Some custom bike owners drive us up the wall with their fear of actually riding. It sounds rather bizarre to most of us-why build a wild ride that's destined to sit on a trailer? Though there are the fearless few with nice bikes who rip wheelies and smoke up the rear end, the majority of custom sportbike owners tend to shy away from really getting down to business.
When SSB first spoke with bike owner Bruce Parker and builder Bob Fisher of Roaring Toyz there was a collective agreement to keep plenty of distance between this bike and the trailer queens. But, the initial idea of creating a sick custom CBR to help promote Parker's new Honda apparel company, Project H, evolved into something much grander than just a mildly tuned street bike.
If you're not careful, the...
If you're not careful, the turboed CBR will snap you off instantly.
The plan was to build the CBR1000RR into a beautiful street killer without sacrificing ridability and function. It sounds easy enough, right? The idea evolved and soon included a turbo and a single-sided 240 rear as part of the formula. That's when some shit hit the fan, but we can only blame ourselves for creating the extra work.
Roundtable discussions for finding direction in the build repeatedly came back to avoidance of the same notion-wimpy riders on pretty bikes. Nobody wanted a chromed-out boat to soak up attention without getting its tires dirty, and with that in mind the final attack details were set-build something hot enough to grab eyes but with performance that would rip your arms off. OK, so it'd be easy with stock wheels and swingarm, but now we had to source the custom parts, and quick.
Project H was built from the...
Project H was built from the ground up-in less than a month!
That predictably led to problem number two-stretched or stock wheelbase? Again, the collective agreement was made that a stock (or as close as possible) wheelbase with a 240-rear tire (only because Pirelli now has its Diablo performance rubber available) would be the best option for style and performance. Nothing super-stretched and no ba-donk-a-donk rear, because this bike was ultimately going to be ridden around a track at the conclusion of the build.
With the blueprint in hand, Fisher set to work. There was yet another issue, however-the timeline. Parker planned to unveil the bike at the Laguna Seca MotoGP alongside his Project H apparel, but Roaring Toyz didn't even see the bike until June. That basically meant there was less than four weeks to build it.
When we told contributors Cycle Logic (turbo), Gregg's Customs (swingarm) and Performance Machine (wheels, rotors, calipers) about our plan to build the sickest CBR around they were indeed excited...until we dropped the deadline on them, that is.
If you've ever sent out your wheels to be chromed or even simply ordered a part online you'll understand how comical the scenario must have been to these shops-these things take time, ya know. Not only did the three aforementioned companies have to fabricate custom parts, but they had to get them done in a matter of days.
The stock damper works fine,...
The stock damper works fine, but we had to dress up the dash.
Detailed custom paint is just...
Detailed custom paint is just as important as the high-performance parts.
A custom Penske shock was...
A custom Penske shock was dialed in for the track by GMD Computrack.
Miraculously, all of them came through, but if only one fell short the entire project would've been a bust. The situation created a cool vibe, actually, because each company relied on the other's hard work in order for its own product to be utilized. Sort of an unspoken understanding there.
Honda's CBR1000RR isn't a regular on the custom bike scene in the first place, and when the task of creating a functioning turbo fell in Cycle Logic's lap there was obviously a bit of concern whether it could be finished and working in time. Not only did Cycle Logic's Dave Jones get the turbo fitting properly and looking amazing (check out his handbuilt airbox), but performing brilliantly as well.
While Jones hammered away on the turbo in Florida, Gregg Desjardins worked diligently to get the swingarm together on the opposite coast. Though his California-based shop has been making sick swingarms for years, this was the first time his full set-up has been used. Instead of sourcing Ducati parts as in previous designs, Gregg's Customs has developed its own hub and assembly, making the entire bolt-on package without using "borrowed" parts.
The amazing wheel that's attached to the tubular swingarm wasn't merely plucked off the shelf, either. Performance Machine's David Zemla did his part in making the unthinkable happen by not only producing the contrast-cut "Torque" wheels in just days, but also the matching rotors to complement the slick rims.
Gregg's Customs complete swingarm...
Gregg's Customs complete swingarm package gave us unique show-stopping looks.
These major components were at the core of the build, yet there were loads of other contributors that also helped at the drop of our helmet. Though the bike was taking shape as one of the sickest CBRs of all time, it would've looked rather silly with stock levers, rearsets and other odds and ends that we tend to take for granted. Not only did the parts have to be sourced, but they also needed to be in stock, in the right finish and able to be shipped immediately. Sato had the rearsets covered, while Yana Shiki contributed levers and Hotbodies Racing hooked up an undertail seat unit for clean lines. Custom Sportbike Concepts even extended its support to the competition and provided a clear clutch-case cover.
This wasn't a rush job by any means. After all, the builder was also to be the test rider, and Fisher wasn't going to lash the bike together simply for the sake of getting it done-not when he planned to ride it to the limit upon completion.
Sato rearsets give plenty...
Sato rearsets give plenty of ground clearance and look the biz.
After Roaring Toyz painter Ryan Hathaway sprayed his magic wand over the body with Parker's Project H dcor it was ready to hit the track...almost. Fisher is a pretty handy racer and has finished in the top 20 at Daytona's grueling 200-mile race, so he knows a thing or two about set-up. Hopping on a bike as extreme as Project H without dialing in the suspension would be madness, and considering that, he sent it to GMD Computrac for a complete geometry optimization and suspension tune. GMD understood the essence of the deadline and spent several late nights getting the bike dialed in for its track debut.
The bike ultimately survived Fisher's abuse around the Jennings circuit and gained the approval of the crowds at the MotoGP. It's a pretty amazing accomplishment considering the time crunch put on the exclusive one-off parts, fabrication and set-up required to make it all work properly. Slapping a trick ride together in less than a month is difficult in its own right, but building a bike that makes a pro racer and thousands of race fans walk away with perma-grin is something special.
PM rotors and calipers add...
PM rotors and calipers add style and the power we needed to stop the beast.
Too much power can actually...
Too much power can actually make wheelies tough to manage. Bob seemed to have it covered, though.
Pirelli's Diablo 240 was crucial...
Pirelli's Diablo 240 was crucial in getting the power down, and keeping the rider up.
2007 Honda CBR1000RR
Front end: GMD Computrac geometry optimization, GMD resprung and revalved forks, Performance Machine "Torque" wheel, Performance Machine calipers and rotors, HEL braided brake lines, Pirelli Diablo tire
Rear end: Gregg's Customs single-sided swingarm and drive assembly, rear rotor, caliper, master cylinder, Performance Machine "Torque" 240 wheel, HEL braided brake line, Penske 8900 shock set up by GMD Computrac, Pirelli Diablo 240 tire
Motor: Cycle Logic turbo kit, Cycle Logic lock-up clutch, Roaring Toyz exhaust, Custom Sportbike Concepts clear clutch cover
Paint: Ryan Hathaway at Roaring Toyz
Polish/chrome: Jon Reed at Sport Chrome
Bodywork: Hotbodies Racing undertail
Accessories: Sato Racing rearsets, Gregg's Custom LED front turn signal and mirror block-offs, Sato Racing frame sliders, Clear Alternatives integrated taillight, Custom Dynamics accent lighting, Yana Shiki "Titax" adjustable levers, EliteSeats4U custom seat, Roaring Toyz bar ends, Sport Chrome gas cap
Special thanks to:
Project H: Check here for the hottest Honda apparel on the street. www.parkersynergies.com
Roaring Toyz: Obviously, the dudes at Roaring Toyz make some of the sickest rides on the road (and now the track, too). www.roaringtoyz.com
Led lights inside the clear...
Led lights inside the clear clutch cover-pimp!
Gregg's Customs: For sick billet parts and ridiculously cool swingarm kits, look to the Cali kid. www.greggscustoms.com
Bob Fisher on track: "I was pretty excited to get to the track and show what a 240 could do-it isn't just about good looks. Penske made us a shock specific for this application, and after GMD Computrac optimized and tuned the suspension it handled great. I couldn't complain about the handling, to be honest.
The turbo makes so much power that I couldn't get in the power as soon as I would've liked to, and it made the straight stretches so short. Now I know how the old 500cc two-stroke riders felt without electronics to keep everything hooked up. The power on this thing is just heinous!"