Track Bike for an old guy

[jim v]

I'm in the market for a track day ride, hoping to tap into the collective knowledge here.

Important considerations

- track day only, won't be racing
- in my 50s, has to be something I can fit onto and ride for multiple sessions
- not a track newb, has to be somewhat entertaining
- that said not interested in a 200hp rocketship
- modern electronics would be nice but not required
- the lighter the better
- willing to consider pre-owned

Panigale V2 - not 200hp but still a liter class bike, not the top candidate
Aprilia RS660 - keeping coming back to this, light, 100hp, modern electronics, checks a lot of boxes
used 60/7500cc supersport - light, lack modern electronics, where do I find a good one?

Any info, advice, insight is appreciated

[OreoGaborio]

How important are ergonomics and comfort to you?
Are you much bigger or smaller than the average sized person or roughly in the middle?

From what I've seen and heard, the RS660 is a pretty sweet little machine.

[jim v]

How important are ergonomics and comfort to you?
Are you much bigger or smaller than the average sized person or roughly in the middle?

From what I've seen and heard, the RS660 is a pretty sweet little machine.

I am 6'1" 185lbs and in decent shape. Ten years ago ergos/comfort wouldn't have mattered much but they're more important now and that trend is only going to continue.

[feralchimp]

It sounds like your tolerance for supersport ergos is better than mine.

"Old guy track day" is basically how I ended up with a 701 and a supermoto wheelset...which I have subsequently never actually brought to the track, but which is funner than hell on the street.

RS660 seems like the sweet spot for the reasons you cited.

[loudbeard]

If super sport ergos aren’t what you’re looking for then KTM Duke 890R is exactly the weapon for the job.

[Crconnor18]

+1 for the 890/790 Duke.

[golden chicken]

+2 890 Duke R. I rode 2 hours nonstop in complete comfort while also being able to strafe corners.

I want to stop after an hour or so on my SV.

[TheIglu]

+3 Super happy with mine.

[jim v]

Thanks guys, I thought about an enduro style bike, it checks a lot of boxes. But there's some degree of emotion involved in the decision and the enduros leave me cold

Disappointing that KTM only offers the RC390 and super limited RC8C - they're leaving the entire category to Ducati and Aprilia which doesn't seem like a good business decision

[Mgiossi]

+1 RS660 totally on my wish list as well

[jimmycapp]

1290 super duke

[burnham]

Thanks guys, I thought about an enduro style bike, it checks a lot of boxes. But there's some degree of emotion involved in the decision and the enduros leave me cold

Disappointing that KTM only offers the RC390 and super limited RC8C - they're leaving the entire category to Ducati and Aprilia which doesn't seem like a good business decision

I've got a few RC8's. There's nothing in the way of electronics on them, but they're very adjustable and pretty comfortable for what they are.

[golden chicken]

Thanks guys, I thought about an enduro style bike, it checks a lot of boxes. But there's some degree of emotion involved in the decision and the enduros leave me cold

Disappointing that KTM only offers the RC390 and super limited RC8C - they're leaving the entire category to Ducati and Aprilia which doesn't seem like a good business decision

Standby two more weeks. KTM is set to unveil an 890 Duke GP. Whatever that means.

[MattR302]

I’m not that old, but I had enough of the sportbike ergonomics, so I sold my track CBR and got a set of supermoto wheels for my DR650 to use on the track. Only managed one day so far, but it was a lot of fun.

That being said, I recently acquired a project Hypermotard and I’m super excited to flog that on the track. You should buy a new 950SP and let me sit on it and make vroom-vroom noises.

[Crconnor18]

B-King?

https://www.cycleworld.com/sport-rid...ood-to-b-king/

[MattR302]

- the lighter the better

B-King?

Lol those are up near 600# wet

[jim v]

B-King?

https://www.cycleworld.com/sport-rid...ood-to-b-king/

Yeah, not interested in a turbocharged, fragile, 580lb porker for the track. Thanks though

[Garandman]

6’1, old, have a GSX-R750 with raised seat, It’s pretty tight and more power than I can handle. Swear I’m faster on my Tiger 1050.

[OneCheekRider]

Duke, Street Triple RS, Tuono, S1000R would be my considerations for great track-ready non-sporty bikes that you could also enjoy on the street. Even an S1000XR is fun on track. I rode the RS660 at Chuckwalla Raceway and liked it but is a little pricey IMO. If looking for track-only I'd just buy a used sporty bike already setup for the track; my R6 has a demanding riding position so no-session track days are kinda a waste on it but I can still do 20min sessions on it all day. My GSXR had more forgiving ergos comparatively. If you join the Trackday Junkies group on FB or cruise the wera forums there can be deals that pop up.

[golden chicken]

Turns out a Duke GP is a regular Duke 890 (so smaller brakes and less adjustable suspension) with a fancy graphic.

So Duke 890R! (again)

[jim v]

Thanks to everyone who checked in - even the poster that suggested a B-King - purchased a track prepped RS660 from Seacoast. No photos yet. Soon

Ultimately the modern electronics are what drew me in - this is likely my last track bike (did I mention I'm old) and really wanted to experience a bike with them. Signed up for a bunch of track days (pretty rare for me to plan ahead like that) and am super excited to ride that thing

[loudbeard]

Turns out a Duke GP is a regular Duke 890 (so smaller brakes and less adjustable suspension) with a fancy graphic.

So Duke 890R! (again)

BOLD NEW GRAPHICS!!!