| Author | Message | ||
     Snowhownd |
Hello Buell roadracers, I have a question regarding the sport of 'autocross.' I live in central Maine and the closest actual road race course that I know of to me is Loudon, NH - a good 4 hour drive from me. I would LOVE to get into doing some track days with the XB, but I don't have the time and $$ to invest in driving that far all the time (at least not right now with a house purchase on the immediate horizon). There are several autocross clubs that do events in large parking lots around the state - some within 30 minutes of me. I haven't gotten over to any yet, but I was curious if there was any reason I couldn't take the XB over there and have some fun. My guess is the course is probably far from ideal for a motorcycle (hence the 'auto' in the title), but is there a reason why bikes don't really participate? Too small of a course to really get speed up to lean into it turns enough? Insurance reasons that its cars only? What do you think - your thoughts are appreciated! | ||
| Reepicheep |
It'd be a lot of fun, but I bet their insurance contracts would preclude it. I'd bet a bike would fly through one of those courses... just because it can accelerate so quick relative to a car. I miss Battletrax, which was also killed by insurance  | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
An autocross-prepped car will eat up most any bike on an autocross track (cones in a parking lot). The car will be able to corner/slide/accelerate through a tight cone course better than almost anyone on a bike- with the exception of a professional on a supermoto. A low-bar sportbike (XBR) would be much harder and less fun than a high-bar "standard" position bike (XBS) on such a course. Heck- a Blast would probably be faster than any other Buell model. Motorcycles have the advantage on cars in acceleration and speed- it's the corners where bikes lose their advantage. I used to do SCCA autocross back in the day, and it was always fun to watch the guy show up with a Vette, Mustang, Camaro, or any other high hp, ill-handling beast get schooled by wimpy little imports with half the power and twice the handling. I think it was Pirelli that said: "Power is nothing without control", and it is so true. | ||
| Stoppieking76 |
hey snowhownd what part of the state are you form? bangor here, i race an 1125r down to loudon Nh, i hear ya on the driving, gets kinda old at times, would be nice to have a road course up in this neck of the woods tho | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'd love to try it on my 9sx... the bike would be able to take lines the cars can't even dream of (because the bikes are so much more narrow)... it'd be fun to watch the relative times. | ||
| Carbonbigfoot |
I used to go watch the SCCA run here locally, and their structure would NOT allow bikes to run... Probably liability related. They wouldn't let me run my wifes FX4 either.... Pu$$ies. R | ||
| Nik |
As a former SCCA autoXer I can confirm that our insurance only covered 4 wheeled vehicles. I always wanted to take the bike out, but I know I'm faster in my car. The bike wins in power to weight, but my car literally has four times the rubber on the ground. | ||
| Snowhownd |
That makes sense - insurance reasons, oh well, was worth a try!! Guess I'll keep saving my pennies to go down to Loudon! Hey Charlie, I'm actually in Winterport - Matt is the name, I think you've actually helped me out a few times - I get my parts from you guys (bought the bike used privately), maybe took me on a test drive on a Uly in the spring? I'll probably be in this weekend to get some tires switched over (noticed the belts were showing after getting home from work last night! Oops! | ||
| Stoppieking76 |
im sure it was me or clint who took you for the test ride, but i think the auto x thing would be cool, deff be nice to have a small local track around here, rather then having to drive 3 hrs to ride, o well ill have to start saving my $$ so i can pave a sweet track! lol |
