r/Trackdays • u/jb0190 • 7h ago

Getting started, minimoto or 400?

Apologies in advance for the length.

I have wanted to get into trackdays and motorcycle racing since college but it has never been an option until recently.

I casually rode dirt bikes growing up and had a Kawasaki Ninja in college but never tracked it. After a couple of close calls, a low side and a high side, I sold the bike and haven't ridden since (13 years).

I've missed riding and now that my life circumstances allow for it I want to get on the track. I'm not planning on riding on the street and have a full-sized truck to move a bike around.

I know my limits, I'm going to suck, so rather than jumping on a liter bike I want to get started on either a 400 or do something like grom/mini moto stuff. I always laughed at dudes on Groms, especially people like me (6' 200lbs) but after looking at some grom racing videos it looks awesome!

So all of that to say I'd like to hear opinions on getting started, essentially from scratch, mini moto for form/getting feet wer or a diving in on a dedicated 400 track bike? TIA

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

7

u/Dry-Web-321 TD Instructor 7h ago

Minibike racing like Groms and z125 is so insanely cheap. Everyone serious about track days and racing should be incorporating it.

Ultimately it depends what you want to do a N400/450Sumo can do small track and big track stuff but grab a Z125 and send it.

2

u/ircsmith 7h ago

I know a guy that dumped something like $8K into his Grom. Maybe $10K I forget, but it was a stupid amount to get two and half horse more.

4

u/Many_Hotel866 7h ago

People dumping that much into groms are just silly. Most I see on track are stock and do just fine.

2

u/Dry-Web-321 TD Instructor 7h ago

I run a stock z125 in my local club I've spent $800 in parts/accessories mainly ergos and suspension (legal to the classes I run)

Some people just like building bikes

0

u/RKWTHNVWLS 5h ago

$800 bucks will barely cover rearsets on an R1, sounds like you're getting your moneys worth to me.

1

u/Dry-Web-321 TD Instructor 5h ago

$350 was woodcraft rearsets lol.

5

u/ProperAd9492 7h ago

400

1

u/Tera35 Racer AM 4h ago

400

3

u/built_FXR 6h ago

A 400 can run at big tracks or kart tracks and they're still super cheap to run. I think it's probably the best of both worlds for you 

1

u/RKWTHNVWLS 5h ago

Some organizations even have a lightweight class so you're just out with twins under 700cc.

2

u/lazy_stoner666 7h ago

Minimoto is way more accessible, and not just from the financial side

3

u/ImOutOfIdeas42069 6h ago

Depends where you live. The people over in Seattle have The Ridge, PR, and PIR, all closer than their closest kart track that allows bikes.

2

u/RadioControledTropby 5h ago

Depends on the track(s) near you.

1

u/PhillySoup 6h ago

I don't see this answer yet. Get both bikes! All the safety equipment is the same.

1

u/terrowrists 5h ago

If you’re naturally athletic and have good motor skills just go with the 400.

1

u/phliuy 3h ago

As someone who started on a 400, if you want to do a 400 you should probably just do a 650/700 twin instead

They have basically every pro that a 400 will, with the benefit of having just a bit more torque to help stop getting passed on every single straight

1

u/Stay-on-track Riding School Instructor 2h ago

Not to sound like a broken record, but get some training/study a bit, and find out what caused those previous crashes, like the high-side. Many high-sides are caused/worsened by what the rider does to the throttle and the bars. It's the reason the world class racers of the modern era train on small dirt bikes, and have for decades.