WTF does it mean, "It's too nice to be used"?
 

I see people buying up Ducatis, Aprilias, MV Agustas, spent even more money modifying the living hell out of these things then go and bought a beat-up SV650 for the track. What the fuck, over? Seriously.

"It's too nice to take it to the track and trash it."

Why, on God's green Earth did you just spend $20K on a bike plus another 3K for suspension refinement and engine tuning and then take the beat up SV/R6/Gixxer to the track?

I haven't gone to the track yet, but you can be sure that I am not going to buy an clapped out bike just so that I can take it to the track.

well I can kinda see that... it's a brain to wallet barrier... they can't ride as fast as they want, push themselves when they know it's gonna cost 10k+ if they go down...

then again 3k worth of suspension upgrades to not use it on the track is kinda dumb imo unless it's bike with shitty suspension... which most 20k+ bikes don't suffer from.

depending on how I like the track... I can see buy'n a track only bike... something that if it goes down I'm still riding where I want... and don't have to pay insurance or title the fucker.

Well, I look at it like this. They are like the good towels at grandma's house...they are to been seen and not used

to a point... if they don't ride them at all... it's a waste imo...


it may just be me... but I look at bikes and cars in museums and think... damn what a sad life for the bike/car...

I'd rather stare at the ones that have a million miles and think... what has this bike/car seen.... :idk:

When I get a slightly better paying job I intend to buy a KTM Superduke and keep my GSXR as a track bike. I know that the KTM WILL see some track time, but as far as my dedicated track bike I'll keep my GSXR. I want to be able to push myself at the track without thinking about the fact that it's a $15k bike underneath me. Nothing makes you slower than riding a bike you can't afford to crash. Plus right now I've already dropped about $2k into the suspension on the GSXR. So I am already in a position where it's not going out and buying a track bike, I already have it. Part of it is also if I wad the GSXR I'll just drop it off in the dumpster at Jennings. I can't do that with the KTM.

I don't get it either.

I see both come to the track. I have the ones that buy the high-coin toys JUST so they can take it to the track. And, I have others that wouldn't dare take their *nice* toys to the track.

Either way, I wouldn't ever encourage someone to take something to the track they are afraid of. That means, afraid of hurting the bike... afraid of the bike hurting you... afraid of whatever.

If it gets your butt on the track because you can pick up a bike that costs less than the exhaust on your street bike... whatever lets you sleep at night. :dthumb:

That's my thinking. Yeah, I didn't spend $20k on my bike- still scares the shit out of me that I'll drop it on the track. Whether that fear is founded or not doesn't matter. I'm not riding as fast as I want to/know I can when I'm risking my ONLY bike. That hunk of machinery means a lot to me, and it gets a LOT of use on the street.

I'll one day have a dedicated trackbike, just like I had a dedicated drag car. When I'm at the track, I want to be able to flog whatever I'm on, and like others I don't have several bikes as backup. I'll never be quick as I could be if I'm thinking "wreck this one and you don't have anything else to ride"

Buy the beater first, get good enough on the track that you aren't constantly afraid of dropping the nice bike.
Then take the nice bike and better appreciate the benefits of what you spent on it.

Thats why I like Jay Leno, he has a pile of cars and loves to drive them. I see no problem with something being on display but roll the wheels over asphalt every now and then.

As far as the bike goes I think it more they can't afford to dump it at the track. At least they are enjoying some track time.

James

I understand... but I don't 'get it'.

That being said, I was leary of dumping my Buell when it was still shiney and new... GM put some good logic in my head that was more than true and certianly stuck. He said something to the effect of, "you know what will fix that?... scratches." That week my bike fell over onto the sidewalk and I never worried about dropping it again... and when I did drop it, I wasn't even pissed or anything.

I dont understand having and not using a nice toy, but I understand not wanting to destroy it or take the chance.

If ya have to worry about dropping or crashing a bike on the track, that might not be the best place for you to take it.

Then again, every time you fool around in the garage you take a chance of dropping or knocking it over.

The ultimate, but not always feasible would be to have enough money or toys you dont have to worry about messing one up!

to me, buying something expensive and exotic, spending rediculous amounts of money on upgrading, then just keeping it in the living room as an ornament makes as much sense as buying a lamborghini to commute to work in.

I just dont see the logic of not taking it to the track because its too expensive. If thats the case, they might as well not ride it on the street either because they can just as easily dump it there too. Just leave the thing on stands in a locked room for good.

I don't think I fit the criteria you stated. But I will take my SV to the track before the Tuono. It really comes down to which bike would be easier to fix if/when I toss it?

Insurance doesn't pay for damage done at the race track does it? If not its a big difference then. On the street its fixed or replaced, track its a ball of metal to sit in your garage till you can afford to rebuild it.

James

Some do, some dont. A lot of insurance companies look at it as a school as long as it isnt an actual race.

If they cover it then I would enjoy my mods on the track. But if this was my only ride I would think twice. If I have rental coverage then that would solve that problem.

James

There's a lot to be said for having a ratty track bike. Knowing it will be cheap to fix makes me far more relaxed. Plus, if you get something common like a GSX-R or an SV650, you're all but guaranteed to find spare parts the same day at the track. You can't always say the same for the more exclusive bikes.

Case in point: a guy pitted near me at Jennings last weekend low sided his GSX-R. I had a spare clipon out for him by the time his bike was unloaded from the crash truck. If the guy down the row with the Desmosedici had done the same thing, he'd have been SOL.

Suprisingly at my first TD a guy tossed his RSV and broke a clip on. Found a new one and had it on by next session...

Pretty sure that wouldn't happen with my Buell...

Every time that someone asks about this, it reminds me of my first racing school at which something very similar happened. Rather that using their own bikes, two guys from Montreal arrived with their pristine, track prepped Ducatis on a trailer. I think that they were 900SS/SP, but I'm not sure. They were certainly brand new. The day went something like this.

8:30am-9:30am - class
9:30am-10:30am - follow the leader with the instructors
10:30am-10:40am - open lapping begins and the two Ducatis are cartwheeling into the weeds, within 3 laps
10:40am-5:00pm - the rest of the on-track class

It certainly made for an interesting first on-track experience.

i rather wad up a beater SV that cost me a couple of grand then a nice brand new bike. Sure you can still damage your nice pasta rocket on the road, but i would think if you are on the track enough you are not pushing the limits on the street. and if it tips over, its a matter of replacing a lever or a turn signal, not anything major. Now if you are just riding around on the street, i wouldn't go nuts on suspension mods (if i was ever heavy enough to notice anyway)

You're too light for most suspensions, so um yeah you'd be spending money anyways :lmao:

I've had to re-spring a couple bikes because the shock was too stiff for anyone lighter than 180-200. The manufacturers keep putting these gonzo rear springs on........I guess they figure they want to be on the safe side in case someone rides with a passenger. Either that or they want it to feel super-stiff and track-like so that magazine writers call it the best bike. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Strange thing is that the FRONT suspension on a SV650 is about right for a 120 pound rider. I took one out on the track and it had to be the soggiest thing that I'd ever ridden, next to a 250 Ninja.

Go to Inside Pass track days and you won't have that problem.

That's an easy question to answer. It all comes down to your bank account. If you can afford to ride a Ducati you will. If however it is your dream bike and you save every penny to get it, knowing you can't repair it if it goes down, you're going to treat it like a trophy. Nothing wrong with having a nice ride to show off on the streets with. The suspension upgrades would be questionable. Why make something less "ridable" streetwise, and not track it. Usually those guys go more for the carbon fiber and exhaust type changes. Make it loud and flashy so everyone hears and sees you.
I have a friend who buys a new porsche every couple years. The cars never see the road. They go straight to the race shop for prep then sit in his garage only to be used on track days. Why because he can afford it, my other friends who drive nice cars on the road drive rats on the track. Cheap and easy to fix when the time comes.

I guess it's all in the mentality. I've never worshipped any piece of equipment that I own. Even when I was a dirt poor soldier or dirt poor college boy, I put my shits to the task without batting an eye.

True, but they are a LONG ways away. AND if I went to them, I wouldn't be riding MY buell ;)

The way I see it, if you are gonna have the money to spend on a Ducatti, and you ride track days .. you should at least have the balls to take it to the track. I mean seriously, that's as bad as the old guy who buys a ferrari and doesn't take it over 55 .. what a fuckin waste.

Why the hell wouldn't you? You only get 2 sessions maximum on their bikes. So unless you wanna sit out the rest of the day you'd better bring yours.