Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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The HM Plant replica features, among other trick bits, the one-Inch-longer magnesium swingarm, a custom Ohlins rear shock and Marchesini magnesium rims. friend, a replica of John Reynolds' REVE Red Bull Ducati from a few seasons ago in the British Superbike Championship. It's almost identical to the HM Plant bike. WRINGING ITS NECK I took Johnny's newest creations to Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosemond, California, to put them through the paces at a Fastrack Riders track day on the 2.5-mile circuit. I rarely think twice about riding on the racetrack, but when the bike's value far exceeds my annual income, it makes me think about it a little harder. After a few laps on the HM Plant replica, I put all the negative thoughts out of my head and just rode the bike in anger. Well, actually I rode it like I was kind of upset, not completely angry. I really didn't want to chuck it down the road. The first thing I noticed was that the suspension was just awesome. The Ohlins Superbike forks and the Ohlins rear shock were set up by PPS (Pettersson Pro Suspension) in Anaheim, California, and they're dialed in perfectly. It's kind of funny because both times I've ridden Johnny's bikes, the suspension has been set up for him - he probably weighs 30 pounds less than I do - but I haven't felt inclined to change anything, because it felt better than almost anything else I'd ever ridden. Feel and feedback from the setup is excellent, with very compliant bump absorption and rebound characteristics and not a hint of chatter. The bike was wearing Dunlop's excellent D208GP Star race tires, which offered excellent grip and compliance in conjunction with the suspension. The bike just railed through the fast turns eight and nine without any fanfare at all and also handled the bumpy slow turns three through five perfectly. One of the coolest additions to the bike is the STM Evoluzione slipper clutch, which makes backshifting for Willow's slow turn three a drama-free affair. You can bang down through the gears and let the clutch out without having to worry about the rear wheel locking up under the engine's compression braking. The clutch is so smooth that you barely notice that anything is going on, just a faint groaning noise coming from below. This allowed me to be in the fat part of the power curve and squirt up the hill with authority. The motor in this bike is incredible because it's 97ccs larger than stock. One of the trlckea pieces on the bike has to be the Febur digital dash. The Ohlins rear shock Is set up by Peltersson Pro Suspension in Anaheim, California. It also features Brembo mono-block calipers and 320mm rotors. The 855cc kit is a blast because it makes damn near the power of a 998, and with this bike's lack of weight it's a real thrill to ride. The motor pulled like a freight train as I clicked through the ratios of the close-ratio gearbox. The only problem is that the bike is geared a little too short for Willow Springs - I kept running into the rev-limiter in turn eight, which wouldn't be that big of a deal if it didn't cause the bike to understeer as the bike lost drive to the rear tire. This, of course, made for some butt-puckering moments, until I figured out exactly where the limiter was going to cut in and then tried to stay below that rpm. It's a shame because the bike probably has another five to ten miles per hour in it around that turn with the excellent suspension. When I blew by some of the bikes on the front straight that clearly should be faster than a 748, it turned some heads. It's definitely not a sleeper - nothing this outlandish ever could be - but it surprises a lot of people either way. Another area that Johnny didn't neglect is the brakes. The setup on the front features Brembo monoblock calipers with 320mm rotors and a Brembo Superbike master cylinder, all connected by braided stainlesssteel lines. It's truly an amazing setup; I couldn't believe how powerful they were - true one finger stopping for most of the corners at Willow. I could go deeper into turn three than I would normally dare with the excellent feedback from the brakes. Combined with the similar feedback from the forks, and you've got an awesome out-braking machine. Talk about feeling like a duck out of water (get it). I rode the HM Plant bike on the street for a while and felt as if I were breaking the law while I was sitting at stoplights. I don't know if it was the booming note coming out of the twin 52mm Termignoni exhaust pipes, the dry clutch rattling, or the fact that the bike is painted exactly like a factory racebike that was getting the attention. But I do know that it stands out like a banana in a bushel of apples. At night the glow off of the large LCD dash draws a lot of attention as well; it's like a television staring you in the face. Of course, the only piece of information The STM Evoluzione slipper clutch worked to perfection at Willow Springs International Raceway. cycle n e _ S • FEBRUARY 5, 2003 39