Triumphrat

Prairie Rat

A few weeks ago while I was out for a ride on Tona 955 I had an awakening of sorts. With every successive on the Tona my speeds have been getting increasingly higher and higher. This particular day, while even in a zone, I glanced at my speedo, and thats when it happened . I had just come through a couple of relaxed long sweeping curves, my frikin speeds were insane to say the least. after glancing at the speedo thoughts of deer,moose or some other animal jumping onto the road entered my head. Followed by thoughts of being unable to care for my daughter {single dad now} a moment of mortality entered I guess.

I decided that I had to take this crap to the track! Where it belongs! Im too old to be a squid. I can still be a bit of a hooligan now and then! But ....
So inquiries about the track close to me started,what there rules and regulations are and a joined a couple forums associated with the track , surfing 675 and rat looking and reading etc. General consensus with some guys from the track seems to be that the track and racing has had a profound effect on there street riding habits. They are better riders and ride on the street at a much more relaxed pace. A couple of them have even put there street bikes up for sale and are going to run two different track bikes and more classes instead and stay off the street completely.

Which brings me to the point I am at now. I did a trade and ended up with a pretty darn nice 01 TT600. Needs nothing.My intentions were to put race plastics on, strip the lights and make it a dedicated track bike. But .... guys from the club are saying they are too slow and I would be better off picking up a former race bike all prepped . One example of this is one of Chris Peris bikes an 05 gsxr 600 is for sale locally for 3 -3500.00. I am starting to wonder if that isnt the way to go . There is also a 07 675 which is listed on 675.net that is very close to me for 6100.00, which is what I lusted for to begin with. Love triples always have, sleds old kawi,s and ski-doos from my youth !!!! Yeah !! and now the Triumphs ! I thought the 6g was expensive for a dedicated track bike. What if.s entered into the mind. But now after pricing out some plastics and a few other bits it really doesnt seem worth tracking the TT.

I have never been on the track and I will be taking the race courses put on at the track by one of the expert class racers. Other s have said it has helped them shave time immediately as well as making the m a better more controlled and thinking rider. I have met the instructor and i think he is the kind of guy I could easily learn from.
I think the TT from what I have read would really be all I needed to start on , but the gsxr , r6 are pretty tempting from a price point. And I could probably hone my skills with trackdays for a year . And then still get a couple of years of racing out of them.But its not a Triumph. Or just stretch the budget and pony up for a 675 right from the git go! But then there all the hidden costs I dont even know about yet. Cost of track days,race school, some new leather, Tires, tire warmers, gen set ,spare parts cause I will go down, repairs, etc...... Any input that might help clear the fog boyzz and girlzz.

Mista Bob

Tires are going to be the biggest cost you will encounter if you plan on doing lots of track events.
A tire warmer is really only necessary if you are running racing slicks, just take it easy until the tires warm up.
And everyone here tells me racing slicks are only necessary if you are experienced enough to go fast enough to make them worth while so..
That would be a matter of opinion though, but I would agree with them for the most part.
Majority of people I know track their bikes with street tires.

Buy a quality 1 piece leather suit, and it will pay off in the long run.
Not just because it's protecting your hide but because it will stand up better and you should be able to use it for multiple crashes with minimal repairs.

If you want a track dedicated bike, the best way to do it is with a non-registrable or salvage title motorcycle.
They can be had for cheap.
Look for one that is just cosmetic damage, there are lots out there.
However you do want to stay away from bikes that have frame damage and/or would incur too many costs to fix.
Or you can always get one that's already been converted, but then who knows how much it has been raced.

Since you already have the TT600 I see no harm in converting that, especially if you like the bike.
It's definitely a great handling bike so it's not a bad choice at all.
Only downside I see to using the bike is parts aren't nearly as common for it as other bikes.
And it's rough power delivery will be something you will have to keep in check on the track.
Or you could have it smoothed out with a bit of work, others will be able to comment on this part as I'm new to the TT600 also myself.

Edit: Oh hey, just noticed your in Alberta too.
Where at?

Prairie Rat

1.5hr ne of Edmonchuk. How about you

Mista Bob

Okotoks, just south of Calgary.

Prairie Rat

Looks like they saved Race Dity till at least 2015. Or thats what I heard. Hopefully they will do a little work to it now,

Mista Bob

Yeah, was real happy to hear they voted to keep it.
Wouldn't hold my breath for them to repave it though, they have never done so in the entire tracks life so why would they now.
Besides, avoiding the potholes on a race track is great experience.

Prairie Rat

You planning on running your T on the track ? From what I hear they need to fix a corner as well , at the westerns one of the fellas from up this way hit the wall . He did a number on his ribs collapsed lung and some other injuries I cant remember.

Mista Bob

The big track doesn't appeal as much to me, so I won't be doing much there.
I pretty much exclusively have stuck to the go-kart track so far, racing 125 bikes and supermoto's.

Next season though, I think I will do a few track sessions with my TT.

Prairie Rat

Supermoto, now thats another thing I am hoping to have in the garage by next spring. I was going to street tard my XR400 but its just to costly.
I would like to just keep adding bikes lol, but something has to go . Going to get the bike situation sorted out this winter, Hopefully. I found a 98 Tbird sport I would like to cafe . Geez I need a lottery win !!!! Or I need the patch to pick up. The kids college fund is going to take a beating this year , lol !

Will

Multiple bike syndrome is proof of a balanced personality. It's true.

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Will
It's a squid thing. You wouldn't understand.
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Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon.