To back up a bit, this journey started two years ago after my first track day. Over the subsequent months, I learned about what it means to really ride a superbike, because anyone who thinks you can do so on the street is either green or ignorant. Although most sportbikes are designed with racing in mind, the RC51 is particularly so since it was created with one goal in mind; to take the World Superbike Championship back from Ducati. As such, the suspension and steering geometry are, when set up correctly, not the most friendly for the street. Couple that with the fact that it's not the most nimble machine in the world (nicknamed "the pig" in enthusiast circles for being somewhat fat and stocky) and you have a bike that, while extremely stable at high speed, is just not good on most country backroads. My lust for street riding has gradually waned to the point where I simply stopped wanting to even take the bike out of the garage on a perfect Sunday morning because I always returned feeling completely unsatisfied with the ride.
So, after "one final ride" resulted in a gravel-induced, throw-the-bike-into-the-side-of-a-cliff lowside which destroyed the bodywork as well the front end, I'm permanently putting the bike where it belongs: on the racetrack. Note of experience to all; when better judgement is telling you otherwise, don't listen to the devil on your left shoulder telling you to enjoy "one more." Not on the ski slopes, not in the bar, and not on the bike. My friend Frank just joined the ranks of riders to crash their machines enjoying their "final ride." Luckily for me, I already had a set of race bodywork sitting in the garage and was planning on rebuilding the bike anyway, albeit in a far less substantial manner. No, I didn't take any pics of her in this condition. In fact, I hid her under the cover so that I couldn't get too down on myself.
Without boring you with any more bike-lingo speak and boring specifics that I know you really don't care about, enjoy some photos of the process from beginning to end. I'm holding out on the final product for the next thread, but don't worry, you won't have to wait long; I'm getting my club racing license on Monday May 11, so everything needs to be dialed by then. Don't worry, I'll make sure to take plenty photos before I get the chance to crash again. Hopefully this will be the beginning of a long journey that began with a love affair for fast bikes that started before I even had hair under my arms...
Before :: Looking beautiful and way too nice
for a club racer
After replacing bent forks and a repairing a bent front wheel, I discovered that the front steering tube was damaged as well. It gave me the opportunity to strip everything down, clean it well, and regrease all moving parts.
With the race subframe and tail, there is no space for the undertail which traditionally holds the battery and ECU. The battery mount is made from aluminum, riveted to the subframe, and the ECU is relocated to the rear. I've cleaned everything up a lot since this photo.
With the subframe off and all electronics removed, I was finally able to take a drill to the rear swingarm and mount the rear hugger. It's from a CBR 600rr, but was $10 vs $100 for the real deal. Still works the same though...
This was the body work I got used from the RC51 forums. A little ratty, but nothing a little 300grit waterpaper couldn't fix. The tank was dented pretty badly, so this is a used one from EBAY. Great find for $100. Looking pretty in primer...
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