RC51

[gerry]

What is the general opinion on rc51's in regards to racing?  How competitive are they in Heavyweight Supersport against the 750's?  How about Supertwins?  I'm debating whether or not to get a race prepped rc.  I dont want to buy a bike that wont be competitve.  I know that they are a bit on the heavy side and have even read that the tlr and sv1000 are better purchases.

I've browsed through results and rarely see an rc51, especially in supersport, its all 750s.

[oldguy]

I've browsed through results and rarely see an rc51, especially in supersport, its all 750s.

There's your answer!

[StuartV666]

Big Twins are all but dead. 750s aren't far behind. Get a 600 or an SV650.

- Stu

[tigerblade]

What's your riding/racing history?

I love the bike, but will probably be getting something different for next year.  In Supertwins, I don't know that I'd want anything else.  In HW Supersport, a good rider would probably do all right, but you're kind of disadvantaged against 750 Gixxers.  

The main problems are that you can't run in a whole lot of classes and not very many people race RC51s, so you can't just borrow a part very easily like you can with a more common bike.

Now if you'd really like to buy a race-prepped RC51, let me know.   ;D

[Fast4fun]

They're heavy, they lack power, and any theoretical advantage a twin might offer over an inline is just that...theoretical. I have won many supertwins at the am level and have had less success in my limited expert debut. In short, if you want to be competetive, go with the lighter, more powerfull inline. There are many classes that they qualify for including HW supersport, superbike, supertwins, and GTO. Although the stock twins are really only competitive in the supertwins.  It takes a lot of $ to reduce the weight, change the suspension, brakes, and increase the HP to be competitive. You might be better getting an italian twin with the ohlins and brembo off the showroom floor. Take all this with a grain of salt. I race for fun and my bikes development has just begun. I race all the classes just to see how I compete and to learn from others. Good luck.

[Super Dave]

I tried to race an RC51 at Daytona a few years ago.  

It was really heavy, and I couldn't believe how wide it was.  Felt wider than my GSXR600 at the time.

I thought the TLR was going to be the same, but when I rode one, I really enjoyed it.  I was shocked.

Still, the SV is stellar.  Lots of them around, they make decent power, and they are completely competitive in the classes they can run...and sometimes a faster rider on an SV can keep up with 600 riders on a smaller track...Some of my students have used them just to annoy some 600 racers that just were lacking confidence...LOL!

As for numbers, the RC51 maybe makes 120HP?  GSXR750 makes a bit more, but it also lacks the weight.  It's pretty easy to take a stock GSXR750 and get the geometry numbers pretty close, but the RC...seems like Honda made it look the part, but put a factory bike next to one...doesn't seem to be any common parts.  

[oldguy]

S_D, according to the Honda guys there is not ONE part on the factory bike that is from the stock RC. But, you know, it only takes money (but then you can't ride it in F40).

[Super Dave]

LOL, yeah.  The owner of the RC that I was riding had the ability to get some of the parts.  We talked about me racing it for him, but I told him, "Look, you could just buy a GSXR750 (at the time that Superbikes were limited to 750) and be in a better state of overall tune than the RC."

The RC is neat looking and it has the Honda name.  It's really unfortunate that it didn't turn out to be the bike that the racing public thought it would be.  And really, shame on Honda for doing that.

[Litespeed]

I agree, the RC51 sucks as a race bike and so do Bridgestone 001 tires.  For some strange reason I have an RC51 sitting in my garage with a set of 001's on both sets of wheels.  I'm guessing that personal preference has a lot to do with why I ride it over an inline 4 or the fact that I can actually go faster on the v-twin over my previous 600 (no I haven't ridden a 750 but most of the tracks around here and condusive to faster laps on the 600s' over the 750's).  SO, if you want an RC51 get one, if you don't want one don't get one.

[Fast4fun]

The RC is neat looking and it has the Honda name.  It's really unfortunate that it didn't turn out to be the bike that the racing public thought it would be.  And really, shame on Honda for doing that.


AMEN!

[unforgivenracing]

The thing I like about the RC is this.......It is forgiving!  You may not be the fastest bike on the track, but you will be consistant, and learn alot.  The bike has the raw V-twin lowend to get you out of trouble when you do dumb bumbs.  I/e, miss brake marker, run wide ect.  Also, You can run it in alot of different catagories.  Its gust fun,  Heavy.....Yea, at firts mine felt that way too.  Alot of money in the chassie and leg work front/ rear made that go away fast enough though.  You cannot do things in the setup the same as a inline.  It will never be lighting fast like a inline, but that wasnt what it was built for. It was made to take the prize away from another Twin (Duc.)  It did it for the Factory and it did it well.  It was a purpose built bike.  

  I like mine, alot.  I like it more then a inline.  Its more all around fun. (to me)  I wish I could keep it.  But I will have to let it go.  If I was to get heavy into Racing again though, and could spend more time at it........I would get another RC.

[Super Dave]

It was made to take the prize away from another Twin (Duc.)  It did it for the Factory and it did it well.  It was a purpose built bike.

Honda built it to have a platfom to win Superbike.  They designed a sihiluette that they could put completely different parts on that only the factory supported teams could source.  And the rules allowed this?  Maybe let everyone know what a farce the rules are.

Certainly isn't a purpose built race bike, becuase if it was it would have been lighter and a much more appropriate for track use in its consumer state.  An SV650 is probably more purpose built than an RC51