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Author Topic: Best way to get involved in racing??  (Read 1527 times)

R6KilleRR

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Best way to get involved in racing??
« on: October 20, 2003, 10:56:42 PM »
I have had my bike now for 5 weeks and it has 1500 miles on it. It is also my first bike. Everyone is telling me I am learning incredibly fast which is nice to hear, but that is not what is making me want to get involved in racing. It's the last two crashes I have seen in the last two weekends. I watch my friend who themselves have had experience racing and they just push it to the limits on the street and it gets them hurt and not hurt if they are lucky. So I have come to the decision that as I save my money I want to convert it to a race only bike I will still ride street for a while until I have the bike at least converted enough to do some club races or something street is just no the place to learn to ride the way I would like to be able to ride so what I am looking for is some advise from experienced racers or even newbie racers on how to get started and what are some of the bare minimums of parts i should get for my bike to get started right now it is just a stock bike but I am ordering a Woodcraft rearset with the GP shift. So all the help will be appreciated guys thanks alot and sorry for the long intro to this thread.  

RedRider4Lif3

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Re:Best way to get involved in racing??
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2003, 02:46:00 AM »
I'm not too sure where you live, but this should help...

http://www.motorcycleridesinamerica.com/newsletters/how-to-get-started-in-racing.htm
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Phil314

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Re:Best way to get involved in racing??
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2003, 01:12:27 PM »
I have had my bike now for 5 weeks...a stock bike but I am ordering a Woodcraft rearset with the GP shift. So all the help will be appreciated guys thanks alot and sorry for the long intro to this thread.  

I think you are already getting ahead of yourself here. You don't need GP shifting and you don't need the latest greatest bike. The best thing you can do when you first get into racing is to get an older, already preped racebike. You really don't want to take your new bike to the track and wad it up, do you? Plus you'll spend another $4000 to turn it into a racebike. You're going to be slow your first year anyway. Spend your time learning and getting smooth. Skill is everything, the bike comes second. Better off getting a complete track bike with spares for around $3000. Then once you get more experience and know what your doing, spend the big buck and get a decked out new competitive bike to wad up.

Best advice I got was 'don't take it to the track unless you're prepared to bring it home in a box'.

RedRider4Lif3

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Re:Best way to get involved in racing??
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2003, 12:17:13 AM »
I completely agree. There's no sense in going to the track (or street) with the latest and greatest bike. It's a mistake a lot of people make. I live in New York and the mistake a lot of guys do is to go out and get a literbike as their first bike because they have the money or they feel like they are less of a rider 'cause they're on a 600. I laugh at them all the time. They blast down a straigtaway and then end up crawling through the turn or worse crash it because they didn't take the time to learn on a smaller displaced bike. People ask me all the time, when are you gonna get a bigger bike. My answer is...probably never. A 600 is plenty enough and 95% of riders CANNOT ride today's 600's to their fullest potential. That's fact!

My advice: if you already have the cbr600rr learn to ride it PROPERLY. Take you time. It's a great bike. I've had f2's, f3's, and f4i's, and this bike is in no way as forgiving, so take it easy. It'll all come to you.

Also read all you can on bike control and braking. It'll help you both in the real world and at the track. You should also get the advice of more experienced riders. Oh! And don't forget this site. There seems to be a few guys in here that know what they're talking about. But beware some are new just like you... so always get a second opinion.

Safe riding!

BTW where are you located?
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R6KilleRR

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Re:Best way to get involved in racing??
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2003, 10:38:20 PM »
I am in california. Yeah I have heard that from a few others but I guess one thing that makes me unique is I am very patient when it comes to riding the bike I have had it for 5 weeks and the club I ride with tells me to just take it slow you will learn and I do I am last in the pack everyweekend but I am slowly gaining confidence in myself and the bike so yes I know it is very likely thst I coudl wreck on the track but honestly the road scares me more then the track does. I want to puch myself harder but I dont want to do it on the street I am willing to ride a few track days to build up my skill rather than the street. So yes I am prepared for the possibility of wrecking it at the track and the main reason I want the gp shift is to learn to get comforable with it early rather than get use to the normal shift pattern I feel myself that the gp will be better for me in the long run so I want to learn early.
thanks for the advice though guys much appreciated.

R6KilleRR

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Re:Best way to get involved in racing??
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2003, 10:38:40 PM »
.

Hi-Side

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Re:Best way to get involved in racing??
« Reply #6 on: October 26, 2003, 11:03:58 AM »
In Calif, you have tons of tracks... Willow Springs, streets of willow, the new Horsethief mile at willow, Laguna Seca, Sears Point, Buttonwillow, and Thunderhill. Go get some track time, and take a good school. Then go to the races at any of the listed tracks and see what it takes to be a racer (besides alot of cash) then after all that if you still want to do it, withdraw a minimum of $3000 from your bank account for the basics, and have at it.

And as someone so eloquently put it before... if you take it to the track, be prepared to take it home in a box, because it will happen sooner or later.
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hondatech

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Re:Best way to get involved in racing??
« Reply #7 on: October 26, 2003, 09:05:46 PM »
I don't see how you can spend 5 weeks doing something and claim to bebeing patient about it. Slow down. You don't need rear sets, or GPshift. Or evena race bike. Take your bike out, do a few track days. Forget buying parts for now. Buy gear. Good Gear. The bike is the LAST thing that will be limiting you for a while.
Justin
If you expect the unexpected, doesn't that make the unexpected, the expected?

R6KilleRR

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Re:Best way to get involved in racing??
« Reply #8 on: October 27, 2003, 01:12:53 AM »
acutally thats what I already did I bought a new one peice suit new boots frame sliders and a spool kit and stands. I just want to learn to get better is all and I really dont want to learn it all on the street i have seen two very bad crashes in 3 weeks and it just makes me want to push my efforts a little more towards the track is all. I really do appreciate the input guys but hey I have to start some where. I am not expecting myself to become some big bad as racer or anything I just had a buddy who use to live around me that moved and he use to race a little here and there and he said he loved every second of it and since i am not in contact with him I thought I woudl use you guys for a little input is all so quit qith the negative shit about be prepared to bring your bike home in a box because the bike is only as fast and dangerous as I make it so if I keep my cool hopefully things go good. All of you had to be newbies to at some point so I am now and I just want to get out there and enjoy it for whats its worth while I can.

cpchillin

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Re:Best way to get involved in racing??
« Reply #9 on: October 27, 2003, 11:52:37 AM »
Hey r6killerr I don't think that they were being negative so much as trying to give you the harsh reality of track days! You can take it easy and all on the track but there might be some asshole that wants to take an inside line through a turn too fast. The next thing you know he put his front tire on your tank and you are sliding away. Read Jeff's race reports that happened to him this year! I think that track days are a great way to get better on the bike and you are very lucky to have all those tracks near you. I live in MD and we have none within a 3hr drive. Get Sport Riding Techniques and read it, it'll give you some good basics. Than take a class, Keith Codes' costs about $600 using THEIR bike. Me I'm looking into getting a cheaper bike to take to the track.

hondatech

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Re:Best way to get involved in racing??
« Reply #10 on: October 27, 2003, 12:03:38 PM »
Your being a crybaby. No one is being negative. You asked a question, and people who know their shit gave you an honest answer. You don't need rearsets, or GP shift. As for being prepared to bring the bike home in a box, you may not like that answer, but it's the reality of racing. Go to the track. Lok around. You won't see well waxed, shiny race bikes with trick parts. You'll see bikes with road rash, and safety wire, and duct tape. Whatever it takes to keep racing. And race bikes make terrible street bikes, which is why turning your street bike into a race bike is a bad idea. Go do a few track days. You'll see what we mean. You have 5 weeks under your belt. You know shit from shit. Yes, we were all newbies, and when your a newbie, you need someone with experience to explain everything to you. Not just the nice things everything. If you can't handle negativity, pick a different sport. This one has a negative side, and death is part of it. So is ending up in a wheel chair. What sounds to you likepeople negative, is people trying tomake you understand what your getting into. You may want to learn, and thats great, if at 5 weeks, you think you've already pushed too hard for the street, you're in for a rude awakening. I had 10 years of riding experience under my belt when I first rode on the track. I was flat out amazed at how slow I was. Track riding is a whole new world. Just want you to know the facts.
Justin
If you expect the unexpected, doesn't that make the unexpected, the expected?

Hi-Side

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Re:Best way to get involved in racing??
« Reply #11 on: October 27, 2003, 07:04:54 PM »
I certainly didn't mean to come across as negative. "Being prepared to take it home in a box" is being realistic. I've totaled 3 race bikes completely so I think its a more than valid comment.

...and "the bike is only as fast and dangerous as I make it" is not necessarily true. You may be doing fine, but when the next Nicky Hayden wannabe comes around you and takes out your front, not because he's an asshole or wreckless, but just because he's trying to put in a hot lap and misjudges a pass at 120... not your fault at all, a racing/track incident and you're still taking it home in a box. I've been on both ends of that.
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600RRpilot

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Re:Best way to get involved in racing??
« Reply #12 on: October 29, 2003, 10:31:44 AM »
yea bro, listen to these guys.   and listen to me when i say seeing 3 crashes in 2 weeks is nothing compared to what you will get during one bad trackday.  take your time, get at least one or two full seasons on your bike.  and if you really think your ready for it, take it to the track, but you were warned by all of us.  and dont expect to go out there and be rossi, you will be passed (MOST of the time cleanly, sometimes not)  you will be slow your first couple of times, but you should NOT push it.  everything takes time.  

and no, i wouldnt ride my new 600rr for the first 5 weeks of my riding career and track it, and gp shift???? lets master standard first.  you may be a quick learner,  but everything comes with time and experience.  you may have a nack, but ability without experience is worth nothing.  be careful!
« Last Edit: October 29, 2003, 10:33:08 AM by 600RRpilot »
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marcmcm

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Re:Best way to get involved in racing??
« Reply #13 on: October 29, 2003, 05:27:47 PM »
And another thing to remember...that racing/track inicident most likely won't be covered under insurance.  If you financed your bike, I highly doubt your bank would be too keen on you doing something that insurance doesn't cover.

Christian

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Re:Best way to get involved in racing??
« Reply #14 on: October 29, 2003, 08:19:10 PM »
These guys speak the truth. I have never tracked before but plan on it next year and have been buying good gear to prepare for it. I have lots of friends that track and are pretty quick on the track and the truth is you will go down on the track your fault or not. Listen to what they say, they speak the truth.
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