Track bike

[jonzi]

After having my bike thrown down the road and now about to be, hopefully fixed up, I am not sure I want to take it on a track again.

So with Cartagena looming, can anyone recommend a good place to pick up a cheap track bike?

I've checked out Ebay. But if any one knows of a place where people go to sell them other than there I am all ears.

And any recommendations for a cheap trailer would also be greatly appreciated.

[Albie]

After having my bike thrown down the road and now about to be, hopefully fixed up, I am not sure I want to take it on a track again.

So with Cartagena looming, can anyone recommend a good place to pick up a cheap track bike?

I've checked out Ebay. But if any one knows of a place where people go to sell them other than there I am all ears.

And any recommendations for a cheap trailer would also be greatly appreciated.

Try a Cat C bike for track days. Oooh that old cookie. Cheap trailers dont seem to exist anymore unless they are huge old caravan chassis that no-one wants. I am after one for my trials bikes and am looking at a couple of new ones for around £250-300 but they come apart a bit for stowing as not got a huge garden. Ebay trailers seem to fetch around £150 - 200 plus you have to drive and pick up and not even new. Look around like me in case. Also you can get them to custom fit some extra bits if you desire.

[pegboy]

by doing a quick google search here are two sites
http://www.raceandtrack.com
http://www.preloved.co.uk
Try them out
What you after i keep an eye out for you

or

you could hire a bike

[Char]

how about hiring a bike instead?
some tracks have hire bikes

[Nickj]

A good cheap track bike... the two things are a bit contradictory really.

Don't know how tall you are but you could go for something like these, quick enough and potentially not so expensive that you're going to shed too many tears when it explodes or bounces off down the track. Aded bonus is people will buy the parts from you when you trash it.
VFR400's (http://www.gumtree.com/search?q=vfr400&search_location=United+Kingdom&category=all&search_scope=title)

400RR (http://www.gumtree.com/search?q=400rr&search_location=United+Kingdom&category=all) The £500 one proabably hs fried the ignition box, shed loads on ebay for about £50 upwards.

Oh gumtree is wierd, spelling is atrocus innit but some suprisingly good steals there

[utopia]

I don't speak from personal experience, but it occurs to me that, if you have some sort of a commitment to keeping a monster as your road bike, you could do a lot worse than sticking to the same type of bike for track use.
That way, much of the knowledge and experience gained on the track may also be partly applicable to your road bike (or vice versa), and your mechanic.ing skills will be transferable too.
Plus, an air-cooled twin motor is easier to work on than a watercooled multi.
Why not consider getting a 600 or 620 monster ?
You wouldn't have to change your riding style all that much either.
You could even consider taking it Desmodue racing at a later stage....?

Just a thought.
Such a strategy might even merit spending a little more on the track bike (though an old 600 can't cost an awful lot anyway, can it ?)
That's what I'd do.

[Gilps]

If a 620 is going to be enough then maybe take a look at a DD race bike. If you pay the right price then you shouldn't lose out when you sell as the series seems to be going strong and you shouldn't have too much problem selling it on again.

[gary tompkins]

Not sure on your budget but my friend John's got a really nice trackbike up for sale

Can put you in touch if needed - Quoted from his email:

I'm selling my Suzuki GSX-R 600 SRAD Trackday Bike: -

Please note, this is a race bike, not a converted road bike, and it is a fast and well handling track bike;
WP Read Shock, Ohlins Front Springs, Ohlins Steering Damper;
Engine refreshed 4 Track days ago, 106 BHP at Rear Wheel;
Akrapovic full system;
Quick Action Throttle;
New Disc's 2 track days ago, Front rebuilt before last track day, Braided hoses;
Spare set of wheels;
Spare body work and some other useful odds and sods.

I'm looking for £1200 for bike and spares.

http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/4986098/sn/1289107598/name/SRAD_02.jpghttp://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/4986098/sn/37862109/name/SRAD_03.jpg

http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/526086_10150851825046298_287233204_n.jpg

[DrD]

Get a 600 DD eg http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DUCATI-SS600-DESMODUE-RACE-BIKE-/120987310994?forcev4exp=true ready to track or a cheapie like ths one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ducati-600ss-1996-Only-22401-Miles-/200831164867?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3 D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D2651446023102045321%26pid%3 D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D120987310994% 26
Loads of fun and skills to be had a lightweight DD!

[Flip]

Sooo much choice ....o.k. so maybe not in time for your looming track day but......

..instead of following the crowds with the normal trackday tools why not try something different to suit your budget?

BMW boxers always sound great on race pipes and can be converted cafe racer style for track use pretty easily, '80s Suzukis for the Wes Cooley look or if you like green then a big Kwak for a bit of Lawson action, or a pukka little race bike (like Bex's sublime RS125) the list is endless.

It's a lot of fun to turn up on something out of the ordinary and then mix it with everyone and unless you really want to do stupid speeds down the straights you'll probably have more fun overtaking people through the corners (even a 1965 250 can tear it up through the twisties- gets properly hammered on the straights though) and if you go the classic route you will never lose money on it, it'll look great in your garage and when you get bored of the trackdays you can go classic racing for probably the cheapest form of racing there is is!

Failing that, I'd go for a (good-ish) ex-Desmo Due bike for something similar to what you know already, then race it like Steeevvvooo did.

Oh! This is quite pretty: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOTO-PARILLA-BRITISH-ANZANI-SPECIAL-CLASSIC-RACER-RACE-SPRINT-PARADE-BIKE-/320990483668?forcev4exp=true

[jonzi]

As always, sound advice.

I had been considering entering DD next year, my girlfriend doesn't like the idea though. I should be saving for a house, but I am a magpie and ill buy stuff if it is shiny.

GT, can you PM the guys details please.

DrD. I had seen one of those on fleabay recently, have contacted ready to race one to see if it is still available.

Also spoken to some one oop north about another DD bike.

With not long to go, and very little time I can spend, I wanted something I could just buy and it be ready, otherwise I would love to get my hands dirty and do some work on a bike. I have no idea what I would do, I can just about tell the difference between a spark plug and a rawl plug.

Thanks again folks

[jonzi]

And I am going with Focused Events. I thought about hiring one of their 848's. It would be £250 a day. but if I do drop it, all damage has to be paid for, rather than an excess. Which I imagine could get quite expensive.

[slob]

check the small print at £250 /day, when I was there with FE in 2007 there was a guy on a hired (ex Virgin R6 cup) who was shocked to find he also needed a new pair of super corsas every day.

[jonzi]

Oh yeah, they say you have to bring the tyres back in the same condition. So get bike and change them and put old ones back on.

In all it would probably cost the same for 3 days on a 848 as it would to buy something that ain't too shabby. And I could always sell it after.

Just got a call from Ray and my claim has been approved and he has ordered the bits, should be back on the road in a week or so.

[slob]

...shouldn't this thread be 'sensible commuter' rather than 'track bike'? I know you had a wee off at Brands a while back but I'd have thoought the greater risk is London traffic not race tracks. I'm looking for an RV125 for the Winter. Still, nice to have some good news from uncle Ray.

[jonzi]

The m796 for track and rat bike (is that the term?) for commuting?

Maybe this is the way to go.

[slob]

track bike and Sunday best...
I quite like commuting on my Monster, just not when the roads are covered in ice and salt.

See earlier pm about West Sussex.

FE will still take the view you need a new set of track tyres per day to ride their 848 at Cartagena

[gary tompkins]

As always, sound advice.

GT, can you PM the guys details please.


I'll get back to you ASAP

[mintyhit]

...shouldn't this thread be 'sensible commuter' rather than 'track bike'? I know you had a wee off at Brands a while back but I'd have thoought the greater risk is London traffic not race tracks. I'm looking for an RV125 for the Winter. Still, nice to have some good news from uncle Ray.

VanVan! Can I have a go if you get one Rob? I've always wanted one for some reason I can't explain. :)

[Scott1]

VanVan! Can I have a go if you get one Rob? I've always wanted one for some reason I can't explain. :)

I had this metallic green one, brilliant commuter bike but they are so slow because of that big back wheel. I think they do a 200 version in europe, I can't understand why they don't do one this side of the channel.

[gary tompkins]

Probably because the 200cc version isn't as 'L' plate friendly

[Scott1]

Probably because the 200cc version isn't as 'L' plate friendly

True Gary true, however this company does 250 replicas: http://www.skyteam.cn/pro-sec.asp

Apologies for the hijack Jonzi, hope you get a track bike sorted and that lovely 796 back on the road soon.