Hi Guys,
I know this has been discussed many times, but I'm thinking about going roadracing eventually. I would like to get a 600(R6, CBR, GSX-R), do at least 3-4 track days a month, and next year compete in Willow Springs Club Racing. My riding background started in 2000 , I sold my car and got a ZX9R, rode it 8000 miles in 6 months. Traded in for a 2001 GSX-R1000. That bike I took it to Willow Springs, did great the whole day, my first day they bumped me to intermediate, my last session I started riding over my pace, including the worn out tires, ended up in the hospital with a head injury. I left the hospital 6 hours later. Sold the bike, got a GSX-R 600, guess what went back to the same track, first scary and then back on the speed just a little early braking. I took the same bike to California Speedway. Had a blast. Since I had my lesson I never rode over my own pace, still learning new skills every time. Then i got a R1 in the first half of the 2003, put 4500 miles on it and a Gsx-r 1000 for the second half 3000 miles on it. Now that I had the S2000, I only used them for canyon riding, no commuting. I haven't been down since 2001 and been riding very fast and smooth according to my riding buddies. They've been couraging me to go racing. I just don't want to climb too fast again. So my question is which 600 would suit my riding experience, and the track purpose best?
Matt.

 

I would look around on the CCS and WERA websites maybe. There are alwasy good deals on racebikes. They say, to start off with smaller bikes, you will learn more, and not be overpowered by the bigger bikes. New 600 are VERY fast. My advice would be to start off in the lightwieght classes, and once you are comfortable there, move up to middleweights. The thing is, with racing and track days, its more about braking and throttle control, and body position and vision, then it is about all right speed.

 

One more thing, EVERYONE wants to start racing on a 600. In the racing org I am in, we call the 600 novice class affectionately, the "meat grinder" class. You can do the math.

 

I checked the WERA site yesterday, and also talked to my mechanic. The first reason I don't wanna start with a race bike is I also want to keep riding on the canyons for this year. It's like a work out to me, every other day. Second reason, my mech. told me if put the parts one by one on the bike I will learn a lot better about suspension and cornering differences. Third reason is most of the times unless you are very lucky, you are buying somebody elses headache as a race bike. 250 are little more expensive to run, since even a used clean one is around 6500 and not many parts to find compare to R6 or gixxer.
Matt.

 

hey mayhan...was the zx-9r ur first bike? if so was it hard to learn to ride on a 900? just wanted to know because i was thinking of getting a 600 as my first bike.

 

What were your times at Willow Springs (Big Track)?

The more competitive guys are doing low 1:30s in the NOVICE Middle Weight (501-650cc ) class. The middle-low pack of the group still does high 1:30s. My friend is 2nd in points in that class on a 600RR, that he also rides on the street.

Any 600 will be fine in stock form. They're all pretty much race ready, except the tires, and are more than reliable to last a long, long time with a bunch of trackdays/races, unless you start getting into building the motor.

 

That was my first own bike. When I was like 12-13, I used to ride rental Vespa's in my town. One day when I was 17, Harley Davidson had a demo ride. That was the first bike I rode with clutch and gears. My father used to have a bike that time but he never let me ride it. I just watched how he rode the whole time when I was on the back. It was pretty easy for me. Considering I started driving a manual transmission car when I was 11, I guess I have some kind a talent. Just six months before I got the Zx-9r, I rode a RF900(ferrari ) for a day. It felt hard. So I went out at midnight and rode it when no one was around. Same with the ZX9R, I got it at Thousand oaks and rode it all the way to Valencia(60miles) at 10 pm. It was December, and damn cold. I would never forget that day. The next day I took it to school very carefully. After two months I met this guy at scool and he had a Suzuki, he invited me to a canyon run. At first I got really scared, he left me with dust behind. So I went there like 5 times without telling him, next time i was hanging with him. After a month now he was eating my dust. Back to the topic, ZX9R is a heavy bike and it's not like the GSX-1000 or R1, I don't think I'll be alive if the Gixxer was my first bike.My best friend started with GSXR600 and he took steps very carefully and he never crashed. He is a damn good rider now. I guess just watch out for cars, don't get to excited, stay within your own limits! Here is a little memory from my first bike.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by integrate
What were your times at Willow Springs (Big Track)?

 

I'd look @ amateur-level racing results for a clue as to what's working for experienced racers.

In the CMRA, R6's seem to be clearly dominating the podiums in the 600 class...that ought to tell you something.

Other considerations:
GSXR's have the advantage of having many parts interchangeable across the line...it will always be easier finding spares for them at the track

I've heard that Kawi perf. parts are less plentiful and more expensive, but that may have changed.

 

Matt,

At the amateur level of racing that you want to get into, how well you do is probably 95% rider and 5% bike. So whether you get a CBR, R6, GSX-R, or ZX6, you would probably be just as fast. I'd personally look for the most reliable bike and the bike with the biggest selection of used parts available in your area ('cause when racing, things get broken and crashed!). Up here in Calgary, the CBR600F4 has become the "disposable sportbike". So many new riders bought them, had no idea what they were doing, crashed them, and now there are F4s everywhere being parted out. In terms of reliability, everyone says that Honda motorcycles age the best. My track F2 is 12 years old and it runs and shifts better now than the day it rolled out of the factory. Personally, I've got about the same amount of riding experience you do. I started riding in '99 and last year I started spending a lot of time at the track. It takes your riding to a whole new level. Have fun!

Chris.