Discussion
Any one on here race bikes?
Have been thinking about it for a few years,done some track days on my R1 and realy enjoyed it!
What would the best race series to start racing in be?
I dont want to spend loads of money on a bike, about £2500-3000 would be about my budget, I all ready have all the race gear like leathers,back protector boots etc.
One big problem is my job,I have to work weekends is there any race series that runs in the week?
Have been thinking about it for a few years,done some track days on my R1 and realy enjoyed it!
What would the best race series to start racing in be?
I dont want to spend loads of money on a bike, about £2500-3000 would be about my budget, I all ready have all the race gear like leathers,back protector boots etc.
One big problem is my job,I have to work weekends is there any race series that runs in the week?
I know of nothing that runs exclusively mid week but it will come in handy for you for mid week testing (Wednesdays at Mallory this year I think ?) As for what to do I would suggest either the BEMSEE www.bemsee.co.uk or to a lesser degree New Era clubs if you go down the BEMSEE route you should look at either the Rookie 600's or 400's as a starting point both of which are hugely competitive but a good rider can still make a serious impact on a standard bike. The 400's are a bit more budget using mainly 400 4 strokes Jap imports and 250 2 strokes and the BEMSEE website has always got a good spread of last session bikes for sale from people moving up classes or giving up. However be aware it will eat up A LOT of time (atleast 2or3 full weekends a month in the summer) and money!
For the budget you quote expect to cover the bike only, you need to also be thinking van or trailer, tent or caravan, tyre warmers, generator, fuel plus jerry cans, tyres, spare wheels plus wets, spare plastics, entrance fees, and be aware you will crash (if not your not trying) so allow for a couple of helmets a year in your budget (leathers normally fight another day) so I would realistically expect to double your budget a session and thats working at the economy end of the game. Oh yes you also need to join the ACU and do some race training plus medical to get a licence.
Just as another alternative as time is short, you might consider getting a couple of mates involved (thus 3x the budget) and look at the KRC Endurance series they only do 4-5 races a session but they are all 6-8hr endurance races with 2/3 riders per team so for giving up less weekends you actually get more track time . However budgets are higher and I wouldn't even consider it unless you can raise atleast £15K per session between you, it is a national championship but Rookies can still ride in it just don't expect to win anything
Talking of which also prepare yourself to be shocked you might well be in top few of the fast group on a track day but once you go racing you will get your arse kicked.
Oh and if you still want to do it and fancy a bike, I've got a ZX7RR full race spec bike with plenty of trick bit and bobs plus spare wheels, engine, frame, plastics and stuff sitting in garage that I'd let go for the budget you're talking about
For the budget you quote expect to cover the bike only, you need to also be thinking van or trailer, tent or caravan, tyre warmers, generator, fuel plus jerry cans, tyres, spare wheels plus wets, spare plastics, entrance fees, and be aware you will crash (if not your not trying) so allow for a couple of helmets a year in your budget (leathers normally fight another day) so I would realistically expect to double your budget a session and thats working at the economy end of the game. Oh yes you also need to join the ACU and do some race training plus medical to get a licence.
Just as another alternative as time is short, you might consider getting a couple of mates involved (thus 3x the budget) and look at the KRC Endurance series they only do 4-5 races a session but they are all 6-8hr endurance races with 2/3 riders per team so for giving up less weekends you actually get more track time . However budgets are higher and I wouldn't even consider it unless you can raise atleast £15K per session between you, it is a national championship but Rookies can still ride in it just don't expect to win anything
Talking of which also prepare yourself to be shocked you might well be in top few of the fast group on a track day but once you go racing you will get your arse kicked. Oh and if you still want to do it and fancy a bike, I've got a ZX7RR full race spec bike with plenty of trick bit and bobs plus spare wheels, engine, frame, plastics and stuff sitting in garage that I'd let go for the budget you're talking about
GSXRI second everything Mel says. When i first started i worked one day a weekend so just used to enter on the sunday on two day races. On that though you'll find it quite testing - getting there, getting the bike in order/ running, etc. If you cant do weekends your pritty stumped.
Inc, yes you are a girls blouse!!
AJ
Inc, yes you are a girls blouse!!
AJ
Hello all,
I'm racing in the Bemsee Minitwins this year and I believe it to be one of the less costly race series to enter, mainly because no engine tuning is allowed. Rookie 600s and 400s rely to an extent on some engine tuning which is quite costly whereas the majority of the money that you would spend on a minitwin (SV650s) would be on tyres.
I don't know of any series that runs in the week either. Traditionally I think motor racing has always been a weekend thing so you could have your work cut out there.
What sort of lap times are you putting in on the R1? Have a look at the results sheets on www.bemsee.co.uk to see how competitive you might be. There are some truly outstanding lap times on there...and some pretty abysmal ones too.
If you've got any questions about cost over a season, let me know. I'd be glad to air the costs.
Cheers,
Ben #29 Minitwin
I'm racing in the Bemsee Minitwins this year and I believe it to be one of the less costly race series to enter, mainly because no engine tuning is allowed. Rookie 600s and 400s rely to an extent on some engine tuning which is quite costly whereas the majority of the money that you would spend on a minitwin (SV650s) would be on tyres.
I don't know of any series that runs in the week either. Traditionally I think motor racing has always been a weekend thing so you could have your work cut out there.
What sort of lap times are you putting in on the R1? Have a look at the results sheets on www.bemsee.co.uk to see how competitive you might be. There are some truly outstanding lap times on there...and some pretty abysmal ones too.
If you've got any questions about cost over a season, let me know. I'd be glad to air the costs.
Cheers,
Ben #29 Minitwin
You can still do very well in the Rookies on a stock bike. My ex Endurance partner won the Rookie 600 championship 4 years ago on an absolutely standard GSXR600 he ran it on the road for a year, fitted race plastic and wiped the floor, he used to even do his warm down lap bibbing his horn to rub their faces in it !!!!! and to make it worse he won the championship postumously as he missed the last SIX meetings due to being killed on the road early September!!!!!! A good rider can do it, and he was very good just unlucky on the road.
Thanks for all them replys, looks like I will have to have words with the boss and try and get some weekends off next year!
I have a van and trailer and some jerry cans etc. so for transport I am pretty well set up.
I am quite a tall person so think the 400s would be a bit small for me!
I do like the sound of the sv 650 cup, my £2500-3000 is just for the bike so hoping to get something half decent for that and allowing £2000 for repaires,spares etc.
Before all this I need to sell my M3.
Any offers on it? may be you fancy a px deal with your zx7rr mel!
I have a van and trailer and some jerry cans etc. so for transport I am pretty well set up.
I am quite a tall person so think the 400s would be a bit small for me!
I do like the sound of the sv 650 cup, my £2500-3000 is just for the bike so hoping to get something half decent for that and allowing £2000 for repaires,spares etc.
Before all this I need to sell my M3.
Any offers on it? may be you fancy a px deal with your zx7rr mel!
I've just completed a season in the Swedish Endurance cup called "Endureance for Fun" www.erf.nu 4h to 6h depending on track.
I think Endurance is the best racing for the money if you are a rookie. You also have more fun as you are a team and not alone.
We've raced a Stock GSXR 1000 K3 out the box against tuned bikes of all sorts. Everything from suspension to fully tuned engine etc.. We ended up 5th in the championship.
It's not cheap to race. Every meeting costs a whole lot.
Race fee 170 pounds roughly
Tires (1 Front 2 rears) price depending on your contacts
Fuel 100 litres...
+ crashes... and repairs...
New oil and filter for the engine.
Travel costs
Food for the Team...
I think Endurance is the best racing for the money if you are a rookie. You also have more fun as you are a team and not alone.
We've raced a Stock GSXR 1000 K3 out the box against tuned bikes of all sorts. Everything from suspension to fully tuned engine etc.. We ended up 5th in the championship.
It's not cheap to race. Every meeting costs a whole lot.
Race fee 170 pounds roughly
Tires (1 Front 2 rears) price depending on your contacts
Fuel 100 litres...
+ crashes... and repairs...
New oil and filter for the engine.
Travel costs
Food for the Team...
I don't race (yet), but do you have a local club you can join ?
I'm thinking about doing the Streetstocks with www.ngroadracing.org as it won't cost the earth to get started and if I find I am a big girls blouse I can still use the bike on the road.
Sounds like you are pretty much ready to go with the r1 for that sort of thing
As for midweek, I don't know anything around here (Bristol)...
HTH
I'm thinking about doing the Streetstocks with www.ngroadracing.org as it won't cost the earth to get started and if I find I am a big girls blouse I can still use the bike on the road.
Sounds like you are pretty much ready to go with the r1 for that sort of thing
As for midweek, I don't know anything around here (Bristol)...
HTH
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff