beansbaxter
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posted June 18, 2002 07:30 PM
Got to ride a RC51 !!
My buddy let me take out his 2001 Honda RC51...only mods is exhaust upgrade and a PC2. It's hella fast, but just seems so different than the 12. He swears by it, but I'm still so in love with my 12.
I was checking out Kelley's Blue Book prices on motorcycles, and a 2001 RC51 goes for just a little less than a 2002 12....why is that? How does the RC51 hold its value so much better?
The RC51 is a 2-cylinder while the ZX-12R is a 4-cylinder. Is this better or does it make a difference?
But for the record, I'm ooh soo happy with my 12, even if it is in stock form. Just curious on what everyone else thinks of the RC51? Has anyone else driven one?
   
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Zhooligan
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posted June 18, 2002 07:35 PM
Honda sold a small number of them and released them a little at a time. Thereby creating exclusivity! It is a very narrow focus motorcycle. The 12 is more of an everyday rider.
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zx9r
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posted June 18, 2002 07:46 PM
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I love the RC.It really does seem exotic..
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beansbaxter
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posted June 18, 2002 07:51 PM
The exclusivity thing makes total sense. I wasnt aware of that.
I really dont like the way RC51 looks. The snout and headlights just dont look as good the 12. And they should fire the guy at Honda who came up with that paint design. But that is just one man's mere opinion lol.
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Zhooligan
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posted June 18, 2002 08:07 PM
Wait until the new RC51 owner pulls the gas tank!! Or should I say try to. Scratched tank and one very pissed of Jose' later.
Make sure your buddy disables the soft rev limiter. Picks up about 1000 rpm and about three hp.
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To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
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future; -- Youth is forever.
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Jse20
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posted June 18, 2002 10:50 PM
RC51
RC51 is alot of fun to ride in the twisties. I couldn't put as many miles on one of those as I do on the ZX12.
I was a little dissapointed in the power on it. I was expecting mad crazy power.
 
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beansbaxter
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posted June 18, 2002 11:02 PM
 Edited By: beansbaxter on 19 Jun 2002 00:03
The RC51 I believe is nearly the same dry weight as the 12. My friend who owns it gets pretty insane with his turns. But it doesnt feel comfortable to tour like the 12.
It just sucks that a used 2001 RC51 goes for about as much as a brand new 2002 12. Oh well....lol...Ninja forever!!
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frEEk
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posted June 18, 2002 11:08 PM
dry on the 2002 rc51 is 430lbs. 2001 was a little heavier.
around here a 2001 rc goes for about $13,500, whereas a 2001 12 can be had for a little less than that. jsut saw new 2000 12's for $11,999! (thats canadian y'all). the 2002 on the other hand is full sticker. they'v reduced the numbers alot, so now it's in demand again. only brought 16 into canada.
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beansbaxter
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posted June 18, 2002 11:12 PM
Your right...dry weight for my 2002 12 is 463lbs...according to Kawasaki's fabulous website.
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Zx12RNinja
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posted June 19, 2002 03:44 AM
I like the 51 except for one thing. It can't run with my 12R.
It will never put out the horsepower of a Kaw.
But i love the look's of the 51.
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frEEk
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posted June 19, 2002 09:29 AM
buddy heard that with pipes and remapping, there is 20hp more available from the rc. that would put it at 145 rear wheel, which would really start to be a quick bike. 125 stock for a 430lb bike just isnt enough imo.
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22348bCVC
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posted June 19, 2002 11:39 AM
Edited By: 22348bCVC on 19 Jun 2002 12:42
Ahhhh...Twins.....
...oooooh....you should try out a well sorted and piped Aprilia Mille/Mille-R or a Falco...L U C I O U S E! and oh-so-light!!!..."affordable exotics"...especially if you can find a new 2001 Mille-R $16,000 OTD w/full Ohlins front/rear/steering...I'll take a twin shotgun-type Arrow piped yellow one, please 
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Zhooligan
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posted June 19, 2002 06:43 PM
Own both. And the Mille R is light years better. The Mille kicks the shit out of the 51 in every way. It has better performance, turns circles around the 51, is stable at speed, and is an exotic motorcycle to boot.
The Aprilia dealers will work with you and the after treatment is excellent. You are part of the Aprilia family. At Laguna an Aprilia key will even get you special access and parking. The 51 is fun, the Mille R is outrageous.
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frEEk
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posted June 19, 2002 07:52 PM
zhooligan, and thoughts about the 2002 rc? if i understand correctly, it has the swingarm and wheels form the works kit, and a few other things, most noticeably larger throttle bodies. heard one report said it's a whole new bike, but seems like not that much has changed. u'v put tons of effort into ur race rc right? any tips for my (internet-less right now) buddy?
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Zhooligan
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posted June 19, 2002 09:06 PM
It is improved over the 2000-2001 models. It has a "works like" swing arm that has the indentation on the right side that will better facilitate an oversized exhaust system. Mike Velasco of MVR Racing is working on building a sytem for the 2002. He intends to offer shot guns on the right side, duals like last years Superbike and a Single can like this years Superbike.
The 2002 is a few pounds lighter, they relocated the computer nder the seat out of harms way and a few other tid bits. Stock the two we have dynoed have not made any more noticeable horsepower than last years bike. It seems to make the torque and hp a little sooner though.
Your friend will want to disable the soft rev limiter. Honda has the 51 start hitting a soft limiter at around 9200 or so rpm. (my memory isn't perfect!). Aminor mod and you can disable the soft limiter and she revs until redline approx. 11,400 +-. This usually adds three or more horsepower. Swft may remeber the soft rev limiter mod, or can steer you to the source.
As for major mods I can only stree the RC is massively expensive to make big power with. And I mean big dollars over 50 K. My suggestion is a good exhaust system and a Power Commander IIIr. Velasco RC51 exhaust with a Power Commander raised the stock 119 horsepower motor to 132 to 135 horsepower. This was done on a number of bikes.
The other mods would be stainless brake lines, a steering dampner, forks revalved by Race Tech (my personal prefference) and an Ohlins rear shock. This will make your friend competitive with pretty much any club racer and with the exception of a 1000 inline four. 998R aor Mille R should run the straights with the best of them.
RC51 like any good big twin is very easy to ride in the twisties. They are deceptive. You don't think your fast and then you look around and your buddies are behind you some place! Using some of Keith Codes terms, the RC51 lets you spend more of your $5 of attention on riding, the road etc. and less on fear and stress.
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To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
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frEEk
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posted June 19, 2002 11:25 PM
thanks for the tips zhooligan. he actually jsut called me today to say he picked up a pair of muzzy pipes (no header yet) as he got a killer deal: CDN$700 for the TI cans and intermediate pipe. normally $1600 or something. at this point he's doin it more for sound than anything. the stock exhaust is surprisingly muted. not sure how much he's gonna spend on other mods for now, since he really couldnt afford the bike in the first place and doesnt pretend to be good enough to make use of the bike's full potential anyway. hopes to get away without a pc3 with the slipons. i was VERY surprised the bike didnt come with briaded lines. it just seems that for a bike like the rc, stock braided lines owuld be a no-brainer. go figure.
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