Superbike Unlimited 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike

Be sure to scroll through completely, as you'll find we swapped many upgrades and tested a ton of components! This bike has been built several times over, getting better every time.

This project all started around the end of 2014, when we placed our pre-orders for a couple of rapid red 2015 YZF-R1s from Miller's Motorsports in Lemont Furnace, PA. They have been a great place to work with and as always gave us a crazy deal on our bikes.

The guys headed north as soon as we got the 1 day ETA notice, which was going to be cutting things very close for us. We had plans to race the bikes in a matter of days.

What we'd all been waiting for.

This was on a Tuesday. So the guys got the bikes loaded up and brought them back to WNC for a very hastily done tear down. We had 2 days to get these things ready for a shakedown at a nearby race track.

The first thing we did was remove a lot of parts and components we didn't want or need. This included all street parts, lots of little brackets and reflectors, all ABS components, including the hard lines, etc. All in all, we dropped around 20lbs just by removing parts the bike no longer needed.

Aftermarket parts selection is relatively slim this early in the build, with it being a brand new model.

The new CP4 power plant:

Of course we installed our Graves full titanium exhaustt:

Of course, we had to get some track bodywork on and we'd ordered some Sharkskinz 2015 R1 bodywork last year. This stuff is really strong actually quite easy to put. Sharkskinz definitely puts time into making this stuff correctly. We've got some more really cool bodywork coming, so stay tuned for that.

We added some other familiar pieces that we also used on the old bike, such as the Graves WORKS 2.0 bar radiator cap.

Here you see the billet 19x18 Brembo master, Motion Pro Revolver throttle and Apex MFG GP clip ons w/Brake Guard.

Galespeed remote adjuster:

Of course we fitted an Ohlins TTX GP Shock Absorber:

Next were GB Racing Case Covers:

Ohlins adjustable steering damper. Also seen is the Sharkskinz intake duct.

From there, we put a base ECU tune on the bikes and tried to heat cycle the engines adequately and loaded up for the track!

While at the track, our guys ran into Frank from Fast Frank Racing, who was kind enough to provide some captive and tapered wheel spacers front and rear as well as http://www.superbikeunlimited.com/pr...liper-kit.html for both bikes.
These things make life so much easier on and off the track. No worries of pieces falling out or banging into the rim, or having to align things perfectly. It's all just where it needs to be.

We didn't have time to change gearing on either bike and only had one bike running a shock. Despite that, the guys decided to enter a few club races to see how the bike performed.

Right away the guys noted that the bikes ran very strong, even on pump gas and with a very basic tune. With stock gearing, the front wheel lifts easily in third and the bike drives very hard off of corners. The bike did feel a little more nervous in some ways compared to the extremely stable 09-14, but it turned very well and just seemed to work. Both riders commented that the bike should probably have a damper, to help stabilize things under hard throttle.

On Saturday, we had a race incident, where an on-track rider took out one of our guys and the race was red flagged. Fortunately, he was OK for the most part and the bike held up very well. Not how we wanted to end our day, but things could have been worse.

On Sunday, we had Unlimited Superbike still, which was our last chance to get these things on the box (which was seeming doable at this point, even with minimal setup and even less parts). Both riders started from the back row and by lap 3, both of our guys were top 3, only behind Stefano Mesa. Unfortunately, in the process of installing the captive brake, one of the bikes did not have a secure TC wire, which grounded on the rear rotor and caused the whole bike to go haywire. He had to pit in before lap 4. Our other rider went on to achieve 2nd place. Bear in mind, he only had an ECU tune, brake pads and the ABS delete we did.

Next up, we got some of the good stuff! First up, we installed a set of Dymag CA5 carbon fiber wheels, as well as an SBU rotor on our rear wheel, along with some Pro-Bolt titanium disc bolts.

The Dymags are awesome! They dropped just under 10lbs from the R1 (OEM wheels with OEM sprocket, to Dymags with included sprocket)

Also seen are the BrakeTech Axis Iron 330mm Rotors we used on our previous SBK build. These are temporary (or are they?) until we get our next rotors in.

We also fitted our Brembo MotoGP master cylinder. This should give amazing feel!

Also installed at the controls, was our Motion Pro Rev2 Throttle Kit. These are a great tool for any rider. The kit allows for a fully adjustable throttle, with several reels to allow for a longer or shorter pull. Even a progressive "road race" reel.

Lastly, we fitted Brembo GP4RR calipers. These are single piece CNC machined units, with titanium offset pistons. Awesome stuff! Naturally they were fitted with Vesrah SRJL-XX (RJLXX) pads. Spiegler Rennsport lines make up the plumbing.

Next up was a weekend of racing, WERA Nationals at Talladega GP. We had a weekend of ups and downs again. This was our guys' first time at Talladega GP and they didn't have much time to get up to speed. There were some fast guys there, including Taylor Knapp on his 15 R1s.

On Saturday, only Freddy did regional stuff and Anthony helped with pit duties. In his first race, he took a 2nd in Formula 1. The next race was A Superbike and in the 2nd lap, while attempting to pass for 3rd place, the rider in front turned a bit unexpectedly and both riders collided.

The guys hustled to get the bike ready for Sunday's National races and with the help of Apex MFG, who provided some very trick prototype rearsets (which will be publicly for sale soon) and some other people in the paddock, they were able to get the bike ready in time.

On Sunday, both riders were competing in the National Superbike race. Unfortunately, Anthony had bad luck and seemed to get a bad rear tire, as his race times were actually slower than his morning's practice times and he reported that he simply had no drive. Pressures were spot on - very odd, and unusual.

Freddy got a terrible start, a mix of learning the new bike's clutch and it's electronics, but managed to fight his way back into a 2nd place finish. Anthony finished 4th. Currently our guys are 1st and 2nd in the points and we're hoping to continue to improve this season and maintain our lead. Stay tuned here!

Here's a video of National Superbike:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kV2ryc0WbE

Then it was on to NOLA Motorsports Park for Freddy and Steve, who were hoping to maintain their National points leads at a brand new track.

After working on set up a bit, the guys walked away with a total of 2 first place finishes and 4 third place finishes, with both guys still in the lead of National Expert Superbike and Novice Superstock.

Next up, we had a little test session doing a regional round with WERA at Roebling Road Raceway. Freddy was in P3 in the F1 race and with 2 turns to go, highsided at about 90 mph. He's OK, the AGV Pista GP he had on did a fantastic job of protecting his head and he managed to walk away without any real injuries to speak of. Then began the task of rebuilding for Road Atlanta in 2 weeks.

The next couple of weeks was pretty hectic around here, trying to get the bike prepped for Cycle Jam. We wound up finally finishing up the day we left and loaded up for Road Atlanta.

On Sunday Steve and Freddy both got on the box in P3 of their respective classes, further continuing their leads in National Superstock and Superbike! We also got our Lacomoto bodywork in and got some paint on, so we'd look presentable. This kit fits like a glove and weighs half the Sharkskinz weight!

We had been itching to try some IMA adjustable offset triple clamps and they were nice enough to create a set for us to test and help develop. They allow adjustment of the offset and are substantially stiffer than the OE units.

We next fitted 39N's billet case savers. These are made in the USA with excellent attention to detail and with help from a couple of top teams racing in MotoAmerica's Superstock 1000.

We also fitted Attack Performance rearsets, which have a very nice range of adjustability and really look the part. Also seen are our FTECU auto blipper and titanium front sprocket.

Next up, we fitted our Fast Frank Quick Change Rear Kit and Lightech Chain adjusters!

These really clean up the swingarm aesthetically, but more importantly allow for exact chain adjustment and rapid rear wheel changes.

We then fitted a Lightech quick release racing fuel cap, which really simplifies trackside things and also looks fantastic in the process.

Also seen is our Lacomoto 2015 YZF-R1 airbox cover. (emblems will be fitted soon)

Now, onto racing! We've been having a hard fought year in WERA's National Superbike, with some tough breaks that have been outlined here. Recently, we made the trip to Mid Ohio and Miller, both new tracks for us. We achieved a 5th in tricky conditions at Mid Ohio, but went home early when day 2 was canceled due to inclement weather and track safety concerns.

We then made the trek to Salt Lake City, Utah for the Miller round.

Freddy learning the track.

Unfortunately, our bike was struck by another in a bizarre incident and we scored no points this round. We are still in the points lead, but with a very small margin.

The bike after Miller:

Next up, we installed an MWR WSBK Air Filter - this guy added a full 3 horsepower, which was impressive for a filter to say the least! We also got our E/T production clip ons in stock! We're really liking these.

We've finished our penultimate WERA Nationals round at Road Atlanta as well, with Freddy taking a 4th and 5th in National Superbike, still leading the championship.

Here are some photos from the weekend, for your enjoyment:

We're still testing products for the bike and working on setup, as always. First up, we've installed one of 39N's 5 button superbike pods. This is a nicely made piece that really cleans up the controls. The button setup is fully customized base on your needs.

Next up, we installed Attack Performance's new Rear Lifter / Chain Guard Combo. This is a very nicely styled kit and the integrated chain guard is really a nice touch for added safety and ease of installation.

Here's a shot from testing at Barber Motorsports Park this weekend, hosted by Sportbike Track Time. Geoff May was lending a hand to one of our guys and doing some riding on his former WSBK B-bike.

Here are some photos of the final race of the season, where we were officially announced as WERA National Superbike (Expert) Champions!

Of course, for us the building and improvement must continue!

Next up is a Brembo GP rear master, GP rear caliper and Cox Pro Titanium Radiator / Oil Cooler Guards.

These Brembo components are the lightest rear brake pieces in production and the Cox titanium guard will offer superior rock protection over aluminum.

Then we got to our Evol Technology rearset kit. These things are awesome!

The rear master bolted up to the kit right away. The plunger rod however was too long, so we chopped it down substantially to allow for proper brake pedal placement.

Next up is a little Pro-Bolt titanium hardware for the swingarm pivot.

These pieces are half of the weight of the OE components and certainly look better.

Last up is our Motoholders Fairing Stay / Superbike Ram Air Tube in Carbon Fiber.

This piece is substantially lighter than the stock component and will allow for substantially more air flow into the engine.

Next up, we tackled the E/T rearset kit. Very simple to install, as they are shipped pre-assembled. The kit uses an ingenious design that involves reversing the lower engine mount bolt and utilizing a special nut fitting for the shifter pivot. This eliminates the heavy OE kickstand assembly, for a substantial weight loss.

Next, we received our Yoyodyne Slipper Clutch.

This unit is considerably lighter than the original unit, with much better engagement, utilizing a ball bearing design. This should mean better feel off throttle and better launches, coupled with quicker acceleration, thanks to reduced engine drag.

Here's the stock clutch assembly, for those who may not have seen it.

Yoyodyne installed:

We opted to replace all fibers and hard plates during this install.

The Yoyodyne slipper clutch also comes with an arm that replaces the stock unit. This is because the Yoyo unit has more springs and can produce a stiffer lever feel. The new arm fixes this.

Next, one of our biggest project was ready.

We've been working on producing a Superbike-spec swingarm similar to one we originally saw on the Milwaukee Yamaha that dominated the BSB series last year. They are now being used by practically every factory backed Yamaha superbike or endurance team. We'd gotten information that these arms increased rear grip and exit drive without negatively impacting handling, so naturally we were interested.

After a lot of R&D and some time, the first unit is now complete! It allows for a little over 20mm of additional wheelbase, while retaining the ability to operate within the stock range, unlike other arms we have seen.

We immediately fitted the arm with Lacomoto swingarm covers and a FFR rear quick change kit with Lightech chain adjusters and a chain tab.

We then got in our Braketech 320x6 ductile iron rotors, which are really stellar in racing conditions. You'll also note a set of Brembo GP monoblock calipers we tested.

We decided to go for the best Brembo had to offer in terms of power: Brembo's flagship P34/38 caliper, for maximum braking power. These are beautiful, light and and mean serious business!

Next up, we fitted an SE Composites tank shroud, which really helps lock the rider in during braking and helps the rideer avoid unnecessary weight transfer.

Then it was off to Barber Motorsports Park for some testing on both R1s and the 1299.

We got in our new carbon fiber subframe assemblies, which save a shocking 40% over the weight of the original unit and retain all OEM functionality.

We got a chance to do some riding with STT at Barber Motorsports Park a few weeks ago, here's a video of that:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6NgkPBo_DY

Big update! We've been working with Steve @ Evol Technology for some time to get this one together and we're excited to say, they're here!

Their new Pro-Flex Triple Clamp Set

Next up, we got our first final stage prototype rear caliper bracket in for fitting and approval for production. This one has a vapor blasted finish. We may use that or a standard CNC finish, or both for the production units.

We next decided to change up our wheels. We got some Rotobox RBX2 wheels, equipped with ceramic bearings, titanium hardware and of course a set of Braketech 330x6 ductile iron rotors. Absolutely stunning combination. We added an SBU rotor in the rear.

We really like the quality of Rotobox wheels. They never compromise and feature some nice little things like a gritty bead surface, for minimized tire slip under hard acceleration.

We got those fitted right away to admire the sheer magnificence.

Next up, we got our SE Composites V2 Tank Shrouds in. These are basically an evolution of the V1 that provides full tank coverage and a redesigned rear and side profile with a slightly more scooped out lateral design that should enhance rider grip while cornering.

More improvements rolling alone!

This time, we've been focusing on weight reduction.

To start off, we ordered every single chassis bolt on the bike in titanium in both race spec and allen key head. We'd wanted to make them all the same, but the race spec bolts are lighter and can't fit every where the allen key units do, so we had to mix and match to an extent.

Race spec bolts: