Racing On the Cheap

RACING ON THE CHEAP

BUILDING A NATIONAL-LEVEL FLAT-TRACK MACHINE DOESN’T COST A FORTUNE

Cory Texter

FLAT TRACK IS HOT RIGHT NOW.

I have been around dirt ovals since the day I was born. I traveled across the country at just three weeks old to watch my father, Randy Texter, compete in the AMA Camel Pro Flat Track series. So this sport is all I know, but I love to see it grow and thought it would be enlightening to share just how easy and relatively inexpensive it is to set up a bike and start sliding sideways.

Years ago, it took a lot of specialized knowledge to build a competitive single-cylinder flat-track bike. You had to purchase an aftermarket frame and essentially build a custom motorcycle from scratch. Today, it’s far easier to get into the sport thanks to increased use of DTX bikes, which are stock-frame motocrossers tweaked for flat track.

The 2016 Honda CRF450R ($8,699) is my bike of choice, with the support of our local dealership, Lancaster Honda. What is special about my CRF that lets it run with some of the fastest professionals in the country? Nothing. You, too, can set one up to be competitive at the national level.

Start off with a stock 45OCC motocross bike—just about any brand will work. First on the list is getting the suspension dialed in for turning left at 100plus mph. I use Durelle Racing. Davey Durelle, a former professional racer, will set up the suspension ($595) to suit your weight and experience level, and he also makes another essential component: 19-inch wheels. The CRF comes stock with a 19-inch rear wheel, but it’s a little too narrow (2.15 inches) for my liking.

I go with a Durelle 2.5-inch front wheel ($671) and a Durelle quick-change 2.75inch rear wheel ($1,041).

The purpose of the quick-change rear wheel is to reduce time spent changing sprockets on race day. The AMA Pro Series spec tires are Dunlops and cost about $400 per set. For non-national events, you can choose less expensive tires like Mitas that cost $295 per set.

My CRF is set up for shorter-length tracks, so the engine is essentially stock except for a Web Cam cam ($405), Wiseco piston ($282), and Billbuilt exhaust ($575). The stock motor is stout, with around 55 hp, but these parts boosted that number and gave the engine some added grunt off the corners.

Other parts I installed include a K&N air filter ($104), Works Connection clutch perch ($156), and a D.I.D O-ring chain ($91). A Motion Pro Coolant Recovery tank ($25) replaces the stock unit. Throw in some CNC bling from Hammerhead Designs, a billet clutch cover from Barnett ($185), and some shiny #6ss on the number plates and you have what you see here: a race-ready 45OCC flat-track bike.

As built, my 2016 Honda CRF450R cost $13,229. But if you stick to the essentials such as suspension and a 19-inch front wheel, you’d spend just $9,965. And if you don’t mind buying used, there are further savings to be had.

BUDGET TRACKDAY BIKE: KTM RC390

When the MotoAmerica series added the KTM RC Cup for its inaugural year, we were testing a stock KTM RC390 ($5,499), which got us thinking: If someone didn’t want to drop the on an approved RC Cup bike, how much would they have to spend to do most of the major mods and create a fun trackday/dub-race machine?

For the record, only an official RC Cup bike can be used in that series; our bike wouldn’t be eligible despite running many of the same parts but can be raced in most clubs including WERA. The primary modifications include a WP Racing fork ($1,750), shock ($1,450), kit racing brake pads ($119.98), RC Cup ECU ($400), and Akrapovic slip-on silencer ($849.99). We also upgraded the springs in the fork and opted for a firmer spring on the shock ($300).

Like any trackbike, getting the suspension dialed in makes a big difference. Not only is it a lot firmer, but the damping is far more controlled with no wallowing. The new brake pads give the single front caliper far better bite and feel. Getting the bike into true competitive race shape would still require some work, such as proper tires and fine-tuning, but as a trackday machine this KTM RC390 is already a huge improvement over stock and right on point for inexpensive fun. —Blake Conner

LIGHTWEIGHT RACER: GRAVES YAMAHA R3

Graves Racing Services, the same team that current MotoAmerica Superbike champ Cameron Beaubier and multi-time AMA champ Josh Hayes ride for, has developed a racing package for Yamaha's YZF-R3, which should put you on the starting grid with little else to worry about. The $10,900, pre-assembled machine includes among a long list of mods a Graves stainless race exhaust with c-f canister, flashed ECU, chassis control/protection kit, race bodywork, Öhlins shock, Andreani fork kit, racing brake lines, and pads. Graves (gravesracingservices.com) claims a 15-percent increase in power and 12-percent reduction in weight. -BC

DO-IT-ALL DIRT BIKE: YAMAHA YZ250X

Want an ultra-versatile off-road racebike? One that can split double duty as an off-road racer and occasional motocrosser? Yamaha's $7,390 YZ250X is based on the YZ250 two-stroke MXer but has been optimized for GNCC and Enduro competition. Features like an 18-inch rear wheel, wide-ratio five-speed transmission, and off-road-specific suspension mean that you can race it or roost it on just about any off-road terrain. And because it’s a carbureted two-stroke, maintenance and rebuilds are inexpensive and simple to execute compared to a complicated four-stroke. -BC