VFRDiscussion ARCHIVE / READ-ONLYREAD-ONLY

Just bought a track bike

9 posts Started 10 May 2016 Last recovered post 14 May 2016 Wayback Machine snapshot 1 Sep 2017
#1 RC1237V Thread starter

Just bought a track bike today........

It all started a year ago, I was gonna buy a CBR600, but my riding buddy pointed out to me that all the power was up high in the rpm range, and opposite from my riding style as I have two VFR's and a DRZ. Then I looked for RC51's, and too much $$$ and the nice ones were too nice to take to the track anyway. Then I started looking at the first gen Aprilia Mille R's and was very close to a few purchases....one was $2800 but had high mileage. The only thing that concerned me was the bike is a bit of a beast for my first track bike, plus parts are getting tougher to find - same as the RC51. They are available, but not like they were a few years back. 

Then I thought I would build my 3rd gen into a race bike, but with such low miles, and being so cherry it was sacrilege again......what to do.......

This bike popped up on CL at $3000 on CL not too far from my house............I watched it for a week, then it dropped to $2500. I forgot about it and was looking one day and he had it at $2000. I knew it would not last long, so I called him and went to pick it up. He had a friend go down at the track, and his wife said he had to sell it. He was on the fence, but had no one to go with so that kind of forced the issue. 

The front forks have emulators tuned by catalyst reaction, and the rear has an ohlins shock(I think). Wired for keyless start, and I think it has woodcraft rearsets, and Gixxer race body. It also has a crg shorty levers, a lithium battery, and a Vapor dash unit for speed/rpm/temps, etc...I don't think the brakes are stock either, but I could be wrong.

He also gave me the two stands in the picture, two tire warmers, a brand new set of one piece race leathers, brand new boots, and gloves - a factory manual, and all the receipts for the bike and everything purchased for it as well. there are a few other things, but I have not had time to go through it all. 

Anyway, I will be headed to the track once I get some time in my busy schedule. Anyway, here is a picture of the bike - I will post a few more once I get time to sort it all out.

[image: SV650.jpg]

#2 checksix

Wow. A turn key track bike with all the accessories for $2K ? Sounds like a great deal. Install new tires and enjoy.

#3 CornerCarver

Love the little 650 SVs for track days.

#4 jhenley17

Nice. Extra nice if the gear fits you as well. I'll be looking to do the same after I buy a house, though hoping for a second gen SV or R6S.

#5 Baileyrock

Nice find, you can always slap on a set of GSXR forks if you wanted better ones.

Looks like a carb'ed first gen?

#6 RC1237V Thread starter

Yes, carb'ed 1st gen, with sharkskinz body work. I had to replace the lithium ion battery, but it fired right up, and no smoke. Rode it around the block a few times, feels like a mini VFR, but with more torque, and less hp. Not bad though, it has lots of torque down low, then flattens, out with a nice small rush of power in the last 2K rpm.

Perfect for my 1st track bike, I wanted to take the 1200 but I need something that isn't too easy too get in over my head......I notice a lot of track junkie inline 4 guys start out with a 600, then go to a 1000, and in the end usually get a ninja 250, and try to embarrass the 600 guys.......I doubt I will ever get that good, but I think I could learn a lot from going to the track. I still have a bit of trouble with tight 180+ degree turns, especially if they have a steep elevation, or if they are flat with no camber at all.

I would have waited for a 2nd gen, but this deal was too good to pass up.........

#7 zupatun

I have an old upper lying around...don't know if it is sharkskinz or not.  Believe me you will love riding the 1st gen around the track.  Here's an SVRider page description (older) of my old trackbike:

Suspension setup even if you don't get new parts...after that get new springs, emulators, oil all setup for your weight. After that, new rear shock, almost anything is better than stock...sorry up front about the photowhoring...

Here's my list so far of what I've puttered around doing for the last year and a half...got the bike as a basket case from renowned riding school owner and friend Larry Grodsky. It's set up for the street and the track with emphasis on track.

New Speedometer
Carbon fiber (hand laid) flyscreen (taught myself how to make a plug and lay glass and CF).
Buell headlight with hand made brackets and the turn-signal brackets upside down and swapped from L to R.
Motosliders frame sliders.
Slippery 5W-40 Rotella T-syn diesel oil…gotta love $12 for 4 quarts!
Pirelli Supercorsa Pro Track-day tires (race take offs--like new almost)

Basically the bike was stock in May of 2006 with ATF in the front forks. Since then Denny and I, on a few late hot nights, have done the rest:
SVS-rearsets
ZX-10 shock (batter box was already modded! - Larry bought this bike used).
Woodcraft clipons and new grips
Fastlines Braided stainless steele (SVS) front brake lines (2.5mm I.D.)
New Brake fluid (duh)
EBC HH pads on front.
Nissin Racing Master Cylinder for front brake - to replace stock crappy one (handle bar pulled back to the bar)
Race-tech Gold-valve cartridge emulators turned out to 3 turns
Damper rods drilled out to 11mm and rebound hole welded shut
SVS Preload adjustable fork caps.
Front forks with fork caps 7mm above the top tripple.
New RK 530 gold o-ring chain
A D&D three bolt exhaust for a ZRX adapted with a three-bolt to slip-on adapter and midpipe.
Spare F3 cbr 600 rear wheel, hub and captive spacer kit (to make tire swaps from track to street easier and run 180's if I want).
GPR Steering Stabilizer (black) with refurbished seals
Vortex Rear swingarm spools
Woodcraft red anodized right hand side engine case cover.
03 intake cams on intakes and 1st gen intakes on exhausts
Re-jetted 155 mains, 17.5 pilots, clip on center with one washer and De-snorkeled air filter and valve clearances checked
Longer shock linkage dogbones to raise the back end about 23mm
R6 Throttle tube to replace stock throttle tube.
Other than the Buell headlight and Ghetto flyscreen the bike looks stock...that and pretty much everything on the bike I bought for 50% or less either on closeout, on ebay or in the classifieds the bike has cost more than the $1800 basket case it once was. I imagine one day we'll get it on the dyno and get the jetting really sorted out.
 
[image: wol_error.gif] This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image.
[image: DSC01231.jpg]
  Report this image

at Mid ohio in the Keyhole:
[image: wol_error.gif] This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image.
[image: MO_073007_0988.jpg]
  Report this image
__________________
Matt Roth
NESBA #42
'99 VFR800
'00 SV650 'Nekkid Dual Purpose
'96 VFR750 (RIP)
#8 zupatun

Oh I did the cam swap as well...which is an easy mod to do...and worth a few extra hp...

#9 RC1237V Thread starter

Nice mods, and thanks for the heads up on the oil! I will probably change all the fluids before I take it out on the track. Also need to adjust the clip ons for my reach, and check the brake pads. Sprockets and chain look good too. The tires only have one track day on them and are only a year old, so most likely leave them for now.

I think the only big thing I need to buy is a helmet - I have a Shoei Neotech modular, but most tracks require a DOT and Snell rated lid, which the modulars are not - Snell won't even test them.

I have been looking through the SV forum, but it is not as organized as this one and there is a lot more info to filter through...............

End of thread · 9 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 1 Sep 2017