RC51 Track Bike Project
#31
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I was thinking I would fabricate an aluminum box for the battery and electronics, but I started messing around with the stock plastic undertail. I like the way it just snaps in to place and I like the pocket that it has for the ECU, nice and snug.
I started to mess around with the rest of the electronics and found out I could put the battery, signal module(?) and Power commander all in the space formerly occupied by the stock battery. And ther was the perfect little platform for the regulator/rectifier. All the wiring fits nicely in the rest of the space. I can keep the stock mounting location for the bank angle sensor. The battery cover even goes back on! Super light and compact.
I disconnected the rear suspension linkage and lifted the swingarm up. It occupies all of the available space below the box and shock reservoir.
I took the exhaust mounts off and I'm relocating them aft on the extension off the rear. Welding in some diagonal braces to support it. The stock Moriwaki exhaust brackets are ~3/16" stainless steel. Way heavy. I'll fabricate some new aluminum, or carbon ones once I get the subframe welded. I found I can tuck the exhaust cans in tighter.
I started to mess around with the rest of the electronics and found out I could put the battery, signal module(?) and Power commander all in the space formerly occupied by the stock battery. And ther was the perfect little platform for the regulator/rectifier. All the wiring fits nicely in the rest of the space. I can keep the stock mounting location for the bank angle sensor. The battery cover even goes back on! Super light and compact.
I disconnected the rear suspension linkage and lifted the swingarm up. It occupies all of the available space below the box and shock reservoir.
I took the exhaust mounts off and I'm relocating them aft on the extension off the rear. Welding in some diagonal braces to support it. The stock Moriwaki exhaust brackets are ~3/16" stainless steel. Way heavy. I'll fabricate some new aluminum, or carbon ones once I get the subframe welded. I found I can tuck the exhaust cans in tighter.
#33
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I've been logging weight comparisons. I'll do a weight section once I'm not spending every spare moment trying to make progress.
It wasn't an issue for a while. But now it is...
but I'm off to make money for a while, so no progress, except for the welding from my buddy Nacho. That guy's an amazing fabricator. He worked at the carbon mast factory. The stuff he could make just blew my mind. Good guy, too!
It wasn't an issue for a while. But now it is...
but I'm off to make money for a while, so no progress, except for the welding from my buddy Nacho. That guy's an amazing fabricator. He worked at the carbon mast factory. The stuff he could make just blew my mind. Good guy, too!
#34
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There are a couple of people building engines right now, so I thought I would post an example of a build spreadsheet, as an example of what measurements to record.
Last edited by RCVTR; 03-12-2009 at 07:08 PM.
#35
#36
I wonder if I could apply your stratagem to collecting Ferrari parts...
#37
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A guy could get pretty upside-down with one of those. There just ain't enough cash flowing in for it. Maybe some day. I think you can still get a good one for ~$30k.
#38
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Wow just found this thread, awesome work, taking this to the track will be so rewarding,
the thrill to run your own monster added to the thrill to ride a track is gearhead utopia.
And being a wrenching nut myself you are damn right, building is half the fun, then abusing it is the other half, until it's all banged up and need to start over
the thrill to run your own monster added to the thrill to ride a track is gearhead utopia.
And being a wrenching nut myself you are damn right, building is half the fun, then abusing it is the other half, until it's all banged up and need to start over
Last edited by gboezio; 03-14-2009 at 03:35 PM.
#41
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Thanks, y'all. It's not perfect, but it will do!
My camera doesn't know what to do with the color under flourescent shop lights.
That's not the color. I'll get some in the sun, when the tank is done.
I'll get dry and wet weights, once I get the tank mounted. I'll get to the dyno at some point.
My camera doesn't know what to do with the color under flourescent shop lights.
That's not the color. I'll get some in the sun, when the tank is done.
I'll get dry and wet weights, once I get the tank mounted. I'll get to the dyno at some point.
#49
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We have a track close to Reno (Reno-Fernley raceway). About 1 hour away from me. I have not been there, since they added a huge section. People rave about it. My favorite track is Thunderhill, 3 hours away and 1/2 hour from my folks' house.
#52
very cool rand. building them is at least half the fun. watching them being built is pretty good to and less cussing. really inspirational.
(oh, and just find the whitebalance button on your camera menu scroll and scroll to fluorescent - it will make the color correct)
(oh, and just find the whitebalance button on your camera menu scroll and scroll to fluorescent - it will make the color correct)
#54
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Bob gave me a tank a few months back, with the old paint scheme, that had been doinked in the front, upper right. I stripped it down to the metal, brazed on some bolts and pulled most of the dent out. Bondo makes it beautiful.
I got the orange on. Next I'm projecting the stripes on to the tank. I've never done it before. It's pretty cool. I think I've got them pretty close. I have a stock tank to compare. Tell me what you think. I should get the black painted tonight. I'll add some Honda tank wings and clear coat this weekend.
I got the orange on. Next I'm projecting the stripes on to the tank. I've never done it before. It's pretty cool. I think I've got them pretty close. I have a stock tank to compare. Tell me what you think. I should get the black painted tonight. I'll add some Honda tank wings and clear coat this weekend.
#58
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I hope I don't get too scareded.
It's gonna have that good, forgiving V-twin power, that launches you off the tuns.
Dean never even did the soft rev limiter mod. Said it had plenty without it. Now, its going to be ~25-30 lbs lighter! And the wiring harness has no soft rev limiter.
It's gonna have that good, forgiving V-twin power, that launches you off the tuns.
Dean never even did the soft rev limiter mod. Said it had plenty without it. Now, its going to be ~25-30 lbs lighter! And the wiring harness has no soft rev limiter.
#60
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There was a guy of an F4i that was trying to match the squirt off the corners my bike had. I came around on the next lap and there were little F4i bits all over the track. I think he whacked the throttle a bit too hard.