Beginner's track day bike

[jacketsfanatic]

I'm asking this because either the search function is not working or I'm completely retarded.

I would like to get into some track days next year and the thought of throwing my street bike down the pavement is not pleasant. Before you get your keyboard warmed up ready to flame me as the next squid asking if the GSX1000 or R1 is a better first bike, I have no aspirations of being the next Rossi or even racing. I just want to get out on the track and do it safely. Just for a little background, I have been riding for about 4 years, all street, on a Kawasaki Z1000. While I really like the bike it's much too nice to wreck and I would like something with significantly less power. Looks are not too important. I want something that is reliable, doesn't eat tires, and isn't going to highside me too the moon when I invariable screw it all up. I've been looking at SV's, GS500's, FZR400's, ect. Any suggestions as to where to look or bikes to avoid would be most appreciated. Again, if this has been beaten to death I apologize, I couldn't find another thread that covered this.

Thanks
:up:

[Keep Up]

I would say the SV, just b/c at trackdays and races there are so many SV's out there, so someone could help you get your bike back together if you were to lay it down with spare parts.... also SV's I have heard are a blast to ride, and teach you corner speed

my .02

[olgoodf3]

sv's are great. a 99-02 r6 could be found pretty cheap, and are very reliable.

Just get something that was popular in its day, so that parts will be cheap and readily available.

[rugbymook]

SV. But you knew that.

[(diet)DrThunder]

SV's are the Grand MAster Pimp Daddy of all n00b track bikes. You can buy a fully track-prepped one for well under $3k, and you'll love it once it's set up for you...buy one today.

[Waterboy]

SV. Not too bad on tires, either:up:

[panthercity]

Dear Junkies,

I'm not interested in getting strung out or becoming a crackhead but I would like to try some dope. I just want to get high and do it safely. I want something that is reliable, doesn't eat brain cells, and isn't going to highside me too the moon when I'm trippin'. Any suggestions as to where to look or drugs to avoid would be most appreciated.

Thanks!
:up:

[Photo]

pm sent

[panthercity]

photo, it was a parody...

[Hawk518]

photo, it was a parody...

A good one at that!:up:

[gothicbeast]

SV... Enough said..

[DocHawk]

Honda Hawk GT ... Learn to ride it and SPANK those SV's in style!

[jacketsfanatic]

Dear Junkies,

I'm not interested in getting strung out or becoming a crackhead but I would like to try some dope. I just want to get high and do it safely. I want something that is reliable, doesn't eat brain cells, and isn't going to highside me too the moon when I'm trippin'. Any suggestions as to where to look or drugs to avoid would be most appreciated.

Thanks!
:up:



This is what I'm afraid of...:p

[exracer941]

Hmmmm.............. SV650 ............ why yes, that would be an excellent choice.

[Gigantic]

SV.

[gpstar748]

hayabusa....

[L.W.]

RS-125 Honda = Will make YOU better rider...:clap:

[krash]

not to hijack, but I really had the same question, although my street bike is a Honda F4i. I have been considering just tossing some race plastics on it and going with that for my first season or so. Or buy another F4i and dedicate it to the track. any thoughts on this?

and what is it exactly that makes everyone say the SV's are such a blast to ride?

[Gigantic]

Krash,
Your f4 will be fine.
As for the SV's: they're relatively light and have gobs of torque. I've never ridden mine on the track, but it's the most fun bike I've ever ridden on the street.

[gothicbeast]

and what is it exactly that makes everyone say the SV's are such a blast to ride?
For me SV's have provided the following positives.
1. Low cost to enter racing. Used SV's can be found for $2,500 in race trim. If you go first class you can build a rather new one for about $6,000 with suspension mods, bodywork, paint, etc.
2. V-Twin power: Easy to race and with nice engine breaking and easy to handle power. While fast, it's not some fire breathing monster, and you don't have to rev it to get the power.
3. Big rider community: So many people race the SV, you have many people who can help you out. You are not going it alone on an older I4 at the same price point.
4. Your not going as fast: Lets face it, the SV just does not fly down the straightaways like a 1K does. It's just a bit less scary to race as you don't get going as fast and your corner speed is the same or higher than bigger bikes.
5. Corner speed: The SV is going to make you learn to carry corner speed and trail into the corners. You just can't slow down on an SV or your dead, it is not a point shoot, slow down, turn, shoot, repeat bike.
6. It crashes well: The SV do well when they go down. The 1st gen benefits from a case cover. The 2nd gen is not required to have it, but then again I can't see a reason why not to have one, expect no one sells one.
7. Less expensive to race: The SV just does not eat up tires and other consumables like bigger bikes. The tires are about the same price but last longer if you are not some superstar.

In Summary... it's a cheep, reasonably fast, not scary race bike with a big community that supports it. Running it will not kill you and it's a good platform to start racing. Personally I think LW's should be mandated for New riders as the only bike to go race.

[sizmtrz]

Im suprised no one has suggested a supermoto!

[Hawk518]

Honda Hawk GT ... Learn to ride it and SPANK those SV's in style!


I went to the Dark Side. I purchased an SV but I still have my three Hawks and I have great plans for them. I think, a trip to Hord is nearing.

My overtime is for my Hawks! :D

[Hawk518]

Im suprised no one has suggested a supermoto!

Until now!:Poke:

[Heartsofoak441]

Hawk GT,

I went from racing a 600 to a Hawk and have not stopped smiling. They turn like nothing else I Have ever ridden.

[skeesm]

I'm asking this because either the search function is not working or I'm completely retarded.

I would like to get into some track days next year and the thought of throwing my street bike down the pavement is not pleasant. Before you get your keyboard warmed up ready to flame me as the next squid asking if the GSX1000 or R1 is a better first bike, I have no aspirations of being the next Rossi or even racing. I just want to get out on the track and do it safely. Just for a little background, I have been riding for about 4 years, all street, on a Kawasaki Z1000. While I really like the bike it's much too nice to wreck and I would like something with significantly less power. Looks are not too important. I want something that is reliable, doesn't eat tires, and isn't going to highside me too the moon when I invariable screw it all up. I've been looking at SV's, GS500's, FZR400's, ect. Any suggestions as to where to look or bikes to avoid would be most appreciated. Again, if this has been beaten to death I apologize, I couldn't find another thread that covered this.

Thanks
:up:
Well, then (if you weren't so far away from up nawth) I'd say that my '03 SV650 was the perfect bike for you. It's got a lot of character. But most importantly; it's tough! Anyone who knows me would tell you that it's been thrown down the track enough times to ensure that it's well ironed out. As a matter of fact, I just completed my most recent crash-proofing of the bike at the GNF two Thursdays ago. But hey look at the brighter side of it, how may guys do you know that can say that they threw the SAME bike down the track numerous times over the last three years and END OVER END across the runoff and OVER both the tire and concrete barriers at Road Atlanta and still have a straight bike (I think, but how do I tell) capable of mixing it up with the best of the back markers? Well I can with absolute confidence and satisfaction. And all for the measly low price of $3,500 (you pick up or arrange shipping of course). Or, for a lousy $475 dollars more I'll throw in a brand new set of Cheetah fairings in the buff. Add another $250 to that and I'll throw in a new tank (believe me it needs it).

[skeesm]

Dear Junkies,

I'm not interested in getting strung out or becoming a crackhead but I would like to try some dope. I just want to get high and do it safely. I want something that is reliable, doesn't eat brain cells, and isn't going to highside me too the moon when I'm trippin'. Any suggestions as to where to look or drugs to avoid would be most appreciated.

Thanks!
:up:

Well said. That's racing though, he's talking about track days.

[skeesm]

SV's are the Grand MAster Pimp Daddy of all n00b track bikes. You can buy a fully track-prepped one for well under $3k, and you'll love it once it's set up for you...buy one today.

Where! I need one right now (see my other post this thread)!

[DocHawk]

I went to the Dark Side. I purchased an SV but I still have my three Hawks and I have great plans for them. I think, a trip to Hord is nearing.

My overtime is for my Hawks! :D

We are trying to plan a 20 year Anniversary up near Hords and Mid Ohio this year... wanna attend?

www.hawkgtforum.com

[jacketsfanatic]

I took a quick peek in the 2-stroke forum. Any thoughts on those 250's? Are they too expensive, too much maintenance, to little to haul my 220 lbs. around? It looks like the price of entry is a bit higher as well.

[dcatoRR]

Dear Junkies,

I'm not interested in getting strung out or becoming a crackhead but I would like to try some dope. I just want to get high and do it safely. I want something that is reliable, doesn't eat brain cells, and isn't going to highside me too the moon when I'm trippin'. Any suggestions as to where to look or drugs to avoid would be most appreciated.

Thanks!
:up:


Excellent!!:crackup: :crackup:

[panthercity]

We are trying to plan a 20 year Anniversary up near Hords and Mid Ohio this year... wanna attend?

www.hawkgtforum.com
Please keep us updated. In some 27 years of racin', our Hawks were more pure fun than anything I rode.

[Smilodon]

I was in the same boat. Went looking for an SV and ended up with a '99 R6. It really has a lot to do with what you can find within your budget. Have a short list of what you might want, and be ready to travel and buy!

I spent (wasted) a long time searching the Bike Trader, E-Bay and the like. Then I (finally) discovered the WERA board classifieds, and then many likely candidates were available to me (and the other topics on the board were pretty funny too! ;) ).

However, the SVs I was finding at the time were in really poor condition, particularly for the price. And when I did see something that looked good, I was too slow off the mark to get it.

Once I got my act together there (be ready to buy NOW!) a really clean R6 showed up about an hour from my house. It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but it was a turn-key track day bike at a good price.

I was there that day with cash. There were a couple of other people "thinking about it" and one called the owner to ask questions while I was there and agreed to buy the bike as I was wheeling it on the trailer to take it home ("sorry, it's sold"). It would have been another near miss for me, but I was ready this time! :up:

[SLLaffoon]

Honda Hawk GT ... Learn to ride it and SPANK those SV's in style!

I've got one of each, and the Hawk is probably the most fun I've had on the street. That said, the SV is lighter, more powerful, and, in my opinion, easier to work on. If I was only doing trackdays, the more powerful bikes are annoying enough to deal with on an SV.

[RandoShadow]

I just want to get out on the track and do it safely. Just for a little background, I have been riding for about 4 years, all street, on a Kawasaki Z1000. ...

Thanks
:up:

I would suggest doing one of those track day schools with your current bike. I myself have a Yamaha FZ1 and had some of the same fears you did about wrecking and it having too much power, but you have been riding it as your street bike so you know it's power. It isn't like you are going to get on the track and the bike will go Christine on you and get a mind of it's own and buck you off.

If you are in SoCal do the novice school with Fastrack Riders. I did it with them in April and learned a lot and just did my 2nd track day this past weekend with the FZ1 and now I am on the WERA board looking for used 600's and looking into racing on the local level. It is addicting.

[jacketsfanatic]

Rando, I'm in Ohio, not too many opportunities for track days in late October

:mad:

[RandoShadow]

I think a track day on the z1000 will teach you a lot about your bike. You will be surprised at how well the bike handles. My FZ1 was keeping up with all the bikes this past weekend. If you do a track day on the z1000 and get hooked a sv650 will feel like a BMX bike when you switch over.

[SLLaffoon]

If you just want to get out on a track and learn what your bike can do, there's nothing wrong with just using your Z1000. If you plan on making trackdays a regular thing, I'd recommend not using the Z. It's an awesome street bike, but those same traits make it a little awkward on a race track.

[raTTso]

You could always run an EX500 (about $1500 set up for the track) like I did and spend a lot of time whining that you can't get a bump to the next group because everyone, including the control riders, leaves you behind on the straights.

Actually, I learned A LOT about track craft from riding a 450 lb, 50 hp bike with a single disc in front: patience, patience, patience. I even got yelled at for a deep pass on Dutch and his pumpkin CBR. Not my proudest moment. Well, okay, I was cackling in my helmet. :D

Seriously, though, as was said earlier: riding a low hp bike during track days can be a frustrating experience if you don't know how to manage the track.

Have fun!

[got40]

Originally Posted by panthercity View Post
Dear Junkies,

I'm not interested in getting strung out or becoming a crackhead but I would like to try some dope. I just want to get high and do it safely. I want something that is reliable, doesn't eat brain cells, and isn't going to highside me too the moon when I'm trippin'. Any suggestions as to where to look or drugs to avoid would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

Thats great!! :crackup:
I said the same thing: I don't want to race just try a track day or two. It really it like crack. Only more expensive. :beer:

[vosnick52]

I have an 06' GSXR 1000 you might be interested in :D

[Yard Sale]

Any thoughts on those 250's?
$180 for a complete new top end every 500 miles, $40 for rings at 250 mi, $169 for a rear tire every 12 track days (1000+ mi), $143 for a front tire every ?, $700 for a crank rebuild every 1000-? mi, $50 for fuel and oil every 100 mi, a few hundred initial investment for special tools (leak down test kit, timing kit, etc.)

I figure it costs $2 per mile, or $6 per lap of my local track, in consumables. Oops, I didn't include reeds and spark plugs....

Figure a lot more in part$ if you run an RS250 from the Evil Empire.

[infernophil]

what generation sv is recommended?

[Keep Up]

1st or 2nd... ive seen a lot of people with both?? so i tihnk you can't go wrong with either, if you could do 2nd it would prob be better, as everyone has a little bit newer bikes, easier to get parts and fairings

[xcell315]

I went with the SV1000. Its a twin and lots easier to ride then the 4's. There have been a few times I've wished that I'd gone with a SV650 just because of the cost and availability of parts for them. Either way the twins are much easier to ride when you're new to the sport.

[MarkClow]

Motards are great.
Not too much maintenance.
No bodywork to bust up in crashes.
Cheap on tires.
Easy to ride.

[PitBoy]

My opinion for what its worth is an SV. Depending on your height, the 1st gen for shorter guys and the 2nd gen for taller guys. I am 5'9" and I am more comfortable on the 1st gen bikes then the 2nd although I have owned and still own both. The 2nd gen bikes are great, easy maintenance, pretty much just keep the oil changed and ride. The 1st gen are carburated bikes so you may need to get the carbs worked on from time to time but that kind of stuff is fun for me (I like to tinker with em a bit). The 2nd gen bikes sit up a bit taller then the 1st gen but they have external adjustments on the forks where the 1st gen bikes do not. Parts are very plentiful for both bikes but do yourself a favor and get some vortex clip-ons and rearsets. They have modular components that allow you to change out bars and pegs and such for $20 or so. I dont know why people say the SV's crash well because in my opinion they dont. The problem with the SV's and crashing is they have very weak swing arms with no bracing and the forks at only 41mm conventional style bend very easily with anything more then a gently lowside. That being said its also an attribute. Because they are so weak they can be bent back almost by hand (not the forks mind you). I usually take my stuff to GMD to have it checked out after a crash and in most cases the swing arm is tweaked a bit and the forks bent to some degree. I also owned a motard and they are fun bikes but for a motard/cart track. Most of the tracks I run on are too long for a motard and you end up waiting forever to get to the end of a straight. But they are tons of fun on smaller tighter tracks. I dont think they are a good learning tool though because of the way you need to ride them. Body position is way different then a standard race bike so I think its fun but not a good learning tool. The SV is by far the best choice in my book and the best part is once you get good at riding one if you decide to race it you can just jump right in on your track bike without having to learn another bike. A lot of guys are still competitive on 1st gen older bikes in the AM ranks.

[hellbent4gravel]

I attended a Learning Curves track school in 03 on an R1, the instructor had an SV and it was all I could do to keep up with him. Killed me in the turns and not too bad concerning power, also. It seems to be very versatile and you're not going to get raped if you do toss it, there are plenty of parts to go around. If I were just starting out at the track I would begin with an SV. Your skill and knowledge will increase and it will grow with you to an extent...Good Luck!

[DocHawk]

Honda Hawk GT. Great entry level trackbike!

[sbhockey]

The SV forks do bend quite easily. Bent mine in a fairly slow speed street crash. Luckily you can put a GSXR front on for about $500-600. And a 636 shock is almost a direct bolt on. Check www.svrider.com for more great info on the SV.

[cm6501]

get a motard and go to the kart track

[surferdude]

Any updates on the Hawk reunion next year in Ohio? I'd also like to try out a track day and my Hawk should get the job done nicely.

[zupatun]

Parts are easy to get in general for both generations of the SV's as well...some are interchangeable and I believe you can swap motors into/out of both frames as well...with a little elbow grease and knowledge from the WERA boards and SVrider.com.

My trackday bike is an SV that had been a basket case...bought it for $1800 and for about $200 more it was prepped for trackedays (Not racing though) after a few dozen hours of work.

Matt

[truckstop]

As much as I love my Hawks... even though I decided on a Hawk as a race/track bike after many people said to get an SV...

I'd probably recommend an SV as a track day bike, especially if you're 220# and used to a bigger bike. Don't get me wrong, a friend of mine who is over 6' and heavier than you, who usually rides a Gixxer 1K even thought it was a total hoot when he rode my bike, and my husband had a blast racing it once just to try it vs. his 600... Hawks are the most fun... but really - for practicality, and flexibility - go with an SV.

GS500s, FZR400s, and Hawks are a hoot, but you sort of have to have a nut loose to want to ride them regularly at track days. I mean, honestly. Racing and track days are different. Riding every weekend alongside new riders on liter bikes gets old after a while, but I love it as a race bike. Parts *are out there* and there's lots of modern upgrades to be made, but buying an already track prepped SV is probably the best turn-key way to go, and has lots of room to grow into.

If I had the $$, I'd do as Mr. Hord did, and get a 675 for a track bike. "It's like a twin, only it's one more."

[lrrs517]

consider a motard 2 yrs off racing(plus 8 trackdays) with just oil ,filters, 1 chain and tires. add lever protectors you can push them off a cliff and they don't break get a copy of dennis kirk catalog and all the body work comes in a kit 100 bucks tops try that with any other bike. ktm and honda and possibly suzuki can interchange the dirtbike wheels track on the weekend woods on monday