Who's got the lightest one?

[kostritzer]

Just out of curiosity, who has the lightest(actually weighed!) NC30/NC35 on here? I'm talking wet, and ready to ride. Don't care if its a track or road bike, just curious to what the potential lowest weight can be with one.

[kostritzer]

Whoa Whoa, one at a time please! Don't tell me no one ever weighs their bikes after they've been stripped and blinged?

I know theres not a whole lot that can be done to make them light cheaply, but just for shits and giggles, has anyone got one down below 160kg wet? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

[Drunkn Munky]

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

love that film

I dont think many peeps have the means to weigh their bikes, i know i dont but id like to. Im guessing my RVF is a little heavier now ive added some road gear but in race form it must have been pretty lightweight.

[g-force performance]

Just out of curiosity, who has the lightest(actually weighed!) NC30/NC35 on here? I'm talking wet, and ready to ride. Don't care if its a track or road bike, just curious to what the potential lowest weight can be with one.

Probably Michael Ruehl

[CMSMJ1]

Could be our Scandinavian friends - Lasse and Ronni B.

What about Ken (VenomKen) - his bike was pretty damn pukka.

Micheal Ruehl's is just too cool for school..

It is not any of mine, I'll tell you that!

[RonniB]

Mine is 150kg full wet (only 6.5l fuel cell, so if I were to run with a full oem tank wet weight would be 160kg). weight is 52.4% front and 47.6% rear.

There is still some weight to taken off:

- exhaust, approx 2kg
- Alloy rear subframe, approx 700g
- Front fork assy (newer legs and new yokes), 1kg
- rear wheel, 300-500g
- Carbon bodywork (got race fairings in fiberglass) 0.5-1kg
- Internal engine mods, approx 1kg
- Chassis adjusters and bolts, approx 1kg
- Starter removed, approx 1.5kg


Ronni

[thunderace]

Unless you're racing and can ride the bike to it's limits, what does the weight matter?

[g-force performance]

Unless you're racing and can ride the bike to it's limits, what does the weight matter?

Simple physics:
Imagine you are sliding a box across a smooth floor. The box weighs 100kg. It's hard to get started in sliding, and if you stop the resistance would slow it down quicker. If you drop that weight, it's easier to get started, and will slide a bit further after you stop pushing.

When riding a bike that is heavy, and under powered, you're asking the little 400cc engine to "move that box". Lighten the box, and the little engine doesn't have to try so hard. Or, better put, the energy from the little engine doesn't get absorbed into the initial movement as much. So, the bike will feel like it is "leaping" from corner to corner. Look at Pedrosa.....Mr. Holeshot!!!!!!

In the corners, it's even more apparent. When the bike is at full lean, and you need to transition from one knee, all the way to the other, the weight of the bike can feel like 500kg or more. If you lighten the bike, particularly the weight furthest from the center of the roll axis, the bike will be easier to transition from side to side. It doesn't matter how fast you are, or if you're racing or riding in the hills, that ease of transition will make riding less of a workout, and far more enjoyable.

When it comes to making the bike turn better, wheels are the #1 modification you can do. In addition to the physical weight like described above, you are dealing with dynamic weight (weight in motion). In this case gyroscopic counterforces to your input in trying to make the bike turn. When you put lighter wheels on the bike, it can feel as though it lost 500kg, even when it never weighed that much to begin with. Force=Mass*Acceleration. The mass of the weight of the wheel furthest away from the center of rotation multiplies. So, it really can be as much as 500kg (or more) of force. Cut that by a third, and the bike will feel as though it's a whole other bike - or a scooter. Again, doesn't matter of it's street, hills, track days or racing, you'll feel it and it will put a smile on your face

Mike Norman
G-Force Engine Development
http://www.mngforce.com

[Simon_Ed]

i know my RVF from last year was about the 149 - 150 kg mark, that was with a starter and wet

[kostritzer]

Well put Mike. I would think the only disadvantage to being very light on a motorcycle would be dealing with strong cross winds. Obviously all the advantages far outweigh that single disadvantage(that, and it makes it a bit easier for thieves to stuff into the back of a van)!

I'm actually surprised to find out that these bikes can get down to 150kg relatively easily. Now if I can remove 30kg's from my NC, and another 30 kg's from my gut....