Small Displacement Bike for Track Days

[cbinker]

just something else out there, tires are not cheap. small displacement is easy on tires. I will be going into my 3rd race weekend on my current tires. roughly 150 miles a weekend of hard riding.

[tgold]

Originally Posted by cbinker

just something else out there, tires are not cheap. small displacement is easy on tires. I will be going into my 3rd race weekend on my current tires. roughly 150 miles a weekend of hard riding.

Tire cost is definitely a plus in the 250 racing equation.

[tgold]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

I did read that you mentioned it as a way to save weight. I was kidding a bit with you a bit, but it looks like that got lost in the text. There was no malice intended, and I was interested in learning more about your bike and following your progress with your future builds.

My interactions with ducatiman were an honest discussion in an open forum where I voiced my questions/concerns and he did well explaining and showing examples of his work. He knows his stuff and I respect his work, even though he and I have a difference of opinion. The only gripe I carried from that thread is the attitude I received, but his good business interactions with other forum users are making me realize that maybe I cornered him in a defensive position rather than a fair interaction. We all make mistakes and unfortunately mine is permanently on display in a public space. Lesson learned.

People are allowed to have differences of opinion and still co-exist politely with each other. I'm sorry that you don't share that view and I will make a point to leave you alone.

And reading that thread is exactly why I responded the way I did in this thread. Forgive me for being so harsh.
You seem to be at least realizing that you may not always come across as intended, so lets not make it a big deal.

As for that bike, there are hundreds of things that I would call flaws, not the least of which is the tail section. I could have simply made a tube aluminum subframe, stuck a conventional tail fairing on it and saved a couple of pounds over what you see. I did learn a heck of a lot in the couple hundred hours I put into developing it, but I wouldn't do it that way again. There is one big advantage to it though: If you've ever had a big single racebike without a kickstarter, you want to make it as easy as possible for someone to help you bump start it. All my friends can push on that tail as hard as they want and they'll never hurt it

[bdavison]

It still annoys me to no end that Aprilla has not jumped into the small displacement US market.

WHY do we not have a RS4 250/300/400 replica here? WHY dangit?

Currently, they are still the ONLY company that has actually made a RACE ready small displacement bike for public consumption. USD forks, Asymetrical aluminum frame and swingarm, mono rear shock, 4 piston brakes...and thats on a little 4-stroke 125. WHY DO WE NOT HAVE THESE?

[jkv45]

Good question.

It was a few years ago that they sounded like it might come to the U.S..

Neat looking bike -



The 125cc part probably wouldn't cut it, but you'd think Aprilia could fix that easy enough. For what the Aprilia scooters cost, and people will pay for them, you'd think they would be able to sell some 250s in the states even if they were priced a bit above the competition.

[thisisbenji]

Originally Posted by bdavison

Currently, they are still the ONLY company that has actually made a RACE ready small displacement bike for public consumption. USD forks, Asymetrical aluminum frame and swingarm, mono rear shock, 4 piston brakes...and thats on a little 4-stroke 125.

You forgot about this guy. Although I agree, the Aprilia is better.

[thisisbenji]

Damn, I've been doing some more reading and YouTube watching.

I'm actually starting to lean away from the KTM and back to the Yamaha. I really like how the KTM looks but, but, I'm a Yamaha fanboy at heart lol.

Also I went to the dealer and sat on both bikes, the R3 seems like it's put together better.

[GregS]

Originally Posted by thisisbenji

Damn, I've been doing some more reading and YouTube watching.

I'm actually starting to lean away from the KTM and back to the Yamaha. I really like how the KTM looks but, but, I'm a Yamaha fanboy at heart lol.

Also I went to the dealer and sat on both bikes, the R3 seems like it's put together better.

The R3 will be cheaper to fix, and probably more options available in the aftermarket.
Don't get me wrong I like the KTM and even considered getting one, but in the end I decided the 300 was the better deal.

Really hoping the manufacturers start filling in the hole between 250/300 and the 600's, like an R4, or EX400

[choneofakind]

^^^^ werd. But none of this cheap-street-bike stuff with cheap components and soft limits. Give us something closer to a super sport. Or at least give us razor sharp handling and an aggressive engine, then we'll be okay with cheaper components and we'd be okay with having to make improvements through the aftermarket.

[DCMoney]

Look up some of the replacement parts prices for the KTM and you'll be surprised.

I was really hoping to make some money back on the OEM stuff like, headlights, rear sets, bodywork, etc. and was disappointed and happy at the same time to see the bike could be rebuilt to stock form for cheap.

Example from http://www.powersportswarehouse.com/ prices

Rear sets $50 each.
Case Covers less than $50 each.
Clutch cover gasket $3....
Rear Wheel - No rotor or sprocket carrier $216
Front wheel - no rotor $186

[subxero]

Originally Posted by tgold

It's not really that light. 250 lb would be light. The one piece carbon fiber tail weighs 5.5 lb, replacing all the stock components that weighed close to 20 lb. However, it was made with a conventional hand layup and I'm sure I could get it to 3 lb or less with vacuum bagging techniques. The XR650R engine weighs 85 lb vs the FZR400 engine at around 115 lb. There is no battery, the electrical system is like 5 or 6 wires. The gas tank is a 2.5 gallon plastic Atv tank. The wheels are aluminum and I could save an easy 10 lb by going to magnesium. The engine mounts are overbuilt, the exhaust is steel... lots of areas left where I could shave weight.

The next bike really will be light.

after you mention a few things, the weight is starting to make sense, it was hard to see some of those things in the picture like the fuel tank you mention, didn't realize the engine was that light either

[tgold]

Originally Posted by DCMoney

Look up some of the replacement parts prices for the KTM and you'll be surprised.

I was really hoping to make some money back on the OEM stuff like, headlights, rear sets, bodywork, etc. and was disappointed and happy at the same time to see the bike could be rebuilt to stock form for cheap.

Example from http://www.powersportswarehouse.com/ prices

Rear sets $50 each.
Case Covers less than $50 each.
Clutch cover gasket $3....
Rear Wheel - No rotor or sprocket carrier $216
Front wheel - no rotor $186

They don't even list the RC390 when you go to look for parts using the link.

[tgold]

Originally Posted by subxero

after you mention a few things, the weight is starting to make sense, it was hard to see some of those things in the picture like the fuel tank you mention, didn't realize the engine was that light either

Tank from other side:



Tank with cover on:



Rear tank mount:

[DCMoney]

Originally Posted by tgold

They don't even list the RC390 when you go to look for parts using the link.

Use http://sparepartsfinder.ktm.com/?lang=en to find the part you're looking for and the part number. Then search it at powersportswarehouse, their prices are about 20% cheaper than anywhere else. Not as convenient as Bikebandit but a hell of a lot cheaper.

Here's a link to the front wheel.http://www.powersportswarehouse.com/...=9020900104404

[thisisbenji]

Welp, I decided to get married so no new track bike for me

Just finished my first track day of the year on the FZ6 though.

Got bumped to intermediate with STT

[RacinNinja]

Originally Posted by thisisbenji

Welp, I decided to get married so no new track bike for me

Just finished my first track day of the year on the FZ6 though.

Got bumped to intermediate with STT

Congrats!

I sold my MX bike to pay for our honeymoon. Now, many years after marriage, I have six motorcycles. It only gets better!

[thisisbenji]

Thanks!

Yup, wedding is expensive, so hopefully one day I'll have six bikes too!

My wallet is gonna need a breather when this is all done!

[Bigballsofpaint]

I went the opposite route. Got engaged, bought a Ducati as a track bike!