Anyone with or had experience of fitting race fairings on an ABS bike - do you know if an HRC subframe (or similar) would allow room for all of the ABS equipment? Of course there will be the need to chop the fibreglass fairing up a bit to accommodate it, but I don't know if there is an aftermarket race subframe that has room or if it's a case of sticking with the oem subframe? Any advice recommended as always
Think you are going to struggle tbh. Is your bike going to be a dedicated track bike? If so I'd personally be looking to remove the abs?
Very good question! Not 100% sure yet is my answer... I've only ridden on track this year and hardly have time for riding on road anymore. Hence wanting some race fairings to stick on...
In that case I'd just keep the standard subframe and cut the race fairings to suit the batt tray and abs bulge.... thread on here lately doing just that.
In that case I'd just keep the standard subframe and cut the race fairings to suit the batt tray and abs bulge.... thread on here lately doing just that.
Yep I saw the thread and that's what got me thinking about an HRC subframe and whether it'd work with the ABS bulge. I need to see one up close against the bike really to decide what would need playing around with to make it all fit (or not!)
It's not where you fit it all its how it all fits in mate.... I seriously wouldn't bother, ball ache for not much gain specially in track days tbh
Ha agreed mate. That's my answer - stick with oem subframe if sticking with abs! Thanks Jimbo - appreciate your time with this
lol... makes sense... No worries - I'm looking at the hrc myself, raced with the oem no probs but snapped mine, put borrowed one on for now but the hrc in it's stubby design just looks more robust with less leverage to take impact hence why I'm thinking along those lines. and they can be bent back and welded. trust me!!! the oem ones cant.... but it took some substantial force through craners to make a mess of it I tell ya ha
If your thinking of tracking the blade then I'd seriously get rid of the ABS mate as Jimbo says. The brakes are loads better without and the bike looses 10kg in the process. Other thing to think about is that if tracking it, the brakes will need bled more often, which as u probably already know is a total ball ache. Here's where mine ended up
Colin, did you sell the ABS on afterwards to recoup some cash? If so what did you get? My only issue with tracking my bike permenantly is that its a 2011 HRC, totally immaculate, under 10k on the clock with full history etc. In my ownership I've stuck a load of stuff on (ohlins front and rear, brembo m4, lightech rearsets, Arrow exhaust, etc etc etc) - and I can't work out if I'm being an arse by taking a pristine bike and turning it into atrack bike (although I'm totally happy using it on track days as it is). Can't decide on whether I should put it back to standard and sell for a good price, and then buy a cheaper scrapper Blade and stick my goodies on it and have a pure track bike. Honestly, I struggle to find time to ride on the roads - I have a 13 week old daughter too which makes weekends tricky to get out, so booking in track days during the week is what I do. And riding on track is a whole different kettle of fish - it is absolutely mega. It's the best thing in the world... seriously thinking about going down the ACU licence route (if I can get good enough of course!) and trying my hand at racing in the near future (maybe next year?)... makes me nervous talking about it but Im really keen to do it. And I'm fond of my blade and think it'd be fun to take her on the journey... but am I being a turd by assigning her to a 100% track bike when she is so pristine? Sorry for the brain dump guys, not sure why I spouted all that, but I guess it's kind of relevant
If you intend on getting serious about trackdays regular, won't be prestige for long Even lugging it around in a van all the time marks things tbh.... If bite the bullet and use it. Only nuts and bolts and all about using it for what you most enjoy doing. If it's got most of the right stuff then it's perfect for the job!
I bought mine new in 2011 its immaculate and had 3k on the clock before I turned it into a semi track bike. Like you I don't get out on it much due to family commitments so I try and get some tracks days in when I can as this is where the fun is for me. If I come off and smash it up, I'll suck it up and fix it if I can. I bought it to ride and ride is what I will do
Hi mate. The ABS stuff is laying in a bin in my garage. With all it's faults no one is going to want it to be honest. I'm in sort of the same situation as you. I have a track bike I currently share with a friend, but am in thoughts on wither to get another track bike or use the blade. It too has full Ohlins Brembos and many other trinkets. If it was me and I wasn't getting out much on road anymore then the blade would be on track no hesitation.
All very valid points well made gents - and they are the thoughts that keep circulating in my mind. I appreciate them. Colin mate, was it fairly straight forward taking the ABS off? And what happens to the ABS dash light when you take it off?
It was pretty straight forward to take it all off, it's just that you end up with the bike almost stripped rite down to get to all the pumps and feeds. I'm sure I'd did it all in around 6 hours including getting all the tools out and tidying up. In regards to the ABS light it will show up on the dash, though I'll have that sorted shortly and will let folks know how to stop that from showing.
Interesting. Ok mate nice one. I'm still in two minds as to my bikes destiny... depending on route taken and I take the ABS out, if I drop you a note would you be kind enough to point me in the direction of all parts needed to convert the bike to non-ABS? I am sure with some trial and error I could figure it out, but being someone who has done it you could steer me away from any pitfalls. Is that ok?
