Track bikes

[Hotbrakes]

How many of us ST'Ners are blazing the local track on a tricked out, dripping in goodies track bike?  Or is it just some beater you got real cheap off a kid who wrecked it?

[Mastros2]

Got a perfect track bike from a friend who had the suspension set up perfectly.  Not a garage queen but perfect for beating up on the track.  Yes, it does have a title too!

[1000lbs]

Ummm... Mine has a clean title, but the previous owner(s) were not kind.  I picked it up less then a month ago and the process has been like rescueing a puppy from the pound.  Its ready and willing, but needs some kind attention to details.  Faired well on the track Monday, and the ups trucks have been stopping daily to deliver the bits to bring it to a respectable level.  Low investment and big grin return.  Plus its just another bike project, which is just fine by me.

[Hotbrakes]

Nice!  Is that the glint from a chrome wheel I see?

Mine have clean titles but one is the MSO from Honda.  The others have been crashed and trashed, but never totaled.  Just got a set of mint street bodywork to convert the old 1000RR back to street legal and put it up for sale.

[phoenix]

I answered Yes but title is no good (mine has PRIOR SALVAGE title). mine can be street legal, but have not had it on the street in a few years other than a ride around the block. It does not take much damage to consider a bike totaled.

[1000lbs]

Nice!  Is that the glint from a chrome wheel I see?

Haha, good eye.  The previous owner had that mounted after he binned the oem wheel.  Also came with a spare chrome front.  I already have the oem rear off ebay and I'm selling off the chrome set to offset the cost of repair/upgrades.

If an adjuster ever had an eye on this bike, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have a clean title.  Still for a track bike it will fit the need well, and resale will be easier, even with full disclosure.  I must admit, I rushed this one.  I don't think I got taken, but would have found something cleaner if I didn't want to get on the track NOW!  An all new two wheeled sickness, just when I thought I'd run out of obsessions  .

[satxbonneville]

Some time back, I bought a lightly wrecked Ninja 500 from a co-worker (clean title) who decided that riding was just not her thing and was rebuilding it for my son to ride while going to school in San Fran. He decided that the Ninja was a bit to small for him (he's a shade over 6' 2") so he bought himself a nice used SV650, leaving me with a good running Ninja 500 that I have decided will be a track bike. It's already shorn of the plastic bits - when the previous owner wrecked it all of the major fairing bits were broken and I wasn't going to pay the long dollar that new parts were commanding so it was rebuilt as a streetfighter - so now I just need to remove the lights and get a belly pan. And do some suspension work. A pipe would be nice...which means carb tweaking.

I also have to convince my wife that 3 bikes are really a good idea...anybody know the proper purse to bike ratio for this type of situation?  

[DogBoy]

Ummm... Mine has a clean title, but the previous owner(s) were not kind.  I picked it up less then a month ago and the process has been like rescueing a puppy from the pound.  Its ready and willing, but needs some kind attention to details.  Faired well on the track Monday, and the ups trucks have been stopping daily to deliver the bits to bring it to a respectable level.  Low investment and big grin return.  Plus its just another bike project, which is just fine by me.

This is so cool that you got track fever so quick and are hooked. Glad you're having a good time.  




My track/race bike is a KTM 450 SMR supermoto. I'm second owner and it has a clean title. These bikes were sold as track-only bikes by KTM already converted for supermoto. I don't have any plans to go crazy on mods as they come pretty well set up. Mine desperately needs a better rider. Still, I'm having the most fun I've ever had on a bike.

[Mastros2]

Check the nesba forums for used track bikes.  The best ones aren't the prettiest but the cheapest and most fun!

[Mastros2]

My track/race bike is a KTM 450 SMR supermoto. I'm second owner and it has a clean title. These bikes were sold as track-only bikes by KTM already converted for supermoto.

Mmmm!  That must be a hoot to track on!  

[Mr Sunshine]

My track bike is my race bike and it is pretty decked out.  Worth about $25k if you had a shop build it from new.  Close to the most expensive SV650 I've ever seen and I still want to do a $2-3k more money worth of work to the motor.

[Hotbrakes]

My track bike is my race bike and it is pretty decked out.  Worth about $25k if you had a shop build it from new.  Close to the most expensive SV650 I've ever seen and I still want to do a $2-3k more money worth of work to the motor.

And I thought having 10k invested in 3 track bikes was overdoing it...

[endo]

I did a track day on my zzr recently and had a blast! Came home and promptly started looking for a bike I can make for a dedicated track bike. My wife thinks I'm kidding.

[MadOzodi]

The Sprint is doing double duty.

Back in 2009, I was debating gettin a motorcycle or adopting a rescue pet.  The motorcycle won the coin toss.

I just volunteered at Stray Rescue of St. Louis (props to Randy Grim!) and have been chewing on adopting a doggie again.  Of course, I did my first two track days earlier this year and want a track bike too...

Since I haven't reached the point where I want to be in terms of finances, I'm targeting 2012 for another coin toss.

[DogBoy]

I did a track day on my zzr recently and had a blast! Came home and promptly started looking for a bike I can make for a dedicated track bike. My wife thinks I'm kidding.

With Reno Fernley Raceway close by, you would have so much fun. Never ridden that track but everyone raves about it. Remember to use the "its cheaper than speeding tickets" argument (even if its not true in the long run).

[Mastros2]

My wife thinks I'm kidding.

Sometimes they just don't get it...

[DNA]

My wife actually suggested that I stop doing Long Distance rallies and buy a track bike.
 
Sitting at the award dinner a few weeks back - I started counting the number of very serious injuries (shattered pelvis/ compound fracture femur type stuff).  Most of the top riders had spent a year in rehab.  Possibly more.


It is an interesting thought.   She might be on to something...

[Mr Sunshine]

My wife actually suggested that I stop doing Long Distance rallies and buy a track bike.
 
Sitting at the award dinner a few weeks back - I started counting the number of very serious injuries (shattered pelvis/ compound fracture femur type stuff).  Most of the top riders had spent a year in rehab.  Possibly more.


It is an interesting thought.   She might be on to something...

At least they are alive.  5 people I know of died on the track last year....2 within my own racing club.

[DNA]

At least they are alive.  5 people I know of died on the track last year....2 within my own racing club.

That is alarming, quite troubling actually.  Might be time to find a new club unless they were anomalies.  

There are a few LD rally deaths each year - but the number of participants is quite a bit lower so the ratios might be similar.

 What was the cause of the deaths?  Is there a serious safety issue that was not addressed?

I though tracks were a "safer" alternative...

[Fourstring]

I though tracks were a "safer" alternative...

I'm not a track pro, but IME, they are safer at the lower levels.  We were at Blackhawk yesterday and a guy low-sided into the barrier at about 60.  Picked it up and rode away.  

My street bike does double duty, so I'm a permanent novice.  I don't need a dedicated bike to suck.