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RG Racers: Dave Ochitwa
A pair of race-prepped RG500s that won the NZ 600cc Clubman championship. And now the bikes and extensive spares are ALL FOR SALE!
I just had a great chat with RG racer Dave Ochitwa. Thanks to (his wife) Deanne for making it happen!
OK guys, listen up. I'll start with the last part, at the beginning. Dave is retired now, and is preparing to sell off both of his RG500 racebikes, as well as his massive parts/spares hoard from years of racing.
These are not stock bikes (which would be exactly like 9800 other stock RGs that were manufactured) These are two bikes that were raced from the beginning, these are the kind of bikes that made the RG500 a legend, won races and championships, and have a long history of success on the track. Unique, tuned, well-sorted, and fast... proven race winners. RG500 racing history!
Dave bought these RGs in Surrey, April and May of 1986. He is the first and only owner. Both of them have been racebikes their entire existence, and while they are registered and titled in the US, they have never been used as streetbikes. They have different paint schemes, but are set up identically, as they are basically A and B racebikes. One is blue and white, one yellow/white. The yellow bike is being repainted as it has some scratches on it, and will be in the OE black/white/red scheme.
He raced at Westwood in BC, Canada until 1990, when the track was closed due to housing encroachment. >8-(
He's a motorcycle mechanic and is extremely capable when it comes to bikes.
Dave started developing the RGs and won a number of races with them. He also raced them at PIR 2-6 times a year until he moved to New Zealand. in 2000, he won the NZ 600cc Clubman championship aboard his RGs.
Moved back to Canada and continued riding there until noise limits gradually made the RGs impractical as a track bike. in 2004-2005 both engines were fully rebuilt, and the bikes were put into storage.
Some specs: Front rim Marchesini 17x3.5
Rear rim Kosman-widened 5.25 x 17
Braced swingarm
he fought lots of frame flex issues and as a result of running wider/stickier wheels and tires, both frames are now substantially braced. Bracing is visible in swingarm pivot area, also has an X-member behind radiator and I believe another underneath the frame. Bracing done by Panther Racing, Lead Schmidt.
Fox shock on each bike, GSXR 750 forks with floating rotors, and race tech spring, Ohlins steering damper.
Rocket pipes on one bike, copy of rocket pipes on the other
compression ratio varied depending on the track
Exhaust raised apx 1.5mm and 2mm wider, exh duration apx 205 degrees, transfer duration increased, intake timing 140/80 for 220 degrees of duration
Carbs are OE, bored to just under 30mm. Uses stock airbox with uni filter and modified inlet. main jet apx 165.
The engines were dynoed at 118 hp at one time, and were developed further since then, with a few more HP estimated in current tune.
He also has an intake setup that uses 34mm MIkunis bored to 35mm, with a small-diameter internal rotor ignition to give magneto clearance, but that is not installed on the bike at this time.
Each bike has a Dyson billet transmission fitted since the early 90s, and they have been flawless. Prior to that he used updated OEM transmissions and had issues snapping off the engaging dogs.
The bikes exhibit "The usual Gamma clutch drag" LoL !!
He has a Dyson dry clutch setup but did not use it for racing, it is 50% heavier, sticks out an extra half inch, is expensive and vulnerable to crash damage. So it's in the boxes.
Both bikes are titled and registered in the USA.
Included are 12 CASES FULL OF GAMMA PARTS
at least 5-6 sets of engine cases, many cylinders, heads, cranks, etc. See photo.
Dave, in his retired and peaceful state, currently does track days aboard an '06 ZX10R and a GSXR1000 at PIR. This man is legendary.
There is some kind of an inventory list on the parts, but it is not complete. These parts will be coming up for sale, and Dave is hoping to sell both bikes and ALL the parts as a bundle to another enthusiast.
You can contact Deanne Ochitwa through Facebook, or get hold of me via messenger or email and I can relay info to them. I am just connecting people with Deanne, I am not handling the sale of these bikes or parts.
Randy Norian - rg500delta@mac.com
