Fairings off? Fluids drained? It’s getting serious for the Fireblade (again...)
AMONG THE MEGABYTES of press releases and other dreary nonsense that pings in to my inbox every day was an email from PB reader Mick Loughlin that brightened a morning of the tedious admin shit that comes with steering the ship on Performance Bikes.
Project Fireblade’s new goal of shaving kilograms in order to chase down the Panigale Superleggera’s figures (and lap time) was the subject up for discussion – and more precisely, how Mick could help. As well as a hard-used CBR600RR track bike of his own that he’s been on a similar mission of extricating max performance from a solid older sportsbike, Mick has also spannered for various race teams – most recently, Jackson Racing, who campaigned Hondas on the roads and world endurance until this year.
“I’ve got a few used HRC bits I’ve collected over the years… would you be interested in them?” ’Kin right we are. When I started Project Blade, I went to see Honda Racing in Louth, who were at the end of eight years on the SC59 model. The minimal, efficient build of their bikes, and the high quality, but utilititarian nature of the componentry really appeals: none of the complicated, needlessly fancy trinketry that comes with catalogue performance parts: strong, light and getting it done are the only order of the day.
Some days later, a parcel arrived, containing a set of rearsets and some other bracketry (which I’ll come to in a while), so I rushed off to the garage to offer them up, and compare like for like on PB’s sub-10kg, coke dealer-spec scales that come in handy when scrutinising parts like this.
Denne historien er fra October 2017-utgaven av Performance Bikes.
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Denne historien er fra October 2017-utgaven av Performance Bikes.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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...
Remy: A Chip Off The Old Block
Wayne Gardner is now in the thick of his second Grand Prix career, as father and coach to elder son Remy.
It's All About The Battery
JAPANESE COMPANY MUGEN (owned by Soichiro Honda’s son, Hirotoshi) currently makes the world’s fastest EV race bikes.
Got Them Over A Barrel
Michael Rutter has had one of the seasons of his life in British Superstock and on the roads. His team had no option but to agree to do it all again next year...
Winter Of Malcontent
GSX-R fights the seasonal blues.
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
