Superbike-Coach Builds Project Yamaha YZF-R1

Superbike-Coach Corp Project Bike

Superbike-Coach Corp, an advanced motorcycle riding school in Northern California, is building  a GP-styled Yamaha YZF-R1 that will be present at future schools.

The Project Bike is a collaboration of about 40 companies worldwide, and represents the most exciting aftermarket products. Prime products from Portugal, Italy, Germany, Japan and more, as well as domestic shops are supporting the project build.

Can Akkaya (head coach for Superbike-Coach Corp and ex-pro European Championship racer) says: “I’ve felt at home on all European racetracks most of my life and was the holder of 5 lap records and a few international victories.

“My fans used to call me ‘Crazy Can’ and I’ve recently feel a bit crazy for spending so much time and effort on this project. I’ve always wanted to build a GP like bike from a canvas of a stock bike for the street. My prior pro racing experience has given me the feel and understanding of what a race bike should feel like. However, it’s all worth it as I’m able to enjoy the build as it develops and, even better, I get to enjoy the bike with my students.”

The more than 2,500 students he has had over the years have inspired Can to take on this project with the various unique bike styles he has seen on the track and street.

Can Akkaya says: “My goal with this was to take it several steps further and really refine the parts compilation of this Superbike-Coach Project Bike.”

This unique build is destined to be as close to a GP style race bike as possible transformed from a stock 2006 Yamaha R1 while still keeping some everyday functions.

Several goals of this project include Level 3 weight reduction, increased power output, improved cornering performance, and perfecting adjustability of the overall bike.

On the aesthetics side, the Superbike-Coach Project Bike veers away from the OE looking fairings and gets a GP style look with some M1 custom fairings and high quality parts from all over the world. This bike shows what the aftermarket industry is capable of and how you can transform a stock production bike into a GP beast.

A few notable sponsored parts to give you an idea:

  • M1 inspired exhaust design with Leo Vince muffler (East Bay Fabrication, and Leo Vince USA)
  • Carbon fiber MotoGP Yamaha M1 replica fairing kit, and custom paint job in Portugal (Lacomoto)
  • Aluminum/titanium bolts used throughout (Mettec USA)
  • Clip-ons, chain adjuster, titanium axle nut, rear sets, state-of-the-art
  • adjustable triple tree (Gilles Tooling Germany)
  • Carbon fiber wheels (BST, South Africa)
  • Ceramic wheel bearings (Brocks Performance USA)
  • Custom race air filter (K&N and Lacomoto Portugal)
  • Piston kit (Wiseco USA)
  • RaceTech fork cartridge system and custom rear shock (Race Tech USA)
  • DID chain, M1 Spec
  • Race radiator (Taleo, Spain)
  • Tire warmer and race stands (Moto-D USA)
  • Clearwater LED headlights (Clearwater Lights, California)
  • Race rising kit (Lust Racing and Tony Foale’s geometry software)
  • Lightweight battery and charger (Shorai USA)
  • Racing and street tires (Dunlop USA)
  • Fully adjustable steering damper (Hyperpro USA)
  • Water tubes, aluminum drain bolt (Moto Tuner USA)
  • Brake lines and fittings, HEL USA
  • Fuel management, Quickshifter (Dynojet Research USA)
  • Adjustable traction control (Davis Technologies USA)
  • Gas tank wrap (Vinyl Styles USA)
  • GPS logger for lap time and line analysis(Qstarz Taiwan)
  • Lightweight controls/ levers (ZETA Japan)

Evolution Motorcycles in San Jose is still putting the finishing touches on the bike, but the build thus far has taken shape into an amazing GP style bike with some one-off international parts. From the M1 Portugal fairing and the carbon fiber wheels from South Africa, to the Clearwater LEDs out of California. These are just a few high quality parts that give this build a very distinctive look.

In regard the desired performance – geometry guru Tony Foale set the chassis up, while BikeMaster helped with parts and tools to get it all done. Even Autocom was taking care of the on-bike radio communication system to fulfill coach Can’s requirements in this bike. The Thrust Company supports the bike with several sets of sprockets to set it up for each track. Qstarz put in a Q6000 GPS data logger which Coach Can uses to teach students.

Can Akkaya says: “People ask me what I plan to do with this bike. The simple answer is ride it! I’ll coach with this bike. I’ll track this bike. I’ll ride the canyons with this bike. I want the Superbike-Coach Project Bike to be versatile and capable in any environment, not just the track or have it collecting dust in some show room. The bike as it sits now is fully usable and I’m most impressed by the non-compromised feel of the race bike characteristics and feedback while riding. This bike gives me confidence like my race bikes used to.”

The bike is not fully done yet, but it already shows people what a fully customized street bike can look and feel like when GP style design and performance is implemented.

Can Akkaya says: “I urge my enthusiastic students and friends to personalize their bikes with at least one part or many parts. Either way you do it, the aftermarket industry has so much to offer, these days with GP style racing parts for your everyday sportbike. Be creative, be unique, and build the GP bike you dream about one part at a time.”

This unique bike comes with a unique story, which has been told in installation reports, pictures and lots of videos with tons of interviews on the website moto-projectbike.com.

Photography by Superbike-Coach Corp
Story by Ramsey Ackad

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