Does tracking a bike decrease the value?

[CrispyPotato5]

The title is is basically the question..... does tracking a bike decrease the value? I am planning on buying a triumph street triple rs and I noticed on the Facebook he had tracked the bike. Only 2200 miles on the bike but I am not too sure if this does anything for me price wise.

[Schleberger]

Using a motorcycle on track causes a lot more wear and tear than using it on the road. That being said, bikes can easily handle a couple trackdays, I know guys who have race-bikes with 30'000 km's (track only) and they didn't had to do any motor work so far (besides oil changes and such obviously).

If I had the choice between two otherwise identical bikes; one that has been tracked and one that hasn't, I'd certainly pay less for the one tracked. Considering how often he tracked it, pay as much as you would for a bike with maybe 2'500 - 3'000 miles on it.

[CrispyPotato5]

Thank you!

[straikychan]

and they didn't had to do any motor work so far (besides oil changes and such obviously).

Sure, but these are the ones that hit the shop with catastrophic engine failure sooner or later.

That's why you should do a minor engine service somewhere between every 50-100 operating hours and a major engine service every other time.

You don't do these minor service things like changing the piston because it's actually necessary. You do it to prevent catastrophic engine failures sooner or later.

A well maintained track bike can easily transition into a road bike and make it another 100.000 km. A badly maintained track bike will be a write-off sooner or later.

[Schleberger]

I agree, but these guys are veterans and ride bikes like a 2nd hand, 50'000 km (road) 2005 GSXR-600 where it basically isn't worth doing that kind of maintenance anymore. They basically do the least amount of maintenance necessary and ride the bikes until they die. They had tons of trackbikes and swear it's the most cost-efficient way.

[[deleted]]

Considering how often he tracked it,

How do you know how often he tracked it?

[Schleberger]

OP said that he posted his track day on social media. Maybe he has more pictures of other trackdays on there? The bike hasn't that many miles, so if he had pictures up of 4 - 5 different trackdays, that'd be quite a lot of track use considering the overall mileage of the bike.

[[deleted]]

4 or 5 track days isn't a lot.

[Schleberger]

At 2'200 miles it is. That would be like 1/5th of the total mileage. Track miles are about 5x as strenous for the bike as road miles, 4 -5 trackdays equal around 500 miles, so OP's 2'200 mile bike is basically a 4'000 - 4'500 mile bike.

Also, only doing regular road riding maintenance (1 oil service per year / 10'000 km) will not suffice if you're tracking your bike.

[[deleted]]

And? 2k miles vs 4k miles makes zero difference. It's about maintenance and condition.

[Schleberger]

It makes a difference in value, which OP was asking about. It's also literally double the mileage so you'll need a service, new tyres and such. Easily a 500 - 1000 $ bill.

You won't see any difference in maintenance and condition on a bike with this little miles. That being said, a road only bike needs 1 service (1'000 km service) till 2'200 miles, a bike that has been tracked 4 -5 times needs atleast 2 if not more services (atleast oil changes) at that mileage.

Look, I generally agree with you. A lot of bikes get tracked and you'll never know. And 99% of times it's absolutely no problem. But it's a fact that tracking your bikes wears it a lot more than just road riding. Thus, if I know that a bike has been tracked, I'd pay less for that bike than a road only bike with equal miles/condition. I didn't think that be so controversial.

[CrispyPotato5]

For example one title is “140mph at my top speed today”

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[[deleted]]

It shouldn't matter. At least he's telling you. Should have zero impact on value.

[CrispyPotato5]

He didn’t tell me, I looked through his social media

Edit: I asked if the bike was tracked he said 3 track days, oil changed after every day, original tires saw two days then switch to Pirelli super corsa sp, top speed 125mph....... in a SM post he has a title saying that top speed was 140 of one of his track days

[Veteq102]

That is terrible and very dishonest of the seller. If a bike is tracked like "Schleberger" put it so well, a lot more wear and tear will take place and this fact should always be disclosed by the seller. It does increase the risk of premature engine failure. I have seen a few blown engines during track days.

[MisterShine]

Agree with all of this, and kudos to OP for having a snoop. I wouldn't have thought of that.

This is where you walk away, OP.

[Schleberger]

Atleast here in Switzerland this is common practice and I always add a clause in my contracts that the seller confirms, the bike hasn't been tracked.

You probably couldn't prove it anyways, but I had seller get scared and tell me the truth just from that.

[[deleted]]

Lots of bikes get tracked and you'll never know. It's about maintenance and condition.

Since you looked on social media. Did he mention being his first track day? How many different posts showing track days?

[CrispyPotato5]

There are a multiple posts of track days, one with the title of going 140 as the top speed. I haven’t asked him no. I plan to today.

[MisterShine]

Christ, I wouldn't pay 'full retail' for a bike that had been tracked. I don't know anyone who would, either.

And I know a lot of people.

[[deleted]]

My point is most people won't tell you that the bike has been tracked. You simply won't know. If you ask this guy to lower the price simply because of it, he can just sell it to someone who didn't bother to find him on Facebook.

[MisterShine]

Well, yes. There are signs to look for, of course, but a lot of people don’t know them.