250 race question

[mikedabike64]

Hey guys I am a track guy but not a competitive racer so my question is strictly from a curiosity stand point.

Do you guys that race go thru motors as in having to replace rebuild the motor or any of its components?

And do you do the work yourselves?

What do you go through most tires and brakes ?

Just curious thanks Mike h

[csmith12]

None of the 250 races in my area seem to go through motors. Sure stuff breaks, but no more than any other track riders. Many seem to tinker with the carb alot depending on their exhaust. Gearing is a more frequent change as well but the stock gearing is pretty popular.

What do I go through the most? Gas and oil (changes). Tires more than brakes, but I will burn a set of EBC brakes in a 10 round season (20 races). A set of good tires last me a whole season.

Yes, I do all the work myself aside of tire changes. I hate changing tires.

[mikedabike64]

Thanks I admire the effort you guys put in at this level. I have to get to a 250 race one day. Looks like fun.
See all you nuts come out of the woodwork.

[csmith12]

Hold up... I have a correction to my post.

What do I go through the most? $$$$$

[mikedabike64]

Btw just read the bottom of your post about romancing the corner. That is my downfall.

What a great point maybe I should think of it as if I was being chased by a cop

[Sirref]

judging from tire wear for a normal track day (first track day but a normal one nonetheless where I missed a few sessions) I'd say that you'd go through tires pretty quickly racing even on a 250 due to the accelerated wear riding that hard on the tires provides.

Really I don't see there being much more wear than a track day overall per race so as a track rider I should reasonably expect racing in the 250 class to cost similar to track days if not a little bit more

[MirinNinja]

Originally Posted by csmith12

A set of good tires last me a whole season.

What tyres are you running?

[mikedabike64]

From Bridgestone I love them as a track day tire.

[sharky nrk]

from what I have seen, if your only sprinting the bike a single race a weekend a set of tires will likely last 10 rounds. The SC1/Rosso combo seems to wear a little faster than the 003Pro/003RS combo

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by MirinNinja

What tyres are you running?

SC1/Rosso II combo is what I am running. I used to run the 003's they were fine too and wore pretty good, the only reason I switched is for more grip.

[green_bread]

Yeah, I dont think Ive heard of anyone in our race series losing an engine, yet. Of course, now that I say that, Ill probably be the first.

Gas, oil/filter, and tires are going to be your biggest consumables as long as you arent crashing a bunch. Replacing rearsets/frames makes the price go up pretty quickly.

[r6boater]

Draik is in his second season of racing his '08 Ninja 250. We bought it used with ~9600 street only miles. The motor work has consisted of one Valve Adjustment, and one other post seasons check. Three jetting changes. A couple different size rear sprockets get changed out. He started out last season on a set of Vesrah brake pads and other than trying out a set of EBC's for two practice sessions, he is still on the original Vesrah set.

Tires and gas are what we spend the most on. He's on his third set of tires in two seasons and goes through about $50 of race gas/weekend.

[tooblekain]

Originally Posted by green_bread

Yeah, I dont think Ive heard of anyone in our race series losing an engine, yet. Of course, now that I say that, Ill probably be the first.

Gas, oil/filter, and tires are going to be your biggest consumables as long as you arent crashing a bunch. Replacing rearsets/frames makes the price go up pretty quickly.

Trailerboy has (he races CVMA) but I think it was due to lack of maintenance (ie. not doing valve clearance checks)

[alex.s]

i've blown a crank journal and two transmissions during races. and i know of several other racers who have also blown cranks and transmissions.

[genosr1]

9000 street miles, 12 - 25 min races, and probably 75-80 dyno runs, pulled the top end off to inspect pistons and rings everything looked like new, rings had 11 thou end gap, so i put it all back together, runs as strong as ever, these are really tough little motors

[mikedabike64]

That's outstanding The reason why I ask is I thought maybe you guys might go through a couple of them at least.
I have pulled the videos up from the races , aside from looking extremely fun ,
Everybody running hard.

Just another plus for our bikes.

[mikedabike64]

Did you replace the motor? It was probably cheaper then maybe going to fix it I don't know just curious ?

[fred smoot]

there should be plenty of engines available with all the Ninja 250s out there.

[sandman889]

Money that's what seems to go the quickest.

[mikedabike64]

I thought this was supposed to be the poor man's race class, just kidding it's all the little things that add up I bet heck even track days ain't cheap but there's a lot worse ways to spend money

[Sirref]

it is the poor mans race class, the difference in cost for 250 class vs 600 class is insane

650 class (aka sv650s) is a fair way to split the difference though but you still burn through tires on one of those

[Mike K]

Do most of you run dedicated track only bikes or do you track your street bike? I'm planning on buying a nice '05 GSXR 600 from someone at work this fall but I really like riding my little green demon. I'll trailer the bike to and from the track no matter what.

Mike

[Sirref]

I have a dedicated track 250 and a commuter/street 300

I'd ride the 300 on track if it weren't my day to day transportation but it is so I have the 250

it doesn't necessarily have to be a track only bike so long as you have another means of transportation and crashing your bike won't end your ability to get to school/work then you're really good to go. Tracking your street bike has an inherent advantage of you're already comfortable on that bike. I spent a large portion of my first track day getting comfortable on my track 250 (though I did crash so that made the discomfort worse)

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by Mike K

Do most of you run dedicated track only bikes or do you track your street bike?

All of my bikes pull double duty, street and track.

[Mike K]

Neither the 250 nor the GSXR when I get it are/will be my primary means of transport. Just not practical here in NJ. I guess that I'll have to see how much I like the 600 as my get on and go bike. Scared the sh1t out of me for the first 5 minutes test riding it. It's a totally different feeling than the Ninjette at least to my inexperienced hands/butt/brain. I had the same feeling getting on the 250 for my first real ride. I don't think that I mentioned that the 250 is my first bike ever. My wife hates bikes and never wanted me to get one. To appease her I didn't. She's going to be an ex-wife shortly so I thought, WTH, I'm getting a bike! Fair trade? Lol

Mike

[Sirref]

I'd track both of them then

[Mike K]

I've been thinking about it. I thought that after I learned, gained some experience on the 250 I'd give the 600 a go.

[Qomomoko]

Originally Posted by Mike K

I've been thinking about it. I thought that after I learned, gained some experience on the 250 I'd give the 600 a go.

I started on an 05 R6 at the track at it was fun until I low sided and got scared. It has taken me about 5 track days to grow balls again and on a 250cc. When watching track or races I wonder if I should try my R6 again lol... She is for sale but no body is interested lol

[Foxrider64]

Originally Posted by Qomomoko

I started on an 05 R6 at the track at it was fun until I low sided and got scared. It has taken me about 5 track days to grow balls again and on a 250cc. When watching track or races I wonder if I should try my R6 again lol... She is for sale but no body is interested lol

Keep rockin the 250 man. It'll help build your confidence and skills with corner speed and braking...or lack there of.

The 250 is the cheapest way to have a good time on the track.

[Qomomoko]

Originally Posted by Foxrider64

Keep rockin the 250 man. It'll help build your confidence and skills with corner speed and braking...or lack there of.

The 250 is the cheapest way to have a good time on the track.

of course you'd be in this forum!!!

Yeah Alex...

still looking at my next 250...but at least I got one to have fun with!! Hope track for me at PBIR next Sunday ... you have CCS soon !!

[Foxrider64]

Originally Posted by Qomomoko

of course you'd be in this forum!!!

Yeah Alex...

still looking at my next 250...but at least I got one to have fun with!! Hope track for me at PBIR next Sunday ... you have CCS soon !!

I hope the one trackday at pbir was enough for me to be top 10 at least.

Next season I plan to get to a lot more races...something about having a baby midway through the year put a damper on my 2014 racing.

[ninja250r81]

Don't think that anyone has mentioned track fees to enter each race weekend

[csmith12]

Noted in post #4 Scott.

[ninja250r81]

Post 4#

Originally Posted by csmith12

Hold up... I have a correction to my post.

What do I go through the most? $$$$$

Nothing in 2# 10# 24# or 33# either

[Worldtraveller]

Originally Posted by tooblekain

Trailerboy has (he races CVMA) but I think it was due to lack of maintenance (ie. not doing valve clearance checks)

How frequently do you think this needs done to a motor that's racing? I haven't done mine yet (bike itself has less than 5k miles on it total).

[tooblekain]

Originally Posted by Worldtraveller

How frequently do you think this needs done to a motor that's racing? I haven't done mine yet (bike itself has less than 5k miles on it total).

On average, you should do a valve clearance check/reshim at LEAST once during the race season. Can't hurt to do it more than required.

For me, I do it every oil change...so for me, it's once a month. (I do race and a lot of trackdays). I am a very data driven person and log my clearances. So far there hasn't been any movement since I needed to reshim them back to spec.