Topic: Can I see your Race Bikes? (How do I inject vintage racing into my life?)

[Lostboy Steve]

I am picking up another cb550 it doesn't have a title, which, if I really needed a second street bike, wouldn't matter as I can get one. Anyway, I'm thinking seriously about designating this one as a race bike. I have no experience racing motorcycles and I would rather start with a bike I really love. I have experience riding bikes with ~100 hp new and old. I also have had several dirt-bikes. However I really enjoy my 77 550. I'd love to race one and now that I have an extra I'd like to get going. Where can I start?

[madmtnmotors]

Road racing or drag racing? I'm planning to put together a drag bike to start running Street E.T. where the tree is staggered to run slower bikes against faster bikes. You have to post your anticipated e.t. on your number plate and whichever rider comes closest to their "dial in" e.t. without breaking out (too fast) will win. If both riders nail their e.t. then the faster reaction time will cross the line first. If both riders "break out" then the one that breaks out by the least amount would get the win.

Haven't looked into vintage road racing. I know Kenny (CycleX) has been campaigning a CB750 in road racing (and winning!) and I believe there are some localized vintage racing events around the country. I'm sure others can fill in the blanks here.

Good luck!

[turboguzzi]

Best piece of advice i can give you as an active racer is to go to a vintage race, see if you like what you see, understand better the investment and dedication you need to put into it, the classes, which ones suit you and what can you get out of it. How many races you can reach is also a factor....
All in all, it will give you a much better idea of the preparation work needed.
That's at least what i did back at the time.
Beware, it's really easy to catch the bug!
Where are you located BTW?

[Justind97]

Be prepared for your wallet to be crying to you.
There's a lot of aftermarket support for the CB550.  Take a look at bwaller's thread on road racing. He's bloody quick on the track.

again, be prepared to spend a lot of money.  Getting to the track, pop up tent, trailer, generator, tools etc add up quickly.  But it is about the best thing you can do with your money in my opinion.

Good luck.

[Old Scrambler]

Before you make your commitment...........realize that once you start...........its becomes a passion (disease)

Your 550 could also become a competitor in the Classic category of Land Speed Racing (Speed Trials)  It will cost about the same to build a competitive contender and the annual trip to the salt-flats is no more expensive than several weekends on the other types of racing. You also have the options of attending more proximate speed events in Ohio and Maine.  The AMA-sanctioned Classic land speed record for  500cc; 650cc; 750cc & 1000cc bikes is a new class for bikes built between 1956 and 1981.  Less than a dozen contenders have shown to date.  Take a look at www.landracing.com and follow the links to the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials. When you take a look at the rules, you may have to wait a few weeks to get the current list of record holders.

[Sam Green Racing]

Your cheapest option is Drag Racing in the Street ET class and you no doubt have a strip close by.
Your bike really doesn't need to be super fast for this class, If you come up against a modern big capacity bike you get a start over it.
Check out drag strips in your area.

Sam.

[iomtt9]

Hi get your 550 looking like this ( my Honda 500/4 ) then go road racing !!!
Col

[bear]

Is Franks sticker a new addition Col?

Cheers,
Brian

[754]

Vintage flattrack is pretty cheap racing and fun...if you can find a track.

[bwaller]

turboguzzi is right, do some homework first by checking out a vintage race. Vintage roadrace pits (if it's roadrace you're into) are different, people are willing to talk and offer advice. It's nearly the end of everyone's season for this year though, at least in the NorthEast. Obviously there are different organizations, find out which one offers the most opportunity to race your 550. Then study the rules and ask the tech chairman any questions before you get started.

Then there are a bunch of us here that can help spend your money! 

[Stev-o]

Where are you lost boy? Do you know of any tracks near you??

[HB-1fan]

There will be plenty of vintage roadracing this weekend at the Barber vintage festival right outside of Birmingham, Alabama. There will be vintage bikes from everywhere. Not to mention the museum.

HB

[Lostboy Steve]

Well, Raceway park is about 3 miles from my house. I'm in NJ. The only other place would be NJ Motorsports Park.

[LArzFroMArz]

Not to take away from forums like this which are an awesome resource, social media (yes there is some BS you sometimes have to tolerate) operate in a more fluid fashion. What I'm saying is there is lots of experience and information out there to help you make your choice (but please make it your choice, do what makes you happy. hill climbers, scooters, rocket ships whatever).
Good things are happening in places like: these are safe and not spam...folks like Sam Green are members....
https://www.facebook.com/groups/motorcycledragracing/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/25209086842/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/180891315441974/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/199461583433111/
There are more these are just a taste of what is "also" out there but, YMMV...
Oh and no joining to sell us sunglasses either...that behavior get booted.

[Honda Just]

Hey Lostboy, seems we have a bit in common, I'm also from a motocross background and have recently fallen in love with the classics (after cutting my teeth on two brit builds - '69 Bonneville bobber and '58 Triton), being a Honda fan the next step was always going to be CB.
I bought a CB550 and loved the style of cognito moto's bikes, he runs gsxr forks and motard 17" wheels. This may cause hassles for competition, but here in South Africa we have more of a parade race, with some racing in amongst the guys, but nothing too serious, so I'm hoping the wheels etc wont be an issue. I'm basing my CB550 on the CR750 loosely. I just want something fun, with modern parts where performance counts.
Kevin Bidgood has done a whack of mods to the engine, but not sure yet what sort of HP we'll see. here are a few pics.

[Blackfin5]

So where are all the pics of the vintage race bikes?

[bwaller]

Nobody knows what type of racing he's into. 

[turboguzzi]

Nobody knows what type of racing he's into. 

+1,
and 11 members take the time to post proper info, ask him more questions and he responds with a one line post....

[Roach Carver]

Marked

[turboguzzi]

and here's mine in any case 

[Lostboy Steve]

Thanks for all the replies. You didn't have to flame me. I didn't check back on this topic for a while. Its not that I was ignoring anybody. I've had a bit of drag-racing experience with cars. I was more looking to try a few track days or something along those lines, the problem however is that A) I am inexperienced and B) We're talking about a nearly 40 year old bike. So though everything will be new, its still old technology. I might get literally killed at a track day. Drag racing does seem better suited. As some of you have said, your racing against a clock. That's why some people show up with moms toyota corolla.

[Lostboy Steve]

and here's mine in any case 

Awesome! Great number too!

[Lostboy Steve]

Hey Lostboy, seems we have a bit in common, I'm also from a motocross background and have recently fallen in love with the classics (after cutting my teeth on two brit builds - '69 Bonneville bobber and '58 Triton), being a Honda fan the next step was always going to be CB.
I bought a CB550 and loved the style of cognito moto's bikes, he runs gsxr forks and motard 17" wheels. This may cause hassles for competition, but here in South Africa we have more of a parade race, with some racing in amongst the guys, but nothing too serious, so I'm hoping the wheels etc wont be an issue. I'm basing my CB550 on the CR750 loosely. I just want something fun, with modern parts where performance counts.
Kevin Bidgood has done a whack of mods to the engine, but not sure yet what sort of HP we'll see. here are a few pics.

Hey, thanks for this. I noticed all the areas you polished down a bit. Is that just to clean up the factory welds? I bet that looks super when its done.

[bwaller]

We're not flaming you man, but it did seem like you went walkabout for a long while! 

Don't give up on that trackday plan just yet. There are always different groups and you don't need to be out there with all the "fast guys". It is a 40yr old bike, no doubt, but take as much weight off it as makes sense, add longer really good shocks, select the best components you can to improve the front forks, tuck #$%* in so it doesn't drag, install sticky tires, improve the brakes so you have an improved handling/braking package and the fun factor goes way way up. You can increase the power output once you get comfortable.

I doubt you'd show up at a drag meet with a stock CB550 either, but the direction you take is entirely up to you.

Here's mine.

[MRieck]

We're not flaming you man, but it did seem like you went walkabout for a long while! 

Don't give up on that trackday plan just yet. There are always different groups and you don't need to be out there with all the "fast guys". It is a 40yr old bike, no doubt, but take as much weight off it as makes sense, add longer really good shocks, select the best components you can to improve the front forks, tuck #$%* in so it doesn't drag, install sticky tires, improve the brakes so you have an improved handling/braking package and the fun factor goes way way up. You can increase the power output once you get comfortable.

I doubt you'd show up at a drag meet with a stock CB550 either, but the direction you take is entirely up to you.

Here's mine.

You keep showing that old iron Brent and you will definitely scare the guy off.