Why that particular bike?

I ride a 2011 gsxr600. It was my street bike before I started doing track days so it just migrated into my full time track bike.

If I was to buy again I'd buy a 08+ R6 since they are cheap, fast, and plenty of parts floating around. If I wasn't budgeted I'd buy a new R1!

 

Started track days back in 2011 on my 08 GSX-R 600 street bike.....just take the mirrors and license plate off and tape up all the lights and pull the fuses for said lights. Then I got an itch to race so I turned the 08 into a pure track bike....race plastics, clip-ons, rearsets, full exhaust, flashed ecu. I sold that bike and am currently building a wrecked 2012 GSX-R 600 into a race bike. I like the GSx-R platform for 2 reasons......1) lots of aftermarket support and setup information on them....if you crash and forgot your spare parts bin at home, someone probably has a spare part you can borrow or buy in the pits and 2) I like sitting down in the bike vs sitting on top of the bike, it just fits me better.

 

My decision want made by a couple factors. First I want a reliable bike I would be familiar with. Second was budget. I went with a CBR600(stock street bike) someone was in a hurry to sell so it was cheap. But in hind sight it would have been less expensive to find one with more track prep done. A used track bike or race bike with all the stuff you will end up buying is a great value. If the motor blows it is cheaper to buy a used motor or a rebuild than to buy suspension, clip-ons, rearsets, good stearing damper, light 520 chain/sprockets, slipper clutch, ECU tune, power commander, quick shifter. Often you can also get with the bike spares like extra wheels, captive spacers and so on. Drilling and wiring will be done too....

 

I have to update this post in light of recent events. My beloved 748 had a yet to be determined failure (engine) at Gingerman a couple weeks ago. I have a spare engine that I haven't had time to rebuild yet and have a bucket list track day at Circuit of The Americas coming up so I decided I needed to buy a spare track bike. Ran across a good deal on this forum for a 2004 Suzuki sv650 and picked it up last week. Just like the Ducati, this bike has been in production for a long time and parts are even cheaper! After going over the bike with a fine tooth comb and prepping it for my next track day, I took it out for a ride today to make sure I'd feel comfortable with it. After riding the 2013 zx6r for a year and a half, the Ducati felt foreign to me because the position is more like sitting on top of the bike. I was getting used to it and believed that it wasn't that big of a deal but after riding the SV today, it felt way more natural to me and I think I'm going to give up on the Ducati. Don't get me wrong, I love the Ducati for what it is but I have had many minor issues mechanically and while I am a mechanic, I'm getting tired of working on it! Not throwing in the towel just yet but I think the SV may become my main track day ride. Will update as I move forward....

 

I have an opportunity at a 2003 GSX R600 with 12K miles. Looks good to me on the outside, runs well, and is pretty much stock except for a D&D exhaust, at what I think is a fair price. Not great...fair. This is my first foray in to track bikes. Any sage advice? Good starter bike?

 

Of course it's a good starter bike, as long as you like riding it.

 

Whether or not I can do that...yet to be determined. ;-)

 

Before I started riding the track, I made the commitment to buy a bike that was already track prepped. I was sure I would like it. But then in my first TD weekend ever (obviously riding in Novice), I was taken out by somebody, destroying the bike.

When I healed and decided to get back into it, I just track prepped my R1 street bike. Then I found myself thinking "there is no way that guy should be passing me on that bike". I realized the R1 was actually hurting me, negatively impacting my learning curve. So I parked the R1 and bought another 600 for the track. Then after a few more TD weekends, I started racing on that same 600.

IMO the best all-around track bike is the Triumph 675R. They are very light, nimble, have great brakes, and a very user friendly power delivery. They have a ton of torque and a broad torque curve (meaning missed downshifts isn't as big of a deal, compared to something like an R6 that is a complete turd below 10k RPM).

 

After a few track days on my 09 R1 in street trim I got into some trouble while riding street. I immediately stripped it down and sold all of the OEM panels and lights and ordered 2 sets of track fairings. I haven't looked back in the five years, three suits, four helmets, and countless tires since. Only thing that changed is now I want to buy a friend's Daytona 675! He doesn't want to sell...

 

I started on my street 600. After I improved, I didn't want a liter bike, but I wanted a little more so I could have a little more power to keep up with the liter bikes. So I got a 750.

After a few years on the 750 and seeing the kids in the old Red Bull 125 division, and riding with some 125's and 250's; I got a 125. Crazy awesome. Demands pure skill and balls. No cheater throttle.

 

mine was cheap and came with a sweet paint job.

 

I literally LOL'ed! I somewhat share the same sentiment. My taped up headlights must be taped and trimmed to look like the imprint of the headlight. I guess we're anal.