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I'm sure I sound stupid, but never let that stop me before.
I'm looking to pick up a cheap track bike, but wasn't sure if there are some that are better than others and some models to stay away from. Wanted to try a track day, but didn't want to crash out the R1, so thought I might pick up something cheap, but figured I might like it and eventually want to race more.
Anyways, was looking at the usual suspects: R6, GSXR, Ninja, etc...
Sorry if this is the wrong section for this.
14 Triumph Street Triple R, 18 TM 450SMX sumo, 15 Husky 250SXF tard, 14 KTM 250SXF and Cole's Grom
LRRS/CCS #66
Thank you to my sponsors: Sidi / AMSOIL / Klutch Industries
cheaper option that is still plenty fast at loudon are Sv650's
but thats what everyone on nesr will say lol
u can find them used for like 3k no prob, they run forever get the suspension sorted out and they are good for sub 1:30s once u figure out what your doing
also a lot of classes u can enter with them if u decide to race.
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www.bostonmoto.com
2009 Zx-6r--17,680 miles and counting!!
2008 ZZR600 - - - 10,268 miles totaled
Ride to live, live to ride
Figure out what classes you might want to race in and get a track bike that will fit. So what if you don't race for a few years, you'll have the bike and be ready to go when it's time. That's why I'm putting around on a Hawk...
LRRS EX #7
Low Down Racing
- Woodcraft - Armour Bodies - Computrack Boston - Lifeproof -
When you say "cheap", do you mean a cheap buy-in or cheap to operate?
If you mean a cheap buy-in then you should be able to source a clam pretty much anywhere. I purchased my CBR for a great price but I had to put some alot of work into it.
The bikes on your list are going to be more expensive to operate in the long term and once you really start throwing down lap times.
On the smaller bikes such as the SV6, EX5, Hawk, etc it will be more about generating and maintaining momentum on the track which will require you to make less mistakes during your races if you plan on winning.
i bought an old cbr f2 for dirt cheap, and its plenty fun for track days. sure, its beat up, but thats what i bought it for. it has enough go to be fun but wont get you in tons of trouble, and parts are really cheap. old bike though, so be careful not to get junk.
+1 on sv's too, but honda f2, f3's are bulletproof
Last edited by darkduc7; 05-31-10 at 08:39 AM.
CCS/LRRS EX #226
LOW DOWN RACING
Current stable:
2008 hyper 1100
2007 crf450r
2009 yz450f
2008 sikk mx 125 minimoto
want cheap?- skip the 600 meat grinders - motard would be my choice if I ever do it again. I watch them crash and they almost always continue to race with all pieces intact.
For the record I can put an R6 (back) together with my eyes closed
Isn't there a CBR F4 for sale here somewhere?
Aw shucks.
Yeah, SV's are very popular up at Loudon. Good examples can be found for 4g's or less. Great learning tool and plenty competitive should you decide to go racing later on.
Cheaper still is an EX500. That's what I started on and it was a hoot. Bikes can be found well sorted for under 1500 bucks and there's a big following for those as well up at NHMS.
For middleweights, the '06+ R6 seems to be the bike of choice for most racers... Great bike but they're more expensive to buy and go through tires much faster.
If you're JUST doing track days and have no aspirations of racing anytime soon, just about any 600 from the big four, an SV, an EX or whatever will do just fine.
-Pete
NEMRR #81 - ECK Racing
Cyclesmith Track Days
Woodcraft | MTag-Pirelli | OnTrack Media
'03 Tuono | '06 SV650 | '04 CRF250X | '24 Aprilia Tuareg
6fingeredman is selling an f4. oh, and that blue f4 i almost bought (and should have) is still floating around for just over 2k and seems like a hell of a bike
CCS/LRRS EX #226
LOW DOWN RACING
Current stable:
2008 hyper 1100
2007 crf450r
2009 yz450f
2008 sikk mx 125 minimoto
I am selling a ZX6R.![]()
"I'd rather ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow"
Bikes: Ducati: 748 (Track) Honda: RC31 (Race/street)/ CRF 110 Mini Moto/ Hawk Endurance Racer Kawasaki: ZXR1200R
BOMO Instructor
EX# X
-Christian LRRS/CCS HasBeen ECK Racing
2011 Pit Bike Race CHAMPION!
-Christian LRRS/CCS HasBeen ECK Racing
2011 Pit Bike Race CHAMPION!
-Christian LRRS/CCS HasBeen ECK Racing
2011 Pit Bike Race CHAMPION!
1999 Ducati 750SS. Chip and exhaust. Perfect condition. 5000 miles. My buddies bike so I do not know the exact price. About 3K
Thanks for the input guys. I was trying to get a bike for under $2k, so was looking at bikes with bad titles or previous damage. Not real sure what my future holds for racing, I might try a couple track days and hate it, so I don't want to invest a ton of money right off the bat, but also didn't want to buy a cheap Ninja 600 or YZF r6 and then not have it be a good bike for the future if I like racing. (Did that make sense?)
Maybe I'll focus my search on a Sv or ex500, then. They're both like Hyper's anyways, right?![]()
14 Triumph Street Triple R, 18 TM 450SMX sumo, 15 Husky 250SXF tard, 14 KTM 250SXF and Cole's Grom
LRRS/CCS #66
Thank you to my sponsors: Sidi / AMSOIL / Klutch Industries
Gonna be tough finding a Expert competative RACE 600 for under $2000.
A Novice racebike sure but you will have to update.
"I'd rather ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow"
Bikes: Ducati: 748 (Track) Honda: RC31 (Race/street)/ CRF 110 Mini Moto/ Hawk Endurance Racer Kawasaki: ZXR1200R
BOMO Instructor
EX# X
I got a track EX500 for sale for a grand. Leaves a lot leftover to put into a decent set of leathers, race boots, stands, warmers, etc.
PM me if you are interested. Needs a battery and a rear axle adjuster plate thingy to be ready to roll. I'm ordering up the axle thingy either way.
2021 KTM Duke 890 R
2020 BMW R1250GS Adventure Exclusive
1982 Honda CB750F Super Sport