I bought my RC51 about 2 months ago, and to begin with it was real hate, i just could not imagine that Honda could have built something so bad. So it was time to investigate what i could do to make things at least better. My bike had Leo Vinci Hi Level Titanium cans fitted, an Ohlins rear shock and standard front end. First of all i set up the static sag and found that i had 60mm in the front and 10mm in the rear !!!!!. I wound up the front spring preload but the best that i could get, with the preload adjusters fully wound in was 40mm ideally i wanted 30mm and the rear was set at 30mm. I then backed off front and rear rebound and compression. Took the bike up the road and i did not even reconise the bike it felt completely different and so much better.
I then completed the flapper mod, and fitted the 15 tooth front sprocket, i am now on 15/40. Took the bike up the road again WOW i am really beggining to enjoy this.
The bike now goes exactly where i point, it holds a good line, glides over the bumps without sending me out of the saddle and has got real smooth wollop coming out the bends. The gearing change makes a huge difference, anyone who is on standard gearing will find a huge difference if they change.
What i will do in the future is change the front fork springs to Ohlins so i can get the correct sag. and also fit a powercommnader which i believe will make another huge difference. some questions
1 Any reccomendations on amount and weight of front fork oil to use with Ohlins front springs?
2 By changing the front sprocket do i change the speedo readings?
3 Do the powercommanders last ok? it is just that i have read a few reports of breakages it seems a lot to pay if it is going to brake just out of the guarantee period. Does it make the fuel consumption better or worse?
So the RC51 relationship is very much turning from HATE to LOVE. The bike now feels like the bike i allways hoped it would be.
Glad the bike is working out for you. They are really good bikes, despite the rantings.
As for the Power Commander, make sure you secure it with zip ties or something similar, I wouldn't want the unit bouncing around beneath the passenger seat. It'll hold up better if you do your part.
Ken
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Originally Posted by Area 51
I'm fifty and ride a sport bike. I guess I'm a tool too - just like you, bros. Got a few hunting guns too.
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Originally Posted by Turd Ferguson
Can't say for sure but I suspect Rand Paul is an ass.
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IQ51 still fits, i see...
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I believe Dan Kyle uses Ohlins 5w in his RC51 fork builds but you need to confirm.
Depending on your weight and you didn't say what year model RC51 you have so you may not need new fork springs. If you have an 00/01 you can get by with just adding a spring preload spacers if you are comfortable servicing your own forks. If not just send them off to Dan and he will install the spacer (if needed), polish the sliders and alter the shim stack for $330.
As for gas mileage: I was seeing around 35mpg in city driving the first 6 months I rode the bike. Then I installed a PC3usb with the standard map for the '04 as set by PowerCommander. MPG didn't change. However, I did notice a difference in how the bike ran because of the PC. I very much recommend getting one.
I went to bikewike '06 and did between 80-90 mph there and back and saw 50mpg on the highway. (BTW: I'm running OEM sprockets (16/40))
About a month ago I did a round trip to Tampa and back. On the way home across Alligator Alley I did about 100mph the whole way. MPG dropped down to mid to upper 30's. (Also, I'm only 5'7", so I don't have much upper body sticking up over the windshield, hence less drag.)
Conclusion: The RC is good on gas when the rev's sit around 5,000. But start accelarating hard or maintaining higher rev's and it sucks gas like a top fuel funny car. I've seen my mileage drop into the 20's after some more aggressive throttle twisting.
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Mass is your worst enemy, skill is your best weapon.
I also run 15/40, and did the flapper mod. Works great, but just added the power commander this last weekend and I can't explain how much it changed the bike. The thing was unrideable below 3000 RPM, would buck like a bull, but now the torque down low, the idle and over 9k hit is awesome.
No wonder you didn't like the bike, with the suspension that far off, crappy gearing, and aftermarket cans without the PC, I'm sure it was a piece to ride.
3). I have an old PC II and although alot of people have had theirs fail, mine has been rock solid since 01 when I installed it (it has lived through a few track crashes too). The newer PCIIIR and PC USB have been more reliable from what I have read. I think most people have experienced worse mileage with the PC installed, but the bike is more fun to ride, the low end throttle can be made more manageable, and you can help tune out the lull between 5-7K RPM.
Sorry about that first reply of mine, when I said you were "Good looking" I thought you were the sweet looking girl sitting on the adventure bike in the 4th pic. You could post more pictures of her, we don't mind.
#2 yes, changing gearing does change your speedo - I use the plug and play Speedo Healer from calsportbike.
#3 yes I'm on my third PCIII USB in 2+ years. This last one has been the longest lasting so far and DynoJet has replaced each failed unit after I've sent it back to them. They've had standup service so I would feel comfortable in buying one.
From Hate to Love !!!
2 months ago
"03 RC"
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