[bigbadmad]

It's taken me ages to find this place.

Hi I'm Matthew, I live in the UK and this is my (new to me) '02 VTR1000 SP1 RC51:

 

[jgos929]

Another red & black !!! Boy you UK guys got all the good colors. Welcome to the site

 

[bigbadmad]

Thanks for the welcome jgos. As for the color, we only got black and red SP1s in the UK.

 

[Allen03RC]

Nice pic! Awesome bike! Love the background!
Welcome man!

 

[bigbadmad]

Thanks Allen. That shot was taken in a little village called Chipping Camden which is an area called the Cotswolds which is a beautiful part of this country.

 

[SubSailor]

Welcome to the group.
So far, we've got a fellow from Germany and now a fellow form the UK.
There may be others, but I haven't noticed recently.

Your bike must be an SP1, since the SP2 were from '02 onward.
So possibly it's an '01?
I guess the SP2s had the white or black/red color schemes.
The all red color scheme is very classy.

 

[bigbadmad]

Hi SubSailor, thanks for the welcome, It is indeed an SP1, it was late registered and is therefore on an '02 registration plate. The SP2 came in white and black/red/silver over here. It's such a beautifully designed bike I think it looks great in any colors.

If I'm the first limey does that mean it's a newish forum?

 

[SubSailor]

The forum has been around at least since last year, but it was slow to add members.
Starting last fall, it started gathering steam and must have reached a critical threshold as more and more riders are joining almost daily or weekly.

I joined last October, but had been lurking for some time and there wasn't much activity.
However, now there are enough members that there's some discussion usually taking place.
The more the merrier I say!

So that isn't your country home?
Too bad as I was just ready to book a flight for a visit.

 

[bigbadmad]

So that isn't your country home?
Too bad as I was just ready to book a flight for a visit.

I wish it was my home, I'd have visitors from all over the country and the world!

 

[SubSailor]

If you're inclined, check the bike of the month section and mine's near the bottom.
Mine's an '02 SP2 I just recently refurbished from the previous owner abuse.

 

[bigbadmad]

If you're inclined, check the bike of the month section and mine's near the bottom.
Mine's an '02 SP2 I just recently refurbished from the previous owner abuse.

Really nice SP2 SubSailor. All the right bits - Ohlins, Akrapovic etc.
What make are the wheels, they are lovely?

 

[SubSailor]

I cheated and just copied/pasted my laundry list:

Mods to bike (so far):
All new bodywork
Zero Gravity double-bubble windscreen
Hotbodies undertail
All new wiring harnesses
Akrapovic full race titanium exhaust with carbon cans
Sato titanium exhaust hangers
Marchesini forged aluminum wheels
Galfer wave rotors front and rear
Galfer braided brake lines front and rear
Ohlins 3-way rear shock with remote preload, reworked by Kyle Racing
Front forks reworked by Kyle Racing
Kyle Racing lower link
Duranni adjustable magnesium clip-ons
CRG adjustable shorty brake and clutch levers
Titanium and 7075 AL fasteners throughout
Scotts rotary steering damper
Renthal 15T front sprocket
Vortex 41T rear sprocket
CBR600RR rear hugger
Still working on getting the magnesium rearsets

 

[mjo54935]

Hello Sub Sailor.
I just purchased a 2000 Rc51. I had all of the goodies completed by the previous ownerand is very clean. Yours has Ohlin's and Dan Kyle forks. Question due to curiosity on how much was spent in add ons for my bike. How much does Dan Kyle charge to redo the forks?

 

[SubSailor]

Hello Sub Sailor.
I just purchased a 2000 Rc51. I had all of the goodies completed by the previous ownerand is very clean. Yours has Ohlin's and Dan Kyle forks. Question due to curiosity on how much was spent in add ons for my bike. How much does Dan Kyle charge to redo the forks?

To revalve and respring both forks cost around $600.
I had my forks resprung due to my weight (235 Lbs.)
The springs were around $100 ea.
Since my forks were original, I had all the bushings, seals, and dust caps replaced while they had the forks apart.
That brought the price up to $700.

You could also go the Race Tech way and buy their Gold Valve kits and springs, and then either do the work yourself or take them to a shop.
The Gold Valves will be around $370-400 for rebound and compression kits and the springs are also $100 ea.

Since they all add up to about the same, I just had Kyle do the forks and shock together rather than ship to different locations.

Here's an important tip I learned from Kyle, Ohlins, and the other suspension shops.
The best time of year to have your suspension reworked is September.

October is the end of race season and the teams will start having their suspensions reworked for winter testing, so the shops will be very busy.
Spring will have the teams getting their suspensions ready for race season, so the shops will also be very busy.
During the August-September time frame, all the teams are using what suspension setup they have, so no work is being done.

This will allow the quickest turnaround.
Any other time frame and you take a back seat to the race teams in priority.

 

[finepooch]

nice pic.
welcome.