novice on 1000cc?

[OreoGaborio]

Bergs, have you ridden the track before? I can't remember.

[Pittenger5]

[butcher bergs]

Bergs, have you ridden the track before?

Not before VIR.

EDIT: And before you say it, yes, I realize I have only two track days under my belt. Would you trust me if I said "I feel very comfortable out there"?

Mongoose441- Time to look into other options, eh?

Still waiting for the original pic....not sure what the holdup is......but I liked this one the most...

[OreoGaborio]

Awesome, dude. How'd ya like it? Guessin ya had fun if you're already considering racing

I'm heading down there this weekend

I can't wait till the Track Day/Racing season starts up

[Doc]

Bergs man... Get an EX 500 and race that. Or even an SV... I think you would be happier.

[butcher bergs]

Awesome, dude. How'd ya like it? Guessin ya had fun if you're already considering racing

There's no turning back. I know exactly what I live for. Just gotta make it a full time job somehow...

I can't wait till the Track Day/Racing season starts up.

Yep...I know where I'm gonna be...

[OreoGaborio]

Bergs man... Get an EX 500 and race that. Or even an SV... I think you would be happier.

Mine will be going up for sale soon.... well.. maybe...

EX's are friggin cheap money & you can't beat being a member of & racing with the EX Mafia.

[Doc]

I would have said get a Hawk but Tomato bought them all....

[Pittenger5]

EX Mafia all the way, least until the end of this year

[butcher bergs]

Bergs man... Get an EX 500 and race that. Or even an SV... I think you would be happier.

How so?

I mean, I'm pretty happy at the moment...why would you try and ruin that?

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

Mr. Bergs:
I would suggest you get something else, if you like the big stuff get a 600 and enjoy it. it cost a bit more for tires and its an ultra competitive class but your young just crazy enough and most likely be very good at.

SV's and lighter bikes are fun as well.

that 929 may not be the perfect track tool and its worth a good amount of $$ you could get a 600 fully prepped ready to roll and some tire $$$ left over.

But if you still want to race the 929 for whatever reason. Go for it. As long as you are having fun. thats what important. I will offer some laps on my SV to you at a practice if you want to check it out. or just for shits and giggles.

you looked VERY good out there at VIR, and I think you will be a fine racer in whatever you decide.

[Doc]

[butcher bergs]

Denno- Sorry about the thread...it just sorta happened...


One thing's for sure, the 929 isn't going anywhere for at least this year...money has already been spent and I plan to make use of it.


I'd like to ask the collective:

If I can indeed handle this particular bike (the 929) then why all the suggestions to go to something else? I mean, other than the fact that there's only really one class to race in as a Novice what's my motive for switching...

Dan- I should ride your bike for you while you heal up!

[Doc]

That would be my motive. Only one race.

Other things to consider. Parts availability and I don't see anyone else racng one... gotta be a reason right?

Personally (and this is just MY opinion) I think it is jumping right into the fire. It is kinda the same with MWSB. They don't call it the "meat grinder" for nothing,

I was always told it is better/ easier to start on a smaller bike.

More power to you man. No matter what you decide I will cheer for ya!

(Hell if I am gonna cheer for Denno I may as well cheer for you too)

[RyanNicholson]

in my opinion, it probably takes the right person to start in the middle weight class....I dont know you personally but from what I've read on here you'd probably have a lot of fun with it (I know I did). As far as racing the 929 in that one race, the other thing to consider is the fact that the GTO race on sundays is also probably the most red flagged race at the track....I ran it for two weekends when I was a novice and stopped wasting my money on it. It would be a shame if you came to the track, practiced both days, then had your one race canceled after 4 laps.

The middle weight class is definitely the most challenging, most competitive, and can definitely be the most expensive....but I love it. The lighter bikes (now this part is just from observation as I dont race one) tend to be a lot more "for fun" kind of classes...less power and weight means more technique in corner speed so a lot of guys have a lot of fun on them. They also dont eat tires up like the higher HP bikes do (I go through two sets a weekend, lightweight guys go through a couple sets a year).

But like Dan said....as long as you're having fun thats what matters.

[Pittenger5]

Im with the one race per weekend group, but at the very least give it a shot, make sure its right for you (racings a LOT different than track days) if you wanna do more races then you can look for another bike.

Another thing to thinkabout is bike prep, fairly more intensive than VIR, and theres a more likely chance of crashing, and if you do it well, there goes your street bike.

[Crash Dummy Denno]

Denno- Sorry about the thread...it just sorta happened...

no worries mate - the only thing i'd say is VIR is very different from NHMS for a 1k

(Hell if I am gonna cheer for Denno I may as well cheer for you too)

thanks doc - too bad you're retiring now

[Paul_E_D]

OK, I'll say it: Bergs, take this with a grain of salt. I know you're set on your decision, but here's a few thoughts on why you'll encounter resistence when you tell people your plans:


No one else is racing them

They are not a particularly good bike for going fast around a tight technical track

When you crash it, there won't be vendors there who stock any parts for it

When you crash it, it's VERY heavy when it hits you

The class it runs in is a crash fest because these bikes are difficult to control when you start pushing up the pace

bikes that accelerate very fast are difficult to learn racecraft on because all your attention is spent on braking. things happen mighty quick in racing. A slower, smaller, lighter bike gives you a lot more margin for error, and more opportunity for learning.

You can't race at all from the hospital!

All that said, if you're patient, your could have a blast following your plan. Have fun.

[kermita]

Not before VIR.

EDIT: And before you say it, yes, I realize I have only two track days under my belt. Would you trust me if I said "I feel very comfortable out there"?

Mongoose441- Time to look into other options, eh?

Bergs....I know of an 02 SV650 trackbike for sale for cheap money. You'd just need to safety wire it and it would be ready to race.

[Degsy]

If I can indeed handle this particular bike (the 929) then why all the suggestions to go to something else? I mean, other than the fact that there's only really one class to race in as a Novice what's my motive for switching...

It's slow (sorry, but a gixxer 1k will laugh all the way to turn 1 against a 929)
...and it's heavy.

...and you'll have trouble finding race parts. I don't think woodcraft sell anything for it any more. Not sure about race bodywork either.

derek

[Doc]

It's slow (sorry, but a gixxer 1k will laugh all the way to turn 1 against a 929)
...and it's heavy.
derek

I was gonna say that too...

[tls25rs]

Bergs,

I haven't ever met you but don't I remember you mentioning something about owning a motard in one of your other posts on here? If you have a motard then wire it and run it and have a blast. You will have so much fun running a motard and you wont eat tires and all these comments you are receiving about high horsepower bikes being bad will be replaced by the "I hate motards soooooo much because they are more fun to ride than my bike and can go anywhere they want on the track" (don't take that the wrong way, even motards should follow the proper race line and from watching John Gosselin and Jeff Wood it is still the fastest wasy to take a motard around Loudon).

Joel

[butcher bergs]

No motard.



Thank you for all the insight.

[Crash Dummy Denno]

RACE IT! who cares - have some fun with it - see you in the GT

[tls25rs]

No motard.

Sorry, my mistake. Hope you have fun with whatever you race.

Joel