ok so as many probably noticed I went down on my rc51. I'm now putting it back together (doesn't need anything really other then some bending of some stuff back) and trying to decide what I want to do. I love the 1000cc v-twins and especially the rc51. My conflict of interest is I really want to improve with my track riding ability and feel that the rc is not very ideal for this. A 600 of some sort would be better suited for me to do trackdays on: whether it's a full track prep sv650, 600rr, gsxr, r6, etc doesn't matter. Cost of repairs also factors in. On the other hand the rc51 has been down and is a blast to ride and ring out on the track.

So here's my options as I see it:

1. Keep it, buy race glass and have fun with it. (pull double duty)
2. Keep it, repair to street condition and ride on the street exclusively and buy a track prepped 600 of some kind for cheap ($3-4k)
3. Sell it, repair all of the damage, part out the aftermarket goodies and sell it while still taking a small hit on the fact that it has been down and has some marks on the frame from the fall (prob try for something between ($6-6.5k). Use said money to then buy a track bike of some sort that'll pull double duty.


Kind've looking for advice from the older/wiser of us around Schu, Marm, and am curious to hear what you say.

 

i think i'd rather spend time with the RC51 on the track and get something else for the street, but that wasn't one of your options.
So i would say keep it and pull double duty?

 

that is an option, I just dont know what id get for the street that I wouldn't want to instantly track. maybe a tard?

 

You have to go to a kart track to enjoy a tard. Any real turn on the track is going to fold the front end up more quickly than you can blink.

 

IMO.... buy an SV650 for the track. Thats what I'm doing this fall. Small, fun, easy on equipment and it will force you to learn how to carry entry/corner speed.

If you're going to double duty it, then just leave it as is, but big bikes eat up tires/brakes/etc at a much faster rate on track.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">IMO.... buy an SV650 for the track. Thats what I'm doing this fall. Small, fun, easy on equipment and it will force you to learn how to carry entry/corner speed.

If you're going to double duty it, then just leave it as is, but big bikes eat up tires/brakes/etc at a much faster rate on track.</TD></TR></TABLE>

+1

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ASteele2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You have to go to a kart track to enjoy a tard. Any real turn on the track is going to fold the front end up more quickly than you can blink.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I meant tard for the street/commuting, and have the rc51 for the track


and .RJ - that's what I'm heavily considering in my head though the obvious question is what do I do with the rc?

 

Keep the RC and get spares for the bike for double-duty. Track plastics and a 2nd set of wheels for the race rubber should be enough. That way your tires don't go to waste on the long trips. That's what I did with the Supachicken.

 

do you think I'd learn more on a smaller bike?

 

I may have missed something, but didn't you make like 3 thousand posts in the last six months telling everyone that you just bought the RC???

Anyway, sorry to hear it's been down so soon. Either way, I always felt that having a streetbike allowed me to practice certain techniques before and after trackdays. IE: Rev-matching downshifts, weight transfer, etc.... Some of which will be COMPLETELY different on a liter twin than a 600 four. Not that it's a bad choice, but it may not be one that allows you to steepen your learning curve enough.

just my .02c
RC double duty

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EngineNoO9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">do you think I'd learn more on a smaller bike?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Quite possibly, but not on a 600. Maybe an RS125 or TZ125, which would really force you to conserve speed in the turns.

The money you would have sent on a second bike, I think should be put towards on-track instruction.

On a side note, I finally sold the Superhawk track plastics. To another SHF member.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EngineNoO9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">and .RJ - that's what I'm heavily considering in my head though the obvious question is what do I do with the rc? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Keep it and ride it on the street.

 

I got this bike several months back but the thing now is I've done several trackdays and know that I want to continue on with that and learn more which is why I'm looking at things for the long run - it affects what I do with the bike now with fixing it up and to what extent


marm - interesting... cornerspeed maybe?

.RJ - with the sv650's being so cheap that's easily possible I think...

 

Surprise surprise, my vote is for I4 600 double duty.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris y0! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Surprise surprise, my vote is for I4 600 double duty.</TD></TR></TABLE>

stretched turbo busa?


and my only thing about double duty is - crashing. Not that I plan on it but if it happens again I won't be surprised.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EngineNoO9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

stretched turbo busa?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Don't want to overdo it with the cornerspeed thing.

 

i dunno those crash cages would go nicely on it....

and I'm guessing with i4 600 you'd say gsxr 600? just a guess

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EngineNoO9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">and I'm guessing with i4 600 you'd say gsxr 600? just a guess </TD></TR></TABLE>

Nah, already have enough squids riding them as is

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris y0! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Surprise surprise, my vote is for I4 600 double duty.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Why?

Double duty anything is a pain in the *** - having a track only bike just simplifies going to the track - doesnt matter if you crash it, its easy to repair if you do, dont have to swap plastics/untape lights/wheels/etc to go to work on monday, you can make your street bike more comfortable... the only disadvantage is the space and $$.

Edit: My opinion on this is probably skewed since I ride the bike to work every day... if you only rode on weekends then it may not make quite as much sense.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Edit: My opinion on this is probably skewed since I ride the bike to work every day... if you only rode on weekends then it may not make quite as much sense.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea, I'm assuming that his bike is not his daily driver.

If it isn't, I don't see the point in having 2 bikes and that's why I suggested double duty. Idealy I would have a race bike with some lights I can easily bolt on along with a lisence plate to take it out on the weekends. And then a truck as a daily driver+transportation to and from the track. Again I don't see the point in a race bike, street bike, and daily driver.

 

rc51 - never

I'm moving closer to work soon and it still wouldn't be a daily if it's the rc. if it was something else, maybe.

 

Sell RC, buy SV650 for the track and Z1000/FZ1/Tuono/etc to commute on

 

Keep the RC. You've already got effort, time, and money invested in it. Why not stick with it?

For commuting, buy a scooter.

 

Lose the RC. Two side-mounted radiators extremely susceptible to damage, heavy and underpowered. Twin neato factor doesnt last long nor outweigh the cons.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SHORTBUS. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Lose the RC. Two side-mounted radiators extremely susceptible to damage, heavy and underpowered. Twin neato factor doesnt last long nor outweigh the cons. </TD></TR></TABLE>

X2
I have a handful of close friend that had SP2s with all kinds of mods. When they decided they wanted to go faster, they sold their SP2s for 600cc track bike and some extra cash for either another bike, more mods for the track bike, or track oriented stuff( track day, suit, tire warmers, tires etc)

I hope to do that soon, I just need to get past the whole broke-college-student thing.