CSBK announces rules for new Lightweight Sport Bike series

Photo: Don Empey

Canadian Superbike series organizers have announced the rules for the new Lightweight Sport Bike championship that will run in 2018.

The Lightweight Sport Bike championship is the logical culmination of the recent arms race in the beginner sportbike class. In the past few years, Honda sponsored a spec series based on its CBR125, then its CBR250; then, Kawasaki took over with a couple seasons of racing using its Ninja 300.

But now, everyone’s making a beginner sportbike, and CSBK is allowing them all to get in the mix.  According to the rules (below), the KTM 390 Duke and RC390, the Honda CBR250, CBR300 and CBR500, the Yamaha R3, and the Kawasaki Ninja 250 and Ninja 300 are all approved. As for the Ninja 400—the rulebook says “provisionally approved but race specs pending model availability.”

Aside from the disparity in what bikes are allowed, much of the rulebook seems aimed at keeping things sensible. There are power and weight limits (max 42 hp, minimum 320 lb, except for the CBR500, which is limited to 47 hp and 370 lb). There is also a limit on pro racers (current pros can’t participate, past pros can apply on a case-by-case basis). There’s also a limit on tires, and

2018 Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike – Preparation and Equipment

Here is a rough outline for basic items you will need to consider when preparing your street bike for racing use in the upcoming Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike CSBK National series:

1. Bodywork – painted or unpainted, mounted for fit/drilling/hardware prior to paint/wrap
2. Bodywork finish – Wrap or Paint or leave plain
3. Full system or slip-on exhaust system with mounts
4. Removal of all non-required street parts
5. Lock-wire all required safety items

 

1. Race Parts for weight and “crash service” if budget permits (stock permitted):  

Handlebars/mounts

control levers & grips

brake lever guard (required)

foot controls & quick shift

shark fin protector on swing arm (required)

removable rain light (required)

crash protection

steering damper and mounts

chain and front and rear sprockets

 

1. Front fork service – rebuild – improvement for control and adjustment

(some open cartridge designs require specific shock springs)

1. Aftermarket adjustable rear shock
2. Dynojet or OEM engine tuning device – Power Commander and dyno mapping
3. Race Stand and method of location for stands, front and rear (tire changes at venue)
4. Race-spec Dunlop tires from Pro6

Please consider that your bike will be tested for minimum weights and maximum horsepower at each on-track event for Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike.

 

2018 CSBK AMATEUR LIGHTWEIGHT SPORT BIKE PROVISIONAL RULES PACKAGE

1. All standards from existing Rulebook, Chapter 11, General Competition Rules, apply.

This means the general preparation rules for equipment on each bike are the same as with other National Sport Bike (Super Sport) classes.

As per Chapter 11, there is no specific restriction for:

bars, levers, frame guards, reinforced covers, bodywork (must retrain fluid and provide for drain in the wet), exhaust systems (except noise), sprockets, chains, etc.

A front brake lever guard, rear rain tail light and shark fin swing arm protector are required.

2018 CSBK RULEBOOK

CHAPTER 13

AMATEUR LIGHTWEIGHT SPORT BIKE RULES

All machinery eligible to compete in Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike must also adhere to the GENERAL COMPETTION EQUIPMENT RULES; in cases of conflict, these rules supersede the GENERAL COMPETITION EQUIPMENT RULES.

Homologation:

For all manufacturers, 10 units of a specific model must be imported into Canada for that model to be approved for track use in CSBK.  

In the matter of equivalency for models not legal by the letter of these Rules, approval is possible with application to CSBK on a bike by bike basis, if the machine is judged not to alter the “indexed” nature of this category.

APPROVED EQUIPMENT

Kawasaki Ninja 250 and Ninja 300 – all years

2018 Kawasaki 400 Ninja – provisionally approved but race specs pending model availability

KTM RC390, RC390 Cup, 390 Duke – all years

Honda CBR250R, CBR300R, CBR500R – all years

Yamaha YZF-R3 – all years

1. FRONT SUSPENSION

 

1. Aftermarket Fork Caps may be substituted.
2. Aftermarket “open” cartridges are permitted.
3. Aftermarket triple Clamps are NOT permitted.
4. Head Inserts to adjust rake are NOT permitted.
5. A Fork Brace may be installed IF no modifications to other components are required.
6. The total cost (Canadian MSRP) of modifications to the front fork, not including labor, can not exceed $ 1,300 in Canadian Funds.

Future plans for this category include an “Approved Equipment List” for fork internals once supplies are established.

1. REAR SUSPENSION

 

1. The rear shock linkage may not be altered or substituted.
2. The rear shock absorber may be substituted.

The total cost (Canadian MSRP) of the alternate rear shock can not exceed $ 1,800 in Canadian funds.

Future plans for this category include an “Approved Equipment List” for rear shock absorbers once supplies are established.

1. FRAME and GEOMETRY

No modifications to the frame or swing arm can be made.

The rear sub-frame may be substituted, if removable on the original OE unit – lightweight “kit” sub frames are not permitted.

NOTE:  repairs/straightening to non-removable rear sub-frames is permitted with written request and specific, written permission from CSBK.

1. ELECTRONICS

Only Electronic items available directly from the OEM for that specific model are allowed.

Dynojet Tuning Products are permitted.

OEM-supplied and Dynojet “Quick Shifter” products are permitted.

Traction Control in any form is not permitted.

1. DISPLACMENTS/ENGINE MODIFICATIONS    

All eligible equipment must compete with the stock displacement. with stock bore and stroke, except for Honda CBR250R and CBR300R singles.  For these specific Honda single cylinder models, bore and stroke may be altered using the OE castings.

Engine internals must remain stock in the case of all eligible equipment, with the exception of the Honda CBR250R and CBR300R.

Compression may be increased (heads and/or barrels decked) and cam shafts degreed/replaced for all eligible equipment.

Cylinder heads may be ported – material may be removed from the head but not added.

No changes may be made to the Air box, complete filter assembly and fuel-injection system, except via approved electronic additions (Dynojet, Etc.)

1. HORSEPOWER AND WEIGHT REQIRMENTS/RESTRICTIONS

Immediately following each practice session, qualifying session or race, the top finishers plus other motorcycles chosen at random will be tested on the Official Series Dynojet Dyno to verify horsepower.  Machines will also be weighed at this time.

Machines must weight no less than their listed limit in the same condition in which they finish the on-track session, including all fluids including water/coolant, oil and fuel.  Weights will be checked immediately following on-track events.  No fluid or weight-affecting device can be added prior to the determination of weight.    

1. For the following machines, the maximum permitted Horsepower will be 42, and the minimum allowable weight will be 320 pounds on the Official Series scales.

Kawasaki (except 2018 new 400cc Ninja – see # 3), KTM, Honda single cylinder, Yamaha

1. For the Honda CBR500R twin, the maximum permitted Horsepower will be 45, and the minimum allowable weight will be 370 pounds.
2. The required weights and output for the 2018 Kawasaki 400 Ninja are pending; details will be announced as soon as data is available.

Switches and any other devices designed to affect the horsepower readings during Dyno testing are strictly prohibited.  

1. FUEL

Spec Fuel is required for use by all CSBK competitors.  Competitors must use BCR-supplied Shell unleaded pump fuel or Sunoco GTX260 unleaded racing fuel provided by the CSBK-approved at-track sole vendor:  Brooklin Cycle Racing.  Competitors are not permitted to use fuel additives or octane enhancing elements to any fuel.  Random fuel tested will be conducted and zero tolerance given for any competitors using any type of non-approved or leaded fuel.  Please see Tech Bulletins for updated info.

1. Tires – Spec Dunlop race rubber as per Canadian Distributor Pro6

Tire warmers will not be permitted during 2018; this policy will be reviewed at the completion of the first season.

A maximum of four new tires are permitted per competitor over the three-day National event weekend (Friday-Saturday-Sunday).

1. RULES UPDATES and REVISIONS

CSBK reserve the right to make small adjustments to the spec of competition equipment legal in this class as information becomes available throughout the season.

Rules changes will not typically occur during the course of any event/weekend/set of races at a specific venue.

1. RIDER STATUS/ACTIVITY

Pro racers are not permitted in Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike.

Pro racers who have not competed on any level of road race activity for a minimum of five years

can apply to participate in Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike with CSBK, with each competitor evaluated individually.

Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike competitors are not permitted to take part in any other National level event during each National weekend; regional support classes are permitted.

Riders who place in the top three in the final year-end points standings in one year may only compete for one more full year in the Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike class. Exceptions will be considered in the case of injury on a per-instance basis.  

Rider who continue in Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike following a season where they earn a top three overall series placing will be required to run the numerals one, two or three (1, 2, 3) on their competition plates the following season representing their previous overall placing.