seattlesucks

Anyone here turn their superhawk into a race bike? What mods have you made? What class do you race in? How well do you do? Pics?

superhawk22

In the process....front end,(gsxr1000 forks w/954 triples and rc51 wheel), front brakes,(gsxr calipers w/rc51 rotors), frame sliders, rear shock, ss brake lines and not much for power just jet kit and k&n. Right now it's just been track days so it's not racing but I'm in the intermediate group and there were only 3 or 4 other guys that could pass me. If you're running in the Amature ranks then it'll be more about your ability then the bikes but you will be giving away an advantage off the bat because of weight and power so you might get tired quicker. I think part of the fun though would be, being able to compete with a heavy out dated sport/tourer. Oh and after the mods I made to make her more competative with the bikes that were already out there I found out I was limited to 4 groups because of my front end mod. Here's some pics, pre and post mods, and a link to my most recent track day pic of me passing a yamie R6. http://www.katkrew.com/nuke/modules....view_photo.php Oh yeah, lifeofadventure did some racing w/it and is a wealth of knowledge about prep and what it's like.

marmaladedad

If you plan on club-racing, you'll want to find out the rules which govern modifications to your bike. Most will not allow you to change out the forks, a la RC51 or 929/954 front ends.

superhawk22

Which IMO is NOT fair it's just making the bike like what you're going againts......bastards!! But I found out you can still race you just get DQ'D if you podium with it...oh well who needs a friggin trophy anyway?

seattlesucks

My goal is to race the last race of next season. I'm either going to throw down and buy a dedicated modern race bike, a vintage bike, or set my vtr up to race. My problem is that I'm a really big guy at 6'6" and 310... Though I'll be 260 by the time my first race rolls around. That puts me at as much as a 100# disadvantage to some of the smaller guys. That means I nead to find a bike/class that minimizes those disadvantages.

...But yeah, the club around here would have me in a non-competitive novice group for my first 6 races. Unless I do vintage, which you counts as novice too.

BTW Superhawk22, that is a VERY nice looking superhawk. VERY nice looking.

superhawk22

I personally am leaning towards an already preped 600 because of ease and the fact that there are sooo many classes you can race them in but until then I'm going to see about racing the VTR. Check like the WERA or CCS boards or your local track forum you can usually find good deals there on bikes already set up for racing and if it's a salvage just get it checked out at a place like GMD to make sure it's straight. For a guy your size it might be easier on a 1000 to offset any disadvantage.

seattlesucks

That's what I was thinking too... But those 1000cc guys are FAAAAAAAST.

Hawkrider

2 more years and the VTR-F will be able to race in vintage, yes? Haven't looked at the WERA rulebook lately but I think it's gotta be at least 10 years old.

seattlesucks

I'm gonna try and race WMMRA... Their vintace class is like 1968 and earlier. Plus I have a 2002...

superhawk22

In Am everyone is usually pretty much the same speed though.

lifeofadvntr

Seattle,

If you have the skills to race...size won't hurt you too bad in the Am's. A fast rider on a slo bike will still kick the tar out of an inexperienced rider on a really fast bike. The big bore bikes (1000's etc) are very fast however you have to remember that the track also plays into that alot. If you are racing a track like Thunderhill in NorCal, or Willow Springs with long straights then they can inflict lots of damage, however, if you are racing tracks like Las Vegas IR or Cal Speedway, Streets of Willow etc, where there are lots of tights it is tough for the big bikes to get up into the optimum gears (in my experience)

I am pretty big myself (by racer standards 6'5 235lbs) but I was still able to hang in there. Of course, I was certainly never a pro...and I found that the 17 y.o. guys just have a hell of a lot less fear than (at the time a 30 + y.o.).

As far as what class you can race...the sanctioning body will determine that. The hawk is pretty versatile for classes in Formula USA and CCS but I am not sure what you have up there.

My best finish on the Hawk was 7th in Pro Am Supertwin, and on the FZR was 16th. My first few races after getting my race license....my best finishes on the Hawk were LAST, and Dead Last respectively! Of course I will age myself here and tell you that it was pretty F*^$#ing cool to have a pit stall next to Jake Zemeke (Big ginormious 18 wheeler with mechanics, fans, etc) and me with my pick-up truck, easy up, and tool box!!!!

But as I say...better to have raced and finished LAST...than to watch "Two Wheel Tuesday" on the speed channel and "talk about" how you "could do that" with yer buddies right!

Of course...now I just like to have fun on the "V-Twin" Goldwing as someone on here called it!

Have fun!

seattlesucks

^ Great post.

...I don't. lol.

I'd be racing at Pacific Raceways in Kent, which is a lot of straights and long turns. Turns 3 and 4 (?) look like the tightest ones.

I'm not too worried about winning, but I would like to get the occasional 3rd place trophy... I think after reading this thread, I'll focus on losing some weight and saving up for a race ready r1/1000rr/Gixxer-1k. That gives me a year to come up with $5-7k, leathers, a couple of track days, and a race school or two. That should be enough time.

superhawk22

Do all the track days you can, it's experience you can't get any where else. Losing weight will help in many different ways, I notice it helps the stamina the most and once I get tired I start to get sloppy and loose my lines.

marmaladedad

And remember, that's exactly the time to pull in to the pits and gather yourself. Trackdays is not racing, so be sure to get yourself and your bike back home in one piece.

superhawk22

Yep! That's exactly what I do, it was sooo friggin hot last weekend I was only getting 5-6 good laps in and I'd pit after that. There's 2 corners that would tell me if I was getting tired, 8&9, I'd go wide in 8 and mess up 9 because of it. If I was really tierd I would mess up 8 then 9 then 10.

seattlesucks

great advice guys, keep it coming!

lazn

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but, Moto-ST is the class to race a superhawk in.

http://www.moto-st.com/About/

Stumpy

I just want to go fast just like that nascar nut only I dont run around the track naked and say I am on fire. Was on fire once first medflight ride. IT SUCKED REAL BAD. but thats the plan will try to get lic this year and maybe take a code school when it comes to blackhawk farms in IL.

JamieDaugherty

I help out with the California Superbike School once a year on my VTR. No safety wiring or anything like that. Basically you should not do anything to the engine but rather focus all of your efforts (read: money) on the suspension. The rear shocks can almost always be replaced with aftermarket and the fork internals replaced. The stock forks are ok for amateur racing anyway. Extensive mods like fork swaps can be difficult to dial-in and get setup properly. That's the last thing a guy needs who is just getting started with racing.