Re: Worthwhile mods for a 996 racebike? (996miami)
Buy a GSXR-750 and be done with it.
I went this way starting four years ago with an ex-Pro-Thunder 748/800 that already had a lot of trick parts, and four years later I've got an
awesomely trick heavily built 996 superbike that I may or may not race this season depending on how easy I find it to race two bikes (the 750 being bike #1).
It's still an awesome machine and I'll ride it at track days, but the reliability has definitely suffered as I've built it up and as I've gotten faster and more aggressive. Without a supporting team with deep pockets and a lot of time to devote, I just can't get it to last a full season without problems. Not such a big deal for a track-day bike, but really annoying if you're trying to chase championship points.
The sky's the limit on mods, depending on how much you want to spend, but personally I'd start with:
1) Rebuild the forks and shock and find someone who really knows what they're doing to help with setup. Quicker steering has it's drawbacks, in my experience - go to the gym and starting running instead.
2) 1/5-turn throttle from Redracing - it's like $35 and a huge improvement for a track bike.
3) Woodcraft clipons, so you can adjust the bar position for better leverage and whilst leaned over.
edit: And, adjustable rearsets, but you already have them.
3b) Quick-change gearing, forgot about that - big help for a track bike.
4) Slipper clutch, but you already have one.
5) In order (stop when you're happy or run out of money
), Ferodo XR pads, steel lines if you don't have them, Brembo 19x18 master, 4-pad calipers (need new matching pads, of course), Braketech iron rotors. I went all the way and have truly awesome brakes.
6) Shift light. Dynatek makes a nice one.
7) O.K., the gym isn't enough, get the mag wheels - but if you do, make at least the rear 16.5" so you can run the best slicks, which you'll want if you start doing a lot of motor work.
8) Quick-shifter. A nice mod, but a continual pain to keep set up properly - you'll also tend to chew up gears more quickly.
edit: it's also a potential source of really annoying electrical gremlins
Now you're into the big-$$ stuff, like the long swingarm + AMS clamps (gotta do both), Ohlins forks (some say you can modify Showas to do just as well), and motor mods. Again, stop when you run out of money.
Modified by JeffKoch at 11:17 PM 1/19/2005