Converting Street Bike to Track Bike

**Lucky13** · 08-31-05, 02:38 PM

I'm thinking of turning my sv650s into a track only bike. So what should I do to it? Who's done it, and what did you do to the bike? I'm thinking of doing only track days, and maybe penguin next summer...no racing.

I'd like to remove the side stand for clearance, and maybe experiment with some race rubber. I've had no problems with my pilot powers, and I am by no means running at the limits of the tire. I can't imagine race tires would be much stickier..or are they? What's the difference between a Michelin Pilot Power and a Michelin Pilot race tire? Is it just the profile and availability of different compounds you can only get in a race tire?

Rearsets-Recommended? Would be nice to have extra parts to fix broken pedals if I have a spill and something breaks.

Race plastic- Recommended? Would look cool, but I guess I could just leave the lights taped up/unplugged.

What else should I consider doing to the bike?

**Lucky13** · 08-31-05, 02:53 PM

I should add I've already had the forks done by Peter, and a Penske 8981 put on the rear, Galfer SS lines on the front and EBC HH pads.

**McBiggity** · 08-31-05, 02:57 PM

you can remove the side stand- just solder the 2 wires together down there.

Rear sets are a good idea, Woodcraft is popular.
Race plastics not necessary, catch can/belly pan may be required for some track days.

you can save a little weight by removing the headlight alltogether.

Tires- race tires are quite a bit stickier than street rubber, but are not necessary until you really start pushing the limits of the street tires.

**a13x** · 08-31-05, 03:08 PM

Take off lights
Tape up holes in fairing
Take off sidestand.

*smack on the ass* OFF YOU GO!

Drag your pegs? Get rearsets.
Feel the tires moving around? Get race rubber.
Crack up your plastic? Put on race skins.

You're good to go as is man. braaap.

**OreoGaborio** · 08-31-05, 03:15 PM

all you really have to do is just remove or tape over the lights & mirrors.... that's all

I have stock everything on my bike & track it... Pilot powers are plenty for even an experienced trackday participant untill you start getting into the mid 20's, then they start wearing out a little quick, but from what Dave from Motorace has said, the Pilot Power is good for a 1:17 at NHIS (but not for many laps)

You can remove the sidestand if you like, but are you really having clearance issues with it yet? If you wanna deal w/ putting the bike on a rearstand every time you pull into the pits, then by all means, but after the 4th or 5th session of all out track riding, i can tell ya I appreciate my sidestand being there. When you come in from the track & your legs are feelin like Jello, trust me... you'll appreciate being able to just throw the sidestand down instead of finding someone who can throw a rearstand under the back of your bike cuz you can't get off, balance it & put it up yourself.

As far as rearsets go... they're 200 bucks a pop & bend alot easier than the stock rearsets w/ the folding pegs. Again, it's up to you... if you think you're having clearance issues then by all means get some. Personally, I'm turning lap times under 1:30 & i have the stock rearsets on my bike... I'm gettin some peg down in 2, 3, 6 and 10... Instead of rearesets I'm just gonna get some adapter plates to move the stock pegs up a little. If you get rearsets you're coupld potentially have to deal w/ getting new 200 dollar rearsets every other time you go down.

If i were to make my zx6r into a track ONLY bike, I'd just remove all the lights, MAYBE get some race plastics & call it a day

EDIT: in other words..... yeah, what Alex said

**Lucky13** · 08-31-05, 03:31 PM

I've definitely dragged the side stand a few times, and it makes me feel like I'm gonna wipe.. most likely I'll be okay, but I hate the feeling I get when it happens..As far as the rearsets go, it's not so much I'm drag'n pegs...I just like how the pedals come in three pieces and I can easily replace the broken part after a spill...the stock pedals are all one piece and when they break you're kinda screwed.

**lee955i** · 08-31-05, 04:22 PM

If you're dragging the stand, take it off before it levers you off. Back in my trackday days, I would just use a Baxley Sport chock. Set it on the ground and just drive into it, then climb off. Brilliant

As far as rearsets and clip-ons go, it's personal preference, really. Either just load up on spares from e-bay or woodcrafts.
Street tires are good until you really start to carry some good corner speed. Then they'll start to show their intent. I wouldn't worry about it for now, though.
The rest is good to go other than finding some SV racers and measuring their bikes up a bit to check their geometry.
Cheers, Lee S.

**RandyO** · 08-31-05, 04:22 PM

I drag my sidestand regularly on the street on my SV, first things to touch

**SVRACER01** · 08-31-05, 04:39 PM

go to the races this weekend and talk to some SV guys that are racing. sit on somebikes to feel what the clip ons feel like and rearsets come from MANY different poeple, some you may never have heard of.
i run stock rearsets with adapter plates and stock clip ons with stock suspension. i did 2 years of trackdays with the bike on street rubber (thats 24 trackdays) because it was my daily driver and street tires are fine. those pilot powers are awesome...... even the street ones for the track. Alex is right, do what he said. i used to drag the kickstand here and there when the suspension bottomed out but change your body position (hang off bike more)and that wont happen as much or at all

**LowSider** · 08-31-05, 05:07 PM

You should buy WOTEugene's SV and sell me yours.

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...threadid=17889

**HBerry** · 08-31-05, 05:27 PM

SAFETY WIRE!

**Rice-rocket1** · 08-31-05, 05:37 PM

Like some one told me, "if your dragging hard parts your not getting off the bike enough".

That is unless you have some really good lap times......

**OreoGaborio** · 08-31-05, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by HBerry
SAFETY WIRE!

good idea, but not required..... till '06 at least (Oil Filter & Drain Plug)

I'm w/ Jim on the hardparts issue.... only reason why i'm gettin em down is cuz i'm hitting the transitions in 2, 3 and 10, and gravity is sucking me down into the bowl cuz of the camber. I"ve gotta work on my bodyposition, though i AM probably gonna get some adapter plates to raise up my stockers.

**HBerry** · 08-31-05, 07:13 PM

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
good idea, but not required..... till '06 at least (Oil Filter & Drain Plug)

I'm w/ Jim on the hardparts issue.... only reason why i'm gettin em down is cuz i'm hitting the transitions in 2, 3 and 10, and gravity is sucking me down into the bowl cuz of the camber. I"ve gotta work on my bodyposition, though i AM probably gonna get some adapter plates to raise up my stockers.

IF he does penguin school he needs em!

**HBerry** · 08-31-05, 07:50 PM

Cancel that, unless he is going to do racing in LRRS or other bodies, he doesnt need saftey wire. I am stupid!

It is a good idea however, but takes a while.

**lee955i** · 08-31-05, 08:37 PM

Ahh, safety wiring is one of the most FUN ways to spend a winter

.
Cheers, lee S.

**brewmaster** · 09-01-05, 03:58 AM

Originally posted by lee955i
Ahh, safety wiring is one of the most FUN ways to spend a winter .
Cheers, lee S.

You need to get out more in the winter than!

Actually I completely understand, winter is for prepping .... spring,summer & autumn are for riding.

**Lucky13** · 09-01-05, 07:44 AM

Safety wiring is a good idea..What about maintenance? Change the oil every other track day? How often should I change the brake fluid and/or bleed the lines?

**Paul_E_D** · 09-01-05, 07:46 AM

I don't know why people shy away from safety wire. It has that funny name for a reason...It makes you SAFER out there. What could be the negative in that??? I have wired my street bike, and even the calipers on my vintage car!!!

Do it. It could literally save your life one day. (wire the pin that holds your brake pads in)

Rearsets actually have a few advantages no one is mentioning here. They are generally not rubber coated like your stockers, they are stiffer, and they usually change the center of gravity on your bike. The combination of these things gives you:

Better traction on your pegs
better feedback through your feet
better pivot point (leverage) to steer from

Do you NEED them, no. Do they make a difference...YES

For an example of how much stiffer they are than stock pegs, My feet were bruised on the bottom the first few days I used them.

Converting Street Bike to Track Bike

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