Seems like RC is looking for some info on ups/downs/risks of buying ex race and track bikes. Plenty there now.
im still here and watching the thread with interest and continue to welcome input... im on the cusp of making some decisions so this is all useful stuff im still fixated on a duc so the real choice is whether i drop say 5k on a decent road 848 or hold out until the end of season and drop around 8k on a decent trioptions 848 or 899/959
Loads of used track fairings, crash bungs, engine cases out there though. There isn't really a budget friendly way to ride track, just varying degrees of money pitting.
Just as a small example with some numbers- bought a 1199s with engine issues-8000euros motor repair 2600 euros including Carrillo rods parts cost for all the modifications including 3x exhaust systems -23k (new value +/- but most bought second hand for about 40% or less than New, so i would say closer to 10k) I made a list of all the modifications a few days ago and nearly fell of my chair You would never recoup these costs when you sell if you converted a road bike, but also an the flip side doesn't make the bike 23k more in value, which is why many build and then strip their track bikes when changing bike/model etc. I still think the best is a track bike with V5 and then you can check and adjust as you go..
Average 'track' bike will have a far gentler life than a 'race' bike IMO. Watch YouTube and average tracker changes up far earlier than a racer bouncing off the limiter.
Race bikes are fine if you know the bike and the history. Some are excellently maintained. Some are not. Some have regular rebuilds. Some have never had a rebuild.
No matter what you buy, who you buy it off and how well it's been looked after there will always be little issues with it that will need sorting. IMHO if it's a full-on race bike with major engine mods then the repair costs are likely to be higher as you'll need to find an experienced mechanic to fix it, and again IMO some mechanics are just not capable of working on race bikes (I’ve learnt this first hand). Knowing Ravi as I do, and I’m sure he'll not mind me saying this, but he's a novice and looking to improve his riding style, be safer and more confident on track whilst improving lap times as he goes. This then begs the question why would you want a full-on ex race bike? Yes, it looks good but is it what you really want? Although I'm not in the same boat as Ravi in terms of experience on track I was in terms of machinery. I owned @Advikaz ex race bike and it was amazing, well looked after, but still had some teething issues which is expected (Not Adams fault, more new owner than ex owner!!). I was starting to get nervous about the cost of maintenance and especially an engine refresh so I decided to go newer with stock engine to keep maintenance and service as cheap as I possibly could. When I came to sell the Honda I struggled, hardly anybody out there other than racers were interested. To round this up, if you go ex-race you may have to be prepared to pay more for servicing and maintenance and concede that it will be difficult to sell on in the future. Or go for something a bit newer and just swap out the fairings then you'll have a capable track bike for your ability without the worry of expensive parts and machinery failing. Keep the road fairings and return to stock when you’ve finished. You’ll be surprised how many people do this!!
brilliant stuff and lots of food for thought and thanks @tcrofty7 for the perspective. i didnt appreciate that the likely window for resale for an ex race bike would be ex racers/racers ...i should know more about teh state of my 749 early june and then ill know if its a keeper or a goer but if i do keep it im probably still on the lookout for the 'next one' so ill have gradual transition from the 749 to its replacement be it a track or race 848/899/959
As mad as it seems , people are paying more for 899 than 1199!! 7yr old bikes going for 10k?! Bonkers.
Example of road to track cost. Standard 1299, cat c all good from member on here about 25% under non cat priced bikes. Suspension: 450 for scruffy ttx shock: c1000 for ttx kit and springs and fitting front. 450 or so for bodywork. Wheels: 1100 iirc for S ones with nearly new SC tyres fitted, no discs. So 3 grand or so to make it more track focussed: all chassis based. Buy a 899/959 for 9k and you’ll still be paying 3k on top. Or spend 9k on a specced track bike or race that’s been refreshed and it raced since (Trackdays only)
Buy a road 959/899 and add some second hand crash protection. Cost <£100. Get it out on track. Job done. No real need to upgrade these bikes unless you are flush/must have/enjoy doing it/are seriously quick.
Bollox. Suspension isn’t up to a decent track bike. Full stop. Have you got standards suspension on your tribe of bikes?
