thinking of buying a radical.
Discussion
I am seriously thinking of an buying a Radical for track days and sprints, i have owned an Atom and for a very short period a KTM xbow, the reason i have stayed away from Radicals is the problems your hear of bike engine in cars, i would like to ask you as owners of your exsperiences, and which model to go for if i deciede to buy one, also new or second hand.
This will get you started about the different models, also a further search through the forum should help also 
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Dunc.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Dunc.
Edited by dunc_sx on Wednesday 30th September 19:19
Go for it Joe.
You've had a couple of quick cars, but even the humblest Radical would eat both of them for breakfast
New or Used; upto you; just a question of folding; if the latter then the trick is a properly looked after car, ideally trackday rather than race use; they're out there.
Contact Will @ ROC ( radicaloc@googlemail.com ) and he'll try to sort you out to join us on a trackday; that way you should be able to try out different models for size.
Mine has been completely trouble free in the two years since I bought it off the one owner. Like I say, the trick's the right car, one that's been concientiously maintained.
Like I say, all Rads are weapons grade; just depends how ballistic a weapon you want.
Brilliant Cars.
You've had a couple of quick cars, but even the humblest Radical would eat both of them for breakfast
New or Used; upto you; just a question of folding; if the latter then the trick is a properly looked after car, ideally trackday rather than race use; they're out there.
Contact Will @ ROC ( radicaloc@googlemail.com ) and he'll try to sort you out to join us on a trackday; that way you should be able to try out different models for size.
Mine has been completely trouble free in the two years since I bought it off the one owner. Like I say, the trick's the right car, one that's been concientiously maintained.
Like I say, all Rads are weapons grade; just depends how ballistic a weapon you want.
Brilliant Cars.
dunc_sx said:
This will get you started about the different models, also a further search through the forum should help also
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Dunc.
Fergus' summary is good. The Prosport's high speed problem seems to be due to instability in the stagnation zone at the nose and transient vortexing underneath the car. BUT it isn't too difficult or expensive (c £1k) to rectify this and match or excede PR6 levels of aero performance thus saving lots and lots of ££££££££shttp://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Dunc.
Edited by dunc_sx on Wednesday 30th September 19:19
As you will probably gather, I'm a big fan of Clubsports and Prosports for sprinting and hillclimbing. They're cheap, rugged, reliable, upgradeable and handle nicely. What more could you want?
Having just sold my SR3 after almost 7 months on sale I would suggest buying one of the cheaper models (around 10-13k) as you will be able to sell at that sort of level a lot quicker than my SR3 or SR4 at over £20k.
A clubsport or prosport I would recommend as they will still murder anything round a track and probably wont be too far of the SR3's or 4's.
In summary I would definatly have another one as they are fantastic on track but you don't want to be paying big money for one unless you are very patient come resale time.
Cheers russell
A clubsport or prosport I would recommend as they will still murder anything round a track and probably wont be too far of the SR3's or 4's.
In summary I would definatly have another one as they are fantastic on track but you don't want to be paying big money for one unless you are very patient come resale time.
Cheers russell
I've hillclimbed / sprinted a Prosport for 2 years (and a Clubsport before that). Nothing has gone wrong that wasn't due to my own error (i.e. snapping a chain through bad adjustment ; burning an electic water pump by leaving it running for days........and running out of petrol 
)
I was thinking of selling (details here ) but it's probably the wrong end of the country for you
Can def. recommend Radicals though!
Cheers
JP
)I was thinking of selling (details here ) but it's probably the wrong end of the country for you
Can def. recommend Radicals though!
Cheers
JP
Just to put a different perspective...Radicals can and do go wrong. Regardless of whether it was predictable, own fault or otherwise. When my clubby engine dropped a cog in the box, the rebuild was close to 4k done by powertec. So there is some financial risk involved especially in the engine/box department.
Don't get me wrong though, I love mine and had the budget to sort the problem.
Bert
Don't get me wrong though, I love mine and had the budget to sort the problem.
Bert
joesacco said:
I am seriously thinking of an buying a Radical for track days and sprints, i have owned an Atom and for a very short period a KTM xbow, the reason i have stayed away from Radicals is the problems your hear of bike engine in cars, i would like to ask you as owners of your exsperiences, and which model to go for if i deciede to buy one, also new or second hand.
Hi Joesacco!Just read your post with interest.
Not all Radicals have bike engines...I have owned/raced an SR5 for the past 8 months and the car has never missed a beat, its been thoroughly reliable and has just had the Engine refreshed by Powertech and is ready to go!!
The SR5 has a Honda 2000cc VTEC Engine linked with a Hewland Gearbox and has been built with reliability and endurance in mind...performance wise it is very similar to an SR3 if not faster!!
Regards
David
Thanks guys, Radical owners seem to be the most hepfull and knowledgeable i have ever come across. I have had indepth chats with owners and the factory,and have decided i will buy a Radical, the hard one now is which way sr3 seems to be favorite for me although i have seen a couple of sr4s at good prices, might even go mad a buy a low spec new one, whichever way i go i look foward to meeting you guys on track next year.
Great To Hear, Right Call JoeAs you're about to do the right thing, ping one straightaway to Will at radicaloc@googlemail.com and ask him to inaugurate you as a ROC Member; that way you'll be kept upto speed meantime ......... I believe there's a NewsFlash coming out today ............ who knows, maybe we'll see you before next year i.e. shortly.
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