How to start track racing

[x01660]

Yep, you can feel it flex and wobble all around the track.

A lot of your preconceived ideas will fall away once you get on the track, it's different than you imagine.
First gen SVs are pretty basic bikes, carbs, no ABS or other electronics. Just a good frame, a solid and fun motor, and wheels that let you run modern tires. Makes for a really fun package.

Fair enough. Looks like I'll be keeping my eyes open for one.


-x01660

[CivilRock]

You can absolutely race anything you want. And the guys that race funky machines are some of the most interesting stories out there. But what you'll find is that you'd rather be on a similar bike to a somewhat large group. Road racing is a shrinking sport right now with most bike enthusiasts leaning toward a less competitive and more relaxed "Track Day".

After your track day experience, if you decide you want to go for it, I would find a used track bike. Something already set up (and crash tested) for just the track. You can find a used first gen SV for $2000 read to race. It will be a ton cheaper than building one. And if you've got the itch to build one, don't worry, even if you buy a used race bike, you'll be building (or rebuilding) it plenty.

The GS500 is also a great platform. But I would pick a bike based on what other "clubman" classes you find at your particular track. For instance, OMRRA has this killer CB160 class that's one of the biggest grids of the club. The bikes top out at like 85 mph, but it's a first class lesson on line selection, corner speed, bike set-up, and bike building. Plus when there's 40 guys in a class all racing the same bike, there's a huge supply of spare parts in the pits when you break something. They playfully called the pit area for the CB160 guys "Dignity Village" named after a not so popular renegade homeless encampment in Portland. The camaraderie is immense with that whole class, and it's a total success.

My point is, you'd never know that racing a CB160 is a great entry level bike unless you went to the races and started poking your head around and talking to people.

SV650 is an awesome track weapon. But it won't be any fun if you're the only one out there with one.

For sure let us know how it goes!

-Kevin

[x01660]

You can absolutely race anything you want. And the guys that race funky machines are some of the most interesting stories out there. But what you'll find is that you'd rather be on a similar bike to a somewhat large group. Road racing is a shrinking sport right now with most bike enthusiasts leaning toward a less competitive and more relaxed "Track Day".

After your track day experience, if you decide you want to go for it, I would find a used track bike. Something already set up (and crash tested) for just the track. You can find a used first gen SV for $2000 read to race. It will be a ton cheaper than building one. And if you've got the itch to build one, don't worry, even if you buy a used race bike, you'll be building (or rebuilding) it plenty.

The GS500 is also a great platform. But I would pick a bike based on what other "clubman" classes you find at your particular track. For instance, OMRRA has this killer CB160 class that's one of the biggest grids of the club. The bikes top out at like 85 mph, but it's a first class lesson on line selection, corner speed, bike set-up, and bike building. Plus when there's 40 guys in a class all racing the same bike, there's a huge supply of spare parts in the pits when you break something. They playfully called the pit area for the CB160 guys "Dignity Village" named after a not so popular renegade homeless encampment in Portland. The camaraderie is immense with that whole class, and it's a total success.

My point is, you'd never know that racing a CB160 is a great entry level bike unless you went to the races and started poking your head around and talking to people.

SV650 is an awesome track weapon. But it won't be any fun if you're the only one out there with one.

For sure let us know how it goes!

-Kevin

Interesting... I think I'm gonna do quite a few track days and take some lessons for a while before I start competitively racing... I am somewhat of a perfectionist, and I'd wanna get my riding technique/lines much more developed before I start to compete. But the idea of starting on a small bike is exactly what I was thinking. Something in the 250-400cc range (early 90's 400cc, that is). I'm not too worried about top speed, but I wanna be able to push my bike and myself to their absolute limits and feel comfortable doing it repeatedly before I start competing against others...


-x01660

[Z32650S]

+1

Rich is on the money. The 1st gen SV650 is a great race starter. Fairly nimble and great fun in the corners. I'd even say it can be forgiving to newbies who are getting a feeling for track riding. The V-Twin engine is powerful enough to get you going even in lower RPMs as you learn to control the forces at play.

I am biased as I own a few SVs but they just are a solid, reliable and affordable platform from which to start.... or stick with it and go race.

Then again, I'm sure there are many more great options. But from experience the SV is a proven candidate. Good luck with your search!

[Maddevill]

Contact Stacey at Let's Ride Track Days. They do track days at Buttonwillow and have new rider schools with Doug Chandler as teacher. The AFM used to have a "Dinosaur" class to race vintage bike in. I don't know if they still run that class. Just be clear that you have to accept you may throw your pride and joy down the road. It's not inevitable, I raced 12 years before my first crash, but if that thought distresses you, maybe a dedicated track bike would be a good idea.

[x01660]

Yeah... I need an outlet... These are all great ideas.... This is what I do on my 1150:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbEO75ze9bo&list=UUP0EiTivxvFryTaKld4TLXg&feature=c4-overview

Start at minute 19 and go to minute 23...


-x01660

[hampshirehog]

I would go and look at what all the other guys are riding and chat to a few of them. If it's like the club racing scene over here there will be all sorts of restrictions on what you can and can't do and you'll want to avoid buying something that is way off the pace. You'll never lose the novice tag if you can never avoid being lapped!

Having said that I would get a VFR400. Cheap ready made race bike with great manners.

[CivilRock]

Yeah... I need an outlet... These are all great ideas.... This is what I do on my 1150:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbEO75ze9bo&list=UUP0EiTivxvFryTaKld4TLXg&feature=c4-overview

Start at minute 19 and go to minute 23...


-x01660

Yea, I was pretty fast on the street. Then I thought I was pretty fast at track days. It was not even close to race pace. Day one, my race instructor went by me in the braking zone of T1 at least 70mph faster than me. It was mind numbing.

Take the latest possible brake point you'd ever do on the street and move it forward 100 yards. Get up to 145 mph then do a stoppie down to 90 and put your knee down. Then lift your knee up a little for the curbing.

After you race for a couple seasons, you will have no interest to go fast on the street. Just like after driving an M5, your Civic seems bleah.

Road racing completely cured me of going fast on the streets.

-kevin

[x01660]

Yea, I was pretty fast on the street. Then I thought I was pretty fast at track days. It was not even close to race pace. Day one, my race instructor went by me in the braking zone of T1 at least 70mph faster than me. It was mind numbing.

Take the latest possible brake point you'd ever do on the street and move it forward 100 yards. Get up to 145 mph then do a stoppie down to 90 and put your knee down. Then lift your knee up a little for the curbing.

After you race for a couple seasons, you will have no interest to go fast on the street. Just like after driving an M5, your Civic seems bleah.

Road racing completely cured me of going fast on the streets.

-kevin

Then it would seem that that's the way to go. I WANT that. I don't wanna be driving like a maniac on the streets anymore. I may be 25, but I know I'm mortal... Thanks for all the advice. I'm gonna do some track days, get used to racing, then find a track weapon. I'm liking the idea of a VFR400. Those things are sick.


-x01660

[rapidray]

Thanks, rapidray! I've been doing some research, and I think what I'm gonna do is Track Days for the time being. If I do like it, I'm gonna have to get another bike, since my current bike is my ONLY form of transportation. That said, I'm signing up with motoyard.com to do a Track Day at the Streets of Willow in May. Should be fun. Also, I see that your phone number (Remember, I've been reading your posts, and I sent you a PM. hint hint... ) is (714); where in OC are you?


-x01660

I am 3 blocks south of Disneyland. Call me if I can help with something. Ray.

[RichDesmond]

...I'm liking the idea of a VFR400. Those things are sick.

You'll do yourself a big favor if you can resist the desire to have a "cool" track bike.
Everything cool is that way because it's either rare, or expensive, or both. On the VFR, that bike was never sold here which mean that any kind of spare part is going to be hard to come by. The suspension guru you go to at the track may never have set one up before. There won't be a group of guys with the same bike at the track to pick up tips and tricks from. (the guy recommending it is from England, and over there it may make a lot of sense as a track bike)
As a rider, you won't know what a good time is on that bike, so you won't know how far off the pace you are.
Serious racers tend to have no emotional attachment to their bikes at all. They're just tools, nothing more.

Racing is expensive and damned difficult, don't make it harder than it has to be, especially when you're just starting out.

[GregT]

You'll do yourself a big favor if you can resist the desire to have a "cool" track bike.
Everything cool is that way because it's either rare, or expensive, or both. On the VFR, that bike was never sold here which mean that any kind of spare part is going to be hard to come by. The suspension guru you go to at the track may never have set one up before. There won't be a group of guys with the same bike at the track to pick up tips and tricks from. (the guy recommending it is from England, and over there it may make a lot of sense as a track bike)
As a rider, you won't know what a good time is on that bike, so you won't know how far off the pace you are.
Serious racers tend to have no emotional attachment to their bikes at all. They're just tools, nothing more.

Racing is expensive and damned difficult, don't make it harder than it has to be, especially when you're just starting out.

Very good advice. Run what the majority run as that is where the knowledge and parts are most common. Stay away from the small VFR's - we got them here and they're hard work and expensive to keep running well.

[tas850g]

I'm looking to buy a SV for the same thing. Street bike it for a while and do some track days and see where it takes me.

[x01660]

You guys are an insightful bunch. Ok. I'm in CA. I want to race a relatively slow class (100 mph at the most) so I can maximize my performance and learn proper racing technique. What's a good class/bike to start in/with?


-x01660

[OldTimeBiker]

I know you don't want to go drag racing but, don't throw an occasional day at the strip under the bus...The dragstrip has something for every racer no matter what kind of competition you want to compete in. It's the absolute best place to learn all about starts. Clutch management, traction management, body position, the eye hand coordination of starting etc. plus it's the very best place to get your carbs spot on and experiment with different jetting for different weather and atmospheric conditions. It also helps with techniques to shake the ol' pre race jitters...just to name a few things going to the strip can do for you...You don't have to sign up to compete...just go for T & T (test and tune) and you'll be amazed how much going to the strip will help your track racing!