Hi,
a couple of weeks ago I bought a red Clubsport, built in 1998. After doing some minor works and fitting new tires (Avon in soft A24) I had the first roll out on a small airport yesterday.
What I did:
- new fluids
- fixed oil leaks
- checked geometry of suspensions (OK)
- tunes pedals in detail: brake cable for balance was coliding with clutch pedal
- Checked and greased chain
- added another bracket for exhaust/muffler
I am quite satisfied, the Radical
- is quite comfortable concerning bumps
- is easy to drive (clutch, steering etc)
- quite hard to start: I stalled the engine a couple of times 😉
- it loves to turn into corners
- I didn't drive to the limit although I was quite fast ;-). Only one time slightly oversteering, very nice to control! :-))
- engine runs nicely and is fast! Transmission shifts perfect and easy
- engine runs quite (too?) cool, 60°C (140°F) water and oil temperatures at 20° (68°F) outside. Should it have a thermostat? It seems there is no: When I stop and engine idles, temperatures rise. If I start again, they drop back to 60°
- leaks some gas at the bottom of the aluminum tank, but only on the track. If engine runs in my shop everything remains dry. Seems the gas is splashing out somehow. I have to check on that.
- has not tachometer. I thought I would need it. After the testdrive I must say: The shift-lamps work fine and I hear the engine quite well - it will stay like that 😉
- it is not loud, I can drive with a helmet but without anything in my ears. Spectators told me: " It is not loud at all"....
To sum up: I had a lot of fun and I am really looking forward for the first drive on a racetrack!
Regards
Tillmann
Hi Tillman (@till_germany), It is great to hear that you got your Clubsport out for a test. Thanks for posting your progress, I am looking forward to hearing more. Yes, due to the small flywheels on these engines they stall very easily. It can be quite embarrassing at times. 😉
I would definitely check into that fuel leaking issue. Fuel leaking in the cockpit is never a good thing. It could be as simple as an expired vent line.
Looking forward to hearing more.
Charley
Hi Charley,
Yes, when I smelled the gas, I stopped immediately and took of the rear hood to see what's up. I would not like gas to catch fire at the exhaust :-()
But up there everything dry like a desert. Only some gas at the bottom of the tank. So I had some more fun until I had to stop due to plane approaching (it landed just a few minutes later)… 🙂
I'll keep you informed...
Till
@till_germany, It isn't too difficult to check out the fuel tank to see where it is leaking from. Once you remove the seat you the tank cover is screwed in. Once you pull the tank cover off you can see what is going on inside. When I pulled the tank cover off of this 20 year old Prosport I was amazed to see what bad shape the fuel cell was in. It was literally coming apart in pieces. Hopefully you have a metal tank and not a fuel cell. If you end up needing a fuel cell let me know and I can help you get one.
Here are a few pictures so you can see what you are getting into.
Charley
Those temperatures are very low: oil temperature should be around 220 and water temperature should be 180-200. (Those numbers are for a Hayabusa, but I would imagine for a 1100 should be similar.)
To regulate temperatures, people often put strips of tape on the oil cooler and the radiator.
Hi,
here is my update:
I took part on a Trackday in Zandvoort, Nederlands. The track (F1 will be there in 2021) is very nice, I was there for the first time and started quite slow to get to know track and of course my radical. Later, I was getting quicker and got more familiar with my R.
The engine and trans worked perfect, in the middle of the straight I was at max. revs in 6th gear (213kmh GPS = 130mph). However, I was far from being really fast after 13 years of not-racing.... In the turns on this new-paved GP Track the car was handling nicely and I could follow touring cars easily.
With this experience I thought it is now time to do a Trackday on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Keep in mind I raced a lot in the green hell and do know the track well.
But: the first lap was very un-easy. Why? When preparing the R, I mentioned that is has quite some bump-steer. The wheel turns to toe-in when suspension is compressed.
On the Ring, on bumpy fast parts of the track the R was jumping / stepping to the side in a sudden. Not 20cm, but 2Meter. It felt as if a hurricane is pushing to the side.
Sorry to say, the Ring contains many fast bumpy parts. So I lowered the steering in the car step by step. It got better (not yet good) and I could drive safer and quicker, started to "fight" Porsche GT3 and GT4. In acceleration, from 100 to 150 kmh they are left behind... It seems, my engine does work nicely - I even think, it has been upgraded because I would not have expected that performance...?!
Just when the fun was getting huge, I felt that something is wrong, R was getting nervous to drive. I thought it was a good plan to slow down and see the pit. But it didn't make it:
The lower inside bolt of the lower wishbone broke....
Is that a well known problem?
Of course I will now renew and improve all bolts on chassis, as well as I will adjust bump steer to zero or at least close to 0...
Best Regards
Till
PS: Fuel tank is Aluminium, I had taken out seat and cover and could not find any problem. Fact is, it leaks from the breather but only if tank is 90% full.
I decided to not do anything about for the moment....
Temperaturs on the track with sunny summer weather and 28°C (82F) were 80° Oil (OK) and 65° water (quite low). I decided that in the last 22 years it seemed to be fine ....
And: I bought a ZZR1100 engine from a motorcycle with 25k KM for 800 Euro ;-)) to have it in stock....
Hi Till (@till_germany), I am glad to hear that you have been getting out on the track. That must have been quite an experience having that much bump steer... and then having the suspension failure! I am glad to hear that everything worked out well. I am envious about running on the Nürburgring that must be amazing.
Charley
