I want a track bike - what should I do?

[PitterB4]

i found a fixer upper and since pitter didnt buy it i am looking to get it this winter. a 2000 zx6r with 200 miles on it needs lots of carb cleaning and fluids changed. tires, and brakes upgraded. start with that, the guy i work with is saying he will think about my 1700 dollar offer. he was looking to get 2k out of it but i told him it needs to much work for that much money. so far looks like i will have to redo the carbs, tires and put maybe all of about 400 bucks into getting it ready. so if i can get him to take 1700 plus the cost of redoing a few things on it i would only have 2100 or so into it. i figure i could sell the street plastics, lights and wiring and get some race skins for it. i will worry about doing more to it after i feel i am above the stock stuff. only thing i will do is stiffer springs in front.

mike

Damn Mike.  He's still got that green machine?  It would be a lot of work but that's still a heck of a deal.  Stock, it would get you around the track just fine.  Race skins, some Powers or Qualifiers and some sliders and you'd be good to go.

Next year, we really should try to all get to the track together.

[speedytriple]

yep same guy been sitting on it for what 4 years now? thats what i figure run it stock till i can learn to push it past its limits then upgrade it. the first season i figure i will still be learning to ride the track so stock is ok with stiffer springs. i hope to get this bike, if not then i will do a couple track days on the triple for sure. i plan on starting on nelsons at a fast trax day. then looking to do maybe midohio, and possibly beaver or grattan? i have to see how money is and time wise for work has been limited for riding. we just went onto a 7 day rotation. so i only get one weekend off every 7 weeks!? but those mid days off would be great for doing a track day huh?

mike

[Bantana]

The 600 makes a perfectly good track day bike as is. If you crash it, then you suffer the consequences with your everyday ride. I'm in a club that hosts track days three times a year for our members and one of the tracks we ride is Talladega Gran Prix Raceway where at that time the track record was 1:01 and we had a physician riding a stock Bandit 600 turning 1:09's. For a reference, my best was a couple of 1:21's on my Bandit750. If you want to run the 600 at track days, I would suggest a few things: don't overtire the Bandit. Run stock sizes and don't go any softer than a Metz M1. Run stock pressures or at the most no lower than 30/32. A set of front springs and fresh fluid.
Maybe a cheap Progressive rear shock. Set your sag and have at it. Don't even spring for HH brake pads. My Bandit is 10 years old and I run track days several times a year.

Of course, you could go to the racer boards and pick up a F2 or gsxr600 cheap and do it that way. But for 2 or 3 times a year I wouldn't make a big splash on spending dollars. The 600 is a great bike.