Dr. Ergal's G5

I took the occasion of the Chistmas days off to finally implement my plan to get my VFR as adherent as possible to my personal idea of VFR
Let's start with the main thing: I'm definitely in love with G4.
G4 embodies my idea of what a VFR should be: elegant. refined, sporty but classy and most of all... not reduntant.

That's the thing: G5 is a wonderful machine, indeed; the engine is lovely, and it has decent tire size on rear, but its layout is... too much
VFR concept does not need fancies like D-CBS, PAIR, flaps and so on. VFR has to be pure

So, here's my work on my G5 to get it "leaner".

The initial part of the job has been done at the very first moment I put the old guy in garage: flap removal, PAIR removal and small things more.
Here's the post

Once done this, the rest of the plan was:

1. D-CBS removal
2. Ignition coil update with coilstick
3. Front indicator removal

1. D-CBS removal
I made what most of all already did : VTR1000F front-end swap.

I found a second-hand fork set, and a complete braking front system (including a HEL steel braided line)
[image: large.20240921_164831.jpg.8f6b51dbdc6c58068a5ceb24beaf2d42.jpg]

I won't add pictures of the works, because it's something posted dozens of time here.. I just want to remark an upgrade: a dedicated forkbrace, designed by myself: and machined from a solid Avional 2024 block. 

[image: image.thumb.jpeg.6a5867f96de837b4889daacc8ab07f6f.jpeg][image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0048.jpg.b31e0504184d03173644c3416ea4cf3f.jpg][image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0047.jpg.3654c46c95500670d3b5a3021f8d3193.jpg]

I replaced the original spacer with a new one made in aluminium:

[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0034.jpg.8b474cf3fdb59f30f3b22bff99b3bf50.jpg]

Here's the frontend swapped in:

[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0023.jpg.fb0238a684e3befd125c5d74040567b1.jpg]

Because I use it "solo only" (my wife has her own bike), I removed passegers footpegs.
I'm still studying for a decent muffler bracket...
[image: large.20241005_162950.jpg.9842edebc52462789f5e9e059d65dcc0.jpg][image: large.20241005_162933.jpg.dbb67f47581460bc21aa2f45d79ea5a0.jpg]

2. Ignition coil update with coilstick

As well as the frontend swap, it's something posted a bunch of times here,, so I just want to thank you all for inspiration and information.
Despite all the info collected here, I fell into the error to buy a short coilstick 😁
However, it's not been completely useless, because by applying the seal of the shorter into the longer I got the perfect match:
Short and long:
[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0030.jpg.fed151b037118d42a4656ed9e1365652.jpg]

Long coilstick equipped with seal of the short coilstick: 👍

[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0011.jpg.22d8b8f79d30316d82a0604151f5c5e2.jpg]

Front cylinders:
[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0041.jpg.2c2a8aa1ff9d52f33e891483e7ab2703.jpg]

Rear cylinders:

[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0015_2.jpg.1a0a6e26537ffd16b84e7696a976083c.jpg]

 In the end, I replaced the mirrors with a pair or units with led light.

[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0039.jpg.56c73b89de407a204216bc51a2ad0196.jpg]

They're very light (supports are in plastic... 😣) so I'm not totally convinced; I wait for the response of the road to finalize this mod.

Initially, I closed the holes with an aluminium grid, cut with the proper shape.
[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0040.jpg.5889971433f502f0eaae3f74a1e1c2e0.jpg][image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0044.jpg.308a8ee9bd0f544d10ff484b2a813de1.jpg]

I have another choice by closing these holes with the proper caps from Thurn:
[image: spacer.png]

Once on the road I'll decide what I like the most.

To close this long and boring post, here's the video of the first start-up 😊

I willingly avoided to post all the pictures of the job here.
For those who want to peek in, here's the link of my gallery:
 

Just one thing is missing: footpegs rising.
Thanks for watching 😀 

 Nice work! Personalizing bikes is they way to go. That said I'm one of those weirdos that actually likes the DCBS. It works awesome if you know how to work it. Ridden many a wet dirt road, and track days. Never a problem.

 The PAIR removal for me was strictly for ease of maintenance. That & the evap BS is just needless complexity, and weight. I know some would say the same about the DCBS. You do you.

 I have 2 '99s. The 49 stater is my commuter/touring bike with the Corbin bags, heated grips, radar detector. yada yada. The other is a CA spec bike with no center stand (I cut/ground the bosses off the cushion) no passenger pegs, Lithium battery, high mount TI exhaust etc. It's 50lbs lighter. It can hang in the upper 3rd of B group at a track day, and I'm good with that.

I had a '94 4G for a while. Great bike. If I had more garage space I would have kept Grandma. A bit cosmetically challenged she had nearly 140K on her when I sold her, and still goin strong.

MBrane, 1/18/2025 at 12:03 AM

That said I'm one of those weirdos that actually likes the DCBS. It works awesome if you know how to work it. Ridden many a wet dirt road, and track days. Never a problem.

Really? 😲

I've ridden on track day a couple of times with my CBR/XX when it was stock, and D-CBS was a pure agony when you were about to push a bit more.
[image: SUN_Magione_4.thumb.jpg.699c2f19c9e68a68ee1005771d0920c5.jpg]

D-CBS is fine on road, I agree. But only within a certain limit.
Its "squatting" action makes the bike stable and "well composed" during the braking phase, but it doesn't allow you to manage the load transfer as you like; when pushing hard you might want to transfer more load on frontend when entering the corners, and avoid the rearend to be brake-locked; simply, D-CBS does not allow that.

And also... bleeding D-CBS is a soul damnation 😅



Ah, VFR on track is very sexy ❤️

17 hours ago, DrErgal

Really? 😲


[image: SUN_Magione_4.thumb.jpg.699c2f19c9e68a68ee1005771d0920c5.jpg]

And also... bleeding D-CBS is a soul damnation 😅



 

Agreed!🙂

My recently acquired 2001 is my first D-CBS of any kind. I've been riding non linked bikes since 1975. The D-CBS seems pretty civilized so far, but with only 3 months and 3,200 miles under my belt not sure I would test it out on 129, 151, Wayah Rd, et al anytime soon.

Blackbird is kinda heavy for a track bike. Good on you for muscling it around!

Bleeding DCBS just takes proper tools, and patience. An assistant helps, but I've done it myself more than once. Creative use of broomsticks.

I de-linked my brakes. I had a bit of anxiety doing it, because, for me, they did work quite well. But they weren't going to work with my DMr Suspension upgrade. And the complexity and weight... They had to go.

DrErgal, 1/14/2025 at 1:13 AM

I took the occasion of the Chistmas days off to finally implement my plan to get my VFR as adherent as possible to my personal idea of VFR
Let's start with the main thing: I'm definitely in love with G4.
G4 embodies my idea of what a VFR should be: elegant. refined, sporty but classy and most of all... not reduntant.

That's the thing: G5 is a wonderful machine, indeed; the engine is lovely, and it has decent tire size on rear, but its layout is... too much
VFR concept does not need fancies like D-CBS, PAIR, flaps and so on. VFR has to be pure

So, here's my work on my G5 to get it "leaner".

The initial part of the job has been done at the very first moment I put the old guy in garage: flap removal, PAIR removal and small things more.
Here's the post

Once done this, the rest of the plan was:

1. D-CBS removal
2. Ignition coil update with coilstick
3. Front indicator removal

1. D-CBS removal
I made what most of all already did : VTR1000F front-end swap.

I found a second-hand fork set, and a complete braking front system (including a HEL steel braided line)
[image: large.20240921_164831.jpg.8f6b51dbdc6c58068a5ceb24beaf2d42.jpg]

I won't add pictures of the works, because it's something posted dozens of time here.. I just want to remark an upgrade: a dedicated forkbrace, designed by myself: and machined from a solid Avional 2024 block. 

[image: image.thumb.jpeg.6a5867f96de837b4889daacc8ab07f6f.jpeg][image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0048.jpg.b31e0504184d03173644c3416ea4cf3f.jpg][image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0047.jpg.3654c46c95500670d3b5a3021f8d3193.jpg]

I replaced the original spacer with a new one made in aluminium:

[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0034.jpg.8b474cf3fdb59f30f3b22bff99b3bf50.jpg]

Here's the frontend swapped in:

[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0023.jpg.fb0238a684e3befd125c5d74040567b1.jpg]

Because I use it "solo only" (my wife has her own bike), I removed passegers footpegs.
I'm still studying for a decent muffler bracket...
[image: large.20241005_162950.jpg.9842edebc52462789f5e9e059d65dcc0.jpg][image: large.20241005_162933.jpg.dbb67f47581460bc21aa2f45d79ea5a0.jpg]

2. Ignition coil update with coilstick

As well as the frontend swap, it's something posted a bunch of times here,, so I just want to thank you all for inspiration and information.
Despite all the info collected here, I fell into the error to buy a short coilstick 😁
However, it's not been completely useless, because by applying the seal of the shorter into the longer I got the perfect match:
Short and long:
[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0030.jpg.fed151b037118d42a4656ed9e1365652.jpg]

Long coilstick equipped with seal of the short coilstick: 👍

[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0011.jpg.22d8b8f79d30316d82a0604151f5c5e2.jpg]

Front cylinders:
[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0041.jpg.2c2a8aa1ff9d52f33e891483e7ab2703.jpg]

Rear cylinders:

[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0015_2.jpg.1a0a6e26537ffd16b84e7696a976083c.jpg]

 In the end, I replaced the mirrors with a pair or units with led light.

[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0039.jpg.56c73b89de407a204216bc51a2ad0196.jpg]

They're very light (supports are in plastic... 😣) so I'm not totally convinced; I wait for the response of the road to finalize this mod.

Initially, I closed the holes with an aluminium grid, cut with the proper shape.
[image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0040.jpg.5889971433f502f0eaae3f74a1e1c2e0.jpg][image: large.IMG-20250113-WA0044.jpg.308a8ee9bd0f544d10ff484b2a813de1.jpg]

I have another choice by closing these holes with the proper caps from Thurn:
[image: spacer.png]

Once on the road I'll decide what I like the most.

To close this long and boring post, here's the video of the first start-up 😊

VID-20250113-WA0052.mp4 8.14 MB · 0 downloads

I willingly avoided to post all the pictures of the job here.
For those who want to peek in, here's the link of my gallery:
 

Just one thing is missing: footpegs rising.
Thanks for watching 😀 

Looking good. It's interesting to see the different ideas people have about what they want from their VFR. You've done quite a number of modifications to yours. I particularly like the coil-on-plug mod, and the fork brace. That's the first I've seen of those mods on a VFR. All that, but you still have the stock exhaust can. That was one of the first things to go on my 5th gen. What made you keep the stock can?

2 hours ago, Ziffer

All that, but you still have the stock exhaust can. That was one of the first things to go on my 5th gen. What made you keep the stock can?

3 things made, essentially.
1) I DO LOVE the whining sound of the engine coming from the timing gears, and I don't like it to be overpowered by the exhaust
2) I have horsepower enough to have fun; I'd like to install a LIGHTER muffler (weight saving is the main thing: HP output gain is totally negligible, to me) , but I consider other stuff much much worthy. I.e., I'm saving money for the rear shock

3) In my place (Trentino, north Italy, close to Garda lake), police officers are extremely strict for such modifications.