RC51 Track Bike Project
04-17-2009 | 09:20 AM
#61
Fastest Color
SuperBike
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,091
From: Lithia, FL
04-21-2009 | 09:49 AM
#62
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,689
From: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Man, I'm burning out!
I see the light at the end of the tunnel and I can't seem to get there!
The last 5% is taking forever. I am starting to get impatient, because I'm on a time line. We leave for a family vacation next week and the following weekend I'm on the track.
I go the tank finished. Hurried up to get it done in a short time window, but it came out ok. Not perfect.
Last night I was trying to do the final installation of the exhaust system and completely destroyed the nasty little fiber donut gasket that goes in the rear head pipe. Couldn't take the time to do it right. so now I have to go to the shop, buy a new one and do it over.
Fortunately I was able to calm down and get the final wiring done. So I could go to bed feeling like I made some progress.
Tank looks good with the bodywork!
Almost there....
I see the light at the end of the tunnel and I can't seem to get there!
The last 5% is taking forever. I am starting to get impatient, because I'm on a time line. We leave for a family vacation next week and the following weekend I'm on the track.
I go the tank finished. Hurried up to get it done in a short time window, but it came out ok. Not perfect.
Last night I was trying to do the final installation of the exhaust system and completely destroyed the nasty little fiber donut gasket that goes in the rear head pipe. Couldn't take the time to do it right. so now I have to go to the shop, buy a new one and do it over.
Fortunately I was able to calm down and get the final wiring done. So I could go to bed feeling like I made some progress.
Tank looks good with the bodywork!
Almost there....
04-21-2009 | 09:51 AM
#63
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,689
From: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
04-21-2009 | 12:00 PM
#64
Fastest Color
SuperBike
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,091
From: Lithia, FL
04-23-2009 | 09:36 AM
#65
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,689
From: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
I just weighed the pig, fully assembled this morning, using a bathroom scale - fudge factor unknown.
183 lbs Front
205 lbs Rear
Comfortably under 400 lbs!!
Adding fluids should improve the weight distribution a bit. Any more would be difficult (and expensive).
I can use my body weight to get more on the front.
183 lbs Front
205 lbs Rear
Comfortably under 400 lbs!!
Adding fluids should improve the weight distribution a bit. Any more would be difficult (and expensive).
I can use my body weight to get more on the front.
04-23-2009 | 09:41 AM
#66
Fastest Color
SuperBike
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,091
From: Lithia, FL
I just weighed the pig, fully assembled this morning, using a bathroom scale - fudge factor unknown.
183 lbs Front
205 lbs Rear
Comfortably under 400 lbs!!
Adding fluids should improve the weight distribution a bit. Any more would be difficult (and expensive).
I can use my body weight to get more on the front.
183 lbs Front
205 lbs Rear
Comfortably under 400 lbs!!
Adding fluids should improve the weight distribution a bit. Any more would be difficult (and expensive).
I can use my body weight to get more on the front.
Good thing the rider will be large enough to hold it down otherwise crosswinds would be a factor...LOL
04-23-2009 | 10:17 AM
#68
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,689
From: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
No. Next stop: Thunderhill Raceway!!!
Well, after a side trip to Hawaii with my family. Benefits of frequent flyer miles.
I will get you your dyno results soon after though. I need to check the mapping at sea level. Maybe there will be one set up at the track.
Well, after a side trip to Hawaii with my family. Benefits of frequent flyer miles.
I will get you your dyno results soon after though. I need to check the mapping at sea level. Maybe there will be one set up at the track.
09-05-2009 | 10:46 AM
#70
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,689
From: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Alright. time to get my fat little piggy back on the track!
I have all of the parts. The rearset parts were a gigantic PITA. I had to beg and offer to pay extra shipping to even get them ordered. BVH seems to have lost the recipe... Handlebar is still backordered, but should arrive any day.
I've been too busy to work on it all summer and I was pretty unmotivated after spending every spare moment, all winter working on it, then pitching it after 10 minutes of riding. But it's time. Hopefully I can get back in the saddle this month.
The wiring problem turned out to be the pin A8 socket on the wiring harness connector!! There was nothing in the logic disabling it. I bent the pin on the ECU slightly and it works every frickin' time.
I ned to stop talking about it. It just pisses me off...
I have all of the parts. The rearset parts were a gigantic PITA. I had to beg and offer to pay extra shipping to even get them ordered. BVH seems to have lost the recipe... Handlebar is still backordered, but should arrive any day.
I've been too busy to work on it all summer and I was pretty unmotivated after spending every spare moment, all winter working on it, then pitching it after 10 minutes of riding. But it's time. Hopefully I can get back in the saddle this month.
The wiring problem turned out to be the pin A8 socket on the wiring harness connector!! There was nothing in the logic disabling it. I bent the pin on the ECU slightly and it works every frickin' time.
I ned to stop talking about it. It just pisses me off...
01-14-2010 | 10:42 AM
#72
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,689
From: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
I got the base coat on. I'm doing some black accents, then clearcoat. I'm pretty happy with how the paint came out - it is my frist complete paint job.
As I posted a couple days ago, I knocked the tailpiece on the floor, right after I shot it, so I'll have ot redo it.
I was working on aribox, EFI stuff last night and discovered a spliced wire that was causing intermittent EFI operation and indirectly put me on the ground. I'm glad I finally found it.
As I posted a couple days ago, I knocked the tailpiece on the floor, right after I shot it, so I'll have ot redo it.
I was working on aribox, EFI stuff last night and discovered a spliced wire that was causing intermittent EFI operation and indirectly put me on the ground. I'm glad I finally found it.
01-14-2010 | 11:53 AM
#74
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,689
From: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Thanks. It needs to be ridden.
When I sit on it, I'm always surprised how small it is. The tank indents make it nice and narrow - like a twin should be.
My son can't get over how "sick" it is. He thinks he wants one now. I can't afford two, so he'll have to wait.
When I sit on it, I'm always surprised how small it is. The tank indents make it nice and narrow - like a twin should be.
My son can't get over how "sick" it is. He thinks he wants one now. I can't afford two, so he'll have to wait.
02-16-2010 | 09:21 AM
#76
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,689
From: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
I finally got some stripes painted. It took me many hours drawing stripes on 11X17 photographs, then figuring out the lines with masking tape, tearing it off, trying something else. I tried to follow the natural lines of the motorcycle and wanted a derivative of the Honda wings (obviously). Not perfect. It;s harder than it looks and defiinitely no graphic artist!
I really like House of Kolor paint! The primer and base are a non-catalyzing paint, so the solvent in the subsequent layers partially dissolve the previous layers for bonding. Then you add a catalyst to the clear coat (which I haven't done yet - after some stickers) to get a chemical resistant finish.
The paint wets out like magic. I'm no painter, but I'm pretty happy with it, so far.
I still need to add some "number plates", or something to the tail
I really like House of Kolor paint! The primer and base are a non-catalyzing paint, so the solvent in the subsequent layers partially dissolve the previous layers for bonding. Then you add a catalyst to the clear coat (which I haven't done yet - after some stickers) to get a chemical resistant finish.
The paint wets out like magic. I'm no painter, but I'm pretty happy with it, so far.
I still need to add some "number plates", or something to the tail
Last edited by RCVTR; 02-16-2010 at 09:24 AM.
02-16-2010 | 09:49 AM
#81
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,689
From: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
I don't anticipate trouble.
Last time I was in a rush and barely got the thing running before going out and twisting the throttle. My mental preparation consisted of a couple deep breaths as I zipped up my leathers.
From now on, my ducks will be lined up. Bike will be 100%. Brain will be connected to the clutch lever in case of mechanical failure, etc.
The little bit I rode it, I was amazed. I couldn't imagine a motorcycle that I would like better.
And BTW, it's not PINK! I just can't remember to set the color balance on my camera. It's an Italian RED with a slight touch of yellow pigment.
Last time I was in a rush and barely got the thing running before going out and twisting the throttle. My mental preparation consisted of a couple deep breaths as I zipped up my leathers.
From now on, my ducks will be lined up. Bike will be 100%. Brain will be connected to the clutch lever in case of mechanical failure, etc.
The little bit I rode it, I was amazed. I couldn't imagine a motorcycle that I would like better.
And BTW, it's not PINK! I just can't remember to set the color balance on my camera. It's an Italian RED with a slight touch of yellow pigment.
02-16-2010 | 04:45 PM
#84
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,689
From: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Thanks!
I'm not completely stoked with how the stripes came out. I wish I had a knack for free-flowing lines.
It's harder than I thought it would be. I finally just had to be ok with it.
I may add something swoopy on the lower fairing, to tie it all together.
I'm not completely stoked with how the stripes came out. I wish I had a knack for free-flowing lines.
It's harder than I thought it would be. I finally just had to be ok with it.
I may add something swoopy on the lower fairing, to tie it all together.
02-17-2010 | 09:09 AM
#87
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,689
From: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Nice looking Fireblade there, Don.
If I wasn't so partial to twins, I would have gone that route.
RC51 killer, right out of the box. I like the way twins come off corners. Not that I'm a great expert getting on the gas.
If I wasn't so partial to twins, I would have gone that route.
RC51 killer, right out of the box. I like the way twins come off corners. Not that I'm a great expert getting on the gas.
02-17-2010 | 03:01 PM
#88
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 205
From: Cincinnati Ohio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdHwX...eature=related
02-18-2010 | 07:07 AM
#90
Member
Squid
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 44
From: Essex, uk
It's also very cool that the other rider saw the video. I bet he sent that link around to all his mates!
It just shows that in reality it's so much more rider skill than bike and also to get significantly more out of a more powerful bike is also very difficult to do.
Thanks for posting that....
It just shows that in reality it's so much more rider skill than bike and also to get significantly more out of a more powerful bike is also very difficult to do.
Thanks for posting that....
