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Re: [ST] Back from the Track



Real racers use up engines and need rebuilds because they modify the bike to run MUCH looser tolerances, and thus get more out of the engine in terms of power at the expense of longevity - but they don't mind as theh extra power is important, and a rebuild isn't.  Kawasaki's racing team takes a 6RR from the crate and modifies it as such to get almost 20 more hp and any given rpm than a stock one - but they only need it to last a race.
 
When you don't do things such as this, the longevity of the engine is not significantly affected.  Other factors can have higher contributions to the life - such as oil change intervals, valve inspection, and such, which racers do MUCH more frequently, and thus keep the bike with cleaner fluids and more in spec than most street riders.  A lot of racers that I have spoken with change their oil after every track day or weekend - which is generally somewhere from 200 to 800 miles.  And they replace fuel lines, brake hoses, etc not only better than most street riders, but more frequently than even the service interval.  How many people out here have changed their brake hoses, fuel lines, fuel filters, all seals under the scheduled maintenance?  I would guess that most people here aren't replacing fuel filters every 12k miles....
 
Matt Heyer

----- Original Message ----
From: david.funk@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 10:46:39 AM
Subject: Re: [ST] Back from the Track


Racing uses up motorcycles. The high rpm wears an engine out.
That is why racers rebuild the engine. Sport bikes are made to run, and run hard. But they don't last forever. There are only so many hours of high rpm running in an engine; pistons, valve train, rods, ... Everything fatigues.
Sure racers take good care of there bikes, but that only lets the bike last its full lifetime.
Buying from a racer is ok, but you need to pay attention to how "used" the motorcycle is. At the end of the season a bike that has done 8 to 10 races and a 4 hour endurance, the engine really really needs a rebuild. The brake rotors might be getting a little thin. At 120mph it does not take a huge bump to really work the shock.

David W. Funk
'00 Sprint ST
Pleasanton, CA


-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Sprint ST" <sprint_st@xxxxxxxxxxx> 

> Matt, 
> I think you make some really excellent points. The only racers I'd be wary 
> of are the mad scientist types that monkey with the internals of the motor 
> or drill holes in the frame to make it lighter. 
> Rod 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: st-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:st-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Matthew Heyer 
> Sent: Monday, June 19, 2006 8:14 PM 
> To: ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> Subject: Re: [ST] Back from the Track 
> 
> I also think that people don't understand that performance motorcycles are 
> made to run. So turning, accelerating, and braking hard are what they are 
> meant to do (provided you don't lay it down). Nor burnouts, wheelies, and 
> stoppies - those things put undue stresses on the headstock and bearings and 
> such. That stuff is what can be harmful to a bike. 
> 
> 
> 
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