Monkfishdan's FastBikes Mag Special SRAD 750
Monkfishdan:
My riding career started 2 years ago with a CBT and theory test when I lived in Coventry. I always wanted to have a bike licence just for the sake of it, you know one of those things I can say I did and had, but never really expected it to go further if I was honest. So, with the 2 year countdown ticking away for the test passes to expire (if the DA course wasn't completed) I hastily booked a course with Kent Motorcycles in Barham, Kent in June and had 5 days intensive training and the test. Initially I was thinking 'lets just pass this and that's one less thing to do in life'. That's before we learnt cornering and counter steering. The previous 3 days were pretty dull to be honest - the usual crawling through traffic, mirrors, signal, lifesavers etc - learning the ropes I suppose.
When we went out for this part of the training I was bitten by the bug. I immediately understood the reason why so many people do this 'sport', 'hobby', 'way of life' however you care to interpret it. I was laughing in my helmet, the biggest grin across my face and just talking arse to myself at how great this was. That night when I got in, I bought a few bike mags and tried to get as much info as I could get. Prices, makes and models of bike, riding techniques you name it.
I passed my test in Aug 2005 (first time!). With finances pretty dire I was forced to just dream. I then saw the 0% deals offered by Suzuki when looking at some 2 nd hand bikes at Alford Bros in Folkestone. Needless to say, I walked out with a deposit paid (99p) for a K5 SV650S, a helmet, gloves, boots and all weather gear! Now I had 3 weeks to wait....
Once the bike arrived, it was great. I used it for pleasure and a few trips to meetings for work (bought throw-over panniers, tank bags etc and just set off - and only used A and B roads. Bugger using motorways. I rode from Dover to Portsmouth and Warwick as well as London. All of them were great trips and really helped my riding so early on. I got out in all weathers to experience them and hopefully improve my skills.
However about 2 months ago I seemed to hit a bit of a wall. The bike, great that it is and as I would later learn, seemed hard work to lean over, the steering wasn't as quick I'd liked and under heavy braking the shocks seemed to not inspire confidence. I was pushing the bike quite hard I suppose and its limits were being exposed. This left me a bit depressed returning from ride outs as they didn't always 'feel' great. Anyway, I put this down to me doing things wrong and so just took it easy. I still enjoyed the freedom and ride outs immensely.
Around Christmas, I was browsing eBay, as you do and something made me type in 'GSXR' and it returned the usual gimmicky add-ons and anodised what-nots. In the list though was an advert for a GSXR SRAD 750 
Special built by Fast Bikes Mag. I'd read about a few of these and knew it would be a bit mad. When I saw the photos I thought it was great but I didn't have the funds to buy it out right. I had already paid for the SV so I bid thinking, one, I won't win and two, if I did I would sell the SV and buy it. As expected I didn't win but the winner obviously wasn't going to pay up so I got a offer to buy the bike for the amount I bid. I explained I could only offer a swap and he accepted it (I suppose there's a much bigger market for standard low mileage SV's than a trick Gixer!). So New Years Eve I set off with my SV in a Luton van and drove 250 miles to do the deal.
Once I arrived in Bath, I spoke to Jamie Wilkins who built the bike and was really impressed. He obviously knew his stuff and anybody who has seen the Fast Bike magazine will know their guys can ride bikes. Jamie has lots of experience as a former track day instructor and test rider. His aim of the project was to see if an older bike could perform as well as, or better than a 2005 model. The leaps in technology and design over 6 years (when the bike was built) meant that lot of work would be needed to improve performance, handling and reduce weight to get the SRAD anywhere near an '05 bike.
What initially started as a few mods and tweaks turned into a complete strip down. The frame, wheels and swing-arm were powder coated, the suspension completely revised with an Ohlins fully adjustable rear shock and the front had Ohlins progressive springs wrapped in Kais units. These were set up using the same geometry as Kevin Schwantz's GP bike to give maximum cornering and feel when in lean. A Matris steering damper was installed to keep the front end in check.
The brakes were upgraded to Pretech 6 pot calipers with braided lines, Wavy discs and EBC sintered pads to slice off the speed.
Afam spockets with 1t up on the front and 1t off the rear improved off the line acceleration in conjunction with a K&N air filter, Power commander II, Hairy R's throttle clip, TRE, Factory Ignition Advancer, NGK Iridium Plugs, Debben camchain tensioner and a full stainless exhaust. Originally a Hindle system adorned the Gixer but this was changed to a full M4 unit. With the fuelling setup and these modifications, the Gixers engine was left alone to keep its servicing intervals normal, maintain rideability and reduce chances of detonation that can so often happen to highly tuned engines. Besides the SRAD engine is quick enough as it needed to be for the projects specifics.
The rear seat unit and frame were removed to save weight and a Skidmarx single seat conversion was fitted to update and smooth out the rear end. The integral LED brake and indicator units continue in the vein (it's a real shame we have to have registration numbers).
The tank was customised with carbon fibre and billet fuel cap to finish it off. The paintwork was inspired by the 2004 Suzuki MotoGP colours. Lots of graphics and the legendary '34' of Schwantz ensures any GP fan knows who's the inspiration behind the paint scheme.
Lightweight Rearsets, anodised bolts, DB screen, mirror indicators, gold mesh, Full R&G protection and Bridgestone BT014s complete the transformation.
The bike was dyno'd at 122bhp at the wheel and Jamie used the bike for track days as well as road use. On the Silverstone F1 Circuit, he lapped a K5 Gixer 1000 ridden by the track day instructor and if revved to the red line in every gear will outrun a standard K5 Gixer 750.
So in conclusion the bike met and exceeded the project requirements. Thanks to the handling and out of corner power the SRAD could convincingly outgun a newer standard litre bike on track tyres (Michelin Power Races).
I now own the bike and while it may not ever again lean to the extremes that it did when Jamie owned it, it's a great feeling to know it can do it and the more I ride and become familiar with it I can rest assured that it will be a bike I will be playing catch up to. I can develop my skills on and I know any concerns with the ride or handling will be of my own doing and not the bikes limits being reached as I felt with the SV.
I feel really privileged to have gotten the bike and I'm looking forward to the Spring, getting in some improver courses and maybe a track day of or two in to get the best from this bike.
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