weight would make the sucker unsafe. In fact, pretty much any stock bike is unsafe with me on it. We aren't all 5'8" skinny wankers. Some of us have some meat on our bone.

Plus, any weight restriction should be with the rider and measured after the race. I'm sick of this "the bike should weigh such and such".

very random. nobodys made mention of weight restrictions or skinny riders??
weird..

this class is cheap motorsport, sure you can hand over $7000AU and ride a yammy fz6 in the yammy cup but you at the end of the season you dont own the bike. At least after handing over 6-10k you own the bike after the season and as Gary has mentioned, put the shiny OEM components back on and sell the bike as a low km minter! hehe only ever ridden on sundays, lady owner blah, blah

[DEATH_INC.]

I think some of you guys lose your perspective on cheap.....if you can't slot your own sprokets and make up your rearsets, and often already own a car and trailer (real world) then all the extra mods will get expensive....we wanna race, but often have families and other commitments.... a cheap class is a great idea but it needs to stay that way. Fork internals and powercommanders aren't necessary and nor are ohlins rear shocks or even wets if everyone is on the same tyre. if you wanna race a modded bike f3 is there for ya. And stock classes are often the best closest racing out there anyhoo.....

[xwhatsit]

I don't like stock class. they wouldn't let me ride in streetstock - mainly cos some of the big guys whined.
How about a 800cc single/650 twin class?? would be quite exciting.

Where can I buy this 800cc single that you speak of?

I'm a non-racer. However, how far off the pace are you going to be with no Power Commander, stock exhaust, standard suspension etc? Is it going to make that much difference? Surely as somebody else said, rider skill will make much more difference than that.

At any rate, buying a trailer you can leave out of the equation -- even if you race a bucket you need some way of getting your bike to the track.

[Drew]

I think the only questionable rule, is the Power Commander, and even that isn't a prohibatively expensive upgrade.

The suspension changes are limited, A full fairing conversion save engine damage when ya crash.

Rearsets saves the track being dug up by standard pegs grinding around corners.

Having said all that, I went out this weekend, on a bike not yet up to pro twins spec, (Which is where we'll be stopping the mods), and ran with the hotrods. Showing that the power comander doesn't give you enough advantage to walk away with the race.

[GSVR]

I think the only questionable rule, is the Power Commander, and even that isn't a prohibatively expensive upgrade.

The suspension changes are limited, A full fairing conversion save engine damage when ya crash.

Rearsets saves the track being dug up by standard pegs grinding around corners.

Having said all that, I went out this weekend, on a bike not yet up to pro twins spec, (Which is where we'll be stopping the mods), and ran with the hotrods. Showing that the power comander doesn't give you enough advantage to walk away with the race.

Youll have to point out the Hotrods as the hotest SV there was Kyle Keys one and the only advantage that had was the Gixxer front end as the motor is bog standard. When an SV with 10HP more than standard and a good rider turns up youll know.

[Drew]

Youll have to point out the Hotrods as the hotest SV there was Kyle Keys one and the only advantage that had was the Gixxer front end as the motor is bog standard. When an SV with 10HP more than standard and a good rider turns up youll know.

Oh, I was under the impression I was up against played with bikes. My bad.

Not sure if the ten hrses would be fully advatageous on the damp tracks, but I guess I'll find out soon enough.