how much does racing actually cost?

[Rambunctous]

I would prefer to look like Melissa Paris. Then I could get naked and stay home and play with myself.

[Chippertheripper]

This thread turned into a novel. I didn't realize the mw guys were running the 600s for cool factor. And I thought the hawk was the "cool" bike to ride. I know it ain't a buell...

In my prenovice noobishness, I'd deffinitely recommend a td or 3 to get comfy with the track first. That way when you go to penguin, you have an understanding of who shouldn't be there and you'll know to stay as far away as humanly possible. (hopefully in front). In the end, it's your $, so spend it as you please. Next year, to stay on the cheap, I'll be looking for an ex or a moturd.

[Pigman]

Yea....I run a 600 to be Coool Fo Sure

[Doc]

So you want to run in MW now to look "cool" & "look like the AMA guys at a race".



Doc rules

If you can't beat em...

[CEO]

Racing costs a lot. If you want to scrap it together and do it "cheap" it's possible but you're still looking at a ~5k investment.

Motorcycles are not cheap.... newsflash everyone.

If you want to race your MW, do it. In the long run it will cost you more. But hey, who gives a shit. It's just money. If that's the bike you like and want to race, you'll be fine. There are definitely a lot of LW fanboys here, so they will always be pushing that on you for whatever reasons they have, some accurate and helpful, some preachy and condescending.

A good note that I think Ryan Nicholson made is that it's hard to move up to a MW later in the game especially if you've gotten further up in the ranks, i.e. expert. You're just going to embarass yourself. Starting as a novice and getting down to back of the pack expert level times on a motard isn't terribly difficult, then if you suddenly decide you want to race a MW and have never raced one, you really don't have the option without practicing quite a bit first unless you want to be lapped by your own wave.

Not to call anyone out but since he's my boy, Richie is probably a good example... he's raced an EX and then moved up to the tard, he was going quite fast on the motard (22's I believe) and bumped to expert. At this point Richie do you think you could race a MW with the experts and keep up even with the back of the expert pack (doing 18's and 19's or so)? I think you'd need a lot of track time on it first, right?

And if I hear that douchey "rather ride a slow bike fast than fast bike slow" moniker again... *douchechills*

Next year, to stay on the cheap, I'll be looking for an ex or a moturd.

If you want cheap, an EX or maybe even an SV would be the cheap route.

Motards are cheap to race because of crashability and low tire usage, but the maintenance is heavy and winter rebuilds can be pricey (not to mention if you blow it up like I did to mine). Those motors simply were not meant to do what we do to them.

[Chippertheripper]

Yeah, Chris. I fully understand. I'm comfy with dirty motors, so winter teardowns aren't super intimidating. And cheap crashability and tire usage is what will hopefully keep me in the game longer. But I'll certainly be making note that to be competitive on a mw i4, if that's what I want, there'll be a good learning curve. As a new racer, I want to stay away from the "meat grinder" that class is said to be.

[CEO]

As a new racer, I want to stay away from the "meat grinder" that class is said to be.

It really isn't like that anymore for the most part. That name from what I understand applied more in past years with larger grids and more casual/newb folks coming into racing. I only made contact with another bike one or twice as a novice, and they were my fault, and no crash occurred. (I've also done it as an AM on my motard). There were only a couple NV races I saw last year where bikes were hit or taken out, and that can occur in all classes.

edit: also note that its more safe since butcher bergs is no longer a novice...

[seth399]

Yeah, Chris. I fully understand. I'm comfy with dirty motors, so winter teardowns aren't super intimidating. And cheap crashability and tire usage is what will hopefully keep me in the game longer. But I'll certainly be making note that to be competitive on a mw i4, if that's what I want, there'll be a good learning curve. As a new racer, I want to stay away from the "meat grinder" that class is said to be.

If you get a motard, keep the motor fresh and stock...mine ran all 8 rounds with no issues. Only thing close to motor work I needed to do was rebuild the waterpump which was like 60-80 in parts and hour or two.

[Pittenger5]

When I can go faster than every 50 hp EX500 on my 70 hp Hawk then I think I will be a half way decent racer.

I did it last year, I was beyond happy. Course, I was on a 51 hp motard.

[Pittenger5]

At this point Richie do you think you could race a MW with the experts and keep up even with the back of the expert pack (doing 18's and 19's or so)?

Fucks no, Im even a little nervous being an expert at a new track. Had I known Id be moving I'm not convinced I woulda bumped. Ok, I still wouldve. Had I known Id be moving and could afford to race, Im not convicned I woulda bumped.

But to expand on your point, I think its easier as far as classes to start big and move small if thats what you decide. However, I think (personally) technically its easier to start small and move up. Then you know the line, you learn all the nuances of things without going warp speed. And I think its easier to not make a big mistake on a small bike. I think too many people might start on a 600 and get burned out by the money, or if they have a big wreck or two from their lack of technical skills, then quit racing.

[FireboltEric_MA]

Racing costs a lot. If you want to scrap it together and do it "cheap" it's possible but you're still looking at a ~5k investment.


A good note that I think Ryan Nicholson made is that it's hard to move up to a MW later in the game especially if you've gotten further up in the ranks, i.e. expert. You're just going to embarass yourself. Starting as a novice and getting down to back of the pack expert level times on a motard isn't terribly difficult, then if you suddenly decide you want to race a MW and have never raced one, you really don't have the option without practicing quite a bit first unless you want to be lapped by your own wave.


And if I hear that douchey "rather ride a slow bike fast than fast bike slow" moniker again... *douchechills*

Chris & Ryan have very good points IMO.

[Doc]

I did it last year, I was beyond happy. Course, I was on a 51 hp motard.

Are there not EX guys running 19's?

[Doc]

I think too many people might start on a 600 and get burned out by the money, or if they have a big wreck or two from their lack of technical skills, then quit racing.

EXACTLY!

[Doc]

Chris & Ryan have very good points IMO.

You have no opinion. Novice!

Yes I am gonna play that card

[Pittenger5]

Are there not EX guys running 19's?

At times. All I know is in LWSM no EX finished in front of me. Though BJ crashed while he was right behind me.

[FireboltEric_MA]

You have no opinion. Novice!

Yes I am gonna play that card

True story right there.

Fark now Doc is making good points...

[Doc]

At times. All I know is in LWSM no EX finished in front of me. Though BJ crashed while he was right behind me.

What I meant was having a laptime faster than the fastest EX500 rider.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.508 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I'd like to see "crashes per bike/lap" figures for ex500s versus i4's. Might surprise people.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.508 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

If you decide on an ex500, don't forget to factor in the cost of the oars you will need to buy.

[Loun]

[SIZE=1]I'd like to see "crashes per bike/lap" figures for ex500s versus i4's. Might surprise people.

Since the initial post was about costs of racing, I guess id turn that around and ask you "crashes per bike / cost to repair" for ex500s verses i4's. Can anyone possibly argue the average cost per repair on an EX500 crash is anywhere near that of an i4? Considering an entry level race prep EX500 can be had for $1500.

The reason I went the SV route when I was considering buying a track bike to potentially race was, in my mind an EX500 was a bike I could compete on in 1 class and then the other classes I could get out there but would be in the way. Where as an SV can compete in a lot more classes and thus I was less likely to "out grow" it. And entry level race prep was $2200 - 2500. **edit since I dont know enough about "classes" I will really swap this to, I think SV's give more options than EX500s do.**

I dont care which route anyone goes when they race 125s, 500s, 600, motards, just offering information that I think is helpful.

-Lou

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.508 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Good point. But also, more crashes, more potential for injury. I'm not saying any one solution is better, just that there are more factors than people are considering here.

[Pittenger5]

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I'd like to see "crashes per bike/lap" figures for ex500s versus i4's. Might surprise people.

Lets see

1 i4 crash in 1/2 a lap
1 EX500 crash in over a hundred laps.


EX wins! Or I suck at riding i4s, either way.

[union]

If you want cheap, an EX or maybe even an SV would be the cheap route.

I wouldnt count on the SV being cheap. I was thinking of moving to one next year of the year after for that reason and its really not much cheaper. The fast guys are doing 15s and 16s. Its a lot faster then either of us are running at the time and on a smaller tire. Sure they arent doing 10s but not many are. At that speed I dont think any racing is cheap. As for the ex. Sure its cheap to run. Its the budget racer for sure but I believe Jeff did a 16 on one No idea what the current guys are running as the NHMS new page is not as user friendly as the old results were.

[union]

Lets see

1 i4 crash in 1/2 a lap
1 EX500 crash in over a hundred laps.


EX wins! Or I suck at riding i4s, either way.

You tried using all the power

[6 Fingered Man]

This thread is making me want to bring my f4i to the track now... Was it supposed to have that effect?