Opinions on track only bike.

So i'm on the fence as to whether or not to make the GSXR a track only bike. I've had it since 05 and have done street and track duty with it since then. I find myself not riding it but once or twice a year on the road. I does six or seven on average track days a year. With race plastics, light removal and such would it be lighter and more fun on the track? It sits for a few weeks now waiting for the next track day so the down time between rides will be the same and the need to change from street to track will be gone, though it takes less than an hour with wheel changes to make it road ready. I also have an 81 GS for street use but reliability issues do pop up with that as it's an 81 and the need to wrench on it is more frequent. I do ride on the street a lot ie commuting and weekend cruising but only take the GS. I know a lot of people have track only bikes so can you give an opinion?

I'd do it. If you don't ride street that much than its a great reason to make it track only.

Plus if you go down with it setup for track you'll still have your headlight setup and all the other little BS incase you wanna sell it or something, instead of ruining it

Make it a trackbike, and do 10 a year instead of your 6 or 7...

Or Pete trade it to me for a already track-only cbr600rr with almost every imaginable track upgrade already on it, plus spares and rains. Plus cash or another (cheap) bike perhaps

Race plastics won't make a difference imo in performance.

Track days? Leave it alone. You'll want to sell it someday.

Seems like the advantage for you making it track-only wouldn't be any increased performance due to less weight, but money saved from not having it registered and insured. And in some cases, taxed...

I would not. I would either flip the bike for something already set up as a track bike, or continue to ride it as is. I think you will pull a lot of value out of the bike if you convert it to track only. Especially if you pull the odo and have to tick that "mileage unknown" box on the title. Or if you happen to crash it.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of very well setup track toys out there that someone has already done this to and the value is already gone.

I bought a pre-crashed ex-race bike for roughly half what I would expect to spend on a clean street bike. I was only a little sad (instead of completely destroyed) when I bounced it down the track.

That's my $0.02.

Removing the bikini fairing and tail with seat on my SV dropped 26lbs. I'm sure a fully faired bike would lose a bite more. The race tail only weighs about 2 lbs. Other stuff like the kickstand also drop some lbs over your street setup. Personally even though my bike is raced out now, is really like to keep it on the street, and will probly go the naked bike rout over the winter.

Track days - leave the bike as is for dedicated track days. Put no money into it besides tires, gas, and oil.

Racing - Put the bike back into street form, sell it, and buy a setup race bike.

What would making it track only entail? Ripping up the title?

Nothing wrong with getting a set of track plastics if you want, but unless you're worried about shaving a few hundredths off your time it won't make a performance difference.

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Originally Posted by maxim_X

Removing the bikini fairing and tail with seat on my SV dropped 26lbs. I'm sure a fully faired bike would lose a bite more. The race tail only weighs about 2 lbs. Other stuff like the kickstand also drop some lbs over your street setup. Personally even though my bike is raced out now, is really like to keep it on the street, and will probly go the naked bike rout over the winter.

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People who remove kickstands on track day bikes make me laugh. Even if you're running warmers there is no reason to shave a pound especially when it's that low on the bike. It's just too damn convenient to leave alone.

lots of people have issues grinding them in 6, especially new to track ppl who dont have the best body position. its not a bad idea. grinding hard parts is an easy way to visit the pavement.

Well that makes sense then. I didn't know it was an issue for some. I've herd/seen people drag a center stand but never a kick stand.

Yeah I chopped my kickstand up because I was grinding it all over. Anyway, I meant other street goodies like that for example. If you can lose 20 lbs its gotta be worth something in time.

I haven't ridden much at all this year but in the past I've always swapped over plastics and rims and that's it. One off will pay for the track plastics and you really don't need to do anything else. That way you if you really want to hit the street it only takes an hour or so, and since I don't drag any hard parts I leave my kickstand on. I guess what I'm saying is why make it "track only" .

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Originally Posted by maxim_X

If you can lose 20 lbs its gotta be worth something in time.

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While this is true, its worth it just for feel.

I guess i'll leave it as is...taped up for track days.

Pete, keep it stock, you haul ass on that thing.