anyone have a really cheap bike for the track for sale?

[sbrguy]

anyone have something like a ninja 250 that would be good for the track for learning on for sale in the local nova area? i'm looking not to spend much at all on this no more than 900 or so.. i know really cheap but if you have something taking up garage space tell me.

thanks.

send pm if you have something.

[tocino]

If you mean for learning to ride on the street I'd say a Ninja 250 is perfect.

If you mean for track days and/or learning to race I would recommend against something that small. The closing speed between a 250 4 stroke and anything else would be, in my opinion, too dangerous. You wouldn't want a novice on a 600 coming up on you and then, due to inexperience, misjudging what to do or target fixating, etc. In addition the suspension components, not the best.

I would recommend either an older 600 or an SV. There are boatloads of ex-racers in "cosmetically challenged" state for good prices around (900 might be hard though)

YMMV, etc. etc.

[Slide Panda]

The comment about closing speeds is a wise one. Unless you manage to find a crew of small bore two smokers to do a session with being on a ninjette might be dangerous. If it's a real tight course it would mitigate the power difference - but on a straight you'd have just about everyone blasting past you at light speed.

As said see if you can find an SV650. 900 will be tough but if you save a bit more I think you could snag an sv for around 1500.

Check on the Wera and other local racer boards. Dcsportbikes.net might be good too

[cduarte]

agreed on the SV650, it will have enough power for the track, and they handle well enough to be competitive.

[twolanefun]

Doubt you will find something you can trust for that kind of money. Another option is to do a 450 motocrosser conversion, some wrenching and some ebay, craiglist searches might get yout there for the cheap. If it were me I would save my money and get something worth putting on the track. Personally I have never subscribed to cheap for the track unless it was all cosmetic damage that resulted in a low price. When I show up at a track I want to know what I'm riding is mechanically perfect and dead reliable, as far as I am able to determine that. I've seen guys show up for track days and have something go south after the first session, usually on a bike of questionable mechanical status, no fun they just payed for a track day and they end up putting it back on the truck/trailer. But I'm no expert on the subject, I only do maybe 6-7 track days a year not exactly a track day rat, I would defer to someone like Tim, who has tons of track experience both competetitive and otherwise. - Gene

[twolanefun]

Something like these ought to work
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/mcy/1525667418.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/mcy/1525268095.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/mcy/1524290023.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/mcy/1523982871.html

[cduarte]

this will work well...

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/mcy/1522966536.html

[twolanefun]

That is a find! - Gene

[hoyden]

Kawasaki EX500's and Suzuki GS500's are also great, inexpensive track(able) bikes.

I had two EX500's many years ago (a 1989 and a 1994) and a few friends of mine race the GS's.
Good, solid twins.
A lot of folks like them for track days because they are "light, fast, and cheap".

Good luck!

[Slide Panda]

Hit up that guy with the SV that cduarte posted. I bet you could talk it down a couple hundred.  High miles, but looks clean and in good shape, and the owner's offered up test rides for perspective buyers.

As with any bike, you'd need to spend some time/money getting to ready for the track. saftey wire, making sure the brakes are solid and setting the suspension. It's hard to tell if the 'smoke' at the end of the video is smoke to just some soapy water vapor, since it's obviously just been washed... but that's something to check out.