Question on which Honda for F3

[svr]

yea, but I really want to give racing a go. and I was talking about 30 grand being off putting, I think I can afford to do it on the cheap and still have some fun.

Go racing!- there are people doing trackdays that spend a lot more than the average club racer. As a racer you'll do fewer laps, but racing makes riding around feel lame by comparison.

[lostinflyz]

yea, but I really want to give racing a go. and I was talking about 30 grand being off putting, I think I can afford to do it on the cheap and still have some fun.

im a student and i can afford to go racing. OK nearly afford. But its not that expensive and id spend every penny i have so far to go racing. You can spend as much or little as you like.

IT DOES NOT cost 30grand. Thats to be at the front come nationals time(give or take as much as 10grand from that). But you first have to be a fucking good racer and like any sport that takes time, practice and experience.

I got my first race bike (VFR400) for 1700 and spent a bit (say a grand once tyres and forks had been sorted, not counting paddock stands). My new race bike was 5 but that included stands, warmers, genrator and heaps of spares. My mate spent about mid 2 grand on a nicely setup GSXR thats really been a great bike. Thats an idea for price of normal 400 f3 race bike.

Best advice is to find something setup and just get racing rather than spend 6 months figuring out the 12 million problems in a cheap road bike. Wish someone drilled that into me

There isnt much of a price difference between racing and trackdays really. and theres usually alot more racing. and its racing. and racing is good, very good.

[glice]

im a student and i can afford to go racing. OK nearly afford. But its not that expensive and id spend every penny i have so far to go racing. You can spend as much or little as you like.

IT DOES NOT cost 30grand. Thats to be at the front come nationals time(give or take as much as 10grand from that). But you first have to be a fucking good racer and like any sport that takes time, practice and experience.

I got my first race bike (VFR400) for 1700 and spent a bit (say a grand once tyres and forks had been sorted, not counting paddock stands). My new race bike was 5 but that included stands, warmers, genrator and heaps of spares. My mate spent about mid 2 grand on a nicely setup GSXR thats really been a great bike. Thats an idea for price of normal 400 f3 race bike.

Best advice is to find something setup and just get racing rather than spend 6 months figuring out the 12 million problems in a cheap road bike. Wish someone drilled that into me

There isnt much of a price difference between racing and trackdays really. and theres usually alot more racing. and its racing. and racing is good, very good.

I'm just having a break from uni, so I figure now is a good time to get the expensive stuff like a bike out of the way while I can.
yea already set up sounds like the way to go, I'm just having trouble finding one that I can afford and isnt too far away. How much has been done to your 400?

[glice]

Go racing!- there are people doing trackdays that spend a lot more than the average club racer. As a racer you'll do fewer laps, but racing makes riding around feel lame by comparison.

heck yea, I've made up my mind. I'm going racing.

[lostinflyz]

I'm just having a break from uni, so I figure now is a good time to get the expensive stuff like a bike out of the way while I can.
yea already set up sounds like the way to go, I'm just having trouble finding one that I can afford and isnt too far away. How much has been done to your 400?

too far away isn't usually too much of a problem, whats it about 500 odd bucks to ship a bike from chch to auckland. and in my experience its not really a good time to find a bike. most winter racing is still going or summer is starting to ramp up. Just gotta keep an eye out.

my good 400 has had heaps done to it. the guy previous really put in some nice effort and made custom every thing for it (rear set, triple clamps, mounts, exhaust, fairings) and the lot, and the engine pumps a nice health 65bhp. I got a mean as deal on it i reckon. but most 400's are relatively standard (not a bad thing, as when you bin it you know what your looking for, and dont have to make new bits days on end) but usually have exhaust and a bitta tuning and maybe some suspension work.

either way just keep hunting. you never know when a good one might come up

[TonyB]

Definitely try and get a sorted race bike, rather than buy a road bike and try to sort it out. I speak from experience here.
Most race bikes sell for significantly less than it cost to build them.

[lostinflyz]

Definitely try and get a sorted race bike, rather than buy a road bike and try to sort it out. I speak from experience here.
Most race bikes sell for significantly less than it cost to build them.

yea what he says. ive got one im gonna sell soon that i built from the road and ive spent mountains on it and im only gonna sell it for a few hundred more than i bought it for. 400 race bikes arent worth alot cause they are too expensive to convert back to the road but too slow to beat old SV's

[gav]

yea what he says. ive got one im gonna sell soon that i built from the road and ive spent mountains on it and im only gonna sell it for a few hundred more than i bought it for. 400 race bikes arent worth alot cause they are too expensive to convert back to the road but too slow to beat old SV's

Was that your bloody rowdy v4 at Levels on Saturday?
You get the big stick waved at you?

[lostinflyz]

Was that your bloody rowdy v4 at Levels on Saturday?
You get the big stick waved at you?

rowdy v4? meeee?? nooooooo.
I heard nothing. just a constant buzzing noise.

yea was blowing 97db during practice. guess ill shut it up a wee bit now. stupid man and his damn sound meter.

Not the loudest thing there though. That white RGV was blowing 96 and one of the superbikes was blasting over 100db. yee haw.

[glice]

too far away isn't usually too much of a problem, whats it about 500 odd bucks to ship a bike from chch to auckland. and in my experience its not really a good time to find a bike. most winter racing is still going or summer is starting to ramp up. Just gotta keep an eye out.

my good 400 has had heaps done to it. the guy previous really put in some nice effort and made custom every thing for it (rear set, triple clamps, mounts, exhaust, fairings) and the lot, and the engine pumps a nice health 65bhp. I got a mean as deal on it i reckon. but most 400's are relatively standard (not a bad thing, as when you bin it you know what your looking for, and dont have to make new bits days on end) but usually have exhaust and a bitta tuning and maybe some suspension work.

either way just keep hunting. you never know when a good one might come up

yea I know its not too much to ship a bike, I'm just worried about getting ripped off and having some heap of crap turn up.
yea I've been hunting and hunting. at least the longer it takes to find a bike the more money I can save.
Yea race ready is what I want, but what about a road one that already has things like exhaust etc done to it and just need lights taken off and some race fairings put on? (which I think I can make myself)

[lostinflyz]

Yea race ready is what I want, but what about a road one that already has things like exhaust etc done to it and just need lights taken off and some race fairings put on? (which I think I can make myself)

what ever you do DONT do that. that was my thinking. 1700 quid for one in not too bad knick with fairings done. just needs a few things done. about 2 grand later its nearly sorted.

In the end you need tyres just about always but a road bike is more than likely (i.e. 98% chance) gonna need a new rear shock (or a rebuild at least) and the front end stripped and rebuilt (more than likely resurfaced). then itll prob need a tune and the lot. plus stands and the hassle of changing out bobs and bits (drilling sump plug ect.). fairings could be a pain to, dunno.

If its good for the road then its worth to much to turn to a race bike (my old NC21 is worth over 2 grand. as a race bike id be lucky to get even half that). If its too crappy for the road itll take to long and too much money to sort out.

Ill be happy to have a look at something down here for you if you like if it ever comes up. i'd offer you the one i've been doing but its not quite there yet. but maybe soon.

[Ivan]

cricky, I could afford 5g. thats what I was wanting to get untill I heard 30g, thats more like it.

yeah man they easy score,
Honestly pro twins is a great class i have been involved in 125GP for the last 3 seasons and its been stress on racing keeping an eye on engine temps etc jetting the pro twin I honestly gas up and ride theres no expense to it of course theres a cost to everything but man if you wanna do it then do it dont let people tell you not to...
If you wanna do something then aim for it and achieve

You want cheap then pro twin or streetstock is good.

And man you honestly couldnt spend 30k on a Pro Twin 650 your not aloud to do anything to em maybe an F3 spec engien and frame and wheels and brakes blah blah but the standered SV is great

Nice Power but not to rough at hitting it easy to ride andreally really forgiving

[gav]

rowdy v4? meeee?? nooooooo.
I heard nothing. just a constant buzzing noise.

yea was blowing 97db during practice. guess ill shut it up a wee bit now. stupid man and his damn sound meter.

Not the loudest thing there though. That white RGV was blowing 96 and one of the superbikes was blasting over 100db. yee haw.

Yeah there was an Aprilia RS250 that sounded the loudest too, #32 I think?

[Wingnut]

rowdy v4? meeee?? nooooooo.
I heard nothing. just a constant buzzing noise.

yea was blowing 97db during practice. guess ill shut it up a wee bit now. stupid man and his damn sound meter.

Not the loudest thing there though. That white RGV was blowing 96 and one of the superbikes was blasting over 100db. yee haw.

Is your VFR the white one? That was pretty damn loud man. Was some good racing to watch all the same!

[lostinflyz]

Is your VFR the white one? That was pretty damn loud man. Was some good racing to watch all the same!

ummm no.

yea i know its loud, but i just love it.

either way time i pack the mufflers to take the edge off it. The only prob with it is in the pits its loud, too loud i agree. thinking about putting new cans on it but doubt itll make a single iota's difference.