What's the cheapest bike to race?

[cbrsmurf]

I was reading an article about some guy racing a SV in one of the moto magazines. I believe he was racing in the 550 class. Just wondering if the SV is the cheapest way to go to race and have a chance at being competetive.

I think the only performance mods he had was a full exhaust, power commander, race fuel, and high quality oil along with tires of course.

Course he also spent a few Gs on tire warmers, rearsets, race bodywork, clip-ons, and chain/sprockets.

Kinda makes me want to get an SV (if I could afford one).


Would a 125GP or 250 GP be cheaper?

[Bryant]

Racing a GP bike would require a little mechanic know-how and dilligence to keep the costs down. 125GP bikes have a single cylinder which should be easy to work with though.. just need to do a rebuild every so often... perhaps twice a year for the top-end (piston/ring) and once a year or perhaps less for the bottom end. I think though that GP bikes would be a royal pain to race for a novice... u should get a bike that that you can worry less about rebuilding or breaking down. GP bikes typically don't have a rev limiter either.. just so's ya know so if you overrev.. u're rebuild intervals will become shorter!

SV's are excellent bikes to get started racing on! Just get the suspension done and keep everything else stock except for maybe bodywork. Add HP after you "graduate" from the novice ranks.

With WSMC at WSIR, SV's can compete in 550 Superbike and Middleweight Twins... just so you know, a Ducati 748 can compete in Middleweight Twins as well! ;p But you will probably be competing against really old and "slower" FZR400's in the 550 Superbike category.

Bryant

[Ikazuchi]

I agree . . . 4-strokes are much more durable than 2-strokes as far as time between major rebuilds.

From what I hear the SV is a good bike to race and the field isn't as heavy as with the 600s.

[deno]

what about GS 500's. What class do they race in?

[Arnold_R1]

Second that Jeff, an SV would make a perfect race bike! An older 600 like a F4 or GSXR600 too!

[GetnJgyWitit]

Originally posted by Arnold_R1
Second that Jeff, an SV would make a perfect race bike! An older 600 like a F4 or GSXR600 too!

The problem with that is you will be racing against the new Gix6 and R6 along with both RR's.

[Arnold_R1]

Originally posted by GetnJgyWitit
The problem with that is you will be racing against the new Gix6 and R6 along with both RR's.

True, but carb'd bikes offer much susbstantial HP gains! :rockon:

[GPTECHMAN]

I say if you care gonna race, get the SV or an F2/3 there are tons of parts and they're easy to work on.

[GetnJgyWitit]

Originally posted by GPTECHMAN
I say if you care gonna race, get the SV or an F2/3 there are tons of parts and they're easy to work on.

Wurd Big Bird!

[GPTECHMAN]

plus I got spare parts and tires....

[Arnold_R1]

Originally posted by GPTECHMAN
plus I got spare parts and tires....

don't forget the cup holders you got too! ;)

[GPTECHMAN]

cup holder is gone :(

[deno]

Originally posted by deno
what about GS 500's. What class do they race in?

Light Weight Twin maybe? Who would be there competition?

[Bryant]

Originally posted by deno
Light Weight Twin maybe? Who would be there competition?

Their competition would be FZR400 and EX500.

GS500 has a better chassis in general compared to the EX500.
EX500 has a stronger engine.
FZR400 has better all around performance and i believe is much lighter than the two mentioned above... but good luck finding one that's newer than 1990!!!

[Bryant]

Originally posted by deno
what about GS 500's. What class do they race in?

500 Superstock
500 Modified Production
550 Superbike?
LW Twins?

[Bryant]

Oh.. and when u are a novice.. doesn't matter what type of bike you race, you are basically separated into displacement categories.

0-500cc Lightweight Novice
501-650cc Middleweight Novice
651-Open Heavyweight Novice

So technically, you can race a GP500 machine against an EX250 in the Lightweight Novice class! LOL!! hahahaha