Well, with my track addiction I plan on going all out. You can do it much cheaper, like by buying an old used GSXR shock and find cheaper cartridges.

The suspension is the the most important thing to get done. I'm also doing sticky tires, brakes, exhaust, rearsets, clip ons, bodywork, fueling, maybe even wheels. So the race components will cost more than the bike itself. I'm looking for a cheap salvage title and the bike will be track only. Hoping to get into racing. The 300 class is a popular one with TPM where I'm at, which the R3 wouldn't qualify for. Hence my choice of the Ninja specifically.

The fast guys, coaches and racers I talk to at the track all say get a 300! They all love em, and they say these little bikes are really the best way to get good and get fast. That they'll make you better on whatever bigger bike you get on later. Here's one of their Ninjas. Spent a bunch of time talking to him about it last track day. What I'm building will be very similar to his build. (I do still plan on picking up an older 600 too - getting two bikes in place of the R1)