What kind of bike should i get to start trackdays

[ben10281]

I have been riding for a little while(8 years) on various size street bikes 600-1000, and a little time in the dirt with 125's. I have always wanted to do trackdays and possibly race. Is a 2009 Kawi 250 too small for a track day bike? Would I be better off with something like a ex500 or SV 650?

My current bike is not something i want to ride on the track, yet.

[Chippertheripper]

Buy claytons ex500. Cheap and ugly, but will get you
There for a under a grand. Done and done.

[csmutty]

A 250 would be fine for trackdays, although with passing rules that some trackdays have, it could get a little bit annoying when you have gotten better on it and people hold you back in the corners. How convenient though...I do have an EX500 race bike for sale...

[Chippertheripper]

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...trackbike.html

[Kitt]

09 R6

[Pigman]

06 GSXR 600

[R7]

Well seeing you have time in the dirt as well, best of both worlds is a Motard. Trail ride it one day, trackday the next, street ride (asuming you get a street plate for it) another day, and ice ride it in the winter

[csmutty]

Well seeing you have time in the dirt as well, best of both worlds is a Motard. Trail ride it one day, trackday the next, street ride (asuming you get a street plate for it) another day, and ice ride it in the winter

I am going to be buying a motard, but I just want to show you both sides to it. Motards are hella fun, but they also require a ton of maintenance and sometimes they grenade. Also it limits the tracks that you can go to.

[Damnut]

anything you can afford.

[mauro#749]

The sv is a grate track bike........

[Jim]

anything that didnt come from Doc, or Doc would suggest, or Doc thought about owning

[darkduc7]

anything that didnt come from Doc, or Doc would suggest, or Doc thought about owning

[fjrrider RI]

Think about a bike you can use on and off the track unless you intend to race

[obsolete]

Just get a 50, you maybe able to use all the power but probably not.

[khuygie88]

obligatory 'busa plug

[Doc]

anything that didnt come from Doc, or Doc would suggest, or Doc thought about owning

Looks like you can't run anything...

In that case I do not suggest you just run your street bike.

(That means you SHOULD run your street bike)

These jabs are alot more fun when you know I read them

[davemon]

SV650 or 650/800/900SS would be my recommendations. I went SV650S for insane reliability and cheap parts (brake and clutch lever combo pack for $35) and like it a lot. Both have lots of tested setup knowledge so you don't have to figure things out on your own until you get going. That said the stock sucpension on both is sad compared to any modern 600 super sport bike and the brakes on the SV are fine but far from overkill.

If you can find one of these already track prepped with nice suspension you'll start way ahead with low costs to continue.

Good luck!

Dave

[Garandman]

I don't have a bike for sale and had the same question. After talking to many people, for NHMS use the SV650 is pretty tough to beat. Call me biased since inside every DL650 is an SV650 screaming "Let me out!"

Relatively simple, relatively inexpensive, reliable and supremely durable, huge user community, every imaginable part available, and torque characteristics that suit that track. On them arket since 99 so there's one for every budget.

Once you decide on an SV650 though, that's only half the battle. You then have to decide on carbed or fuel injected, faired or not, and street legal or race trim.

I like the fact that with so many of them out there, you can find out where you stand.

[mzdagrl]

a 250 will be fine to get into trackdays, but if you are looking for long-term, and possibly race-ready, an ex500 or sv50 would be a better choice. clayton's treated him well.

[SVRACER01]

what i like about the SV is it feels like youre doing something. anyone on a 600 or larger will tell you that they can pretty much get around the track in 1 or 2 gears or only shift a couple times. the SV makes you work the gear box from 3rd to 6th. it praises you for getting it right and punishes you when you get it wrong. when i say punish i mean that because its such a low HP bike corner speed is essential so if you mess up you lose the drive out of the corner. get it right though.....