[ridemyrice]

First of all, I'm new to this forum, so hello to everyone! I have been surfing it for a while as a guest.

I bought a 600rr in 2003 when they first came out (#159) and loved it...it was my first bike, but not the first I've ridden. I've had 250 dirt bikes, 400ex, and started riding on street with 600f4. In 2 seasons I had my 600rr, I put on 15,000 trouble-free miles...it was great! I know what kind of rider I am, so I rarely ever pushed it until I gained more and more experience, and certainly not to impress anybody. I had some pretty good chicken strips my first set of tires, but I gradually worked on that too...why push yourself too fast? It's like you could die, duh?

I will be getting a new/newer used bike in the spring, and I've always been attracted to the rc51! I probably would have bought one first, but none in stock and the 600rr was my other choice. I have searched and read enough about them to know about all the basic must-do mods, and about general characteristics of the bike- little heavy, high gearing, runs warm, tampon sized passenger pad...and so on.

I have a couple questions though. I'm not a stunt wizard, they facinate me, but I know asphalt hurts-real bad. I've wrecked enough on dirt, I don't want to feel street if I can help it. However, it is a rush to feel your front wheel loft in the air from time to time...and my 600rr wasn't uncontrollable unless you wanted it to be..so to speak. What is the rc51 like in that respect; comparatively? And there are always all kinds of squids posting videos of that crap on all kinds of I4's, but hardly any on rc51's or TL's...I know rc's have a different following, but it would still be cool to see..and hear.

The way I figure it, I truly dont' deserve any modern sportbike, but what the hell, right? I could get a new I4 liter, and still may, but they advance so fast it's sickening. Rc's will always be cool...maybe not as fast...but sooo unique-I've never seen one around here, hell I think I had the only 600rr for the longest time. And of course the sound makes ya wanna mess your pants! I really like the design, and the dash, and the torque spread...I really wish I could ride one to see for myself. Insurance is not a factor, I had kick ass full coverage on my 600rr for 240/yr, and now that Im 25, a liter will only be near 300 range, same coverage-250ded. Will the rc51 be a bit more than my 600 as far as power(and of course torque)? If this matters, I took my rr to Norwalk raceway a couple times for fun and ran best 11.50 2nd time down.

Sorry about the long 1st post, but tell me what you're thinkin!

[phobiaphobe]

Sorry we have exceeded our Ohio member quota. Come back 1 year.




welcome... get the RC they're fun as hell. Not as much top-end as a 1000cc I4 but more useable power, arguably.

[DUX]

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

Sorry we have exceeded our Ohio member quota. Come back 1 year.

[CACowboy68]

I would stay with the 600. It's nice and all to have the power of the bigger bike but it sounds like you haven't pushed the 600 to 100% and probably never will. But since it's winter there and you don't have the great weather we do in Sunny So. Cal. I might be inclined to get a snowmobile.

[sheepofblue]

I try to avoid wheelies so I can lean it into a turn

[gt702]

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

I try to avoid wheelies so I can lean it into a turn

And you wouldn't want to lose your passenger ... or is that a track only thing?

Add a few rear sprocket teeth, or drop one in front and the RC should loft the front with the best of them, and be a lot easier to live with around town. But I'm with sheep, it is better to have both wheels on the ground to crank it into turns (or avoid the in the SUV), so that is where they stay.

If the suspension works well for you, no real need to change it (mine is an early 2000, and required suspension work ... way overdamped). I put the SATO adjustable clip-ons on the bike to give a better angle, and raise the ends of the bars some, and now the bike is very comfy for all day riding. Everything else is just for preference. Good bike.

[CBR929RE]

Originally Posted by CACowboy68

I would stay with the 600.

I don't see that as a good arguement at all. Who really can push a 600 to 100% anyway. Besides 100% on the street is gonna be 100% illegal anyway.

I say get the RC if its what you want. 15k on a 600 you should have some decent throttle control and enough wits about you to handle a bigger bike. I went from around 3500 miles on a roughly 70hp bike to the 929 I had and the jump wasn't too hard.

[sheepofblue]

Originally Posted by gt702

And you wouldn't want to lose your passenger ... or is that a track only thing?
...

He has +300 track miles this season. Passenger sheep never made it to the Gap the though

[ridemyrice]

Thanks for your replies! Yea, ya know...now that I think of it, I guess you're right...if I was able to ride at 100%, you'd see me in MotoGP! Wheelies were never my forte, I had my 400ex for that. But I did like the feeling of lofting the wheel on hard acceleration. There aren't really all that great of twisties around here at all, but each time I'd try a little more within my limits. I handled my 600 fine I think, not as good as I could have of course. I think its a cool feeling in itself knowing that in ideal conditions, you're on a machine that is capable of doing way more than most have the balls to try! I'm just facinated by the RC's looks, mistique, uniqueness, the sound and torque!

[TraumaOne]

Originally Posted by ridemyrice

I'm just facinated by the RC's looks, mistique, uniqueness, the sound and torque!

For god's sake, just get the RC51 already!



Welcome to the .org!

[DUX]

http://www.fireblades.org/forums/rc51/39324-arata.html

Just to add fuel to the fire. Sound clips on post #11.

[sizmtrz]

Originally Posted by ridemyrice

I'm just facinated by the RC's looks, mistique, uniqueness, the sound and torque!

first I'm gonna say..I LOVE my RC...then ill say doit.. the RC, when stock, will not launch the front tire unless you drop the clutch in first at fairly high revs!!! Its geared to High, too heavy and only about 120 hp on tap... your 600 weighs less than 400lbs and makes 105 hp...an RC makes 120hp but weighs 490lbs. It is however reputed as the most stable bike from the dealer floor when taken to the track! So Add a few sprockets and a PC3 and have some fun waking up the neighbors!

[gthotchkiss]

Welcome!!