| Author | Message | ||
     Digital |
Hey all. I need to ask some advice/help from my Buell'ers. The plain and simple of it..... I must race! So. AS things stand now, I have an 05 xb12scg with about 11k on it. Still runs like a champ. I have put a Firebolt front end on it with the clip-ons. I have taken it on the track a few times and She does all right. Over the years I have put some money into her. As things stand now I have a full Micron system with an ECM retune via ECMspy with maps from AL at Americansportbike, also Sato rearsets, plus various levers and windscreens, and safety wiring, and the new belt. Plus a Belly Pan on hold right this second. I was considering some CCS races. But I wanted to talk with someone who has raced a Buell. I have a few concerns. 1)I have the cg model which means a shorter suspension, so I may have to do a swap with someone for a regular set. (I have both S and R top Triples) to get a better setup for the track (plus a trip to the boys at Traxxion) 2) She still has the S back end. I'm not sure how this would affect classifications and if it would pass as 'stock'. ie: the vin# is for an S, so would I have to take the R front off... (not excited about that) I am also considering putting a R subframe on it to help get my rear a little higher. Would they allow me to put the new 8 piston caliper on it. 3) When I start considering things like full fairings and a chain conversion and then the matter of the racing swing arm. That is a lot of upfront $$$ just to get on the track. 4) I have run a couple of days on a preped 600 gsxr (a lot of fun). A quick scan of the racing forums show a silly amount of fully prepped bikes from full superbike tune on down for sale. So from a "Money" only aspect I could liquidate the Buell and parts (before I trash them) and that would cover the cost of a good condition 06' superstock 600. Anyone know what it would take to get dealer support, like Stone Mountain HD (unlikely I know) For the record. I have no children. A wife who fully supports the idea. A Nissan Titan truck. Tools and good mechanical skills. My job is artistic in nature, so I decide when I want/need to work. I maybe have a full years budget of 8k depending on how much work I can get (maybe more if I get good). That is for everything ie: tires, fuel, entry fees and so on. I have no delusions of grandeur, that is to say I would be happy if I ever made the podium of any amateur class, or maybe make the grid at a MOTO-ST event All that said. I love my Buell. Selling it would suck. I know that buying a 600 would put me in with about 1000 other guys just like me, which is why I got the Buell in the first place. I really appreciate any input you guys may have. Thanks Chris Motta (Message edited by digital on November 30, 2008) | ||
| Eboos |
1) The forks could be had pretty cheap, and this would be a great time to upgrade the rear to a Penske or Ohlins. 2) Do anything you want to the bodywork, none of that will disqualify you. Only in LW Supersport will you have to worry about the front brake being different then stock. That may even not be an issue since it is stock now on the 09's (I'll have to check about retrofiting). 3) You don't have to go out and buy a fairing right away, and even if you did, this is a cost of prepping any bike for racing. You wouldn't want to keep the stock plastic on any bike. The chain conversion is something that you can wait on as well. 4) Running a track day on a 600 sounds like a lot of fun. Running a rookie racing season in the middleweight class sounds like horror. The costs to maintain also go way up. I ran my rookie season last year and didn't have to buy anything more then oil and a second set of tires. For cost savings, starting in the lightweight classes is the way to go. There are innitial investments to be made on any bike, but the continuing costs are lower with our bikes. Buell will also pay contingency money for high finishes in the amature ranks. This will help you recoup some of that money. Most other manufacturers do not pay for amatures and require you to use a bike that is no more then a year old. With Buell, any year XB qualifys. | ||
| Sd26 |
Yeah, what Erik said above... With an XB12R, I can drag some things. I would say that the shorter suspension is going to cause you to drag sooner and reduce your lean angle and therefore it will not allow you to follow the same radius at the same speed as you could with the longer suspension. A 600? Tire bills will certainly increase over a Buell. You'll learn more on a lightweight bike than you would starting racing on a middleweight bike and up. MotoST is gone, so rethink what your goal is there. You would also have to attain expert status in your road racing license. So, focus on getting there first. Finally, support. As a person that is not at all new to road racing, but very new to Buell's, comparitive pricing of parts has been very favorable on Buell stuff, in my opinion. Support? Well, what are you offering? No racing experience doesn't really help you, but commiting to a relationship will at least be a start. I'd talk to the "Buell sales guy" of the dealership and the GM. "Support" comes from relationships. | ||
| Eboos |
On the subject of support, Sd26 is right. That isn't to say that you can not get any though. When I was a freestyle BMX rider, I didn't even compete, yet I had full, free product support by a major company. This was done by building a long term relationship and showing that you can offer something back to them. I pimped out that company for years, and I traveled quite a bit. I also gave them a lot of feedback to further develop there parts. Everything was done very informally, and it was more of a partnership then a sponsorship. Build a relationship with the dealership of your choosing. Fill out the Buell Racing product support form that you can get online. Get to know the parts guys and the sales guys. Refer customers to that dealership. Show them that you are someone of value to them. You will see that things will fall into place. Don't be pushy, that will turn them off real quick. Always try to give back more then you take. Be thankful for what you do get and show them that you deserve it. | ||
| Slaughter |
Getting dealer support isn't too bad IF you already have a relationship with that dealer. If not, it is worth writing up just what YOU plan on doing for the dealer in the coming season - everything from attending their events "in uniform" to doing write-ups and pictures for them to post on their website each month. You may very well be able to get some dealer support without having a racing resume yet. Many dealers may set you up to get parts at employee prices or other discounts but you MUST demonstrate to them that there is a payoff in sponsorship. I'll always bring in people to the dealership, talk to customers. Volunteer at events and let the bike be displayed on the floor. Keep in mind, the more exposure you bring to the dealer, the better his investment. Doesn't matter so much how you finish the race but how much VISIBILITY you bring to the dealership or ANY other sponsor. Think outside the normal sponsorship boundaries and taylor a proposal specifically to a particular sponsor. Sponsorship at the Club/amateur level rarely does more than help offset costs somewhat and the BIG expenses still have to be borne out of pocket. Start collecting good images of yourself racing and in the pits with your crew. Start doing write-ups of your racing. Keep a notebook. Plan on taking a couple seasons to build a resumee but realize that EXPOSURE is ultimately more imortant than where you finish. Heck, I may go to AARP this season just to see if they'd be interested in doing a short profile... not sponsorship but something that I could show to potential sponsors in 2010. In that case, I am constructing a direct tie-in to some of their recurring "themes." They'll get some pictures and a write-up that they can see is logically tied to points that AARP has made in the past. In this case, it's not that I'll EVER get an AARP sponsorship - it's the hope that I may get a couple paragraphs and an image published that I can claim NEXT season in the resumee when going to OTHER potential sponsors. Take the long view on sponsorship. Figure it'll take a few years to "cultivate" some relationships and GET TO KNOW the sponsors. Even better if you already have an established connection with them: hobbies, sports, whatever. Draw on your pre-existing connection. Just going to a potential sponsor as a new racer with your hand out hoping for a few crumbs only works in cases like LP or other moto-specific companies where "racer discounts" are typically offered on the order of 10% Whatever level of sponsorship offer you are able to get, BE GRATEFUL and think of what you can give back on a month-by-month basis and at the end of the season. | ||
| Slaughter |
Oh and you really MUST go back to standard suspension, the "low" configuration is going to be dragging your bellypan and boot toes | ||
| Rubberdown |
You wanna race? Find someone who loves you unconditionally and has unlimited funds. The middleweights rock. Huge fields, similar bikes, and lots of classes. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Digital, I am in the process of preparing an XB12R for the 2009 WERA North Florida Series for my first year of racing. The bike is stock, with the exception of a front fairing number plate, belly pan, race ecm, race pipe and ecmspy tuning. I will be running stock plastics and a belt drive as long as possible. I have the race springs, but have not installed them as of yet. My remaining race budget will be directed towards track days, tires, fuel, entry fees and getting there! As far as the S bike with an R faring, that shouldn't be an issue. Gaining dealer sponsorship as a novice is difficult, but not impossible. I am currently working with a Dealer, but nothing is offical yet. Also, try some non-traditional type businesses you may already have a good relationship with. I am currently working with a local "chain" restuarant and a commercial fuel supplier. Approach them from an advertising point of view. Their $$$ buys them advertising on your leathers, machine in the pits, etc. In exchange you agree to represent them in a positive light. You should offer to make "appearences" at their functions and support their product/business any chance you get. Print up a one page "racing resume". Include a picture, a decription of your machine and an outline of your goals. I also included projected costs per race weekend, that I broke down to specifics (ie; entry fee, fuel, gate fee, etc). The best thing I can recommend is to set a series attainable goals, both short and long term. For example; My short term goals started with getting on a track, not crashing and dragging a knee*. Once those goals were met, I then setout to advance from novice to intermediate at the local trackday. Once that goal was met I setout to enroll in race school. I will meet this goal in 2 days. My next goal will be completing my first race. My long tem goals include having fun racing a nearly stock Buell for a full season, a podium finish, a race at Daytona, win a championship, race an 1125r, etc. It may take a while to reach some or all of these goals, but I believe I can acheive them!! *I had never done so before, so dragging a knee was just a personal goal I set. (Message edited by Paint shaker on November 30, 2008) | ||
| Gearhead |
Slaughter, I too have been studying the AARP sponsorship - promotion!! It would be cool to have an AARP decal where the taillight was just to rattle the youngsters! Sponsorship/Marketing partners is a challenging but fun arena to think and talk about. Sometimes help comes from strange places. Friends and acquaintances helped me last summer with $100.00 - $200.00 just because they thought it was cool that I was actually racing! I became an AMSOIL preferred customer which helped me secure a partnership with my supplier that scored me a case of free oil. Not money but a product I was glad I didn’t have to pay for. Set up a blogspot, (thanks to Rocco who turned my onto this a few years ago), or free website, anyone who helps you will enjoy seeing their name on the web and it's a great way for them to show their friends and customers which can help you in the long run. You might be surprised but you have to be willing to ask for help and be able to handle it if they say “No”. I also researched racing sponsorships on the web and even bought an e-class on the subject last winter from www.racingsecrets.com which I'm hoping will pay off with some marketing I'm working on right now! Think like a marketing guy not a racing guy. Racing - I’m not a FAST guy by any stretch but I’m having a riot doing it. Digital, my bike is stock except for a few lightweight bits from Evolution behind the primary cover, basically zero maintenance and three sets of tires for the season. One last thought... Get to know your bike this winter. Since I have a Firebolt, I cut away as much of the subframe as I could, drilled my rear rotor out, eliminated street wiring, extra fastners, etc. Of course if I'd drop 20lbs or so I'd gain a lot more but it's fun to spin wrenches! www.racingwithralph.blogspot.com | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Ralph, Great on the blog. Was interesting reading of your racing exploits! | ||
| Digital |
Thanks for all the info. It is amazing how the Buell community comes together to support it's own. |
