RC211V style bodywork for NC29 CBR400RR
July 2006
It was only natural to follow the NC30 and the NC35 with a RC211V style body kit for the NC29, This is especially the case since we had already made bodywork for its baby brother the MC22. By taking elements of all three previous kits and adding some extra carbon for good measure we arrived at the kit you see here.
A keen observer might note that the front fairing is similar to our other 400 fairings whilst the tail cowling bears more similarity with the CBR250RR kit. We wanted to thoroughly modernize the looks of the NC29 and had many requests to make the V4 fairing fit the CBR but we also received many requests to retain some of the practicality of the stock bike. Most importantly, we decided to keep the stock sub frame which meant that passenger carrying capability as well as the useful luggage area retained which appealed to many people. The other great benefit is that it is less components need so it keeps the cost down and less cost to send, making the seat cowling set a very affordable piece of kit even though it is tricked out with carbon, LED tail light and HRC brake reservoir.
For the front fairing we chose to junk the stock hardware and use components more Tyga in theme. The fairing is mounted on a lightweight custom aluminium meter stay via the spigot and tube method which we use on our RVF kit. This allows for ease of fitting and removal and is very secure when fitted. The top of the fairing is held in place by one of our lightweight upper stays in the Moto GP style and mostly the rest of the fairing is held in place using existing mounting points.
The front of the upper cowling features a new headlight which is similar in shape to the ones used by the RC211V when it was first launched at Suzuka. It gives the bike a more aggressive stance than the previous Tyga Eyes II. But because customisation is about choice and individuality, this upper front is actually interchangeable with the NC35 Tyga Eyes Upper as well as the NC35 race upper so it is possible to fit one of any of the three uppers to the kit. The airduct and screen are identical to our other kits so there is the usual choice of carbon and glass for the air duct and tint or clear for the screen.
This time we went one further on the carbon and decided to add more. The upper side panels have carbon carburetor covers. There is also the choice of a completely carbon lower cowling and front fender. The seat cowling front section, unlike the CBR250RR is carbon as is the rear of the undertray/fender. It looks too good to cover with a registration plate so we didn't!
So what else is new or special on this NC29? Firstly, it looks fresh. It wasn't always this way and the bike used to reside in the fibershop where it got covered in the usual dust and resin while the kit was being developed. The condition of the bike required a thorough stripdown to get it presentable again. Everything was cleaned, repainted, recoated or replated. Brake calipers were rebuilt, footpeg assemblies stripped and reassembled and while we were at it, we decided to change a few other components for the better. Easier than trying to revive some worn out and scratched parts.
The front brake rotors have been replaced with new shiny ones and the brake lines changed for braided ones all round. The exhaust looked pretty ugly being all scratched and dented. So we replaced it with one of our carbon silencers and a custom made stainless pipe clamped one end to the stock system and holding the silencer in place with springs. The silencer is also clamped to some pretty looking passenger footpeg assemblies. The heavy steel stock ones were on show with our higher seat cowling and don't retract away out of sight. So rather than have to look at them, we changed them for these lightweight quality aluminium ones. They even have a silencer mounting lug so we could do away with the exhaust mounting stay. To add to the cleaning up of this part of the bike, we discarded the huge stock plastic heel guards and made some neat carbon ones. It makes the bike look much lighter and tidier than with all the stock parts getting in the way of each other.
Lurking behind these components is a Tyga hugger/chainguard. This unit is styled on the RC211V and weighs nearly nothing. It should keep the shiny rebuilt shock clean too! Yes, we couldn't resist. While the shock was in pieces being repainted and plated we decided to give it a white spring. Why? Why not?
The paintwork is an adaptation of our TYGA corporate scheme and was marked out in our tried and tested method of emulsion paints first, before settling on the exact lines. We can't recommend this method enough, very quick, easy and inexpensive. Unfortunately, the finish left a little to be desired with the emulsion paint so the bodywork went to the spray shop for a proper paint job. The colours are metallic blue white and fluorescent pink/red. This bike is not trying to hide so anyone riding it better get used to being the centre of attention. Pimpin'; you bet!
Finishing off the bike we added a couple more carbon touches just in case the message wasn't clear. Our instrument surround and filler cap cover refreshed these parts of the bike. This was just as well because one of the fiber boys had put a grinder mark in the top of the filler cap. Now you'd never know.
Is it finished? Not exactly, Matt and I have some plans that are a bit more performance related. A the very least some trick wheels, forks rear, shock and... Well, let's just wait and see. In the meantime, we'd like to welcome the NC29 to Tyga Performance
Almost every day, I check your website and I found out your new listings for Tyga Rydas, I was wondering if you could please feature my bike in this column of your website, I will be more happy to see my bike included in your NC29 Rydas. Hope that my request will be granted and more power to your wonderful product. Regards, Rolando "Gary" Rivera