Racing girl

Well in a fit of insanity I went and bought an 03 Gixxer-6 for Lucy last
night. It's absolutely stock except for frame sliders and a double-bubble
screen. (And less than 3K on it!)

Now we plan on turning it into a race bike. One small snag - we don't have a
fucking clue.

So, given a stock GSXR-600 (2003), what would be the minimum requirements
for turning it into a bike that would be competitive for D-Grade (Novice)
class. Lucy is 5'4" and 52kg.

I'm thinking race-glass, braided lines and a slip-on can to begin with, but
further (or alternative) suggestions appreciated.

Manning

 

Before Daron gets in with more detail...

....starting out in racing, you're not going to be doing the Superstock class
at Formula Xtreme meetings; chunky entry fees and a field made up from
people who've mostly done this sort of thing before... a few times...

I'd say join a road racing club and get in on their club meetings, where
races tend to be organised according to ability rather than equipment. In
that environment, idling on the grid, this eaglebeak GSX-R600 of yours is
going to look like a just-landed spaceship in amongst the gaggle of 400's,
two-stroke 250's and 10-year-old ex-Shawn Giles CBR600's. Even in bog-stock
form, she'll be on the most powerful bike in the field, and for someone of
her size, the suspension won't need to reworked.

I'd say just get raceglass (two scuffed sets are better than one pristine
set) and don't worry about the rest. Rubber brake lines should cope with the
short races they run at club level and a stock muffler can take a lot more
of a beating than a race item. Fit as much crash protection as you can:
-replace the metal bar ends with bits of turned/drilled nylon.
-fit extra-chunky rear stand pickups to keep the swingarm off the deck in a
stack.
-look into plastic/faux carbon frame protectors (the ones which actually
cover the frame beams to stop them being sandblasted if the bike goes
bouncing across the kitty litter).
-BUY A BIFFED TANK FROM A WRECKER.
-replace the stock pivoting pegs with fixed ones.

On balance, I reckon you've overcapitalised buying a shiny new 11-grand
supersport as a bike to start racing on. Nothing wrong with buying a 600
(they're certainly more flexible than a 250 proddie or a 400), but a
current-model, pristine one with bugger-all km's on it is really too nice a
bike to suffer such a fate.

Had I been you, I'd've made me an offer on this '96-model ZX6 I just
bought... and, after thinking about it, I'd've probably said "Ummm, no."
because, being a cream puff, I've already become attached to the bloody
thing and it's squared-off tyres, and it's only been a week.

Meanwhile, start doing trackdays until you get dizzy. Get your money's
worth.

 

Dunno bout road racing... but on the sidecars we used to go as afar as
taking the charging systems and everything off?. Means you need to charge
batteries externally.

However i know nothing of the 03 gsxr600...nor road racing.

Good luck

 

What IK said, plus...

Race glass is going to be required 'cause I think you'll find theres a
rule that says the fairing needs to be able to catch a sump full of oil
should it decide to be on the outside of the engine rather than the
inside. You'll also need to lockwire a whole bunch of stuff -
particularly anything that could allow fluid to escape if it comes loose
(radiator cap, oil drain and filler etc).

My advice would be to work out who you're going to go racing with, and
ask them what needs doing to make it class eligible - like IK said, at
least to start with, performance mods are probably pretty unnecessary -
that bikes pretty damned close to a racebike already - she's much more
likely to gain measurable advantage from a few hundred dollars worth of
rider training that a few thousand dollars worth of engine mods...

big

 

....and she looks _very_ cute with it. ;-)

C & D grade is more about circulating reasonably quickly without falling
off.

A 2003 GSXR 6 doesn't actually need anything done....apart from the
glass removal and stuff.

regards,
CrazyCam

 

You're nuts.

You obviously have some cash so buy the braided lines.
Get a pair of Goodrich lines from John Stamnas in QLD.
(or get them from MCA *plug* who have several models in stock)
Just get the front. A rear line is a waste.
The braking confidence you can get from it is well worth the
comparatively small asking price.

Race slicks and tyre warmers wouldn't go astray.
Grab a front and rear stand (grab some Anderson Stands from Anderson
themselves or save the hassle cos MCA *plug* have Universal fronts and
rears and pickups in all colours and finishes)

After that, buy a cheapish plain coloured helmet. You don't want to
crash in your $1200 gibernau replica helmet.
Get better gloves and boots and back-protector.
And do that training thing.

Personally I'd sell the 03, buy an 01 instead and use the leftover cash
for a trip to Spain to watch people far faster than me do it properly

d

 

Before you start......
you need a few things

Money + lots of it - budget for a year & then triple it
Time & Patience - get used to hanging around at tracks
Mechanical knowhow - when things brake - you gotta fix them
Decent set of tools - If you don't have a decent set - then you will by
seasons end


What class do you want to race in??
How much do you want to spend???

National Superstock (http://www.ma.org.au)
RB Imports Series? (http://www.bwpmcc.com.au)
Honda Michelin Series? (http://www.stgeorgemcc.com/)

Superstock at the ASC's meeting seems to be the cheapest option for most
people - hence thats why the class is so popular.

Contact MNSW & ask them to send you a copy of the 2003/4 GCR's so you know
what to do to the bike
http://www.motorcycling.com.au/

Join a club - we are part of Ryde MCC. Contact me for details or join one of
the others

Get a license - don't fall over at the price for a Senior National ( minimum
if she wants to do practise days ) ( $253.00 / year )

Tyre warmers - You'll soon find out that they cover themselves if you don't
have them ( http://www.sportsbike.com.au )

Stands - Front & rear ( you have to have the bike off the ground so you can
get those tyre warmers on )

Rear pick up knobs to be welded onto the bike

Good Tyre pressure gauge - You cannot set & forget

Raceglass - start with one set - paint it & go from there
(http://www.xsports.com.au/Fairings/index_f.htm)
Oggy knobs - Same URL

Aftermarket Rearsets - Only choose this option if you are NOT going to go
Superstock racing

Braided lines - Only choose this option if you are NOT going to go
Superstock racing

Rear Shock - Only choose this option if you are NOT going to go Superstock
racing

Full System - Only choose this option if you are NOT going to go Superstock
racing

Slip on muffler - cheaper to replace than a std one

Spare rims with disks are a good option for club days


*************************************************************
Now you've spent $2500 on the stuff to go racing - you can start on the
bike.

All lights are to be removed

All fluid drain holes are to be drilled & lockwired ( includes oil filter )

Remove horn & LH Switchgear

************************************************************
SPARES you will need for a year

Spare rims with disks are a good option for club days
Tyres
Brakepads - FF & FR
Handlebars - 2 each
Throttle tube - 1
Rearsets - 1 spare set
Clutchplates - I complete spare set
Handgrips
Fairings
Screens


Daron

 

In aus.motorcycles on Tue, 13 Jan 2004 15:17:38 +1100

<snip list of expensive stuff>

Hmm.. add to that the $150+ entry fees and you can see why people prefer
to do track days!

Does anyone in NSW run bracket racing? would seem to be the best bet
for most wannabe racers to get their feet wet without heaps of money.

Zebee

 

Not that I'm aware

MCRC do something similar but I don't know if it's exactly called "Bracket
racing"
Something along the lines of Amatuer level etc

Contact John Imrie in regards to it
96034892

Daron

 

Actually IK - I tend to agree completely. But to be honest, I have a very
strong feeling that this particular bike will never set rubber on a track,
and that the blue SV will find its way onto the used market fairly quickly.
Once we sell the SV the original search for a 600cc track bike will start
all over again.

You never told me about it. And from my observation the Kwackers seem to be
taller than the other supersports, which is not good when you're a Scottish
dwarf.

Already happening.

Cheers Manning

PS - am actively trying to find a buyer for that Spada of yours.

 

And I thought I was bad...

Yeah, I did. I actively boasted about my shrewd acquisition over pancakes
with chocolate ice cream, don't you remember?

Keep in mind that mine's had the arse end jacked up as high as it'll go,
plus the Ohlins is a smidge longer than the OE shock. Stock, they sit about
30mm lower which, I think, would actually be below the GSX-R's seat height,
and the earlier ZX6's were lower still ('cause that was the style at the
time).

So are you dizzy yet?

It's apprecumucated...

 

Blame her, not me. (No hang on, blame me too)

I knew about the bike - I mean you never told me that you were inviting
offers on it.

When you coming up this way? Come out with the girls some time

Manning

 

Well, you've come to the right place, no-one here has a clue.

 

My observation is that the GSXRs seem to be the tallest of the 600s that I've
ridden - being a similar height I tend to notice

JL

 

C'mon conie - this is the place where no-one is ever wrong (except for Clem,
once, and that was apparently only a misunderstanding).

Manning

 

I bet you get heaps of invites to go out IK.
Let's face it; people look pretty good standing next to you!
Pot

 

You effin' slandering prick!
I'll have you know I'm wrong friggin' HEAPS of times!!
Clem
(And don't you forget it.)

 

Must of missed that - sorry

I'm saying that: if you come up to Sydney, I will arrange for you to
participate in an (otherwise fairly tame) ride with a substantial number of
cute girls (not all of them are cute, but a surprisingly pleasant number
are). Some of them can ride very well to boot. Thought you might enjoy it,
but if not, there's always Bobby's post...

Manning

 

Zebee,
Do you mean Bucket Racing?

If yes then yes - bigger than ever for 2004.
There are now 2 classes of "buckets" - standard & motolite.

For more details go to
http://www.mcnews.com.au/MotorcycleRacing2004/Australian/Buckets/NSW/Class_n
ew_motolite.htm

Cheapest form of racing but not for someone without some mechanical know
how.

Best bet would be to buy a Moriwaki 80 if small of statue for around $3,000
but not for everyone.

Greg

 

Good response Daron, just a few points:

* Can use braided lines in Superstock
* Also need bottle for all hoses that can drop fluid onto the track
* Steering damper is a good bet
* Why the spare wheels? If superstock they are treaded tyres.
* 2004 GCRs are available online now -
http://www.ma.org.au/documents/default.asp?doctype=1.
* Spare sprockets for change of gearing for specific tracks

Greg