Hot Road Rides In The Spotlight
Not long ago the streetbike scene was split; On one end you had the go-fast replicas that performed well but looked stock, and on the other you had the bling machines that looked great but were better left parked.
Thankfully though, with the help of riders like Morgan Recchia the gap is finally being bridged. "I wanted to build a show bike that would appeal to all types of riders-from the bike night custom scene to the full-on racer enthusiasts," Recchia said.
And build a win-all bike he did. Starting with a 2004 Yamaha R1, Recchia wasted little time in hittin' the high notes. The plastics were given a graphical treatment and then blanketed with some shine. They even received a 3M clear bra treatment to keep 'em immaculate for years-and the result is red hot.
When it came time to make the bark match the bite the motor was massaged with some high-comp, oversized JE pistons and a ported head that allowed the 1051cc mill to pound out some extra ponies at the wheel. As you'd expect, a Power Commander III, velocity stacks and a custom exhaust were also utilized to maximize the moving motivation.
Since straight-line performance is only half the battle, Recchia added Ohlins suspension on either end as well as a custom magnesium swingarm to pinpoint the ideal geometry. To help this red rocket hold a tight line some Two Brothers adjustable clip-ons and a Roland Sands triple clamp were also called into play.
In the end, the R1 strikes a healthy balance between performance and poise, and Recchia admits he puts both to the test on a regular basis, "Most customs are trailer queens, but this one has seen many knee dragging weekends and will continue to see many more."
2004 Yamaha YZF-R1
Front End: Ohlins fork internals, Two Brothers Racing clip-ons, Roland Sands triple clamp, Galfer Wave rotors and lines, GPR stabilizer
Rear End: Ohlins shock, magnesium swingarm
Motor: JE Pistons (1051cc), ported head, Power Commander III, Quickshifter, race harness, K&N air filter, velocity stacks, high velocity fuel pump, iridium plugs, AFAM sprocket kit, DID ERV chain, throttle kit, custom exhaust
Paint: Rock and Roll Paintworks, JRT Designs
Accessories: Gilles rearsets and chain adjusters, LED kit and strobes, HID, integrated taillight, CRG levers and bar-end mirrors, Zero Gravity windscreen, Supermoto axle sliders, Probolt dress-up kit, quick-release fasteners, Targa fender eliminator