How much cheaper is racing a small bike really?

Bored and overseas, thinking about bikes and stuff. When I get back next summer and I’m in the market for a bike to get back into racing, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about downsizing from the 1000 class bikes both for reducing the speed and associated risk for a guy that does this very occasionally and works for a living while raising two little kids, and also for reducing cost.

How much cheaper is it really to race a ULW bike like a Ninja 400 or R3? With tire prices being the biggest recurrent expense I glanced at tire prices, and a set of Pirelli Superbikes is slightly cheaper by maybe 10% than a set for the big bikes, but then I’ve heard a lot of little bike racers can get more than a race weekend out of a single set. Anyone race(d) both and can directly compare the total race program cost for a big bike versus little?

And is racing an R6 really any cheaper than racing a 1000? Plus side is they are ubiquitous and you can find a well prepped one for cheap. But the tires are very nearly the same cost as the 200 set for 1000s, and aren’t most middleweight riders going through tires on race weekends at about the same rate as bigger bikes?

I know there is no such thing as cheap racing, tires are just one aspect of the expenses, and plenty of people still get plenty injured racing little bikes, so I’ll just put that out there as a flame disclaimer.

 

I used to race a gs500 and I could get 7-8 race weekends on the same set of tires...being able to get multiple race weekends on the same set of tires (safely) compared to multiple sets a weekend is a huge cost savings. Plus the sheer giggle factor of going relatively fast on 40 hp can’t be underestimated. You have to work harder to get those lap times because you just can’t turn the throttle like you can on the big bikes, and that’s more satisfying as well.

 

I know cb350 riders who have gone through a set of tires a weekend at some tracks. Which seems crazy. They're 400 a set nearly now. I realize that's not a set per Sprint but jeebus.

 

You raise another aspect of this I've been wondering to myself about -- the fun factor. I know everyone is different and everyone's answer will be different. I'm kind of an adrenaline junkie, my line of work demands it, so the appeal of the big bikes has always been obvious to me. But I'm a mortal pushing middle age who didn't start riding until my adult years, so the risk vs. reward ratio is changing for me over time. I always felt "on the edge" on the big bikes, like things happen so fast that it always felt like I was at my limits of control. But man I don't bounce that well any more. Seems like you think the little bikes can be just as satisfying as the big bikes, albeit maybe in a different way, less omg it's so fast and more challenging to ride fast. I'm also growing less interested over time in mortgaging my kids' future for tire bills (that's not to say I was actually dipping into savings, but every $1000-1500+ race weekend was that much less money I was doing something responsible with).

 

Your size and how fast you go determine tire life.
Maybe rent a smaller bike for a track day, which would make an ‘experiment’ less expensive.
@ 6’4”/240#, the SV is big enough to let me be comfortable, and fast enough to be entertaining. YMMV.

 

Your speed is going to determine the tire bill regardless... At tally or CMP at the pointy end of expert you'll probably be flipping the rear every 2 races or so. So maybe a set and half a weekend give or take which track you're at. Etc etc

Sv650 or 400? A set a weekend or every other depending on speed again.

 

You can still drop a metric ass ton of cash into a little bike. Wheels bodywork suspension motors all cost. The big difference I see is you can buy 4 new 400s for the cost of a new r1

 

Yeah I need to look into an outfit that rents little bikes when I get back. I’m 5’10 180 lbs so I’m guessing I’m close enough to the right size for any bike. Are there places across the US that rent track prepped ULW bikes? I believe I remember seeing a SoCal option for renting a 400, I think Jeremy Toye had that going, could be wrong though.

That’s actually a great idea if I can find a place that offers that on the east coast. My most likely landing point is the DC area for 2-3 years.

 

Contact Emerson at bobbleheadmoto.com. Works with N2 at many east coast tracks like Summit and Pitt Race.

 

If you go little further North then look up these guys. https://www.penguinracing.com/

 

I think Seth Starnes has some baby bikes in FL too

 

Easy.... I will just leave you with this..

Small bike LWT/300 ect tires $375 x 3
Any 1000 tires $400 x 15

 

I did 250's for a couple years. Tires lasted all season, bike was inexpensive, and people I met were great. But cheap in racing is a purely relative concept.

 

It seems whatever LW guys save on tires they end up blowing $$$$ on motor work to gain extra 6HP.

 

Tires will be loads cheaper as everyone else has said. If you’re only getting 1-2 days out of set of tires with a little bike you’ll get 1/2 a day on a 600-1000cc.
Chains and sprockets will last tons longer too.

 

The n400 has enough classes now to consider as a main/only bike, but the sv is still the king of cheap racing. That said,coming off a 1000 will be a shock... The way to get the most laps per dollar is Endurance racing.

 

I haven’t owned either race bike but I’m sure the smaller would be less expensive.

I do believe the 1000 would be better for part time racer as you have the power to catch up !
Riding a slow bike like the 250-400’s you have that thing at its limits just about all the time , so it becomes more dangerous to part failures and accidents to be competitive to the guys and young bucks racing those things .
The 600 might be just a competitive as the smaller bikes.
Riding the slow bike fast vs the fast bike slow . The margin for error will increase

 

https://www.facebook.com/FeelLikeAProLLC

 

Buy a used bike where someone else dropped the big cash to buy the go fast goodies

 

Yeah because you know the other guys on 1000's just let off the throttle to let you come back past.