Back for 2008

[Tark]

After only managing 2 rounds last year and getting wiped out in one of them, this year I am back!

I have done ok in 2006 and 2007 on the 2001 CBR600 F Sport with some podiums but have been finding it difficult to keep up with the newer more tuned machines at the front of the pack. My response has been to swap both of my CBR600 F sport race bikes for a Newer CBR600RR plus some cash to spend on it.

Here it is as it stands now:

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u158/tarkmalbot/Bikes/CBR600RR/9ec5_3.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u158/tarkmalbot/Bikes/CBR600RR/a292_3.jpg

At present it is loaded with new shiny bits but putting out about 10bhp less than my tuned F Sport was. The RR is running a standard engine with 2800 road miles on it with 107 BHP at the back wheel. At present it has a HRC ECU and Loom and a full Arrow titanium race exhaust system.

After speaking to many tuners I have decided it needs some work to be able to be competitive in the crazy 600 class. Even the resricted power class of the Thundersport 600 has a cut off point of 132bhp!!! That only leave me to find 25bhp! The biggest problem with the RR is that Honda biult the engine on the cheap using aluminium bores and pistons that are chemically coated to reduce friction. These are fine on the road but when used for racing the pistons and bores wear badly after the teflon coating wears away which reduces power and requires regular engine refreshes and new pistons. As mine has only been previously used on the road and is low millage I should have a good healthy starting point.

It is off to be tuned by Mike Smith next week where it will have the engine stripped, internals balanced and blue printed, cylinders bored, new racing pistons and rings, new bearings all round, skimmed cylinder head, ported inlet and exhaust ports, re-profiled cams, re-cut valves, slotted cam sprockets, HRC bellmouths, K&N, Power Commander 3 & quickshifter. The bike should then be producing near to 130bhp and the new bores and pistons will make the engine stronger and more reliable and last a few seasons before it needs a refresh. Only problem is the cost at over £3000!! No-one said competitive racing in the 600 class was cheap!! It still wont be he fastest 600 on the grid but it should help me keep closer to the sharp end.

I have never had my bikes tuned before and have always bought my bikes tuned already and sold them on before they needed refreshing. I guess I have got away without spending bick bucks on engine tuning and rereshing for 6 years and now is the time to put my hand deep in my pocket! At least I will know I have a good healthy engine with plenty of power and a good chassis to start with. I just hope the weakest link isn't the rider!! lol

[kasandrich]

.....so let me get it straight, all that is for 13BHP? (13 more than your old bikes, 107 being 10 down on your old bike makes that 117, and 130 is the target with the new bike, total gain 13 BHP)

Surely there will be handling and weight advantages as well though won't there?.......are you doing anything in that department or has it already been played with?


Pray tell more about slotted cam sprockets, never heard of it, what is that all about?

[Tark]

Firstly my Old F Sport was an Ex full factory supersport bike so had all the works. Problem was it was getting old and would have needed a refresh costing a few thousand and it wasn't going to get any more tuned than it already was. That and it is heavier and more or a tourer than the RR. My Wet bike had 112bhp at the back wheel on the dyno but I never had the dry bike on the dyno as it was set up when I got it. the 117 I quoted before was a guess as it was said to be 120 odd but I think it will have lost some over time although it was a little quicker than the other one. I have a set of Maxton front forks for the RR and will look into a rear shock depending on how it handles as standard. I hope the RR Chassis will aloow me to ride faster and it should handle better than the F Sport if set up right. Certainly has more potential.

I think the slotted cam sprockets are to do with saving weight, allowing the engine to rev quiker and allow oil flow through the sprockets for better lubrication. I think.... lol It's not a hard or time consuming job according to tuners so might as well whilst the engine is apart.

[fall off]

"I just hope the weakest link isn't the rider!! lol"

i don't think it will , think it will come down to track time that will let you down matey .

3K thats pocket money to you LOL

[the captain]

Dude, you'll be effing flying on that!!!! :rockon

[STEALTH52]

I like that...looking good

[Tark]

Thanks guys. I should be able to get a bit more track time this year. More than last year anyway!!

[becky]

I havent read ur whole post, mostly because i wont understand it :grin2 But good luck for this year hope it all goes well. Let us no when ur at brands! nice and close :grin2

[Tark]

The bike is now with the tuners. Engine is stripped and work is starting. Only problem it is looking like it will take up to 4 weeks to get the bores plated and kent cams to be re-profiled. Might miss my first intended race on 4th and 5th May so hopefully will get a track day in to learn the new bike before racing in June.

[stu600cc]

Nice one!!! :jumping2

Good luck matey

[Tark]

Its not looking so good at the moment. I have missed the first 2 rounds of the championship already and I will sure miss the third and maybe 4th. And to make matters worse it looks like the bike wont be ready to pick up until the day before the 5th meeting which will make it impossible for me to get it ready to race in time. Looking like I wont get to race until past half way through the season with only 2 rounds left I will be able to make!

The big problem at the min is that the bores are going to be plated and they can't do that until they have the pistons. As it happens there are no Wiseco pistons in the country at the min and the tuner can't do any work on the head until he knows the lengths of the strokes etc etc....

I am training hard and my mind is set to win this year. I have lost half a stone in weight, stronger than ever and visualise every corner on every track as I run every day. All I need is a bloody bike!! lol

If anyone wants to lend me a track bike until mine is ready I will look after it!! lol. I need to get out there. The suspense is killing me!

[NinjaMad]

unlucky dude on whats happening i hope you can recover some points over this season

[harriebird]

which championship are you doing this year tark?

[Tark]

Well I have the dates for MRO, New Era Superclub and Derby Phoenix. It all depends when I am not offshore and who is racing. I think I will manage about 3 with MRO, 2 with Derby Phoenix and 2 with New Era. I wont be taking any championships but I might upset a few front runners just to make it interesting for them.. lol