is running a track bike expensive? pls help

[STEALTH52]

would really love to get a track bike nxt year, but dont know where to start, main thing that worries me is how much it would cost me on maintenance and to run etc after ive got the bike.

any advice would be good. also does anyone know if you can get track insurance when you go up to a track day? because i fancy taking my road bike to a track but dont fancy the bill if i come off!!!!!!!!!

[two]

track insurance when you go up to a track day

a, its expensive
b, most only pay out it the bikes a write off

would really love to get a track bike nxt year, but dont know where to start, main thing that worries me is how much it would cost me on maintenance and to run etc after ive got the bike.

buy a prepared trackbike with a standard engine and wow (wets on wheels) so you can also have fun it the wet (you'd get surpirsed how much you spend converting a road bike)

make sure your planning on doing at least 8-10 trackdays... any less and it's more cost effective to hire a bike for the day

then you don't have the servicing costs :
oil and filter, front pads, chain and sprockets, tyres , brake fluid, suspension tuning

[kasandrich]

I believe you can insure your bike for a track day, but understandably it is VERY expensive!

A track bike needed be expensive to maintain, but it depends how bad and how often you crash it!

If you stay on it, there is no reason it should cost more than one oil change a year and a set of plugs.

You can always ride your road bike and be carefull.

If you are cautious of the expense of owning a track bike and scared of coming off yours, why not hire a bike at the track? It costs about £200 + £300 deposit, for an R6.

Or get a cheap pocket rocket type bike, like Mi5ter e , I think he paid £250, he can afford to throw it away.

I took my £4000 road bike and at no time did I feel I was going to crash, biggest problem was idiots overtaking on the inside of bends, they KNOW you are going to come across and clip the apex, and yet they insist on coming up the inside, a quick lifesaver before you turn in and be prepared to give way, should leave you safe. Some people have excessive testosterone and forget it is a track day and think it is a race!

[DoodleBug]

......biggest problem was idiots overtaking on the inside of bends, they KNOW you are going to come across and clip the apex, and yet they insist on coming up the inside, a quick lifesaver before you turn in and be prepared to give way, should leave you safe. Some people have excessive testosterone and forget it is a track day and think it is a race!

Cant think of anyone that would describe...... (sorry Kas)

You can see from my signature pic why I chose to buy a track bike. As for cost, apart from buying the bike you should get at least 3 track days out of a set of tyres, oil change is down to your conscience I guess, but not overly expensive to run one. My track bike is on a day time MOT and is insured for the road, not the track. I would add that had I been on my street bike I would definately have ridden a lot slower and more carefully, being on a track bike meant I didn't really care if I crashed it. Repairing the damage is going to total about £100, so not too bad.

[Dal]

I'm considering this also,

I'm just about to change my road bike and when my finances get over that shock I will be having a look for a road bike that been down the road probably a Cat C or D write off.

I'm not looking to race anyone just have fun so I will probably look for somthing like a Suzuki SV650. Plenty of spares about and plenty of knowledge if you wanted to get a bit more serious from the guys and girls who do the mini twin stuff. Also there reasonably light a chuckable and a twin is much more forgiving than a four if you get a little to eager with the throttle.

Just an idea at this stage.:reading

Cheers
Dal

[DoodleBug]

had there been an SV about when I got mine then I'd have got one. Some very tatsty gear around for them these days.

[Jetski]

being on a track bike meant I didn't really care if I crashed it

Oh really? I never noticed? :D :D :D :D

Doing track days isn't the cheapest of hobbies thats for sure... Getting a track bike good for the job needn't be expensive as Mi5terE proved. I paid £450 for my zxr400 which was mechanically sound, but just looked like a shed. I could've just left it as it was, but didn't and in total probably spent another £400 on top for a fairing respray, new chain, different size sprockets and a few bits and bobs. However, it would probably fetch £1,000 if I sold it, so really, there's no money lost...

The track days themselves can work out very expensive. Especially if you have to keep hiring vans, or you go long distances to do them, which adds fuel costs and even possibly hotel costs.

For example....

Rockingham cost me probably in the region of £250, if you include the cost of the track day, diesal to get there, petrol for the bike, and a hotel if you you're not prepared to ride up silly o clock in the morning. We didn't hire a van for that one either, but borrowed a friends. But then I did spend £30 on the photographs :D

Lydden was cheaper - more in the region of £150 to include van hire, but its closer, a cheaper track to do and I didn't buy photos :D

Rockingham this coming Sunday is going to cost in excess of £200 to include travelling and track fuel, van hire, hotel and the cost of the track day.

So so far three track days has cost well in excess of £500 and that hasn't included any important expenses, like the fact that I bought a new set of tyres for £120, or the fact that I had a bike problem that cost £60 to fix. And it doesn't even include minor expenses like eating for the duration :D

So you do have to look at the bigger picture... the cheaper you can get hold of a track bike for the better, because to get the most out of it, you'll need a bit of cash behind you for the track days themselves.

Rockingham this Sunday will be my last track day for this year otherwise its just too expensive. Oh, and the weather I suppose :D

However, I can honestly say, I wouldn't have changed a thing. Both of the track days I've done have been well worth the money and they certainly give you something to remember :D

[kasandrich]

Cant think of anyone that would describe...... (sorry Kas)



.......you weren't on the track long enough to comment on your riding http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/images/icons/icon12.gif

No seriously, some obviously had experience and had the timing worked out and knew they would be through and out of the way before slower riders like me apexed, others just seemed to follow through on the inside line with no regard for safety, just that they get the best line. It would have been a far better demonstration of their skills if they had gone around the outside.

[RaceMeNSee]

.......you weren't on the track long enough to comment on your riding http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/images/icons/icon12.gif

No seriously, some obviously had experience and had the timing worked out and knew they would be through and out of the way before slower riders like me apexed, others just seemed to follow through on the inside line with no regard for safety, just that they get the best line. It would have been a far better demonstration of their skills if they had gone around the outside.


I was kinda blown away from the whole experiance and took it really seriously......Sorry if i was one of those people Kas! Im considering keeping my current Ninja as a track bike...It would be something id LOVE to do....but ile just have to see how rich i am next march!

[Tark]

Just get yourself a few year old Race bike thats already track preped. Maintainence is nothing to worry about. If you get a 600 or 1000 or something you only need to change the oil every now and again. My old steel framed CBR was Tuned and I used to just change the oil about twice a year or somehting.

Been racing 5 years and never had insurance on a race bike. Never even looked into it.

[stu600cc]

.......you weren't on the track long enough to comment on your riding http://www.essexbikers.co.uk/forum/images/icons/icon12.gif

No seriously, some obviously had experience and had the timing worked out and knew they would be through and out of the way before slower riders like me apexed, others just seemed to follow through on the inside line with no regard for safety, just that they get the best line. It would have been a far better demonstration of their skills if they had gone around the outside.

That the reason going intermediates is better or even advanced no **** heads diving underneath you or changing lines mid corner

Track bikes are as expensive as you want them to be.

As jetski said it all the other cost that add up

Brands do evening sessions that are cheap, or just wait til winter wen they are really cheap.

Come Brands on the 25th November to have a look and get some advice

[Gazdaman]

I agree with pretty much everything said above. Intermediates the pace is not much quicker but there are fewer ****s in there mixing it up.

Maintaining a track bike is cheaper than a road bike IMO. My MZ (other than seizing on its first trackday) has been very cheap to maintain.

I wouldn't bother with track insurance, it's not worth the hastle. At least if you bin it on track it's most likely only scratched fairings and a bruised ego.

Gaz

[Tark]

By the way if you after a Sorted race wining Track bike Both my CBRs will be going sometime in the next few months. £5k for both with all the spares! More info soon