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good first track bike?

R3DS!X

R3DS!X

Whatever that means
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Sep 27, 2004
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CRC MotoGP Contributor
so ive been craving to go to a race track to be able to learn more about riding in a more controled enviroment. i still need to get a once pice suit and another bike to use for the track. i dont really care about going fast on the track i want to learn how to corner better so was think of going back to a ninja 250 for a track bike cause parts seem to be fairly cheap.

good idea? or do you have a better one?
 
depends on your goals. The ninja 250 is a fun bike and cheap, but you will end up riding in a slow group with some scary ass riders on big bikes.
 
Why would you need a different bike for the track? I spent my first few years of track riding on my street bike. It was great because I was already comfortable with the bike and it made getting better easy.
 
my street bike is my only mode of conveance. i would hate to have it wrecked at the track.

goals? i havent set any. i just wanted to learn to ride fast better but thoguht it would be better to do that on the track instead of riding like an asshat on public roads. prolly safer too. maybe riding school is more in order. depends how addicted i become to the the track. i may take up rec racing.
 
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Daredevil said:
sv650
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Bad idea. Then he'll just hate his street bike. :rofl

Like Uncle Ernie says, the Ninja 250 *is* a fun track bike, but being slow on one in the C group might be kinda intimidating. If you're "fast" already on the street it would be fun, and AFM 250P racers have a blast in the B and A groups with one.

-jim
 
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rljetsetradio said:
so ive been craving to go to a race track to be able to learn more about riding in a more controled enviroment. i still need to get a once pice suit and another bike to use for the track. i dont really care about going fast on the track i want to learn how to corner better so was think of going back to a ninja 250 for a track bike cause parts seem to be fairly cheap.

good idea? or do you have a better one?
Click to expand...

Now, it's definitely possible.

First question: What do you currently ride?

I've seen a number of great 250 racers, but I would recommend against using a Ninja 250 as a track bike for several reasons...

1. On a Ninja 250, you are going to be going much slower than the other riders in your class. Being passed is par the course as you learn, but as an inexperienced track rider in a B-/C group, you may find yourself creating a dangerous traffic jam.

2. After market parts: you don't need a PC3 or a set of Yoshimura cams on to do well, but I highly recommend race plastics, after market engine covers, frame sliders and rear-sets for the track. All of these things will drastically reduce the expense of a low-side.

3. Wheels: There are limited tire choices for the 16 inch rims on 07 and earlier model ninjas. You may not be able to get good track rubber, and you will certainly have difficulty find slicks. The light weight and drastically reduced cornering loads of a EX250 will somewhat mitigate this factor, however.

4. Parts: if you need parts on the track (I.e. your brake lever snapped off) you are very unlikely to find them for a Ninja 250.

Here's what I highly recommend:

Peruse the for sale section of BARF and Craigslist for a used 600CC racing bike. Great bikes can easily be found for $4000 or less, and many of them come with $4000 in after market parts.

A used SV650 race bike may be another good choice. The 650s are very friendly bikes for a beginner, and I see a lot of them out there on the track.

By the way: congratulations on taking the first steps to the track! You won't be disappointed by the experience.
 
A 250 is a good way to develop your skills as long as you are ok with people goin' by you in the straights. But it's a hoot passing literbikes in the turns.

Like you said they're cheap to fix, and they're really easy on tires. The big bonus? You can fit more trackdays into a budget because of the $ you save on tires. I'm selling at least one of me 250P racebikes. PM me if interested.

BTW, you'll find lots of 250 parts at a trackday, 'specially during race season when the 250P grid is out at trackdays in force.
 
As an alternative, attend one of the many trackday schools available. Not only to you have access to a great bike that is set up for the track (and gear too, sometimes) but you receive real instruction from real teachers, as opposed to fooling around on the track by yourself. Since you are looking to hone your skills, start in a school and move up from there.
 
Find a older CBR600F2. Great bike, good selection of rubber available and the bike crashes well. Tough motor, frame etc and still a quick bike.
 
I'd vote for SV650. Ninja 250 is a fun bike but I'm not sure how much fun you'd have on one sharing the same track with C riders on liter bikes. On the SV, you will have enough motor to get by them without too much effort. Plus it crashes really well if it's prepped. I've gone down 3 times on my SV and each time it cost less than $100 to get it back out there.
 
Burning1 said:
1. On a Ninja 250, you are going to be going much slower than the other riders in your class. Being passed is par the course as you learn, but as an inexperienced track rider in a B-/C group, you may find yourself creating a dangerous traffic jam.
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I have to disagree with you on that. Yes, you will be passed the first track day no matter what bike you are on. Heck I still see guys that have been to 5 track days, creating traffic jams becuase they lack the basic skill set like braking and throttle control.

I started doing track days in b-/c groups on my stock 250. By the end of the first track day, I was passing guys on bigger bikes. On my second track day I was even lapping couple of guys in c group. 250 is probably best bike to learn unless you are heavier than 145lbs. You as a rider on a 250 will learn some of the most basic stuff about sport riding:

1) Over coming your bikes limitations like suspension by leaning your body more or taking the appropriate lines (not necessarily race lines), consiously learning to be smooth so as not to upset the suspension.
2) Understanding the importance of entry and exit speed. Realizing what is the right gear for setting you up for the right speed. Without proper entry and exit speed - you will be worthless on any bike in turns.
3) Calculating and executing a pass. Note that executing a pass in a turn on a 250 is much more difficult than a bigger bike as you don't have power. And in a B-/C group you are forced to do outisde passes only. That means you have to be faster than the next guy, which means you have to be decently good at point 2 above.
4) Braking, throttle and clutch control - you improve them tremendously. You don't have the luxury of dual front disk brakes or slipper clutch or low end torque and that forces you to learn the basics better. Heck after 3-4 track days on a 250, I can guarantee that any one would come out with a very good skill set to control all three important aspects of riding.

I am not an expert, in fact I am a total noob. But I can guarantee you that my learning curve would have been steep, had I started on a 600 or some thing bigger as I would have relied on HP to compensate for the lack of skillsets.
 
Roadstergal said:
Weren't you just saying you wanted a dualsport or motard?

Get a dualsport and hit the dirt. Get something you want and improve your riding in one go. :teeth
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i cant want more than one thing for different purposes?
you never pm'ed me back :x:p

rovingeyes: i weigh about 200lbs.
 
rljetsetradio said:
rovingeyes: i weigh about 200lbs.
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Then you cannot ride a "stock" 250. You have to upgrade your suspension, but if you don't have a 250 already, you are better off purchasing a 250p race prepped bike, which would run you the same as a street legal one. Good luck on whatever you decide.
 
jake28 said:
As an alternative, attend one of the many trackday schools available. Not only to you have access to a great bike that is set up for the track (and gear too, sometimes) but you receive real instruction from real teachers, as opposed to fooling around on the track by yourself. Since you are looking to hone your skills, start in a school and move up from there.
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Best advice yet. :thumbup
 
how much do schools run? damn, nm, i should start using google.

but what are some good schools? anyone have a recommendation?
 
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