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Freed from the constraints<br />
of bankruptcy in the event of<br />
a crash, a new lease on life<br />
emerges as the bike tosses into<br />
corners with increased vigour,<br />
spurred on by a rider with an<br />
unburdened mind. Apart from<br />
psychological freedom and a<br />
mildly lighter ride, the biggie<br />
bolt-on bits are the Ohlins<br />
shock and forks that transform<br />
this machine into a race bike in<br />
a fundamental way. Where the<br />
standard suspension buckles<br />
under the strain of hard braking<br />
while turning in, the Ohlins laps<br />
it up, letting the front wheel<br />
burrow into the tar seemingly<br />
impervious to bumps. Roll on<br />
the gentle throttle and the rear<br />
settles the bike into a calm,<br />
collective curve before the hell<br />
that is full-throttle is unleashed.<br />
We have ridden heavilykitted<br />
race bikes before and<br />
marvelled at their seemingly<br />
endless competence, but what<br />
is more remarkable is the<br />
level standard road bikes find<br />
themselves. A good rider on<br />
a standard bike can push into<br />
the mid-pack of a race field,<br />
causing emotional strain for<br />
those behind him on bolstered<br />
race machines. As unbelievable<br />
as modern machines are, they<br />
will not grace the podium<br />
steps. For that, you need a little<br />
bit of suspension and a lot of<br />
psychology.<br />
In more extreme cases,<br />
like a National Superbike<br />
Championship, you might also<br />
need the bike Rob is about to<br />
ride…<br />
38 RIDEFAST MAGAZINE MARCH <strong>2020</strong>
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