New Track Bike Winter Project

[dougie]

Just picked up a 2006 gsxr 600 off wera so now I have something else to blow all of my money on for the winter It was lowsided so the plastics are ugly but everything else checked out, time to assemble the checklist, any recommendations on slicks and plastics for gixxers? Going to be a track only bike also.

[jasnmar]

Congratulations.

I think the general recommendation amongst members here is armor bodies for body work. I stumbled across some used shark skins and picked them up. They seem fine, but I've not crash tested them so far.

I can't help with slicks. I'm still in street tires.

[Dave603]

well what does it have done to it already? I'd recommend the usual rear sets, frame sliders, exhaust etc. if it hasn't been put on yet. Coming from WERA it probably has some goodies on it already? I'm actually becoming very familiar with gsxr 600's because my SV650 race bike I'm building, I'm swapping a lot of the components out for gsxr stuff.

I have shark skinz on my R1 and I LOVE them, they were really expensive though but what people have told me Armour Bodies makes pretty good fairings, they are just not as durable but are better on the wallet. After looking at them side by side I don't think the difference in durability is that noticeable (have yet to crash test). What I was told was to stay away from hotbodies or any of those chinese companies, there difficult to repair when there isn't much material to work with.

[tsorfas]

armorbodies and pirelli slicks you ll be fine. DOTs are fine as well, I would actually recommend the new DOT pirellis

[kumpy]

ARMOUR Bodies are the best bodywork you're gonna be able to get for your bike, its worth every penny. They fit the best with minimal to zero modification, all the mounting holes line up perfectly. They crash the best and are easily repairable. Depending on the crash, you should have GMD Computrack check it out the alignment, not expensive at all and really worth checking. Make sure you get some Woodcraft rearsets, case covers, and clip ons if it aint already got em.

[nhbubba]

I have a gixxer 600/750 Hotbodies kit on my SV. It has served me and 1-2 previous owners well. Crashed and repaired several times.

[dougie]

Probably going to start with a armour bodies kit and sprocket swap since it still has stock gearing. Then maybe some Christmas presents for myself depending on how angry the girlfriend gets. It came pretty much stock except for braided lines and a Ohlins dampener. I want it trackday ready for the start of the year then maybe I'll do the rookie race later in the year once its a bit more dialed in and I've gotten used to the bike.

[Dave603]

I have a gixxer 600/750 Hotbodies kit on my SV. It has served me and 1-2 previous owners well. Crashed and repaired several times.

I stand corrected.. must have been older kits? I've just heard they were "flimsy".

Also do you scrape the sides I hear the gsxr kits are wide and cause an issue on SV's? I'm curious because I am currently shopping around for SV kits..

[OreoGaborio]

Suspension
Good tires (black, round ones.... I like the fancy Italian ones (Pirelli) cuz they taste like pasta and are just as predictable)
Suspension
Suspension
Suspension
Armourbodies & other Woodcraft bits
Suspension
Suspension
Suspension

In that order

[nhbubba]

Also do you scrape the sides I hear the gsxr kits are wide and cause an issue on SV's? I'm curious because I am currently shopping around for SV kits..

Do I scrape? Only when I crash.

I'm very slow and don't use anywhere close to all the lean angle available. But I don't think you would ever have to worry about that. The rearsets will touch down way, way before the bodywork will. And everyone tells me the rearsets will pretty much never touch down.

So in short, no.

Walk around the garages on a race weekend. You'll see a bunch of SVs with I4 body kits mounted. I didn't do it myself, but it looks like any idiot (even this one) with a bench vise and a pair of vice grips could fab up the required brackets.


That said. Oreo has it. Pour your money into tires and suspension first. Run nekid until then. ... Unless a really cheap kit jumps out at you on CL or fleabay or something.

[Dave603]

Really? check again the panels might be wider than you think... i've scraped peg before

[nhbubba]

Rearsets, not factory pegs.

You're more than welcome to not believe me. The kit does not scrape.

[OreoGaborio]

Assuming it's fitted well on a GSXR it shouldn't scrape, right?

So why would it scrape if fitted well on an SV?


<- had GSXR bodywork from Cheetah back in the day w/ no issues.

[union]

Dont bother with slicks. If you plan to race at some point this year they will limit you to superbike and unlimited classes. Go with a DOT race tire if you want race rubber. Youll probably also will want a set of tire warmers for them. If you dont have much track experience and you dont want to dump money into tires and warmers then you will probably be ok to start with street tires.

If you want to buy parts Id start with stuff that will make crashing cheaper. Rearsets, clipons, frame sliders, and case covers. I like woodcraft stuff because spares parts a generally easy to come by and cheap.

I like armourbodies for bodywork. Ive had a few sets and its good stuff. It is flexible, crashes good and repairs good. It fits good and all the dimples for the bolts are close but dont expect to just be able to drill where they suggest and have it fit perfectly.

[nhbubba]

After my very limited track day experience, I can't imagine being confident on any tire without warmers when racing. For track days I try to spend the first 2-3 laps warming the tires up.. and that has gone south for me. My read is that you do not get the same kind of warmup opportunity before needing to have rubber you can depend on under you.

Warmers seem like necessary equipment to go racing for realz. At least here in New England.

I'd love to hear from those that have actually done this if I have it all wrong.

[dougie]

Anyone have experience with the gsxr passenger seat bracket, this one has a slight bend (subframe is fine), just wondering if its something I should leave as is, think a replacement is $200.

[union]

After my very limited track day experience, I can't imagine being confident on any tire without warmers when racing. For track days I try to spend the first 2-3 laps warming the tires up.. and that has gone south for me. My read is that you do not get the same kind of warmup opportunity before needing to have rubber you can depend on under you.

Warmers seem like necessary equipment to go racing for realz. At least here in New England.

I'd love to hear from those that have actually done this if I have it all wrong.

You can do trackdays without warmers. Just need to go easy for a lap or two. Ive done it on the R6 and motard. If you want to go racing you need to be able to ride at 100% from the drop of the green flag so you will need warmers.

[nhbubba]

Yeah, that's what I was saying.

[Dave603]

Assuming it's fitted well on a GSXR it shouldn't scrape, right?

So why would it scrape if fitted well on an SV?


<- had GSXR bodywork from Cheetah back in the day w/ no issues.

Idk just something I read about putting I4 kits on SV's... must of been that california crowd thats dragging elbows

I'd go with a set of track day specific tires that are DOT legal, like Dunlop Q2's. Don't need warmers, but again need to take those extra couple laps to really get the heat soaked in before you start ripping on the bike. I've run them on my R1 for track day's and they are FINE. BUT ideally you'll want to get some slicks which will require tire warmers and wheel stands and you'll have to figure out logistics for electricity if the track doesn't have that available..

[Dave603]

Anyone have experience with the gsxr passenger seat bracket, this one has a slight bend (subframe is fine), just wondering if its something I should leave as is, think a replacement is $200.

Do you need the ability to have a passenger at the track? LOL

I'd take it off as long as it doesn't provide support for the subframe.

[OreoGaborio]

After my very limited track day experience, I can't imagine being confident on any tire without warmers when racing. For track days I try to spend the first 2-3 laps warming the tires up.. and that has gone south for me. My read is that you do not get the same kind of warmup opportunity before needing to have rubber you can depend on under you.

Warmers seem like necessary equipment to go racing for realz. At least here in New England.

I'd love to hear from those that have actually done this if I have it all wrong.

I've never used my warmers during track days.... never
I've raced a few times w/o warmers.... it's doable if it's warm, though ya gotta restrain yourself the first lap or two. One thing that I quickly discovered though is that Pirelli's have WAAYYYYYYYY more grip than Dunlops when not up to operating temp. Almost spit myself off KB's bike just pitting out one cold morning.

[nhbubba]

..like Dunlop Q2's.

I have those tires. I was shocked, shocked I tell you, at how fast the front came out from under me when cold. Once warm they treat me well. Until then, be careful.

My next set will probably not be Dunlops. I got these for a price.

[Chippertheripper]

That was not the tires' fault.
The q2-3 is a really good tire for td use. If you're fast though, you'll burn em up fast, especially if it's warm out.
Any agressive street tire, though, should offer the same performance.
Giddee up.

[nhbubba]

That was not the tires' fault.

That is probably a very fair statement.

[Pigman]

PM sent.....and just look at the winners of the dash and they arn't on Pirellie's LOLOLOL thats for sure