Why isn't somebody doing Chump Bike?

Seems to me like $500 motorcycles in a similar series would be screamingly popular...?

I believe there is a vintage motorcycle racing group that limits itself to 150cc and under bikes.

Apparently rubbing elbows, running at 10/10ths at 50mph is gobs of fun.

Too bad I'm a bit on the large side for that kind of shenanigans.

I think there's a lot more risk involved when people aren't inside cages. I know I wouldn't want to go out there with a bunch of novices and inexperienced racers.

clutchsmoke wrote: I think there's a lot more risk involved when people aren't inside cages. I know I wouldn't want to go out there with a bunch of novices and inexperienced racers.

That would be my concern...a bunch of novices on beat up bikes with old hard tires.

There is a race series for the Honda CB160, there are probably others. However, the bikes are prepared.

I think there are a few organizations that hold "small bore" motorcycle road racing events, in fact, years ago someone on this forum posted some YouTube videos of scooters and XR100s and such racing on a go kart track. Durring one of my trips to NJMP, I noticed a group engaging in very similar shenanigans on the kart track there. I doubt speeds ever exceed 50 MPH, but it looks Mega fun.

I think that would be the way to go for safe low-buck wheel to wheel road racing on two wheels. I would be inclined to join them, if I knew who was holding these events.

I would not want to go racing with a bunch of $500 Katanas and Ninjas at triple digit speeds with properly trained bike racers, let alone amateurs. Who would insure an operation like that?

You would need 15 helicopters standing by.

However, you CAN race supermotard pretty cheap. Mixed asphalt and dirt. Small bore bikes. Think 1WD rallycross.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z5KXM_IYlI

My determination to win is so much greater than my riding talents. Races would have to be staggered to give me enough time to get me out of the hospital.

Cheap motor -> blow up -> oil dropped -> slippy slidey -> very painful crash -> half the field goes down on oil slick?

This might work(i.e. low death toll) if you put a 50cc cap on it, moped racing.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: This might work(i.e. low death toll) if you put a 50cc cap on it, moped racing.

That's probably the only way. Even then I would think there would be trips to the hospital every race.

There is an outdoor cart track near me that does a spec XR100 class that looks like a blast.

Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't have any problem with racing in a similar series. I wouldn't want a LeMons type situation with extraneous crap attached to the bikes but a series with properly-prepped bikes I just don't see a problem...

clutchsmoke wrote: I think there's a lot more risk involved when people aren't inside cages. I know I wouldn't want to go out there with a bunch of novices and inexperienced racers.

Only every time I ride on the street.

In reply to Flight Service:

You have a good point there, but 99% of drivers aren't pushing their limits and running out of talent on a closed course very close to you.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: This might work(i.e. low death toll) if you put a 50cc cap on it, moped racing.

Having been on a Aprilia rs50, 50cc's even in a stock configuration is more bike then most people could handle.

500$-100$ as long as the bikes are prepped equally it would be down to the rider not the builder who won.

Gasoline wrote: My determination to win is so much greater than my riding talents. Races would have to be staggered to give me enough time to get me out of the hospital.

That looks like tons of fun

I found the group operating at NJMP. NJ mini GP

wearymicrobe wrote:

Kenny_McCormic wrote: This might work(i.e. low death toll) if you put a 50cc cap on it, moped racing.

Having been on a Aprilia rs50, 50cc's even in a stock configuration is more bike then most people could handle. 500$-100$ as long as the bikes are prepped equally it would be down to the rider not the builder who won.

Ok, spec Honda Spree?

What if you restricted it to a max of 500cc OR Singles and required a club racing permit?

clutchsmoke wrote: In reply to Flight Service: You have a good point there, but 99% of drivers are pushing their limits and running out of talent on an open road very close to you.

FTFY

I really don't want to offend anybody, but for some reason this and the "I wouldn't ride it" 300 hp Kawasaki thread makes me wonder what forum I wound up on. Is this a Motorsports forum or old ladies knitting circle?

I wouldn't go racing a 500.00 car on A78/13's from the 70's, much less a motorcycle with original tires and I didn't think Chump counted tires or brakes in the budget? I doubt anybody in their right mind would. Since it's not TV fiction, I can't see a tech inspector allowing weather checked rock hard tires on the track. I can't see somebody showing up to race a motorcycle in their leathers falling into the "novice" category either, but maybe I'm underestimating some folk's suicidal tendencies. I've been riding for over 40 years and know that I have no place on a racetrack with any kind of podium expectations, but didn't every "Pro" out there have to start as a Novice somewhere?

Old bike engines are no more likely (probably less likely) to spread parts and oil on the track than a 500.00 car engine. The guy who shows up with a 500.00 Katana might well have a knowledge of engines exceeding that of the 500.00 Camaro driver. It's not as easy to rebuild and tune a multi carb setup as it is to slap a new fuel pump in an old fuel injected car heap and have it run right again, and nobody wants to scatter an engine between their knees and under their nuts.

Sorry if this sounds like a rant. Some of the comments must have struck a nerve. I'd guess it would be a logistical nightmare trying to keep some "pro" knee grinders with a "500.00" vintage super-rat-bike determined to win from mowing down the new guy who shows up with a Honda Elite 250 wanting to have fun. The slower folks would have to be extra aware of their surroundings for certain. Calling BS on the 500.00 budget would be a lot harder than it would be with a car. The track insurance is probably what keeps it from happening.

All that said, the originally posted question just made me hit craigslist. Thanks for that. haha. Yep, as I feared, there's a 600 Katana for 500.00 ... and I have a buddy with a 500.00 89 CR250 that would be fun to supermoto. Ooops.

In reply to Beagle:

YEAH. WHAT HE SAID.

http://www.oregonsuperbikers.com/

I did a supermoto race with my KX125. Didn't take much for prep work. I already had a trials tire on the rear, which was really just a vintage styled dual sport tire because that was all that would fit the 19" rear. I had a 21" front street tire already from my KLX. Some skateboard wheels and a kitchen cutting board and I had sliders. It was fun.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: This might work(i.e. low death toll) if you put a 50cc cap on it, moped racing.

Most fun motorcycle racing I have seen was MB5's at Summit Point. Imagine a pack of 20 bikes coming down the chute 4 wide and 5 deep taking up as much track space as a couple E30's nose to tail.

Honda MB5: 49cc, ~6HP, 5-speed, and a 10,500rpm redline!