Track bikes

[chris128]

I dont think a lot of them are full blown race bikes as a lot of them on the website just say "mostly standard" or "standard engine" etc but I'll make sure I check before I buy anything. I've also realised that I dont want to spend that much money on my first track bike as its pretty likely I'm gonna bin it isnt it... so I think £2000 max should be my budget Not sure what to do about a trailer though as we really do not have anywhere to put one in our garage/driveway (already 3 cars and 1 bike sharing it). Might have to look at hiring one like you suggested

[Netmeister]

Chris, I know they're a bit more money but you can buy foldable or quick assemble trailers that don't take up much space at all. Thats what I'm looking at as I'm in the same situation as you.

[chris128]

Oh right that sounds good, I'll have to have a look into that! thanks

Have you got a track bike already then or you looking at getting one soon?

[Netmeister]

If only I was so lucky. I do plan to get one in the future but that probably won't happen till next year. I'm selling the Bandit that I got when I first past my test last April to get a sports bike that I'll use for the road and track. The idea being that it will allow me to take more kit to the track, have a more relaxing trip to the tracks further away and so I can prep my bike for the track i.e take number plate off, mirrors etc.

Here's the sort of thing I'm on about trailer wise, there's really good ones but they're like £700.

[chris128]

Here's the sort of thing I'm on about trailer wise, there's really good ones but they're like £700.

 

Yeah they look quite weak but I guess they must be able to cope with the weight of a bike... and I might not have much choice if I cant fit a normal trailer in anywhere. Also just looking at pictures of trailers on ebay, it looks like it would be damn hard to get a bike onto one without someone else helping as the loading ramps for most of them are very short (and therefore steep) and thin...

[Guest philgale]

you can get light trailers that can stand on there end, the spare trailer we got can do that, so easy to stand it up on your own.

RE: loading on your own, if there is a decent enough wheel chock in place then the bike should stand on its own if not get one ones at the side ready attached to the trailer load it and strap one side down then walk slowly round whilst still holding bike (the other strap takes most of the weight, you just need to stop it falling) then strap other side down. easy really....

dont forget there will be plenty people to help you at a trackday, just ask someone for a hand and they will sort you out....

[chris128]

Yeah its not the strapping it once its on the trailer that I see being a problem, its actually getting the bike onto the trailer in the first place up the thin steep loading ramp. I'm sure its not as hard as I'm imagining though as a lot of people must do it on their own without a problem.

[Guest philgale]

not had a proper look at this but seems a really good price, got the option to make an offer as well.

and the r6 makes a cracking little track bike

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-YAMAHA-YZF-R ... 314wt_1167

[chris128]

Hmm I'm hacked off with ebay at the moment cos I just tried to sell something on there and after the third attempt I finally got to the end of the selling thing and then it wants to identify me by ringing my house phone, so I put my number in and it rang me and I entered the code that I was told on the phone, but every time it just said "incorrect code" so after 5 attempts I gave up...

As for the bike, it looks just like a road bike to me - from reading the description it looks like its basically just the suspension and exhaust that have been changed. I'm not bothered about getting one that I can ride to/from the track any more as I've realised the insurance + tax + MOT just makes it too expensive.

Basically just going to wait to get my Audi A3 back from the garage (which should be next week but knowing this garage it could be next month!) and see if after I've done these 2 track days in Feb whether or not I want to sell the car and get a track bike

Oh yeah and a quick question for you Phil - on your track bike, have you got the gears inverted like they do on proper race bikes? i.e. 1 up 5 down rather than 1 down 5 up like on a normal road bike. If you have, do you ever forget and go up a gear when you mean to go down (and vice versa) ?

[Guest philgale]

normal road gearing for me, and ignore the fact that bike has paper work mot etc etc, in fact thats a good thing. it shows its not stolen and when the last MOT was done it shows its in decent condition.

you dont have to keep the insurance, tax, mot on it and all that just use it as a track bike. and TBH the suspension is one of the things you should look for. a decent rear shock are very expensive and fork internals aint cheap. a stage one conversion from kais i think my mate paid about 500 for that.

plus thats dirt cheap for an r6, when i was looking i couldnt find one for less than 1600.

[Phill_vtr]

Just to add a couple of bits, forgive me if they have already been covered.

Some track bikes are cheap as they are stolen. Not all just some. Personally I would like it to come with paperwork although you will have to SORN it which can be done online free. I guess it's possible to lose the bike with no compensation if you should get a tug with it on the trailer and the police decide to check it. A lot are Cat C or D write offs, no problem there not sure about the legalities of Cat B as I thought they were break for spares only and the frame had to be disposed of.

Collapsible trailers are available on ebay from about £275.

If you buy a standard road going bike and make it a track bike you can sell the standard bits off (fairing lights etc) but I think you'll get a better deal as stated before if you buy a bike already converted as the suspension etc is a lot of money to buy but some track bikes come well set up for a fraction of the cost of buying all the parts.

If it was me, I would look for a starter bike old CBR or R6 or something that's cheap and comes with spares (wets on wheels, spare levers, tyre warmers etc). Lots of packages like that come up on ebay and are ideal if you're not sure you'll want to continue. Also these cheap deals are easy to sell on again when you want to jack it in or move up to a better bike.

[chris128]

Thanks guys, I'll keep an eye on ebay for the next few weeks and see how much various bikes go for. Still havent decided if I want to sell my car yet though so I could have considerably less money than I would like to spend on a track bike..

[chris128]

What do you guys search for on ebay to find track bikes? I've been searching for things like just "track bike 600" or "race bike 600" and although I do get results, none of them seem to be what I want (ie within my budget and the type of bike I want)

[Guest philgale]

just search "track bike" OR "race bike" you will get loads then....

its coming into the session now so prices will go up a bit compared to a few months ago...

[chris128]

Bought that R6 today for £1500

Getting delivered next weekend

http://www.trackdayriders.co.uk/uploads/20090723_174530_tn_2009-06-13_1.jpg

http://www.trackdayriders.co.uk/uploads/20090619_182441_tn_2009-06-13_1.jpg

Now I just need to buy a new car, get a towbar fitted, and get a trailer... then im good to go

[Netmeister]

Great stuff Chris!

Porperly jealous

[Guest philgale]

nice one chris, glad the bike turned out to be as good as it looked...

cant wait to see it at cadwell, you gonna let us have a go

[chris128]

Bike was delivered today, cant wait to go ride it on the track! So much more of a sporty riding position than my CBR600 though, which might take a bit of getting used to..

Got a trailer sorted for Friday n Saturday (just renting it) so now I just need to go buy a car with a towbar, which I will hopefully be doing this afternoon

[Netmeister]

Good stuff Chris. You are going to love that machine! Don't worry about the riding position you'll have it in no time at all.

Oh and I think it's quite disrespectful that you haven't put pics up

[chris128]

Just off to take some pics now dont worry

[Guest philgale]

Nice one...can't wait to try it out at cadwell

[chris128]

lol neither can I the car/towbar/trailer situation is proving to be a bit of a problem though! Travelled 70 miles to look at a car that had a towbar and was a car I vaguely like and was a decent price but then the garage wouldnt let me test drive it because it was late afternoon and they didnt have enough people in to cover while one of them went out with me for a test drive :S why the hell didnt they tell me that when I rang up and said I'll be there in an hour and a half to test drive it!

Getting a bit desperate now as tomorrow is the last day that I'm not going to be at work all day before the next track day at cadwell... So I'm thinking rather than try and get a car with a towbar already fitted I just buy any car that I want (which shouldnt be too hard to do tomorrow hopefully) and get a towbar fitted during the week by one of those mobile towbar fitting companies - anyone know of any that operate in Hull or York? Googling now but not having much luck so far..

[Guest philgale]

my brother used one for his car, was in derby tho....

google should show up loads really, just factor in the price of a tow bar some aint cheap...

my brother has been quoted 800 quid for his new car

[craig]

try thses chris .http://www.towbarandtrailercentre.co.uk/

some of my freinds have used these in the past and i,ve had some parts from them before and they seem reasonable

[Guest philgale]

Just off to take some pics now dont worry

 

well............hurry the feck up