Well, didn't go as smoothly as I thought it would haha. It is a LOT more bike than I expected, and I'm just letting any of those guys out there that want to get one as a first bike... DON'T! haha
I'm 35 yrs old and have been riding all my life. Mostly dirt bikes and quads, but have ridden friends street bikes here and there back in the day.
This RC51 pretty much fell into my lap when I was trying to sell my race quad and took it as a trade.
The back tire badly needs replacing (PO did a bunch of burnouts in his driveway when he knew he wasn't keeping it. Thanks guy! :mad: ) So I had already ordered one but was very itchy to try it anyway since we had some nice weather for a change yesterday.
I live on a narrow, windy road that doesn't see much traffic so I decided to take it down the street just to get a little feel for it. I quickly learned it is NOT like ANYTHING I've ever ridden. I don't know if it's because of the flat spot or a trait of the bike, but I found it VERY difficult to turn at slower speeds (ie: 30-ish mph).
It is now parked until the tire gets replaced. :D
Hopefully that alone cures some of it so I can try again. If not, I guess I'll have to pick up something more tame to get used to. A moped maybe. lol

the dirt is a good place to cut your teeth. it should give you a solid foundation for street bikes. give it time to get used to it. be patient and respect the power.

good luck!

the dirt is a good place to cut your teeth. it should give you a solid foundation for street bikes. give it time to get used to it. be patient and respect the power.

good luck!
+1
Give it time, respect the power, and it does take a bit of learning to ride a street bike. The RC51 is no exception.:D

Yeah, I would say 99% of my experience has been on dirt... I've owned 2 stroke bikes ranging from 80cc-250cc, the last being a YZ 250 I sold before buying my quad (450R). My only street experience has being takes friends bikes out for test rides, or messing around. Ranged from cruisers to an old GSXR-750.
The hardest thing to get used to I think is not actually "turning" the bars. On my way back to my house I learned that simply putting pressure on the inside bar and leaning made it a little easier. Need to get back to sportbikes 101 I think. It's a whole new world. I can't imagine someone with NO experience at all riding one of these.

The RC in stock form doesn't like to turn. I found that dropping the forks 5 mm and adding a 2mm washer on the rear shock made it turn in beautifully while maintaining stability in the turn.
Of course, if the rear is squared off, then it won't want to turn anyway.
Where in MA are you? I live in Lakeville.

Eric

That makes sense, throwing my weight up forward and hanging off the bike was how I got it to turn into my driveway.
I'm over in Sturbridge.
Looks like I have some homework to do about the suspension.:p I figured I was pretty much fine with the stock settings since I'm 5'9"/145lbs and stock settings were supposedly set for a 5'8"/150lb rider.

Not only replace the squared off rear tire, but replace it with a 190/55-17.
The 190/50's rounder profile make the bike a lazy turner.
The 190/55 has a pointier cross-sectional profile and it raises the rear by a few millimeters as well. Makes a world of difference.

just thought of something i forgot in my earlier post. the dirt will give you a great foundation for handling a bike.

the dirt might not have taught you something very important: defensive riding. when you ride on the street you must ride as if all vehicles are out to get you. be prepared for anything.

how about some pics?

Some nice riding out West of Sturbridge - good location.

The RC suspension was very difficult for me to dial in. Adding a DK link and Penske shock helped a bunch. The front didn't feel very settled until I maxed out the preload. Then again, I'm 5'8" and 225 pounds, so I probably load the front a bunch. Sportrider.com has some settings from when they tested the bike that will get you close - http://www.sportrider.com/suspension_settings/146_suggested_suspension_settings/index.html

I have a slotted 2 mm washer I'll give you for the rear shock, it helps a bunch with helping turn in. I don't need it as the Penske is adjustable. Just PM or email me your address - eric_d_wilson67@yahoo.com

Eric

thanks Gipper. :D
I noticed something funny last night when I was checking air pressure on my cars tires. I happened to look over and saw a sticker on my swingarm that I hadn't noticed before.
It was for Noise Emissions Control Information. The part I found odd, is that it says "2003 HONMCF1000 motorcycle, 21"
Do I have a 2003 swingarm on my 2000 frame?? Aren't the SP2 swingarms a little longer and lighter? I think rear shock is newer too. The spring is red instead of yellow.

i love my rc. it kick me off at the track because i was not use to the torque on demand, but that made me want to ride the bike even more and learn to handle it just take it respect the bike and it will do the same.


http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/89/l_5a6c07868c89414d87c94aa89d89e671.jpg

sorry i sound retarted in that post. just respact the bike and u will be just fine

Tony,
Spacer is in the mail. Lemme know if you need any more help.

Eric

thanks Gipper. :D
I noticed something funny last night when I was checking air pressure on my cars tires. I happened to look over and saw a sticker on my swingarm that I hadn't noticed before.
It was for Noise Emissions Control Information. The part I found odd, is that it says "2003 HONMCF1000 motorcycle, 21"
Do I have a 2003 swingarm on my 2000 frame?? Aren't the SP2 swingarms a little longer and lighter? I think rear shock is newer too. The spring is red instead of yellow.

Yes you have a newer swinger and newer shock. The shocks on the 00-01's had a yellow spring.

Cool. That's what I thought. :D
Took all the plastic off to give it a good cleaning while I'm waiting for the new rear tire to come in. UPS guy dropped off my stands and spools today, so I can get her up in the air and get to wrenching. :cool:
Oh, and I found out another reason why it handled "funny". I think the front tire probably needs more than 2lbs of pressure.:eek: I know, I know... my own stupidity for not checking it first...

It's amazing what a new tire will do on street or dirt. Watch out when you put that new tire on it will be slick as snot. Worked at a dealership and saw many brand new bikes go down just outside the shop because of the Slick new tire. Be carefull out there people don't see us.

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/89/l_5a6c07868c89414d87c94aa89d89e671.jpg[/QUOTE]

what kind of front faring is that?

i got the fairings on ebay from a company call thurn motorsports. they are in germany.

Ok, so now that I've gotten new tires, a new front rim, finally finished up the wiring and got 20 or so miles of seat time, I REALLY dislike this bike. :mad:
My daily driver is an Evo which outperformed everything I have ever ridden or drove. This friggin bike makes my Evo feel like a pick up truck with bad shocks. lol
Rode it last night back and forth to my night job which is around 7 miles each way. Then got in my car to drive to my day job. Ugh. I'll be taking the bike back after lunch. :D

Give it some more seat time!

Give it some more seat time!
I was being sarcastic. :p I'm LOVIN' it!!:D
I was saying I hate it only because it puts the performance of my 375whp rally car to shame. :eek:

Your wanna be "rally" car could have 600hp and your bike would still beat it.

Your wanna be "rally" car could have 600hp and your bike would still beat it.
Actually it runs high 11's in the 1/4 mile now. So... It's actually not too far behind. ;) After 130mph is a different story though.
Check out the DSM vs. turbo busa vids on you tube for a taste of what this motor is capable of. :D

Actually it runs high 11's in the 1/4 mile now. So... It's actually not too far behind. ;) After 130mph is a different story though.
Check out the DSM vs. turbo busa vids on you tube for a taste of what this motor is capable of. :D

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say your "rally" car will run 11.99. Since you said high 11's I'm guessing you really don't know what it will run. The 51's 1/4 mile according to actual tests is 10.44et @ 133mph. Do you have any idea how much $$$, horse power and suspension mods it takes to get a car to go from an 11.99 to a 10.44??? I do because I do happen to race and have paid the money and added the parts to go faster.

Any motor is capable of anything but we're not talking about any motor were talking about yours.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say your "rally" car will run 11.99. Since you said high 11's I'm guessing you really don't know what it will run. The 51's 1/4 mile according to actual tests is 10.44et @ 133mph. Do you have any idea how much $$$, horse power and suspension mods it takes to get a car to go from an 11.99 to a 10.44??? I do because I do happen to race and have paid the money and added the parts to go faster.

Any motor is capable of anything but we're not talking about any motor were talking about yours.
Have you ever agreed with someone about ANYTHING?
Yes, I do know what it would take to get my "rally" car to run a 10.44. But I have gone as far as I want to go with the car and am happy with it.
The 12.09 I ran mid way through last season was on a crappy tune and a badly slipping stock clutch. New clutch was put in over the winter and was tuned again on a local AWD dyno. I gained 19 whp with the new tune, which should put me a little deeper than 11.99. ;)
Working 2 full time jobs kept me from the track this summer but I'll try to get up there on a rental day in the cooler weather.
Anyway, whatever... I come to this forum to talk about bikes, not cars.

Have you ever agreed with someone about ANYTHING?
Yes, I do know what it would take to get my "rally" car to run a 10.44. But I have gone as far as I want to go with the car and am happy with it.
The 12.09 I ran mid way through last season was on a crappy tune and a badly slipping stock clutch. New clutch was put in over the winter and was tuned again on a local AWD dyno. I gained 19 whp with the new tune, which should put me a little deeper than 11.99. ;)
Working 2 full time jobs kept me from the track this summer but I'll try to get up there on a rental day in the cooler weather.
Anyway, whatever... I come to this forum to talk about bikes, not cars.

Its hard to agree with something when you don't know the facts. Calm down buddy we're all friends here. If your happy with the car thats what matters. An old pal of mine that used to frequent this site got an sti that was high 300's and that thing would cook for sure. Tons of potential for those cars for sure. I think a 19 hp increase might get you that 1/10 your looking for. Good Luck with whatever you do to it in the future.

Where the hell is the :cheers: smilie when you need it? :D

have mine a while now and its a pig to ride
now saying that the suspensions not set up and there is no power commander installed
but for a stock bike its atrocious

cannot wait to get it custom mapped and suspension set properly

tuner reckons its running far too lean and is starved of fuel
says to avoid riding it if possible

tuner reckons its running far too lean and is starved of fuel
says to avoid riding it if possible

If it recall, you mentioned the previous owner removed the power commander?

If it recall, you mentioned the previous owner removed the power commander?

yea he did
you can see the velcro remnants in the rear space
but would the ecu not revert back to the stock map when the pc3 was removed:confused:

Without a power commander, the ECU would meter the fuel as a stock bike.

Got my 04 last May with 2 miles on it. At first I thought "how do I turn this thing?" But 1900 more miles and I learned get your butt off the seat, lean forward and push down on inside bar. My first sport bike; been racing dirt(motox, flat track ,TT's) Even on my old Bonnevilles I was hanging knees. At first, lower RPM's through corners will help keep you from hi-siding. Good Luck!

yeah, so im new to motorcycles and the like and i my first one just so happened to almost fall into my lap. a 2002 model and while it may be a lot of bike its the most ridiculously intense thing ive ever experienced. the rider course i took was laughably easier then learning how to ride my bike. i think i could have started out with a much simpler and much less likely to kill me kind of bike but like the saying goes: "go hard or go home" the problem is that if i go home, its waiting for me in the garage. ^_^

Been reading all the post about this bike. I'm building one that was wrecked and according to what I have told my wife I am selling it. Well the more I research and read about this bike I'm very excited to get it back together and ridable. My first bike is a big harley bagger. I have dirtbike experience.
I guess what I was wondering was I have never rode a sport bike. I have rode them but onlyy for short runs. I really want to keep this bike. I'm 6' and wiegh around 300. I'm not in bad shape but I am kinda round. Will I be able to ride this bike and how will it handle? I know how to respect the bike but will I just smash it flat? Do I need to just plan on building it and selling it or can I plan on MAYBE keeping it? Advice

Been reading all the post about this bike. I'm building one that was wrecked and according to what I have told my wife I am selling it. Well the more I research and read about this bike I'm very excited to get it back together and ridable. My first bike is a big harley bagger. I have dirtbike experience.
I guess what I was wondering was I have never rode a sport bike. I have rode them but onlyy for short runs. I really want to keep this bike. I'm 6' and wiegh around 300. I'm not in bad shape but I am kinda round. Will I be able to ride this bike and how will it handle? I know how to respect the bike but will I just smash it flat? Do I need to just plan on building it and selling it or can I plan on MAYBE keeping it? Advice
The only person who can REALLY answer those questions, is YOU! ;) Fix it and ride it a little. See if you like it!
I started this thread when I first got mine and yes, I was a little intimidated, but now I LOVE it!!

i thought i recognized that user name. i just picked up an rc51 on the 4th. i read the post about how the rc51 makes driving even an evo to work seem mundane, had to laugh because it's true.

i thought i recognized that user name. i just picked up an rc51 on the 4th. i read the post about how the rc51 makes driving even an evo to work seem mundane, had to laugh because it's true.

I'l be honest, I currently have a zzr600, a 98 hp I4 weighing 480 on a good day, and with me at 205 on top of it, it still feels like a rocket compared to my GTO.. and that baby can rip.. So I can only imagine what the RC feels like.. Can't wait!