I've currently got a MV F3 800 that I've done a few trackdays on and enjoy it, but have two big concerns.. 1) At 6ft I find it hard to get 'back' in the seat and so I'm quite restricted on movement, it's very small, nice on the road but feels a little cramped on track. 2) It's hard to get track protection/cheap fairings and spares for and reliability when pushed on trackdays is a concern. I've recently bought a Van, and I've decided I don't really want to ride on the road anymore, and have an opportunity to straight swap it with a high mileage (15k) but really clean standard 2015 Yamaha R1. I don't 'love' the R1 in terms of a wow factor, it's my fav of the jap bikes for sure, and I do love the engine, but it's whether the R1 presents a better option for continued trackdays and whether I can build my speed on it, or whether I'll just get scared of it and ride slower. I'm currently Inters pace I'd say, I lap Jerez in 2:04 on a Daytona 675, so not fast but also not totally crap. the R1 has pro's: - Slightly more roomy for my frame - Lovely tractable engine, of all of the IL4's it's the least scary to ride - I'll be pushing it a lot less so should be absolutely bullet proof - My friend races one so spares, fairings etc, levers etc he has lots of, and we do trackdays together etc and going to Spain in May with the bikes. I'd appreciate the thoughts...
Straight swap seems to either overvalue the R1 or undervalue your MV. That said, having a friend with knowledge of the bike on track and spares available on tap, seems a reasonable solution. Andy
I’d avoid a 2015 r1 is you’re looking for reliability on track. I’ve seen more r1’s blow up than any other bike.
US forum, https://www.r1-forum.com/threads/how-serious-widespread-are-2015-r1-engine-failures.629497/ Andy
I raced a 2004 R1, obviously a lot has changed since then. But jumping off a big twin onto an IL4 felt really weird and it took a long time to get my head around it, I spent quite a bit on it trying to sort suspension, handling and compared to my 999 at the time it was a million miles away in terms of feel/confidence. It never broke down, never had any issues, I just didn't gel with it. An R1 is bigger though and you will fit it better (I'm 6ft) so I assume later ones have similar ergo's, only you can really tell if it's worth the switch.
Why not sell the MV privately and then get a new track only bike, rather than swap? It’s not like you are going to get something rare for track use and your MV must be worth more than a 2015 R1 surely? Especially if you aren’t going to ride on roads anymore. I spotted a track prepared 765 RS on eBay this week for £10k asking. Thought that was a touch expensive but worth look. Or a GSXR as Creamy said. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-...p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
Hey @Phill748 keep the MV you'll only regret it. Buy a dedicated trackbike so you can have the best of both worlds. There seems to be plenty of trackbikes up for sale at the moment.
Thanks for all the input, I've been having a really good think about it this AM. For a little more info... My MV is a 2020 F3 with still a year of warranty left on it, it's also only done 2300 miles, and, not that it matters so much in the grand scheme but I've spent money getting an exhaust on it that I like and fitting a Ohlins steering damper as it gets lively on track without one (doesn't come with one). I wouldn't get much money back for these parts really as the 2nd hand market is so small for these bikes. The R1, has done 15k miles, and yes I'm aware of the horror stories, which is on my mind. Most seem to suggest that the later 'black' engine bikes are the one to go for as they have made some changes to stop the crank snap issues..... My gut is saying stick with the MV, get another 3-4 trackdays and my spain trip (3 days at Parc Motor) out the way and see how I'm enjoying my riding after that, hopefully I'll have kept the bike up together and then I can either sell it against a newer R1, or even better, sell it against a RSV4 (2017 onwards) which would tick even more boxes.
Haha I rode one in 2017, back to back actually with the R1 and so they are the two 'big bikes' that I'd consider. I'll think on it a few days, I might even go look at the R1 on Thursday, but need to have a think over christmas. One of my fears is that I'm just having winter blues and trying to 'make a change' for the wrong reasons when I do love riding the MV. Oh, and curve ball.. my mates on about selling his 748R, he had one before and I could have bought it for £7k, his current one is a 5k miles 2003 model and I said I'd never let another one slip through my fingers, but it wouldn't be instead of the MV as I can't do trackdays on a 748r, it's just too valuable to risk.
2016 gsxr 1000, sort suspension and brakes, maybe even and aftermarket TC system and cheap reliable track bike
Why? you shacked up now with a new mrs? no time to play with toys? Are you not instructing next year?
Mixture of things at play mate but at the forefront is a case of I can’t be really be assed with it. I feel like I’ve done it to death a bit. U.K. trackdays aren’t my thing either and I’ve struggled to switch off from ‘race brain’ meaning I don’t enjoy trackdays that much and I have absolutely no desire to go racing again. Meanwhile I also am unable to just ‘ride around’ and enjoy it. Then I’m also weighing up enjoyment vs cost vs danger as I’m pretty bloody happy with my life. Did estoril a few months back and did about 6 sessions in 3 days total as I just couldn’t be bothered. That’s saying something right? My mind is elsewhere and it has been for a long time. Might change, might not. But I’ve gradually been getting over track for a while and with the price of tyres the way they are I just don’t see it as enough enjoyment to warrant the outlay of both time and money anymore. I know of a fair few properly wealthy guys that have walked due to tyre prices and the state of U.K. trackdays this year. To a bit of an extent, racing, in any guise whether that be 2 or 4 wheels is all ive known and I’ve been mentally not able to walk away from it even though I’ve not been loving it for a fair while. I’ve got a lot more going on in life these days and it’s made me realise that there’s more to life than it and there’s other things that make me happy. Some much simpler and not going to cost me 2grand a weekend to do me and DM chatted when he came over on Saturday for dinner and he reckons he’s spent a quarter of a million on bikes/racing in the years he did it. I don’t think I’m far behind that and MUCH over that in car terms. Much. I can always come back to it if I change my mind.
Fair do’s. It’s certainly not cheap, that’s for sure. I was at a crossroads with it all last summer. Wasn’t sure I still had the drive for it. Did a day at Donington and fucking loved it!! But I don’t get anywhere near the seat time you lads get. So when I get a crack at it, it’s like starting again It’s like when you get the Aston out the garage after winter. It’s just like getting it all over again!!
