Dave Watson's CBR540 Hillclimber
Crew chief/mechanic:
FRAME
WHEELBASE
TEXT AND PHOTO
Dan Watson
FORK
WATS ON R ACING 4 130 CHRO ME M OLY
TRIPLE CLAMPS
MODIFIED 1999 HO ND A CR250
SWINGARM
RECTA NGULA R CHRO ME MOLY
37 · 4B INCHES LONG
EXHAUST HEADER
AIR FILTER
IGNITION
SPARK PLUGS
SHOCK
] 99] HOND A CBR600
MODI FI E D BY ORIENT E XPRESS AND H MP
WHEELS
WAT SON R ACI NG
U NIFILTER
FRONT BRAKE
MASTER CYLINDERS
TIRES
D YN A 4000
NGK CR] 0 E K
STOC K
BODYWORK
CAMS
STOC K
GRAPHICS
SEAT
BORE/STROKE
PISTONS
RODS
CRANKSHAFT
CLUTCH
HANDLEBAR
GRIPS
CONTROL LEVERS
H ILBORN FUEL
PATTON
1999 HOND A CR250 SHOWA MO DI FI E D
M ACHI N ED FRO M B ILLET ALU M INU M BY M IKE
THOMAS O F INNO VATIVE M O L D AND M A C H INE
CYLINDER HEAD
FUEL IN.JECTION/
CARBURETIONIINDUCTION
L.
B Y MIKE CARNELLI OF" FACTORY CONNECTION
B2 INCHES
SUBFRAME
ENGINE MODS
BY DAVID
FOOT PEGS
SPROCKETS
IN ~ E C T I O N
61.5MM X 45 .9 MM
] 999 HO ND A CR250 SHO WA MODIFIED
BY FACTOR Y CONNECTION
RAD HUBS WITH SUN RIMS A N D
BUCH A NAN SPO KES
] 999 HOND A CR250
1999 HO ND A CR250
FRO NT : DU NLOP 7 5 6 / R EA R: I R C 4 .00 X 1 9
T RIA L S WITH CH AI NS
1999 HOND A CR250
FACTOR Y EFFE X
FACTOR Y EFFE X
BALDIN A R A C I NG A ND MA CHINE
SPROC KET SPECI ALIS T, COUNTERS H AFT
] 5 TEETH/REAR 4S-51 T EET H
.J & E
CHAIN
CARILLO
FUEL TANK
STOC K
FUEL
B ARNETT
PRO TAPER CR Lo w SEND
LUBRICANTS
SCOTT HURRIC ANE
HARDWARE
REGI NA GO LD ] SO LIN KS
W AT S O N R ACING ALUMINU M T AN K
VP NITRO METH ANE 99 PERCENT WITH
] PERCENT PROPALENE O XIDE
SPECTRO O ILS
HARRY'S MACHINE , 8ALOINA RACING AN D
MA CH IN E, I NN OVAT IV E MOLD A N D M ACHINE ,
A R C LE VERS
COMMENTS:
This bike has won three 540cc National Championships, in 2000, 2002 and 2003, In 2003 it won eight of I I races and finished second three times .
"We ran the CBR800 in 1999, and we brought the 540 out in 2000," Dave Watson said. "The bike worked great right from the start, and it has been
really consistent. Before the 2003 season my dad pumped up the horsepower on my 800, and I really had to step up my riding to hang on to that bike. I
think that helped my 540 season, as I was able to get the most out of my 540. The two bikes are set up the same and weigh the same , and I run faster
times on the 540 on many of the hills. We didn't have to change the wheelbase on the 540 all year because the bike works great everywhere,"
88 JANUARY 28,2004 • CYCLE NEWS
40th Anniversaru
