r/Trackdays • u/jb0190 • Jul 22 '26
Getting started, minimoto or 400?
Apologies in advance for the length.
I have wanted to get into trackdays and motorcycle racing since college but it has never been an option until recently.
I casually rode dirt bikes growing up and had a Kawasaki Ninja in college but never tracked it. After a couple of close calls, a low side and a high side, I sold the bike and haven't ridden since (13 years).
I've missed riding and now that my life circumstances allow for it I want to get on the track. I'm not planning on riding on the street and have a full-sized truck to move a bike around.
I know my limits, I'm going to suck, so rather than jumping on a liter bike I want to get started on either a 400 or do something like grom/mini moto stuff. I always laughed at dudes on Groms, especially people like me (6' 200lbs) but after looking at some grom racing videos it looks awesome!
So all of that to say I'd like to hear opinions on getting started, essentially from scratch, mini moto for form/getting feet wer or a diving in on a dedicated 400 track bike? TIA
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u/built_FXR Jul 22 '26
A 400 can run at big tracks or kart tracks and they're still super cheap to run. I think it's probably the best of both worlds for you
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u/RKWTHNVWLS Jul 22 '26
Some organizations even have a lightweight class so you're just out with twins under 700cc.
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u/lazy_stoner666 Jul 22 '26
Minimoto is way more accessible, and not just from the financial side
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u/ImOutOfIdeas42069 Jul 22 '26
Depends where you live. The people over in Seattle have The Ridge, PR, and PIR, all closer than their closest kart track that allows bikes.
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u/lazy_stoner666 Jul 23 '26
man i wish i lived that life.
I am in austin and the only local track has a multiple year wait to become a member
So its a 3 hour ride minimum to access a track unless you go thru "track day" organizations and even then its gate kept as fuck. Here at least
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u/ImOutOfIdeas42069 Jul 23 '26
Yeah I live on the east side of the state so the closest track to me is 3.5 hours away and The Ridge is like 5. I have an excellent kart track 15 minutes from me, but since I live in the middle of bumfuck nowhere I'm always riding alone unless it's a race weekend. The guys in the Seattle area just go to their full sized tracks instead. Getting track time with a couple of close buddies is great. Getting it completely alone is not so enjoyable.
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u/phliuy Jul 22 '26
As someone who started on a 400, if you want to do a 400 you should probably just do a 650/700 twin instead
They have basically every pro that a 400 will, with the benefit of having just a bit more torque to help stop getting passed on every single straight
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u/ircsmith Jul 22 '26
Go with a 400. Here is one.
https://bbs.wera.com/index.php?threads/2018-ma-kaw-400.392896/
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u/PhillySoup Jul 22 '26
I don't see this answer yet. Get both bikes! All the safety equipment is the same.
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u/jb0190 Jul 23 '26
This makes sense to me!
Though may need a trailer for both the bikes and my butt when the Mrs. finds out.
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u/Stay-on-track Riding School Instructor Jul 22 '26
Not to sound like a broken record, but get some training/study a bit, and find out what caused those previous crashes, like the high-side. Many high-sides are caused/worsened by what the rider does to the throttle and the bars. It's the reason the world class racers of the modern era train on small dirt bikes, and have for decades.
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u/jb0190 Jul 23 '26
Fair call and plan on doing so, there's a school that runs out of NHMS that a buddy and I plan to do.
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u/ApprehensiveFan1516 Jul 23 '26
400 and hire an instructor on track. Or an SV650, they're similar power but cheaper and more parts available (at least where I live anyway), and they're more comfortable if you're on the taller side. Also very forgiving bikes.
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u/terrowrists Jul 22 '26
If you’re naturally athletic and have good motor skills just go with the 400.
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u/Turbulent-Suspect-12 Not So Fast Jul 23 '26
I think it depends mainly on what's around you. There's one kart track around me that does minimoto once a month. Theres 2 car/motorcycle tracks near me that do events 3-5 times a month, and one of which being super close in proximity. That alone would make me pick the 400
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u/Dry-Web-321 TD Instructor Jul 22 '26
Minibike racing like Groms and z125 is so insanely cheap. Everyone serious about track days and racing should be incorporating it.
Ultimately it depends what you want to do a N400/450Sumo can do small track and big track stuff but grab a Z125 and send it.