Coming back to bikes after 15 years.......

[JayK12]

Hi All, I've not been on bikes for 15 years, I started at 16 on an RS50 then RS125 (aprilia) then moved to cars, then added a 2004 CBR600RR. I sold this bike 15 years ago and since have in cars, and been tracking cars from sports cars, supercars and radicals, never tracked a bike.

Cars seem to bore me a bit, I dont have much time with 2 young kids, so they are a waste. I started looking at returning to bikes, it feels exciting, I feel somewhat a beginner for now.

Use wise it probably would get a bit of road fun use and maybe 5/6 track days a year, but even with minimal use its nice to have a toy.

My instincts were to go straight back to CBR600RR, but around that price is a used Ducati Panigale V2. Both bikes are probably way more capable than me, but I dont want to buy something for a year and then sell and change etc. Although I did look at the ZX4-RR and Aprilia RS660.

Looks wise Ducati looks amazing, I'd by lying if I didnt say its the one Id want to open then garage too. But I know the Honda will do everything I need it to do. Road riding (countryside lanes not city) after reviews maybe the V2 would be better, but on track the high revving IL4 has its appeal.

Whats everyone's thoughts, anyone had both or any recommendation.

Thanks!

[johnsmith222]

I'm no expert, but I'm tempted to say get the Panigale if that's what you really want. I'd personally want a different bike for beginner track days though.

The SV650 is a common cheap 80ish bhp bike which might suit. The ZX4RR is really cool, but for the price, I can't help but think the value could go towards a panigale. Plus, the second hand parts availability isn't going to be the same as a ratty SV650 track bike.

[200Plus Club]

You'll be quite shocked how different bike trackdays are to car trackdays. Something cheap to fix and repair when binned perhaps might be a good start. I went the other way, started on bike trackdays back in the day and ended up on car trackdays.

[rodericb]

they're all very capable bikes. The only thing is the "feel" of the engine format and if that's actually a thing for you. If you don't want to end up in the scenario of disliking the bike you buy, the best thing is to get rides of them before committing.

[Ghs]

I wouldn’t waste my money on the 400 as you’ll soon get bored of it as I did , 600 makes much more sense to me , that’s the way I’d wished I’d gone , to be honest I wish I’d not gone down from 1,000,s.
Plenty of nice fireblades/ gsxr 1000,s around so that’s the way I’d go , but I do like il4,s
That said I recently took out a £3,000 gsxr 750 and loved it , if it wasn’t for retirement & im still not sure what way I’m going I’m 99% sure I’d of brought it , I was impressed

[itcaptainslow]

200Plus Club said:

You'll be quite shocked how different bike trackdays are to car trackdays.

In what way, out of interest?

I’ve done several car trackdays, but never a bike one.

[200Plus Club]

itcaptainslow said:

200Plus Club said:

You'll be quite shocked how different bike trackdays are to car trackdays.

In what way, out of interest?

I ve done several car trackdays, but never a bike one.

Just the fact that quicker riders will often blast by quite closely, which group you are in makes a massive difference, there are some extremely quick and competent racers/riders out there generally and it's a lot wider track to a bike than a car so there will be people taking multiple lines at times especially if they've gone in a bit fast etc .
The old adage was to tape up or remove your mirrors, or not use them too much and concentrate on your own riding and lines, a faster rider will follow you into the bend and work round you, definitely pick your line and stick to it. On car days you tend to indicate or pull over to let faster cars through, bikes just nail it past generally!

I'd certainly do a beginners bike day to start with if you can regardless of car track day experience, do your own thing with regard to pace and don't watch too closely what other riders are doing to the extent it affects you.

[Birky_41]

I was riding on road since 1998, stopped in 2006 at the time riding a Benelli Tornado Tre 900. Took 10 years out with cars, kit cars and what not

Cost me a fortune and couldn't get the buzz I did from bikes. Decided to get back into bikes and bought an MV Dragster RR 800 as my first bike back

Lasted 18 months then bought an Aprilia Tuono 1100. I don't regret any of those decisions

I would say get what excites you and makes you keep looking at it. All can be fast but it's only as much as you want it to be

[hiccy18]

If you've not ridden for 15 years there's two things to note:

1. It'll be far easier to get back into it that you will suspect
2. You'll then be far worse than you expected

Get used to riding a bike again before you think of going on track.

[200Plus Club]

hiccy18 said:

If you've not ridden for 15 years there's two things to note:

1. It'll be far easier to get back into it that you will suspect
2. You'll then be far worse than you expected

Get used to riding a bike again before you think of going on track.

Yea that's probably perfect advice to start with. I did a days one to one road training on a hired BMW 850 with an advanced tutor after a similar break from bikes, was an excellent way back into it to get your confidence up.

[itcaptainslow]

200Plus Club said:

itcaptainslow said:

200Plus Club said:

You'll be quite shocked how different bike trackdays are to car trackdays.

In what way, out of interest?

I ve done several car trackdays, but never a bike one.

Just the fact that quicker riders will often blast by quite closely, which group you are in makes a massive difference, there are some extremely quick and competent racers/riders out there generally and it's a lot wider track to a bike than a car so there will be people taking multiple lines at times especially if they've gone in a bit fast etc .
The old adage was to tape up or remove your mirrors, or not use them too much and concentrate on your own riding and lines, a faster rider will follow you into the bend and work round you, definitely pick your line and stick to it. On car days you tend to indicate or pull over to let faster cars through, bikes just nail it past generally!

I'd certainly do a beginners bike day to start with if you can regardless of car track day experience, do your own thing with regard to pace and don't watch too closely what other riders are doing to the extent it affects you.

Thanks, I’ve been curious to try a bike trackday (maybe at one of the schools or similar), but am conscious I am nowhere near as quick/fluid/natural on a bike as I am in a car.

[JayK12]

Thanks for all the comments.

The RS660 sounded like a great bike for me 100hp, lighter weight, just looks like fun without being a ballistic missile, but then you read all the posts of engine issues, things breaking and rattling it puts you off.

I did look at older CBR600RR with thinking of track days and what if I drop it, but your at 5K for a nice one say from 2010 but then 8K for a lightly used 2024.

Appreciate the comments on getting back upto speed, thats thats what I intend to do before getting on track, I have also looked at courses around me for when I am back on a bike next spring, and track days they are just a thought, just a day out for me really in what is a very busy life, they would be novice days and 100% would utilise instruction.

[itcaptainslow]

On the bike front, how about a Street Triple?

I bought a 2008 one in the summer with 7k miles on, £4-5k gets you on a decent one and they’re characterful things. Quick enough to feel interesting, handle beautifully and very DIY’able to work on, I can imagine it’ll feel decent on a trackday too.

[200Plus Club]

JayK12 said:

Thanks for all the comments.

The RS660 sounded like a great bike for me 100hp, lighter weight, just looks like fun without being a ballistic missile, but then you read all the posts of engine issues, things breaking and rattling it puts you off.

I did look at older CBR600RR with thinking of track days and what if I drop it, but your at 5K for a nice one say from 2010 but then 8K for a lightly used 2024.

Appreciate the comments on getting back upto speed, thats thats what I intend to do before getting on track, I have also looked at courses around me for when I am back on a bike next spring, and track days they are just a thought, just a day out for me really in what is a very busy life, they would be novice days and 100% would utilise instruction.

Many years ago the bike race schools were excellent fun on their bikes if you wanted to stick a toe in the water.
A quick Google brought this up
https://superbikeschool.co.uk/