[RoooStEr]

What is the differences in the 2?

What is the flapper mod? Is it neccessary?

Is there anything to look out for on these bikes?

I have been riding an F4i for a while and just recently rode a friends twin and fell in love with not havign to rev the piss out of it to get moving (maybe a little exageration, but it takes a good bit of RPM to get the F4i to leave quickly). When I first got the F4i, w/in 5kmiles (5 months lol) I had to replace the CCT (it was noisy and I didn't liek it, not neccessary though) and then I had to replace the speed sensor. Any problems liek this with RC51's?

I have sat on one, not ridden one, but how comfortable are the seats for long trips anyone do many long trips on their bikes? I took my F4i to Daytona this year (630 miles) and it wasn't the most comfortable, but not bad, I just laid on the tank and put my feet on the pass. pegs.

Next question, rear seat? What's the deal, is it a whole different part or does the cover just flip over to reveal a seat? How much storage is there?

I am not worried about power, the 600 has plenty, but I do not fit on an SV650, and the sv1000 is ugly. I am 6'6" and 240lbs.

Thanks for any info! Oh yeah, I tried a search and it just gave me swapping ideas, no comparison.

[Rigor]

Originally Posted by RoooStEr

What is the differences in the 2?

Many.... but most are slight. I'm not going to name them all again, but I know you can find most of the information using Google, or even using the search function at www.RC51.com. (Speedzilla) I post them here once, but they've seemed to have disappear. Mostly the SP1 was the first generation of the bike (00-01) and the SP2 is the second generation, (02-06) after most of the changes were made. Both bikes have interchagable parts and essentially look alike at first glance. The changes for the SP2 were things like taller windscreen, longer/lighter swingarm, 5 spoked wheels, different ECU, larger throttlebidies, different injectors, larger steering stem, changed exhaust ports, added cooling fan, etc.... Nothing so drastic that a new bike was born, just tweeked and reworked to some extent.

What is the flapper mod? Is it neccessary?

Removes the air flap, (solenoid and air tank as well-under the bodywork) in the front snorkel and helps to eliminate/lessen a 5-6K rmp flat spot in the stock performance. Not necessary by any means.

Is there anything to look out for on these bikes?

New, or perspective owners asking a lot of questions about them.....

Not anything more then any other bike if purchased used. It's a Honda....it's bulletproof. I'd recommend having any used bike looked over by a mechanic if you yourself aren't savy of common motorcycle issues on sportbikes.

I have been riding an F4i for a while and just recently rode a friends twin and fell in love with not havign to rev the piss out of it to get moving (maybe a little exageration, but it takes a good bit of RPM to get the F4i to leave quickly). When I first got the F4i, w/in 5kmiles (5 months lol) I had to replace the CCT (it was noisy and I didn't liek it, not neccessary though) and then I had to replace the speed sensor. Any problems liek this with RC51's?

No...

I have sat on one, not ridden one, but how comfortable are the seats for long trips anyone do many long trips on their bikes? I took my F4i to Daytona this year (630 miles) and it wasn't the most comfortable, but not bad, I just laid on the tank and put my feet on the pass. pegs.

It's a sportbike, not a touring bike. Seat is vinyl covered plastic, but I've sat on worse. What's more important is what you wear to ride it.

Next question, rear seat? What's the deal, is it a whole different part or does the cover just flip over to reveal a seat? How much storage is there?

Whole different part. I don't take passengers on this bike and anything related to passengers (pegs/seat) are long gone.

More trunk storage on the SP2 then the SP1, due to a redesigned undertail.

I am not worried about power, the 600 has plenty, but I do not fit on an SV650, and the sv1000 is ugly. I am 6'6" and 240lbs.

Thanks for any info! Oh yeah, I tried a search and it just gave me swapping ideas, no comparison.

I hope some of this helps.

[fl-929]

Originally Posted by RoooStEr

What is the differences in the 2?

2002 Honda RC51 VTR 1000 - Road Test & Review - Motorcyclist Online

[RoooStEr]

Excellent all the answers I was looking for.

I like to ride my sport bike liek a touring bike lol. Yes, I am a prespective owner, I have taken the first step and have listed my F4i for sale.

[Rigor]

Good for you.

At 6'6", 260, you can also start stashing money away for new suspension, as the stock parts are for guys 100 lbs lighter then you, and the rear shock sucks regardless of weight. At a minimum, you'll need the forks resprung for your weight....

[RoooStEr]

I can do the front forks myself, and can the rear shock be re-sprung and re-valved. I ride MX and EDT on a 4-wheeler (just won a C-class championship and TT and have won an MX track championship in the past) and have a shock sponsor who will re-build my shocks for $125+parts, that is if the rear shock is good enough to be rebuilt

and I am 240. I was 260 before x-mas.

[Rigor]

Originally Posted by RoooStEr

I can do the front forks myself, and can the rear shock be re-sprung and re-valved. I ride MX and EDT on a 4-wheeler (just won a C-class championship and TT and have won an MX track championship in the past) and have a shock sponsor who will re-build my shocks for $125+parts, that is if the rear shock is good enough to be rebuilt

and I am 240. I was 260 before x-mas.

You *can* and I recall reading a few members in Europe doing it (Netherlands), but it's not worth it IMHO. The stock shock is a 550 spring, but has too much preload on it with no ability to reduce it beyond the lowest stock setting. To add to the mix, the damping sucks and there's no ride height adjustment.

The stock shock is designed to carry 2 people, at a max of 400 lbs, and that'll never equate into a competative, responsive performance shock.

I'd sooner recommend you buying a used Penske, Fox, Elka, Works or Ohlins and having that reworked, then sinking any more money into a substandard stock shock.

Even at 240 lbs.... Just me 2.5 cents....

[RoooStEr]

Seeing as how I don't own the bike and havn't even ridden one I value your 2.5 cents. How readily can a used ohlins be found and how much do they run? I guess I could look for myself, but since you have this wealth of knowledge I will continute to take advantage of it.

[Rigor]

Originally Posted by RoooStEr

Seeing as how I don't own the bike and havn't even ridden one I value your 2.5 cents. How readily can a used ohlins be found and how much do they run? I guess I could look for myself, but since you have this wealth of knowledge I will continute to take advantage of it.

Ohlins: $750-1200+ new for a 3 way with remote. Used, I've seen them go for $600 and up depending on age and condition. Recently on Speedzilla, one of the members sold a Pensky 3-way with remote, ($1050 new) for $550. I have an Ohlins, but would have bought that, had I seen it in time, just to have, for that price. I purchased my shock (and forks) from Dan Kyle and received them already sprung for my weight (in gear) and riding style, for no extra charge. He's one of (If not THE) largest Ohlins dealers in the USA, and has 99% of everything in stock.

Other alternatives for forks are Ohlins inserts, or Traxxion Dynamics inserts. Dan Kyle, as well as Traxxion, Thermosman and others, also can respring and rework your stock forks. The options are almost limitless. It all depends on what you want/need.

Elka, Fox, Works, Penske, and a few other off brand shocks, etc all run in the $500-600-700 + ranges and less for used.(obviously) Anything is an improvement over stock, in my opinion, but what you want to use and brand are all personal preference.

There's tons of information her and at RC51.com. Rogue is a pay-site, but has tons of great free info as well, not to mention the great info you'll find/get as a member.

[gt702]

Originally Posted by Rigor

Other alternatives for forks are Ohlins inserts, or Traxxion Dynamics inserts. Dan Kyle, as well as Traxxion, Thermosman and others, also can respring and rework your stock forks. The options are almost limitless. It all depends on what you want/need.

Elka, Fox, Works, Penske, and a few other off brand shocks, etc all run in the $500-600-700 + ranges and less for used.(obviously) Anything is an improvement over stock, in my opinion, but what you want to use and brand are all personal preference.

I highly recommend Dan Kyle for the forks. I have 2 RC51's now, one with Dan's fork job (he talked me out of Ohlins at the time) and one with Ohlins R&T forks. You can't tell the difference. So for a little over $300, that is the way I would go and not screw with doing it yourself. Oh, and he had it one click of a damping adjuster away from being perfect

The stock rear shock is supposed to be a pretty good quality unit, but the damping is way off. Used shocks are sometimes difficult to find but out there. If you have someone who can rebuild the stocker, and get the damping and spring right, you might give that a try ... but it helps to have someone with experience on that shock to know how it will come out. High speed damping on the stocker is just way too hard. You can get the ride height by adding spacers at the upper shock mount if you have a non-adjustable shock.

As for touring, this can be done fairly well. My street RC has gone some long mile days very comfortably. All I've done to change it from a maybe make 2 hours bike to an all day bike is change the clip-ons to Sato adjustable units (Dan Kyle now has very similar with his name on them) adjusted to make them more flat and spread out a little which is easier on the wrists, and a Sargent seat which keeps you from sliding into the tank all the time. Those changes make the bike very comfortable.

[RoooStEr]

Thanks for all the info, I will def. look for a sargent seat, I do not like how I always slie forward ont he F4i either.

[gt702]

Originally Posted by RoooStEr

Thanks for all the info, I will def. look for a sargent seat, I do not like how I always slie forward ont he F4i either.

Just a note that if money is an issue, you can get some of the benefits by modifying your current seat. Taking out the staples, shaving some foam, and stapling the cover back on isn't very difficult. If shape is your only complaint, this isn't a bad option.

[RoooStEr]

that would just make the middle worse. I have done quite a few cover swaps on my race bike, a seat cover doesn't last a whole season.

This maybe why:

[Relic2]

Is there a web site to find this sargeant seat?

[Rigor]

Sargent Cycle Products - Custom Seat Services