RC51 Track Bike Project
02-19-2010, 07:46 AM
#91
Senior Member
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Posts: 1,689
But the rider on the RC51 did have good corner entry skills and repeatedly closed the door on the CBR, just as he was closing the gap.
I have a friend that raced a GSXR1000. He is a hard charger, for sure. He described how, on the back straight at Thunderhill, in Nor Cal, the track drops away just slightly. If you were pinned and at the peak of the powerband, the rear tire would spin and the bike would suddenly become a raging beast, shaking it's head and trying to throw you off.
I don't need that.
Did you end up buying the VTR race bike from RD?
Last edited by RCVTR; 02-19-2010 at 08:40 AM.
03-17-2010, 09:06 AM
#93
Senior Member
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Posts: 1,689
At last!
I am finally closing the book on this project.
Fired her up last night and scared all the neighbors and thir dogs.
A couple more small details and I get to take her out of the vacuum of my garage and hang out with my old riding buddies!
Next photos will be from a track day, in sunlight!
I am finally closing the book on this project.
Fired her up last night and scared all the neighbors and thir dogs.
A couple more small details and I get to take her out of the vacuum of my garage and hang out with my old riding buddies!
Next photos will be from a track day, in sunlight!
Last edited by RCVTR; 03-17-2010 at 10:51 AM.
03-17-2010, 10:21 AM
#96
Senior Member
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Posts: 1,689
Thanks!
Every time I hear that motor run, I can't believe how bad-*** it is!!
I kinda sick of working on it, so I'm glad it's done... for now.
Ridin' in 2 weeks and 3 days and counting...
Every time I hear that motor run, I can't believe how bad-*** it is!!
I kinda sick of working on it, so I'm glad it's done... for now.
Ridin' in 2 weeks and 3 days and counting...
03-17-2010, 10:57 AM
#98
Senior Member
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Posts: 1,689
I will dyno it soon, bacause I changed the airbox. I have a map for an Akro full system with the same airbox that should get me through the 1st weekend, because I don't think I'll have the time to get it done before - maybe.
It should be at about 130-135 RWHP.
Semi-dry weight (drained oil, coolant, no fuel) was below 390 lbs. Probably 415 or so, ready to run.
It should be at about 130-135 RWHP.
Semi-dry weight (drained oil, coolant, no fuel) was below 390 lbs. Probably 415 or so, ready to run.
03-18-2010, 07:48 AM
#101
Senior Member
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Posts: 1,689
It's something I bought and kept in the box, when I was collecting parts, before I could put the bike in the garage.
I'm not so sure I would do it now.
Wheels are by far the best improvement to the handling characteristics - nothing short of amazing.
I just need to ride the thing and get my groove back.
I'm not so sure I would do it now.
Wheels are by far the best improvement to the handling characteristics - nothing short of amazing.
I just need to ride the thing and get my groove back.
03-18-2010, 02:47 PM
#104
Senior Member
Back Marker
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Posts: 226
lol. How long have you been counting down the days till you get get to the track!? Since you have that beautiful bike sitting in the garage, I don't think anyone can blame you! congrats on finishing her up, always feels good to button-up long term, satisfying projects like that.
03-18-2010, 04:14 PM
#105
Senior Member
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Posts: 1,689
Thank you!
Painting was a big challenge.
I was hoping for better than a 10' paint job (good from far, but far from good).
In the end I am pleasantly surprised. It's more like a 5' paint job (not going to win any shows, but bound to recieve compliments), so I'm happy.
Let's not talk about how long it's been since I've had a good day on a motorcycle any more!!
Painting was a big challenge.
I was hoping for better than a 10' paint job (good from far, but far from good).
In the end I am pleasantly surprised. It's more like a 5' paint job (not going to win any shows, but bound to recieve compliments), so I'm happy.
Let's not talk about how long it's been since I've had a good day on a motorcycle any more!!
06-09-2010, 04:08 PM
#108
Senior Member
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Posts: 1,689
Alright, here they are...
I had my bike remapped with the Turnone airbox. It ran better before I made the change, but here it is:
First off the Air/Fuel plot. Red is before remapping. Blue is after. I think it could be richened up a bit at the top end, but I think it's pretty good:
Then there is the torque and HP plot. When I first looked at the torque I was shocked. I'd never seen anything so ugly in my life. Kevin told me there was an electrical glitch affecting the ignition. Possibly a fouled plug. I could feel a slight miss when I was running it. The main problem is the vertical scale on the plot is greatly magnified. It is scaled from 50-70 ft-lbs.
So I decided to replot the torque curve by taking the torque value on the plot at 200 rpm increments. Same data, different vertical scale. I also recalculated the HP, using the torque and RPM values. I'd like to fatten the midrange dip a bit. I think I'll give up on the airbox.
But the peak torque is 4-5 ft-lbs lower than I expected. This may be due, in part to using a high-octane, slow-burning race fuel, when my engine does not have enough compression ratio to require it. It could also be from using a soft, racing tire. It may also be that the dyno reads low. Or perhaps it's because of the ignition glitch.
So I added 5 ft-lbs of torque everywhere to see what that would look like. That's more like it! I think this is what it should read, with mild head work, 11.5:1 compression ratio and Moriwaki full exhust system:
I had my bike remapped with the Turnone airbox. It ran better before I made the change, but here it is:
First off the Air/Fuel plot. Red is before remapping. Blue is after. I think it could be richened up a bit at the top end, but I think it's pretty good:
Then there is the torque and HP plot. When I first looked at the torque I was shocked. I'd never seen anything so ugly in my life. Kevin told me there was an electrical glitch affecting the ignition. Possibly a fouled plug. I could feel a slight miss when I was running it. The main problem is the vertical scale on the plot is greatly magnified. It is scaled from 50-70 ft-lbs.
So I decided to replot the torque curve by taking the torque value on the plot at 200 rpm increments. Same data, different vertical scale. I also recalculated the HP, using the torque and RPM values. I'd like to fatten the midrange dip a bit. I think I'll give up on the airbox.
But the peak torque is 4-5 ft-lbs lower than I expected. This may be due, in part to using a high-octane, slow-burning race fuel, when my engine does not have enough compression ratio to require it. It could also be from using a soft, racing tire. It may also be that the dyno reads low. Or perhaps it's because of the ignition glitch.
So I added 5 ft-lbs of torque everywhere to see what that would look like. That's more like it! I think this is what it should read, with mild head work, 11.5:1 compression ratio and Moriwaki full exhust system:
06-10-2010, 08:21 AM
#110
Senior Member
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Posts: 1,689
If it is a fouled plug, it may have happened from running it so fat, before it was remapped. I had no issues before that.
The bike ran much better on Sunday on 91 octane pump gas, than it did Saturday on race gas.
The bike ran much better on Sunday on 91 octane pump gas, than it did Saturday on race gas.
06-10-2010, 08:25 AM
#111
Fastest Color
SuperBike
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lithia, FL
Posts: 2,091
06-10-2010, 08:50 AM
#112
Senior Member
MotoGP
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Montreal
Posts: 5,631
The mechanic/tech who works on my bike (and built some engines for Honda Canada's Superbike racers) told me he built some RCs for customers which ran about 13.5:1 compression, and did so on pump gas. He says it all comes down to proper massaging (ie. removing hot spots in the combustion chamber). When I told him I had ordered some custom JE pistons for my VTR, he asked me what comp ratio I had requested. When I replied 11.6:1 he laughed and told me I should have gone higher and really made it worth my while, lol I prefer to keep it on the low-side and not have to to wory about it (besides, my heads were trimmed 0.015" anyhow)....
06-10-2010, 12:56 PM
#114
Out of my mind, back in 5
MotoGP
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Skurup, Sweden
Posts: 6,109
Are you planning on doing the "Stick Coil Mod" ? It might not help the issue, but it definetly wont hurt...
08-30-2010, 09:43 AM
#115
Senior Member
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Posts: 1,689
I decided to go with the Akrapovic full exhaust system and sell my Moriwaki system. The Akrapovic system is 7 lbs lighter and was more popular with the RC51 crowd.
I also went back to the stock airbox and replaced the paper with foam in the filters.
I started with the map from the Dynojet site for the full system and stock, deflappered airbox. It ran ok, but I got it mapped by SPL at the track and now, it's spectacular! It makes good torque all the way to the 10.2k rev limiter.
We gained almost 8 ft-lbs and 9 HP:
I also went back to the stock airbox and replaced the paper with foam in the filters.
I started with the map from the Dynojet site for the full system and stock, deflappered airbox. It ran ok, but I got it mapped by SPL at the track and now, it's spectacular! It makes good torque all the way to the 10.2k rev limiter.
We gained almost 8 ft-lbs and 9 HP:
03-02-2011, 03:43 PM
#119
Senior Member
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Posts: 1,689
I did a little unexpected work over the winter. I messed around with the wrong map, unable to get to the dyno, last summer. When I measured my valve clearances a few weeks ago, my exhaust valve clearances had opened up. I knew I had carbon-fouled them, so I tore the heads down and did a light cleanup cut on all the valve seats. It ended up being the best valve job I have done. I can hold the valves in place with light finger pressure, with contact cleaner around the valve heads and blow with compressed air and have 0 leakage.
I have always looked back at the porting I did 5 years ago and wished I had done a better job, so I spent some time blending them better. I got to where I could look at the port from different angles and visualize the shape better than before. I would set them aside and come back later and see where I could improve it. I'm pretty happy with it:
I have always looked back at the porting I did 5 years ago and wished I had done a better job, so I spent some time blending them better. I got to where I could look at the port from different angles and visualize the shape better than before. I would set them aside and come back later and see where I could improve it. I'm pretty happy with it:
03-02-2011, 03:50 PM
#120
Senior Member
SuperBike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
Posts: 1,689
I also sent my fuel injectors to RC Engineering for cleaning and flow matching. I'm really glad I did. Before cleaning, the spray patterns were screwed and the flow rates varied by 7%.
Afterward the spray patterns were all excellent and the flow rates matched to within 0.7%!
I'm looking forward to getting it remapped now.
Then I get to go do this:
Afterward the spray patterns were all excellent and the flow rates matched to within 0.7%!
I'm looking forward to getting it remapped now.
Then I get to go do this:
