Kind of long but I’m just throwing ideas out there and any feedback would be appreciated. Just did my first track day and had a blast. Took my Ducati Hypermotard and while it isn’t the best track day bike, we held our own. But it was obvious I have a lot to learn. On the drive home I started thinking and evaluating what I want out of riding which led me to come home and start looking at the track day schedule for the summer. Problem is that the Hyper (as fun as it is) probably isn’t the best track day/learning bike and this crap is expensive with traveling/tires/track days, etc. I also don’t want to see that Hyper go sliding down the asphalt. My goal here is to become a better rider and have a lot of fun (is 41 too old to try out WERA novice racing?). My experience for the last 20 years of my adult riding life has been: dual sport, touring, off-road. The Hyper is my first real sport oriented bike and there is not a lot of fun street options for riding in Indiana that are close. But damn I love this bike! So my options: 1.Keep the Ducati, schedule a few track days this year because that is all I will be able to afford and save some money till Christmas to get a specific track bike in the winter. 2.Sell the Hyper (can get good money out of it this time of year). Buy a dedicated track bike, older (seems that there are a lot to chose from in the classifieds and NESBA, WERA, etc) for 3-4k. Use the difference for the rest of the year to do all the trackdays and buy all the tires I want. I really don’t want to sell the Hyper (it’s more fun than I have ever had on 2 wheels). But if I did, what would you recommend for a new trackday rider that wants to learn and get good at this? I am not a big guy at 5’6†and 150lbs so I don’t need a 1000cc+ bike to make me happy. So a SV650, 600, 750, a little Ninja 250?
"(is 41 too old to try out WERA novice racing?)" I don't think 41 is to old to start I'm going to start this year at 43 and I out weigh you by at least 65lbs. I believe they have an over 40 class so you don't have to race with the kids. As for the bike pretty much every body is going to tell you to buy a suzuki sv 650. If you want more power than that then try any of the 600's. Later Steve
Oh dear god don't sell the Hyper! I have an 08. I've been riding for 23 years and it is by far the most fun 90 odd hp you're ever gonna see. By a ridiculously cheap track bike from the WERA forums and you'll be happy.
An already sorted 1st gen sv650 will go for 3k or less (and yes they are a riot when well set up) - go for the already-been-a-track-bike sv
Keep the tard! Im looking at buying one next yr. Buy a 600 you'll be very happy with all the 600's out there.