In the highly competitive class of Pro Street drag racing, this bike is one of the best. Ronnie Mitchell's latest creation, dubbed "Rizzo" (the leader of the Pink Ladies in the movie Grease), is as eye-catching as it is quick.
Mitchell's Pro Street Cycle in Detroit has established a reputation of building bikes that can compete in any custom bike show and still have mind-bending performance, and Rizzo furthers this reputation. Pro Street rules allow for a maximum wheelbase of 68-inches and minimum ground clearance of three-inches. Within those parameters every effort is made to reduce weight, then move it low and forward. This maximizes the weight transfer to the rear wheel on the launch and helps keep the front wheel on the ground.
Mitchell relies on Terry McIntosh for the major components and fabrication work on his builds. The neck is cut back one-inch and the front forks are shortened five-inches. An offset McIntosh triple tree moves the center of mass forward in the bike. In the rear there's a McIntosh 10-over swingarm sprung by a JR1 shock that's purpose-built for the class. Michelin Power One tires wrap BST carbon fiber wheels spun on ceramic bearings for the smoothest, slipperiest and lightest set up possible.
An intercooler water tank...
An intercooler water tank reduces the Ultraplenum boost temperature by 120 degrees.
The beastly motor has numerous mods, but we'll just stick to the major components to give you the idea. Carrillo rods and JE pistons with a massaged head and undercut transmission are the extent of internal workings, and an MTC Gen II multi-stage lockup clutch handles the power delivery. The big turbo, an RCC system that produces 30 pounds of boost, features a Garrett GT-34R snail, Tial wastegate and blowoff valve as well as a water-cooled Ultraplenum. At the head of the electronic system is a Magnetti Marelli Pro Street box.
Aside from the sick chassis and insane motor is the custom paint, but what's up with the pink? "We have been doing different colored bikes for the last couple of years," Mitchell explained. "Pink is something I haven't seen though, and the attention it gets is far beyond what I ever imagined."
The McIntosh offset triple...
The McIntosh offset triple tree brings the front wheel back into the bike, effectively moving the engine forward in the wheelbase. Note the AIM dash and carbon fiber clip-ons; a couple components that suggest serious business.
A plastic airbox can't handle...
A plastic airbox can't handle the big boost, but an aluminum box does the trick.
The custom subframe holds...
The custom subframe holds the relocated radiator and Magnetti Marelli control box.
A BST wheel wrapped in a Michelin...
A BST wheel wrapped in a Michelin Power One tire handle 550+ HP.
While its appearance is certainly eye-catching, its performance is equally impressive. Bud Yoder, an up-and-coming local rider, has taken it over 200 mph in the quarter-mile numerous times, and it also holds various speed records in the US and Canada. With those sort of stats we're pretty sure that old Rizzo can get away with rocking the pink because it'll steal your green at the track any day.
2009 Suzuki Hayabusa
Front end: BST wheel, McIntosh triple tree, Brembo brake and clutch master cylinder, Galfer Wave rotors, Scotts steering damper, Schnitz clip-ons
Rear end: McIntosh 10-over swingarm and custom subframe, JR1 shock, BST wheel, Vortex sprocket
Motor: Carillo rods, JE pistons, ported head, undercut trans, McIntosh low-profile oil pan, NLR oil pump, MTC Gen II clutch, RCC turbo, Garrett GT-34R, Tial 38mm wastegate, Magnetti Marelli Pro Street box
Fastest 1/4 -mile: 7.15@205 mph
Paint: Pro Street Cycle
Accessories: Catalyst Composites bodywork
Owner: Ronnie Mitchell
Builder: Pro Street Cycle (Detroit, MI)