Track bike conundrum
Discussion
Looking for some opinions from the other trackday riders on here. I currently use a Honda CBR400RR as my track bike which I love, but is obviously not suited to larger tracks. I've always wanted a 2 stroke and went to see a beautiful NSR250 on Friday, but on reflection for the money (£5k) I am wondering if I am better off looking for something more modern and possibly 1000cc to do something a bit different to my current CBR, as I am worried the NSR might cross over a bit too much.
What are your thoughts? Treat myself to the 2 stroke NSR (as it is a lovely thing) and stick with the smaller tracks, or look for something more powerful to allow me to try Silverstone etc?
Other option is to do a Silverstone trackday on my Blackbird to see if I enjoy it
What are your thoughts? Treat myself to the 2 stroke NSR (as it is a lovely thing) and stick with the smaller tracks, or look for something more powerful to allow me to try Silverstone etc?
Other option is to do a Silverstone trackday on my Blackbird to see if I enjoy it
Not exactly much difference between the NSR and CBR, if anything the NSR is less suited to faster tracks as (IIRC) it makes less power.
Although, personally...I just don't go to the faster tracks! It's only really places like Silverstone and Snetterton where you _really_ want more speed than a 400.
Every other track I've never felt that I _needed_ anything faster. Want maybe but that's different.
Anyway, to cut a long story short I'm told that the answer is a 675R.
Although, personally...I just don't go to the faster tracks! It's only really places like Silverstone and Snetterton where you _really_ want more speed than a 400.
Every other track I've never felt that I _needed_ anything faster. Want maybe but that's different.
Anyway, to cut a long story short I'm told that the answer is a 675R.
Fleegle said:
Difficult one. I used to take my R1 and tzr250 on trackdays and the R1 would spend more time on the stands.
I assume you enjoyed running the TZR then!Reliability is my other concern as there is nothing worse than getting to the track and then the bike failing Its only happened to me once thankfully (touch wood).
I guess taking 2 bikes alleviates that risk though
Fastdruid said:
Not exactly much difference between the NSR and CBR, if anything the NSR is less suited to faster tracks as (IIRC) it makes less power.
Although, personally...I just don't go to the faster tracks! It's only really places like Silverstone and Snetterton where you _really_ want more speed than a 400.
Every other track I've never felt that I _needed_ anything faster. Want maybe but that's different.
Anyway, to cut a long story short I'm told that the answer is a 675R.
I really like riding the CBR as its not intimidating and I really enjoy the lack of weight and how nimble it feels. I'm sure the NSR would be similar but even more so. I have done Snetterton on the 400 once and it was a bit of a chore. I will have a look at the Triumphs, and GSXR750's seem quite good value to me as well.Although, personally...I just don't go to the faster tracks! It's only really places like Silverstone and Snetterton where you _really_ want more speed than a 400.
Every other track I've never felt that I _needed_ anything faster. Want maybe but that's different.
Anyway, to cut a long story short I'm told that the answer is a 675R.
It might end up that I am best sticking with what I know, as it is a great bike and I am managing to keep up a half decent inters pace on it at the moment. Money burning a hole in my pocket and having it sitting in the bank doing nothing is a bit tedious though
I’d suggest maybe a more modern 600, still lightweight and will corner well, without the all out power of a 1000, that’s mostly wasted on most on track days.
Two strokes are old tech, very old tech now and whilst everyone loves to talk about how they had one and it was the greatest thing ever, I just don’t see the appeal of using something so old and so (arguably) unreliable.
Taking a blackbird on track will be hilarious to watch, they really aren’t designed for corners or tracks. It would be the equivalent of taking a high powered 4x4 on track, might be fast in a straight line, but massively compromised everywhere else.
Two strokes are old tech, very old tech now and whilst everyone loves to talk about how they had one and it was the greatest thing ever, I just don’t see the appeal of using something so old and so (arguably) unreliable.
Taking a blackbird on track will be hilarious to watch, they really aren’t designed for corners or tracks. It would be the equivalent of taking a high powered 4x4 on track, might be fast in a straight line, but massively compromised everywhere else.
Two strokes may be old tech but I had way more fun on my 50hp tzr than my 200hp ZX10.
As for reliability issues, you get out what you put in. Keeping on top of the simple maintenance is key
There are tracks that become a chore on a small bike, but on the smaller circuits you can make the latest super bikes look like they steer like diggers
As for reliability issues, you get out what you put in. Keeping on top of the simple maintenance is key
There are tracks that become a chore on a small bike, but on the smaller circuits you can make the latest super bikes look like they steer like diggers
AceOfHearts said:
Fastdruid said:
Not exactly much difference between the NSR and CBR, if anything the NSR is less suited to faster tracks as (IIRC) it makes less power.
Although, personally...I just don't go to the faster tracks! It's only really places like Silverstone and Snetterton where you _really_ want more speed than a 400.
Every other track I've never felt that I _needed_ anything faster. Want maybe but that's different.
Anyway, to cut a long story short I'm told that the answer is a 675R.
I really like riding the CBR as its not intimidating and I really enjoy the lack of weight and how nimble it feels. I'm sure the NSR would be similar but even more so. I have done Snetterton on the 400 once and it was a bit of a chore. I will have a look at the Triumphs, and GSXR750's seem quite good value to me as well.Although, personally...I just don't go to the faster tracks! It's only really places like Silverstone and Snetterton where you _really_ want more speed than a 400.
Every other track I've never felt that I _needed_ anything faster. Want maybe but that's different.
Anyway, to cut a long story short I'm told that the answer is a 675R.
It might end up that I am best sticking with what I know, as it is a great bike and I am managing to keep up a half decent inters pace on it at the moment. Money burning a hole in my pocket and having it sitting in the bank doing nothing is a bit tedious though
Quality is a bit s
t because cameras weren't as good back then and the mount has some vibrations on it but here's me on an RVF400 in the Inters group at Donington Park https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7a9Exx3o8s (including my favourite litre bike overtake at ~6min in)In the entire session about 13 or so overtakes....and two bikes overtook me.
(the upload was from years ago when youtube limited video length so the other half is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti1Q5Cj0GHs)
Having ridden plenty of 600's on track they are (obviously) much quicker than the 400's...but being quicker doesn't mean they are necessarily more fun, it does depend though, I fully understand the annoyance of being overtaken by _everything_ on the straight only for them to get in the way for the corner though.
To ride a smaller capacity bike (relatively) fast is a far better way to learn than just using the obvious power of a litre bike in a straight line.
My only comment regarding the NSR is the availability of spares. You can set the jetting conservatively but Honda 2T spares are getting harder to find.
How about something like an R6 ot Daytona 675?
Quick enough for the bigger tracks and small enough for everywhere else. Lots of parts availability and the Yamaha is a proven track bike of note when set up nicely
My only comment regarding the NSR is the availability of spares. You can set the jetting conservatively but Honda 2T spares are getting harder to find.
How about something like an R6 ot Daytona 675?
Quick enough for the bigger tracks and small enough for everywhere else. Lots of parts availability and the Yamaha is a proven track bike of note when set up nicely
Steve Bass said:
How about something like an R6 ot Daytona 675?
Quick enough for the bigger tracks and small enough for everywhere else. Lots of parts availability and the Yamaha is a proven track bike of note when set up nicely
I'll be honest...while the later ones may be different I preferred the pre-2000 CBR6 to the pre-2000 R6, particularly in the RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR guise. Quick enough for the bigger tracks and small enough for everywhere else. Lots of parts availability and the Yamaha is a proven track bike of note when set up nicely
Plus R6's are a bit known for cracking liners.
If I was to get rid of my SV
) Fastdruid said:
I'll be honest...while the later ones may be different I preferred the pre-2000 CBR6 to the pre-2000 R6, particularly in the RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR guise.
Plus R6's are a bit known for cracking liners.
If I was to get rid of my SV650700 trackbike I'd personally get either a CBR600RR5+ or Daytona 675R (and still borrow my wifes RVF400R, )
Why are you talking about pre2000 bikes? I thought a few of us have suggested more modern 600s. Plus R6's are a bit known for cracking liners.
If I was to get rid of my SV
) Fleegle said:
Two strokes may be old tech but I had way more fun on my 50hp tzr than my 200hp ZX10.
As for reliability issues, you get out what you put in. Keeping on top of the simple maintenance is key
There are tracks that become a chore on a small bike, but on the smaller circuits you can make the latest super bikes look like they steer like diggers
Each to their own, I’m sure two strokes were fun, but they are old tech and more likely to break, maybe not the engine but some parts are likely to be old and failing. If two strokes were still valid then people would still be using them, manufacturers selling them and trackdays and roads full of them. As for reliability issues, you get out what you put in. Keeping on top of the simple maintenance is key
There are tracks that become a chore on a small bike, but on the smaller circuits you can make the latest super bikes look like they steer like diggers
unident said:
Fastdruid said:
I'll be honest...while the later ones may be different I preferred the pre-2000 CBR6 to the pre-2000 R6, particularly in the RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR guise.
Plus R6's are a bit known for cracking liners.
If I was to get rid of my SV650700 trackbike I'd personally get either a CBR600RR5+ or Daytona 675R (and still borrow my wifes RVF400R, )
Why are you talking about pre2000 bikes? I thought a few of us have suggested more modern 600s. Plus R6's are a bit known for cracking liners.
If I was to get rid of my SV
) My suggestions were all post 2005 with the 675R made up to 2018 and the CBR600RR made up until 2016.
Most of what I was going to say has been said above, it's too easy to jump on a thou but you'd end up being a straight line hero.
I would get a modern bike, 600cc as has been mentioned, plenty of spares and knowledge around and you'll have plenty of fun hustling that around chasing bigger bikes and learning to maximise the bike and your riding through corner speed.
There aren't many UK tracks where you can exploit a big bike to it's maximum, you'd never top out even at Snett or Silverstone, as Mike "Spike" Edwards once told me "there's more corners than straights".
I would get a modern bike, 600cc as has been mentioned, plenty of spares and knowledge around and you'll have plenty of fun hustling that around chasing bigger bikes and learning to maximise the bike and your riding through corner speed.
There aren't many UK tracks where you can exploit a big bike to it's maximum, you'd never top out even at Snett or Silverstone, as Mike "Spike" Edwards once told me "there's more corners than straights".
Freakuk said:
Most of what I was going to say has been said above, it's too easy to jump on a thou but you'd end up being a straight line hero.
I would get a modern bike, 600cc as has been mentioned, plenty of spares and knowledge around and you'll have plenty of fun hustling that around chasing bigger bikes and learning to maximise the bike and your riding through corner speed.
There aren't many UK tracks where you can exploit a big bike to it's maximum, you'd never top out even at Snett or Silverstone, as Mike "Spike" Edwards once told me "there's more corners than straights".
Hows the 1299S ? ;-) I would get a modern bike, 600cc as has been mentioned, plenty of spares and knowledge around and you'll have plenty of fun hustling that around chasing bigger bikes and learning to maximise the bike and your riding through corner speed.
There aren't many UK tracks where you can exploit a big bike to it's maximum, you'd never top out even at Snett or Silverstone, as Mike "Spike" Edwards once told me "there's more corners than straights".
But what he says is the truth ... although my money would go on a GSXR750
Fastdruid said:
unident said:
Fastdruid said:
I'll be honest...while the later ones may be different I preferred the pre-2000 CBR6 to the pre-2000 R6, particularly in the RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR guise.
Plus R6's are a bit known for cracking liners.
If I was to get rid of my SV650700 trackbike I'd personally get either a CBR600RR5+ or Daytona 675R (and still borrow my wifes RVF400R, )
Why are you talking about pre2000 bikes? I thought a few of us have suggested more modern 600s. Plus R6's are a bit known for cracking liners.
If I was to get rid of my SV
) My suggestions were all post 2005 with the 675R made up to 2018 and the CBR600RR made up until 2016.
dibblecorse said:
Freakuk said:
Most of what I was going to say has been said above, it's too easy to jump on a thou but you'd end up being a straight line hero.
I would get a modern bike, 600cc as has been mentioned, plenty of spares and knowledge around and you'll have plenty of fun hustling that around chasing bigger bikes and learning to maximise the bike and your riding through corner speed.
There aren't many UK tracks where you can exploit a big bike to it's maximum, you'd never top out even at Snett or Silverstone, as Mike "Spike" Edwards once told me "there's more corners than straights".
Hows the 1299S ? ;-) I would get a modern bike, 600cc as has been mentioned, plenty of spares and knowledge around and you'll have plenty of fun hustling that around chasing bigger bikes and learning to maximise the bike and your riding through corner speed.
There aren't many UK tracks where you can exploit a big bike to it's maximum, you'd never top out even at Snett or Silverstone, as Mike "Spike" Edwards once told me "there's more corners than straights".
But what he says is the truth ... although my money would go on a GSXR750
dibblecorse said:
unident said:
Which R6s are known for cracking liners?
5EB's from a quick Google, seems to be lots of info out there from a quick search.Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff