Our ex-race chassis bits won’t work for the road: time for fire and hammers.
2008 HONDA FIREBLADE CHRIS NEWBIGGING
IT MIGHT LOOK like we haven’t done much... well we haven’t, really. But slower progress is a necessity at this point, as a final, functioning package depends on certain things being right.
The biggest obstruction to building a running bike is the placement of ancillary components – as the bike stands, the battery, fusebox, reg/rec and dash don’t have a home. And we don’t have headlights that fit, either: the originals won’t work with our endurance fairing, and we don’t wish to refit 2kg of bulk anyway.
All these issues are being resolved by one-man engineering solutions band Simon Francis. He’s already made the neat, hidden, weight saving rear caliper assembly: now we’ve tasked him with making the HRC subframes kindly donated from SMT Racing’s ‘bent stuff’ box both straight and suitable for our road/track special.
This story is from the February 2018 edition of Performance Bikes.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2018 edition of Performance Bikes.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Repeating Drills
Chris is still messing with his RGV’s wobbly clutch. But, for once, he only has himself to blame...
Franco Says Relax
Next year Moto2 ace Franco Morbidelli will be the first VR46 rider to make it to MotoGP. But the young Roman is more laidback than any title challenger has a right to be – is that something to do with his teacher?
Working Double Time
Rutter’s man reveals the demands of racing in both British Superstock AND British Superbikes
New Kid Vs The Old Fave
Kar gets a chance to roll his GSX-R1000 K6 out of the garage when Chris offers him the chance to ride it back-toback with his 2017 Suzuki. But will it sway him?
Faster For Free
The key to making a GSX-R1000R cream off a quicker lap time is staring you in the face...
Big Promise, Or Big Let Down?
Speed, laughs and touring ability? We’ll see. KTM Super Duke GT joins the PB fleet.
Down Under On Top
In 1987 Wayne Gardner became the first Australian to win the 500cc world championship. Thirty years later, the Wild Man from Wollongong recalls that amazing year of V4 dominance...
Cheste Pains
In 1987, PB’s editor sent three grown men to the Bol d’Or on two-stroke 125s, resulting in a tale of misery, hilarity and adventure. 30 years later, we’re doing it again – but this time, it’s four-strokes, and the destination is mid-Spain, in winter...
Factory Fugitive
Against all odds, this HRC RC45 was saved from the crusher and ended up in the hands of PB reader Mick Loughlin, who ensures this Suzuka exotica still gets a pasting.
The Losing Battle RC45 Vs 916
Both Honda and Ducati debuted new WSB bikes in 1994, igniting a superbike development battle that Honda could never win...
