Would I kill myself on an RC51? [Archive] - TriStateTuners.com

420sx

08-16-2008, 03:27 AM

I currently ride a 2000 SV650, and I love it. I love the way it rides, sounds, feels, and handles. I just wish it was faster. I thought about getting a 600 I-4, but after taking an 07 gixxer 600 for a ride, I was dissapointed with the four cylinder. It ran like a raped ape at higher RPM's, but had no balls at lower r's. I love that I can pass cars on my SV without having to downshift. Thats what turned me onto the RC51. More power, V-twin, and still a sport bike. In theory, its the perfect bike for me. But it also has double the power. Am I going to kill myself?

Ive been riding bikes (dirt) since I was 13, and street for a year. Im pretty responsible on a bike (no racing in and out of traffic), but I do have a heavy throttle hand when traffic is clear. Think I'll be alright on a litre bike?

blkZ06

08-16-2008, 01:31 PM

there are two kinds of riders

ones who have gone down, and ones who are doing down

my very first bike was a R1 Raven Edition, I daily drove it and put almost 9000 miles on it in a couple months and I never had a single incident

Respect the power of the bike and respect the fact that if you act like a dumbass your going to go down and its going to hurt bad.

420sx

08-16-2008, 01:43 PM

So... exactly how much power does an RC51 feel like? Anyone ever ridden one? Is it like "rip your arms out" kind of power, or is it broad, smooth, predicatable v-twin power? Will an RC51 lift the front wheel in 3rd or 4th without clutch? My SV will barely pick up in first. I'd like to be able to wheelie up every once in a while, but I dont want to be doing it by accident.

Archie

08-16-2008, 10:40 PM

wow those bikes are sick! def in the near future for my next bike, havent rode one but the sound is amazing.

Blue32

08-17-2008, 02:36 AM

blkmz3

08-17-2008, 06:43 PM

how much for your sv650? i'm looking for a bike.

drail182

08-17-2008, 07:20 PM

Never rode one but always wanted one but could never get one. They run the quarter mile in low 11's and have about 120 hp at the crank.

cmr076

08-17-2008, 07:45 PM

i want the SV650... PM me if your selling it please..

frosti108

08-18-2008, 01:17 AM

those vtwin bikes are def wheelie machines. it doesnt matter what bike you get, just dont act like a retard and youll be fine.

Dave

08-18-2008, 01:50 AM

hey have you seen the sv1000 with full fairings on it? its a nice alternative if you cant find a nice rc. btw, stay the **** away from TLRs. especially early ones

420sx

08-18-2008, 02:02 AM

Id rather have an RC than an SV1000. I found an RC (granted its 400 miles away) thats a 2000 with 14k on it for $2500 because he laid it over. I'll just run it naked for a while, whatever.

Has anybody on here ridden an RC51 and an SV? If so, how do they compare?

frosti108

08-18-2008, 11:44 AM

i raced an sv1000 once on my katana. he couldnt keep the front end down and i left him behind :)

edit: actually i think it was a tl1000r

420sx

08-18-2008, 02:41 PM

I recently sold my 07 ducati monster which dynoed 70 hp to the wheel for a 2008 zx10r which is more then double the HP.. and I have been fine,,You already have ridding skills, you know clutch and throttle control..you would be fine...

Thanks, this is what i was hoping to hear. My SV dynoed at 69.6hp at the wheel, haha. I think I'm going to get this RC this weekend. :D

http://images.craigslist.org/01150101020401040120080729a912cc7cc486bb8214004ea1 .jpg

NickGT

08-18-2008, 04:15 PM

The only reason it's smart to get a small cc bike for your first bike is weight, jumpy throttle, and price. As others have already said you have the basics. No bike in the world is going to wheelie without you getting decently deep in the throttle. My bike dynoed 177/103 and I drive it everywhere, even in the rain a few times by accident.

AMF Racing

08-18-2008, 05:11 PM

two words..... super hawk. WAY more daily driveable and comfy than a rc51. same basic engine, just not FI. mine stock dyno'ed 105 at the wheel, typical rc's do 120-130's without to much trouble. rc's are def sick bikes, but they are def more geared for the track IMO. and they do not do 11's in the hand of a good rider they are mid-low 10's. plus if you plan on doing riding with a passeneger the seat is nothing more than a pad, lol. sv1000 is junk you couldn't pay me to own one, poor build quality. here's my hawk that i will NEVER sell......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/dsb2000si/vtr1000f%20super%20hawk/Picture634.jpg

driftingrx5.7

08-19-2008, 12:19 AM

i had an 01 rc51 and it was TQ'ie! it will pick you up in a heart beat! i am going to tell you its a great bike but i sold it because i couldn't ride it all the time. your are bent over a lot more then any other bike i have ever owned! but again its all up to how you are going to ride it! i started on a VFR750 and went to an FZR1000. so just becarefull and respect the power because it has it BIG TIME!

Blue32

08-19-2008, 01:31 AM

Thanks, this is what i was hoping to hear. My SV dynoed at 69.6hp at the wheel, haha. I think I'm going to get this RC this weekend. :D

Good glad I could help.. Go buy it and take it out and get used to it..and just keep telling yourself its a different bike and you don't need to crack the throttle like you were used to... just be smooth and you'll be fine...

420sx

08-19-2008, 02:36 AM

Good glad I could help.. Go buy it and take it out and get used to it..and just keep telling yourself its a different bike and you don't need to crack the throttle like you were used to... just be smooth and you'll be fine...

I'm making the downpayment on it tomorrow. Even if I buy it and dont like it, its a good enough deal that I could buy it, spend a grand on it, and sell it for twice what I paid, and get another SV and turbo my KA. :mrgreen:

95SC2

08-19-2008, 02:36 PM

the gixxer 600 dont have any low end, if you want an i-4 sport bike, the new ninja 600s are really good, power all the through and look pretty nice as well. And i agree with dave abouve i've ridden the rc51, i didnt think it was all that comfortable. I'll just stick with my tl

420sx

08-19-2008, 02:41 PM

Most of my riding isnt for more than an hour at a time, so hopefully the comfortability of the bike wont be a huge issue. If it is... well, Ill just sell it. :mrgreen:

Blue32

08-19-2008, 05:09 PM

Most of my riding isnt for more than an hour at a time,

Are you serious?? you need to come out with us....you'll put some miles on that new bike...

HiSpeed48

08-19-2008, 11:03 PM

like someone else said, you have the basics down, so you should be ready for something with more power. you're smart for starting on a smaller bike.

2008 zx10r which is more then double the HP..

how do you like the 08? when i first saw it i really didn't like the looks at all, but i heard it got great reviews for its power and handling. any dislikes with it?

i fell in love with the new 08 cbr1000rr. everyone says its ugly but i couldnt disagree more. all different tastes i guess.

Blue32

08-20-2008, 01:11 AM

how do you like the 08? when i first saw it i really didn't like the looks at all, but i heard it got great reviews for its power and handling. any dislikes with it?

I love it..the only thing thats bothering me right now is that im short and the bike is big and I have to tippy toe it.. but im going to lower it this weekend.. other then that im still getting used to the different ridding position which gets uncomfortable on longer rides but ill get over that too im sure..

NickGT

08-20-2008, 11:42 AM

I love it..the only thing thats bothering me right now is that im short and the bike is big and I have to tippy toe it.. but im going to lower it this weekend.. other then that im still getting used to the different ridding position which gets uncomfortable on longer rides but ill get over that too im sure..

Not to jack this thread but you were right about those forks just pushing through the other day. I was being an idiot. On my bike the triple tree isn't big enough at the top to slide them through. So you have to get an aftermarket one. I love that bike though. It does look like you are bent over a lot on those bars though. Maybe they make a bar riser for those bikes. Man it made all the difference on mine. An inch or two really changes things. Also maybe a cut seat.. http://tobinseats.com/kawasaki.htm I hear they do wonders. You have to send in your stockers though. I'm doing it this winter.

Blue32

08-20-2008, 05:23 PM

Im changing my oil this weekend and we are going to lower it a bit see how it works out..

420sx

08-20-2008, 05:30 PM

Im changing my oil this weekend and we are going to lower it a bit see how it works out..

Can you take before/after pics? I'm considering lowering the RC... i havent sat on one yet, but Id like to be able to flat foot it. My biggest concern with the RC is that its 450lbs, my SV is 100lbs less.

420sx

08-20-2008, 05:39 PM

Are you serious?? you need to come out with us....you'll put some miles on that new bike...

Missed this post. But yeah, Im down. Riding with someone else usually helps me keep from riding like an ass too, lol. I just love to go fast, im going to have to consciously concentrate on slowing down while I get used to the RC.

Looks like the bike I'm getting needs a radiator, a fairing, a clutch cover, rear plastics, and maybe a tank. Sweet.

HiSpeed48

08-21-2008, 02:27 PM

any change in ride height has a serious effect on the geometry of the bike, and in conjunction the handling as well.

if you're going to make any height adjustments to the front, you should do it to the rear as well.

http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_0210_lower/index.html
and here's some good reading if anyone is interested

ps- i'm 5'5" and i'm always on my tiptoes. so i did a lot of reading on this stuff before i decided not to lower my bike.

4drstunner

08-21-2008, 04:03 PM

how do you like the 08? when i first saw it i really didn't like the looks at all, but i heard it got great reviews for its power and handling. any dislikes with it?

i fell in love with the new 08 cbr1000rr. everyone says its ugly but i couldnt disagree more. all different tastes i guess.

The zx-10 looks like a** IMO lol Actually all of the 08's look like poopie. Peformance wise there monsters but looks could use some :help:

Back on topic Im not a fan of a v twin but if your gonna get one get the RC51
!

Dave

08-25-2008, 11:51 PM

The zx-10 looks like a** IMO lol Actually all of the 08's look like poopie. Peformance wise there monsters but looks could use some :help:

Back on topic Im not a fan of a v twin but if your gonna get one get the RC51
!

yer high on crack. 08 10r is a sexy bitch i wanna get jiggy with

420sx

08-26-2008, 12:43 AM

So I went to see the RC yesterday. Needs some serious TLC. For starters, a rear tire, all new plastics, a headlight, a clutch cover, a footpeg, a brake lever, a brake pedal, and a dent removed from the tank. But I got him down to $2300, so here we go...