I track day mine: Nolan Freebury

Rapidly approaching my 40th birthday in 2013, I had the familiar biker’s midlife crisis. Having been out of the biking world for 15 years I developed a longing to get back in the saddle! In 1993 I purchased a brand new RF600R and loved it, so I decided to give its big brother a try. I soon found myself the owner of an average condition 1996 RF900RT with 32k on the clocks. It cost me £750! Having ridden it for 18 months on road, I decided that it was time to venture on track, so I found myself booked on to the Classic Bike track day at Cadwell in 2014. I was amazed at the performance and capability of a 20-year-old bike with stock suspension. One of the real failings of the RF was the less than great standard suspension. So for the next year that was sorted with a GSX-R750 Nitron shock and a fork rebuild using K-tech springs (ZX-7R, 9.0N/mm springs were a perfect match replacement). These two modifications transformed the RF9. It was now able to hold fast tight lines and stop on a dime (new EBC HH pads in the reconditioned Nissin four-pot calipers.) The RF could now completely hold its own. This is when the RF ceased to be my road bike and it became a dedicated track day special. For 2015 I had upgraded the bike further, this time sporting a full racing spec Ohlins rear shock. BSB spec Brembo radial front master cylinder together with four-pot Brembo calipers and pads. The final drive gearing was also shortened from 15/43 to 14/49. This gave much better acceleration. During the last track day of the year at Snetterton Endurance Legends I had a slight off after hitting some coolant from another bike on track. Not too much damage was done but for 2016 the RF would be getting some serious upgrades… In 2016 on the chassis front, in came a complete 2006 YZF-R1 5VY front end transplant (just one head bearing needed to be changed, I could even use the stock lock stops!) Ohlins fork springs up front, a newer GSX-R Ohlins rear race shock, 1992 GSX-R clip-ons, a CBR1000R quick action throttle, Brembo gold line clutch master cylinder, Venhill brake lines, Race Gadgets quick shifter, custom SV650 rear-sets on riser plates, custom paint by me for £45! And what of the motor: by now she had genuine Yoshimura headers, custom NRP Exhausts link pipe, carbon Akrapovic end-can with carbon hanger, K&N filter, Dynojet stage one kit, five degrees of ignition advance (running 99 octane fuel), EBC HD clutch springs and all this resulted in 126.5 rear-wheel bhp at 10.500rpm and 70lb-ft at 8500rpm! So what’s good or bad on the standard RF? Good is value for money, size and riding comfort, a bulletproof engine, turbine-like power, lots of torque, low seat height and cheap parts. And the bad points: second gear can have problems, the alternator drive can shear its rubber mount and the overall build quality isn’t that great! Looks are subjective. My tips: an ignition advancer, unplug the pink wire (eliminates timing retard), a decent end can, bar raisers/flat bars, lower pegs, progressive fork springs, a Corbin seat, new rear shock and a better headlight bulb!