just dreaming... educate me on what I should get please!

[Apoc]

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[.RJ]

Channing will tell you that you can buy 10 e30's for that price

[BLINGMW]

I don't think its a good track bike because its only got 30 lb-ft of torque and like 34 hp. It's also a single cylinder engine.

I don't think that would bother me much. It's still a better power to weight ratio than my current track car and almost the same as the E36 I used to track. I know comparing to cars might be laughable, as it's obviously HALF any other "real" bike you guys are recommending, but I get the impression the power wouldn't bore me right away. I'm more concerned about the handling and brakes. That article talks about the pegs dragging.... can those be relocated? In my first couple track days, I'd be interested in riding well, not being an idiot, learning good habits, and crazy straight line speed is no-where on the list. Would the Blast be instantly frustrating or would I be the limiting factor for at least a few track days?

Special Price for an old friend

thanks for the offer, that bike just doesn't meet many of my requirements though.... it'd have to be REAL cheap :wink:

Although if you're scared off by the SV having a 'complicated' cooling system, I don't think a Ducati is up your alley.

I dunno, a monster is stupid simple to me. Air cooled, 2v desmo twin...... seems like the way to go if can do the maintenance yourself and not pay the local $$ducati dealer$$ for it.

So it's air cooled... is it complicated for some other reason? I've kept my car away from shops, I can only assume that bikes in general have got to be super easy to work on. So while I'm ok with a cooling system, I just liked the idea of a sharp contrast with all the extra systems that have to be dealt with in a car. Of course, the Ducati seems a little expensive from what I breifly looked at...

On the subject of Italian bikes, THIS thing seems like my holy grail, wish I could get my hands on one!
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250lbs with 55hp and all old tech! :twisted:

Well the Suzukis we've been talking about are both high on my list now, I at least have a short list of bikes I should keep an eye on. I'm still not convinced the Blast wouldn't cut it, but I'll do some more research, maybe a test drive!

[Ginger]

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!

[.RJ]

So it's air cooled... is it complicated for some other reason? I've kept my car away from shops, I can only assume that bikes in general have got to be super easy to work on.

Nope, not complicated at all. Air cooled v-twin, 2 valves per cylinder, with a desmo valvetrain. Easy to work on, not much stuff to break and generally pretty reliable. The Monster 620's are cheap, they take "real" tires, fairly light (370 lbs), easy to ride, they sound good and they handle good. Dont discount the tire availability when you buy a bike, especially if you want to do track days. If it has 17" wheels on it, your available selection of tires goes way up.

[Ginger]

If it has 17" wheels on it, your available selection of tires goes way up.

More like, if it doesn't have a 17/160 or 180 on the back your tire selection pretty much ceases to be about what's good and goes to "who makes a size that fits my bike?"

-The guy who went on track with Bias-Plys

[stevegula]

Get an SV650. Great learner bike, light weight, ridiculously awesome for the track. If you're serious about getting on the track, don't waste your time with any 500cc or less bikes. They're great for learning but they're crap bikes otherwise. Not remotely track worthy.

[.RJ]

they're crap bikes otherwise. Not remotely track worthy.

Why not? John's EX500 has 17" wheels and you can stick a 160 rear tire on it. Its light, bulletproof reliable and simple to work on. I dont see the downside, other than lack of power, but for the first few track days that doesnt matter at all. They're cheap, you can ride it for 6-12 months and sell it for what you paid for it.

[stevegula]

they're crap bikes otherwise. Not remotely track worthy.

Why not? John's EX500 has 17" wheels and you can stick a 160 rear tire on it. Its light, bulletproof reliable and simple to work on. I dont see the downside, other than lack of power, but for the first few track days that doesnt matter at all. They're cheap, you can ride it for 6-12 months and sell it for what you paid for it.

Everything you described goes for the SV650. But the SV650 comes with a respectable suspension and a better thought out frame. The SV is designed with the track in mind. All 500s and lower are designed as cheap commuting bikes. Plus, if you want to make the SV really tear up the road, simple upgrades make that happen (swap front ends with a GSX-R, upgrade the rear suspension).

[.RJ]

Everything you described goes for the SV650. But the SV650 comes with a respectable suspension and a better thought out frame. The SV is designed with the track in mind.

Sure the SV650 is a better bike.... there will always be something "better" out there but that may not necessarily discount the EX500 as a "crap bike" and one can be had considerably cheaper than an SV.

[stevegula]

Everything you described goes for the SV650. But the SV650 comes with a respectable suspension and a better thought out frame. The SV is designed with the track in mind.

Sure the SV650 is a better bike.... there will always be something "better" out there but that may not necessarily discount the EX500 as a "crap bike" and one can be had considerably cheaper than an SV.

SVs can be had for $2500-3k. That's hardly an investment in motorsports. Plus buying one bike is easier than buying, selling, and then buying a better bike.

The EX500 and GS500 are great for driving to work. I'll them credit for that. They're not trackworthy anymore than a Metro is.

[G.Irish]

Eh, if all things are equal the SV would be the better choice but the 500R and GS500 are not total piles. In your first year (or more) the rider is going to be the limiting factor anyway.

Now if Chan intends to keep the bike for a few years then the SV would be the better choice. Also, parts will be much easier to find for the SV.

[Evan]

an SV is too new and too non-busted for Chan.

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has chaddock's name written all over it

[stevegula]

an SV is too new and too non-busted for Chan.

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has chaddock's name written all over it

Right.

Make him get a 26 year old bike so when something breaks it takes 4 weeks to get parts.

Because having your moto sit in the driveway unused is really the highlight of owning one.

Or he could get a 99 SV. Cheap and still awesome, especially if you don't mind carburetors.

[.RJ]

Right.

Make him get a 26 year old bike so when something breaks it takes 4 weeks to get parts

GSXR's and SV's are god, everything else sucks. We get it already.

[Apoc]

Anyone just hear that? I think it's the sound of Evan's joke whooshing right over Steve's head.

[Ginger]

Anyone just hear that? I think it's the sound of Evan's joke whooshing right over Steve's head.

I don't think Steve knows Chan.

I thought it was funny, though.

Channing might be better off with my VFR

Not to be argumentative, but aside from the fact that they're not glory bikes... there are plenty of guys racing clubman on GS & EX 500s. They're hardly up to par with the SV's, and race replicas out there... but owning one of those bikes doesn't have to be the end goal.

[Apoc]

I don't know Chan and I got it... but then again I do know RJ and the joke was about buying stuff that's old and busted.

[.RJ]

Yep, I refuse to buy something built this decade.

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I really, really, really want that.

But I am really, really ,really broke

[G.Irish]

RC31? One RC too many, what you really want is a RC30 8)