07-17-2006, 09:45 PM
If you're looking at a 500, IMHO, the Kawasaki Ninja/EX500 is a much better buy than the GS. The GS tends to get walked all over at the clubman level of racing because the heads in the Kwak flow better. A 500 would make a great entry level tracker, but I'm afraid aftermarket support is rather limited. I hate to say it, but I think there may be one, if that, company that makes aftermarket rear sets (to relocate the foot pegs) for the Buell.
Herein lies the dilemma: the only bikes with a good support of track based merchandise are the popular ones, which tend to fall far out of your list (in price, complicity [is that a word?], and straight line performance). If I were you I'd be willing to make a sacrifice on my list to get that support network that comes from owning a popular bike.
You asked about the cooling systems.. honestly, I think they're drop dead simple. They don't flow through things like intake manifolds like cars... they simply keep the bike cool. I changed mine out to water in half an hour last week, same with Gerald's. I wouldn't let that sway my decision one bit. As far as complicated things go, people will tell you to stray from the Duc's because of their Desmo (a cam for valves open, and a cam for valves close) system. I don't think it's a single bit complicated. A lightweight Monster would be super cool, too!
Herein lies the dilemma: the only bikes with a good support of track based merchandise are the popular ones, which tend to fall far out of your list (in price, complicity [is that a word?], and straight line performance). If I were you I'd be willing to make a sacrifice on my list to get that support network that comes from owning a popular bike.
You asked about the cooling systems.. honestly, I think they're drop dead simple. They don't flow through things like intake manifolds like cars... they simply keep the bike cool. I changed mine out to water in half an hour last week, same with Gerald's. I wouldn't let that sway my decision one bit. As far as complicated things go, people will tell you to stray from the Duc's because of their Desmo (a cam for valves open, and a cam for valves close) system. I don't think it's a single bit complicated. A lightweight Monster would be super cool, too!
When it comes to Ryan Jenkins, the story ends with me putting him in the wall.
2009 Speed Triple | 2006 DR-Z400SM | 1999 CBR600F4 | 1998 Jeep Cherokee
-Ginger
2009 Speed Triple | 2006 DR-Z400SM | 1999 CBR600F4 | 1998 Jeep Cherokee
-Ginger