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If you're a track-day junkie, you've hopefully learned by now that the key to better lap times lies more in improving your skills than upgrading your motorcycle. But that doesn't mean that some riders aren't tempted to try to buy a better lap time.
Around this time of year, race bikes come up for sale. Sometimes, some really interesting ones. Here are a few examples, but just be warned: If you shell out the dollars or euros for these machines, you'll have a well sorted track bike loaded with special parts made just for going fast, but you won't have any more excuses if you're not the fastest rider at your next track day.
Let's start with a motorcycle that's already won a world championship. The Yamaha YZF-R6 has been the on-track choice of the 600 cc Supersport class for years, but now the World Supersport rules are changing to allow in other motorcycles. It's the end of an era, in a way, and the R6 that wrapped up the World Supersport championship one round early in the hands of Ten Kate Racing's Dominique Aegerter could be the culmination of that era. His two race bikes are about to be put out to pasture.
The title is the 10th World Supersport championship for Ten Kate, so they know something about building a fast 600. You can see details of some of the parts fitted to the bikes at the Ten Kate web site. The price: €39,990, or about U.S. $45,990. Ouch. But what price, glory right?
Maybe you'd like something with a little less pedigree and even more power. How about a genuine Ducati V4R Superbike that's been clocked at 183 mph on the straight at Road America, the fastest top speed in the MotoAmerica field? Kyle Wyman, who is both team owner and racer for Kyle Wyman Racing, has announced plans to switch brands after three seasons racing a V4R. (Here's a look at a weekend inside the KWR team when he started the Ducati experiment.) Wyman recently posted his race bike for sale on his Instagram account. It comes with all the goodies, including the WSBK-level electronics that allow you to adjust traction control and engine braking and other settings to different levels for each corner on the track.
Price? Apparently you do have to ask. Kyle says to contact him through his website if you're interested.
Maybe you could get a deal on a non-current model? Schiebe Racing is selling its BMW S 1000 RR backup race bike. Officially it's a 2018 model, but race bikes get new parts fitted to them all the time. The BMW is on display and for sale at the Moto Union dealership in West Allis, Wisconsin.
OK, seriously, all these motorcycles are overkill for a track day. Consider this article to be daydreaming fodder more than practical advice. But it is true that buying a used race bike is one option for an advanced track day rider. You know the bike will already be set up for track use and likely have a lot of expensive parts already fitted. One popular place for shopping for used race bikes at season's end is the WERA forum.
Going faster can be tough but browsing is free.
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