[azamora954]

Ok - so 300 miles have passed and this is my report on the RC51 vs 954rr

954RR
Pros:
- Very lightweight
- Wild acceleration
- Easy handling
- Good slipon system - 3 bolts - go from stock to noisy in 1 minute.
- Great red color
- No 3rd party undertail needed
- Great trunk space
Cons:
- Wild acceleration
- Not that high top end
- Freaking valve broke you freaking #$%%##%!!!!!!!

RC51
Pros:
- Very linear acceleration - can't notice that while its on break-in, you hit 170mph!
- Sounds awesome! Just like a muscle car - seems it has a V8 in there.
- Turn very good
- Extremely stable in corners
- Sexy bike - looks like a full bodied woman, not an anorexic supermodel like the 954rr
- Dual exhaust is sexy
- Cavernous trunk space! Fits a six pack.
- Did snake road today and could averave over 110 easy...very stable and very torquey.
- Torque is a wonderful thing - never need to downshift to get that extra power.
Cons:
- Why does it have a choke? It is fuel injected.
- Gas guzzler - roughly 28mpg - 130 miles per tank max
- Dual exhaust makes slipons costly
- From all the websites I have visited, seems like 10 horsepower gain is the max to aspire with several mods - might as well leave it as it is.
- Needs an undertail badly.

I will edit this list as it goes on.
Feel free to add to this list.

[firebladetoronto]

Thanks for the report...keep us informed...I am thinking of jumping from the 954 to the RC myself...that black one is sure sexy!!!

[azamora954]

Some people say that this bike is basically a pig and that it does not compete with the current liter bikes. However, if I wanted top performance, I would have bought a 'Busa for top end or a 10R for speed...

The purchase of a bike has to combine the looks, feel and overall experience of the bike and I think this bike is a good match for me.

Besides, life is short - why go with the crowd? Be different!

[deez]

a couple of points with the RC.

Do the 520 gearing conversion.
Do the free mods with some Satos.
Rear shock and revalve the forks (Dan Kyle)

You'll be flat out amazed, the bike is a night and day difference. The RC wasn't made to ride stock. The bike was made to modify (literally). Once it is modified, well let's just say I had a 929 prior and never regretted it. I also bought the 1000rr as soon as it came out, and sold it a year later. The 1000rr with full mods is a better bike, but the RC just has something...

[firebladetoronto]

Anymore updates on the comparison? Still thinking about that 2005 rc....

[azamora954]

Bike has 2000 miles already.

I just added a power commander and the difference was night and day - very smooth acceleration now.

No exhaust or any other mods yet. Still thinking about the flapper and soft rev mods - don't see anything suggesting some improvements.

520 mod is most likely a no.
Did the superbright headlights and its is working off well.

I am very happy with the bike and do not miss the 954 at all. Just this Sunday I completed a 7 hour ride and did not even notice it.

I have been reaching the legal maximum speed limit at a fast rate. I will not accept or deny several brushes with 170, but the possibility of tentacle infestation prevents me from going there.

Don't really understand the obsession of weightloss for this bike since i feel it very planted during high speed curves!

[DUX]

I still miss my 954. It was an awesome bike and if I'd had the means, I would have kept both. The RC doesn't compete with the inline fours on the books, but I've had more fun with it on the street than I ever did on the CBR.

Then again, I'm an average rider who doesn't push the limits on the street. I don't care what Joe ex-Racer at Cycle-World says about the relative lack of horsepower and tendency to scrape this or that at 100mph in a left turn. Both bikes far exceed my capabilities and bragging rights at the local bike night aren't as important to me as riding a machine that I truly enjoy.

BTW, someone correct me if I'm wrong but it's not a choke. It's fast-idle for warm-up.

[deez]

Yes it's a fast idle, you are correct.

The 520 gearing conversion is usually done with 15/41 gearing. The acceleration difference is very noticeable.

Essential list for this bike to totally transform it:

520 conversion with 15/41 gearing
Free mods
Sato cans with a power commander
ohlins/penske rear shock with an aftermarket link
Have Dan Kyle do the forks.
Put a damper on it.

It's like riding a totally different bike.

[Chekman]

OK, what are "free mods"???

[phobiaphobe]

Flapper and soft rev limiter.

[firebladetoronto]

Originally Posted by azamora954

Bike has 2000 miles already.

I just added a power commander and the difference was night and day - very smooth acceleration now.

No exhaust or any other mods yet. Still thinking about the flapper and soft rev mods - don't see anything suggesting some improvements.

520 mod is most likely a no.
Did the superbright headlights and its is working off well.

I am very happy with the bike and do not miss the 954 at all. Just this Sunday I completed a 7 hour ride and did not even notice it.

I have been reaching the legal maximum speed limit at a fast rate. I will not accept or deny several brushes with 170, but the possibility of tentacle infestation prevents me from going there.

Don't really understand the obsession of weightloss for this bike since i feel it very planted during high speed curves!

I am sorry dude, but we need way more pics of that black beauty!!!

[Zed]

Originally Posted by azamora954

...I think this bike is a good match for me.

Exactly! Thanks for your thoughts.

I havn't seen one of those RC51's in the flesh down here in NZ, they are not common at all, not sure if we even have any?? As for me and my butt, we will continue our love affair with Mrs 954 thankyou very muchly!

[deftones156]

Questions for all you RC/954 owners:

Is the 954 a ton more comfortable than the RC (riding position). I like the 954 position, as it's much like the latter 900RRs.

Is the RC a super-duper gas guzzler? Again, I only have my 900RR to compare, but even with spirited riding I average 45mpg. Straight Hwy about 53. Worst has been 42mpg. When I get a new bike, I just don't want to get less mpg than my other Honda (accord)

Finally, which do you all think is a better street only bike?

[sheepofblue]

Originally Posted by deftones156

Questions for all you RC/954 owners:

Is the 954 a ton more comfortable than the RC (riding position). I like the 954 position, as it's much like the latter 900RRs.

Is the RC a super-duper gas guzzler? Again, I only have my 900RR to compare, but even with spirited riding I average 45mpg. Straight Hwy about 53. Worst has been 42mpg. When I get a new bike, I just don't want to get less mpg than my other Honda (accord)

Finally, which do you all think is a better street only bike?

You will get 35-45 depending on wrist.

[deftones156]

Thanks, SoB. By the way, what does your name mean? I have wondered for a while now...

Oh, and do you find your RC fairly comfortable?

[ND4SPD]

RC and comfort should not even be mentioned in the same paragraph. I only rode one for about 40-45 minutes and that was enough. It was fun to ride, but I've never been so uncomfortable on anything in my life.

[gt702]

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

RC and comfort should not even be mentioned in the same paragraph. I only rode one for about 40-45 minutes and that was enough. It was fun to ride, but I've never been so uncomfortable on anything in my life.

Comfort can be had on thr RC. I've added Sato adjustable clip-ons to fix the wrist angle issue, and also raise the ends a little over an inch -- huge improvement . A Sargent seat makes it easier to sit a little bit away from the tank.

With those 2 changes I can go pretty much all day on it, but still probably not as comfortable as the CBR-RR's, and the CBR will probably get better mileage. But I have a VFR for touring duty

[BDA116]

The Goldwing is far more comfortable and gets better gas mileage than the RC.


It's lighter, too.

[sheepofblue]

Originally Posted by deftones156

Thanks, SoB. By the way, what does your name mean? I have wondered for a while now...

Oh, and do you find your RC fairly comfortable?

I don't find it bad but then I have ridden my 1000RR 1100 miles in a setting so I am likely the wrong one to ask. Also I am on the low side of average height so it is not at all cramped for me.

[ND4SPD]

Originally Posted by gt702

Comfort can be had on thr RC. I've added Sato adjustable clip-ons to fix the wrist angle issue, and also raise the ends a little over an inch -- huge improvement . A Sargent seat makes it easier to sit a little bit away from the tank.

With those 2 changes I can go pretty much all day on it, but still probably not as comfortable as the CBR-RR's, and the CBR will probably get better mileage. But I have a VFR for touring duty

Yeah, it's not a touring bike for sure. It'd be fun to have one as a track toy methinks

[ND4SPD]

Originally Posted by BDA116

The Goldwing is far more comfortable and gets better gas mileage than the RC.


It's lighter, too.

Cast your lure elsewhere, bigot.

[deftones156]

Originally Posted by BDA116

The Goldwing is far more comfortable and gets better gas mileage than the RC.


It's lighter, too.

And a to you sir!

[schnogg]

The RC has a choke? WTF for? Just to make you feel like you have more control?

[gt702]

Originally Posted by schnogg

The RC has a choke? WTF for? Just to make you feel like you have more control?

It is the fast idle control to open the throttle bodies slightly. Fairly common on motorcycles since it saves the cost and weight of air control valves. The VFR800's had one before going to a thermal device that acts like the old automatic chokes on carbureted cars.

[azamora954]

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/3...rc516xi.th.jpg