Honda CBR600RR Café Racer – BikeBound

The One-Eyed Racer by Francis Von Tuto… 

In 2002, Honda launched the unique CBR600RR as their prime of the road race-replica supersport, boasting a twin-spar aluminum chassis, 115-bhp inline 4, and 160 mph prime velocity. Stated GP veteran and 3x British Superbike champion Niall Mackenzie:

“When the unique RR was launched…I felt it set new requirements within the middleweight class, giving us a one-size fits-all 250cc GP-like bike with the light-weight dealing with to match and a screaming motor.” –Visordown

Between 2003 and 2015, the CBR600 would reign supreme within the Supersport World Championship, claiming eight championship titles and 10 producer’s crowns. Over time, it might turn out to be much more superior and uncompromising:

“The Honda CBR600RR is a monitor biased missile — and a very good one.” –MCN

Enter our considered one of our favourite builders, Francesco Tutino of Francis Von Tuto Moto Works. We haven’t heard an excessive amount of from Francesco in current months, as he’s been busying transferring again to Italy after spending practically a decade Down Underneath.

“It has been a hell of a change leaving Australia after 9 years…not essentially simple however right here I’m once more nonetheless constructing bikes. I’ve now obtained a brand new workspace is within the southern a part of Florence.”

Francesco is nearing completion of a brand new construct, however one this CBR caught our eye — one of many few FVT creations we’ve by no means featured. It’s a 2006 CBR600RR nicknamed the “One Eyed Racer” for the Suzuka-style offset headlight.

“As you guys know, this isn’t my first construct, however the earlier have been all primarily based on basic, classic bikes — not that this ever restricted me from making good dealing with machines or being the quickest of the group (even on Firestone Champion Deluxe tires!!) — however right here I had the possibility to play with a 120hp 600cc sportbike, so why not bond my love for classics with my want for a quick experience?”

Francesco says lightness was a should, so he centered on fiberglass and aluminum for the bodywork, brackets, and different fabrication. After performing some main service on the engine and suspension, he stripped off the manufacturing unit ABS fairings and changed them with a modified Ducati 900SS race fairing with customized aluminum helps and sa ide-mounted recessed Koito headlight.

Out again is a square-tube aluminum subframe, fiberglass tail, and customized double density foam seat. The fenders and chainguard are carbon fiber, and Francesco hand-built the stainless 4:2 exhaust with inspiration from the Moriwaki system on his CBR600 monitor bike. Different highlights embrace LED lightning, adjustable rear units, Pirelli Rosso Corsa rubber, and extra.

We requested Francesco how the bike rides:

“Can’t you inform by the images? Haha! Man, it’s a pleasure to experience, it’s quick and with that exhaust observe, makes you wanna crack that throttle open! She’s made for the mountain roads!”

And he’s simply as pleased with how the bike seems bare — particularly since he constructed the bodywork to be eliminated so simply:

“It seems beautiful even utterly stripped of the bodywork, which is one thing we needed to spotlight with the photographer. Simply suppose: you are able to do it inside a few minutes with only a 4mm allen key!”

Under, Francesco provides us the total story of the construct in each English and Italian, with images courtesy of Dtrain Pictures.

Honda CBR600 Café Racer: Builder Interview

• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.

Your buddy Francis has been again in “the attractive nation” since Might 2021. It has been a hell of a change leaving Australia after 9 years…not essentially simple however right here I’m once more nonetheless constructing bikes. I’ve now obtained a brand new workspace is within the southern a part of Florence.

• What’s the make, mannequin, and 12 months of the bike?

2006 Honda CBR600RR.

• Why was the bike constructed?

To begin with, I do know these machines fairly effectively — I used to personal a Honda workshop when this mannequin first made it to showrooms, and I’ve additionally owned just a few myself. This bike was constructed once I was nonetheless dwelling down down beneath in sunny Queensland earlier than repatriating to Italy, and it was a private venture.

Just a few years again, I had the possibility to purchase this inventory normal CBR600 with some beauty harm for the correct worth. The primary thought was to transform it to a monitor bike, however I ended up storing within the storage for a very long time till the chance for a brand new customized construct got here.

• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?

As you guys know, this isn’t my first construct, however the earlier have been all primarily based on basic, classic bikes — not that this ever restricted me from making good dealing with machines or being the quickest of the group (even on Firestone Champion Deluxe tires!!) — however right here I had the possibility to play with a 120hp 600cc sportbike, so why not bond my love for classics with my want for a quick experience.

• What customized work was finished to the bike?

I construct customized bikes so the goal is after all to make aesthetically an “FVT bike,” nevertheless it’s nonetheless a Japanese sportbike and I would like it to maintain its good efficiency…so lightness is a should! Aluminium and fiberglass for constructions and bodywork, stainless-steel for the exhaust.

After some intensive care and main service to engine and suspension, the whole OEM bodywork was eliminated together with the entrance and rear subframes, seats, lights, and exhaust.

For the entrance I’ve opted for a basic! A Ducati SS fiberglass race prime fairing purposely shortened and modified to swimsuit the broader inline 4 chassis and to position a side-mounted recessed Koito projector topped by a tinted windscreen.

The instrument cluster is the unique Honda unit, and its aluminum assist, which additionally holds the fairing, has been customized made — with solely 4 screws and an r-clip, you possibly can rapidly detach the fairing.

Entrance fender and chain cowl are carbon fiber. The fender is off a later mannequin CBR — seems method leaner and fits the brand new traces higher.

The tank cowl is the one plastic bodywork aspect left on the bike — it wanted some tab removing, plastic welding, and little bit of shaping to be good for its job.

The tail part begins round a fiberglass ducktail, which I truthfully don’t bear in mind the place I purchased it from (in all probability discovered on the umpteenth swap meet). I did construct a devoted square-tube aluminum subframe for it with the assistance of my good buddy and prime welder Craig.

It additionally holds a beneficiant aluminum battery tray, and the place the final bends of one of many exhausts journey earlier than popping out in the course of the tail hump.

It’s topped by a finely upholstered double density foam customized seat of my very own design, bonded to the tank with fiberglass facet fairings I’ve made reshaping the usual plastic ones then creating moulds and lots of hours later, coming out these two one-off items.

Lights on the again are full LED; indicators are the 3-in-1 sorts so the tail is clear from any brake mild. There’s solely a small LED tucked beneath the fiberglass illuminating the quantity plate. On the entrance a quite simple and clear answer was discovered through the use of adhesive LED strips across the forks.

The exhaust, which is an attention-grabbing function of this bike, was impressed by the Moriwaki full system I had on my earlier CBR — lovely however not presupposed to work effectively for street use beneath 8000 rpm. Throttle response was fairly boring (certainly it’s now fitted beneath my present monitor bike, a primary collection CBR600RR).

It’s full stainless and utterly hand constructed. It makes use of the unique headers with a modified manifold to make it a 4-into-2 reproduction, with the bigger diameter foremost pipe working beneath the seat and the smaller and shorter one off the facet. The 2 mufflers are comprised of straight tubes and concentric reducers, full of little “bomb baffles.”  I’m no engineer and didn’t correctly examine pipework technics, however with the inventory engine and a hello flo air filter, this exhaust works a deal with!

To finish the job a pair of brand name new Pirelli Rosso Corsa, sintered pads, and Brembo radial grasp cylinder with braided traces have been fitted. Adjustable rearsets have been the cherry on prime!

For the livery I’ve chosen gloss black and really nice metallic gray with yellow parts. I didn’t need to make it seem like a reproduction however I’ve opted for a easy mixture of colors that might nonetheless recall the bike’s racer character.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

Sure, it’s known as “One Eyed Racer.”

• Are you able to inform us what it’s prefer to experience?

Can’t you inform by the images? Haha! Man, it’s a pleasure to experience, it’s quick and with that exhaust observe, makes you wanna crack that throttle open! She’s made for the mountain roads!

• Was there something finished throughout this construct that you’re significantly pleased with?

The exhaust system is one thing I’ve actually loved constructing, however what I like probably the most from this bike is the truth that it seems beautiful even utterly stripped of the bodywork, which is one thing we needed to spotlight with the photographer. Simply suppose: you are able to do it inside a few minutes with only a 4mm allen key!

Observe the Builder

Internet: www.francisvontuto.com
Fb: Francis Von Tuto
Instagram: @francis_von_tuto
Picture credit score: Dtrain Pictures
Fiberglass provide: Paul Borowinsky

Builder Interview: In Italiano

• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.

Mi chiamo Francesco Tutino, classe 1984, appassionato di due ruote da sempre, nel mondo delle moto dal 2000 anno in cui cominciai i primi passi come meccanico moto, per poi diventare una carriera di oltre 20 anni. Di questi anni 9 li ho passati in Australia, dove ho cominciato a costruire particular come Francis Von Tuto fino al quando sono tornato nel “Bel Paese” a maggio 2021, è stato un bel cambiamento… non proprio facile ma quello che conta è che sono ancora qui a costruire moto nel mio nuovo spazio nel Valdarno a poche curve da Firenze.

• What’s the make, mannequin, and 12 months of the bike?

2006 Honda CBR600RR.

• Why was this bike constructed?

Prima di tutto conosco piuttosto bene questo modello, avevo un’officina Honda nel periodo in cui questo modello fece il suo debutto nelle concessionarie, oltre advert averne possedute numerous…
Questa moto l’ho costruita quando ancora vivevo nel soleggiato Queensland prima di rimpatriare in Italia ed period un progetto personale. Comprata qualche anno prima advert un prezzo ragionevole tutta originale ma con qualche difetto estetico, l’thought period quella di farci una moto da pista ma fu presto messa da parte per poi ritirarla fuori quando decisi di customizzarla

• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?

Come sapete amici di Bikebound, questa non è la mia prima particular ma tutte le altre che avevo costruito prima erano su basi d epoca, non che questo mi abbia mai limitato nel costruire moto con cui potersi veramente divertire (anche con le Firestone Champion Deluxe!!) ma qui avevo la possibilità di mettermi a lavorare su di una 600 supersportiva da 120cv, quindi potevo unire la mia esigenza di efficiency e guidabilità advert uno stile che sta più nelle mie corde, che figata!

• What customized work was finished to the bike?

Costruendo motociclette customizzate tento sempre di dare ai mezzi su cui lavoro un tocco del mio stile tenendo sempre di conto le guidabilità e efficiency. In questo caso poi information la base di partenza direi che period d obbligo, quindi un aspetto fondamentale period di giocare sulla leggerezza.
Alluminio e fibra di vetro per strutture e carrozzeria, acciaio inox per lo scarico. Dopo un bel tagliando completo dalla A alla Z ho rimosso tutto quello che c period di plastica sulla moto, carenatura, fanali, selle e insieme anche scarico e telaietti.

Per l anteriore sono andato sul classico… cupolino da corsa Ducati SS900 debitamente accorciato e modificato per montare sul ben più ampio telaio del 4 cilindri in linea e rimodellato per alloggiare un faretto alogeno della Koito incassato sul lato sinistro, ed un plexiglas fumè.

La strumentazione è quella originale, montata su di un supporto artigianale in alluminio che fa anche da sostegno a sgancio rapido per il cupolino, rimovibile con sole 4 viti ed una coppiglia.
Il parafango anteriore come anche il para catena sono di fibra di carbonio ma di un modello di cbr più recente, dalle forme più snelle e azzeccate per questo progetto.

La copertura del serbatoio è l unico elemento rimasto in plastica, con qualche accorgimento di termo saldatura e rimodellamento sono riuscito advert adattarlo alla nuova linea.

Spostandoci sulla sezione posteriore abbiamo un codino monoposto in fibra di vetro, di cui ignoro la provenienza (probabilmente recuperato alla ennesima mostra scambio) per il quale grazie al preziosissimo aiuto del mio amico e saldatore Craig è stato costruito un telaietto advert hoc in tubi d alluminio a sezione quadra, dove alloggia un generoso portabatteria/portaattrezzi e passano le ultime curve dello scarico che fuoriesce dal codino.

La sella ha una base in fibra di vetro e gommapiuma a doppia densità rivestita in sky nero con cuciture grigie, completamente artigianale come le fiancatine laterali, sempre in fibra ricavate da un modello in creta basato sulle originali e rimodellate per congiungersi al codino.

L illuminazione al posteriore è full LED con frecce e cease 3 in 1 così da lasciare la coda libera dalle luci di cease, c’è solo un piccolo led sotto la scocca di resina advert illuminare la targa, mentre per le frecce anteriori sono state utilizzate delle strisce LED intorno ai foderi forcella.

Lo scarico è una delle caratteristiche che preferisco di questo progetto, è interamente in acciaio inox ispirato advert un impianto completo da corsa moriwaki 4 in 2 che utilizzavo sul mio cbr precedente, period bellissimo ma non proprio adatto per uso stradale visto che cambiava completamente la curva di erogazione rendendo la moto praticamente morta sotto gli 8000 giri (Non a caso ora è montato sul mio attuale CBR600RR da corsa).

Per la realizzazione ho modificato i collettori originali eliminando il catalizzatore e costruendo un raccordo a doppia uscita con diametri diversi, una più corta e stretta laterale ed una più larga e lunga che finisce sotto la coda, i terminali sono ricavati da tubo di 60mm e silenziati da mini cartucce fonoassorbenti che avevo su uno scaffale in officina. Sono molto contento del risultato perché nonostante il look e il sound spettacolare funziona anche molto bene con il motore inventory.
Il lavoro viene completato montando le ultime migliorie da catalogo: coperture Pirelli Rosso Corsa 2, pompa radiale brembo, tubazioni dei freni aereonautiche e pedane arretrate.

In nice la livrea doveva essere semplice, corsaiola ma assolutamente non una reproduction. Nero e grigio metallizzato con porta numeri ed elementi gialli, Classica ma efficace.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

Si, essendo una supersportiva con quel suo faro laterale in stile 8 ore di suzuka e il portanumero accanto a mo di “benda sull occhio” si è meritata il nome “One Eyed Racer.”

• Was there something finished throughout this construct that you’re significantly pleased with?

Vado particolarmente fiero dello scarico, ma quello che mi piace di più di questa moto è il fatto che sembra bellissima anche completamente spogliata della carrozzeria ed è qualcosa che volevamo evidenziare con il fotografo, pensa che puoi rimuovere il tutto in un paio di minuti con una chiave a brugola da 4 millimetri!

Segui il Costruttore

Internet: www.francisvontuto.com
Fb: Francis Von Tuto
Instagram: @francis_von_tuto
Picture credit score: Dtrain Pictures
Fiberglass provide: Paul Borowinsky

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