Rc30 - Rvf750r/f - Vfr800fi Rear Axles And Cush Drives

I responded to a question some time back on this issue. And I am still unclear on the facts.

So here is my response to someone that thought an RC30 rear axle (without a cush drive) or a RVF750R/F (with what I believe has a small cush drive) onto a late model VFR800FI
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The 1990 VFR750R (RC30) (300 built for AMA homologation) had no cush drive.

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The 1990 � 1993 RVF750F (RC45) did have a small cush drive and single bolt rear axle from what I recall.

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The I994 � 1997 RVF750F (RC45) also continued with a small cush drive and single rear axle (though Honda�s parts fish shows both with four lugs and wheel nuts as with the VFR800 series). I have never seen an RC45 so configured � all had single bolt rear axles.

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Two photos of 1994 RVF750F showing the single bolt rear axle and the last of a 1997 model with what appears to be a small cush drive (Though I have never handled one).

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And the1998-2001 VFR800FI with a large cush drive and the four lug and nut wheel mount

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A photo showing a 2000 VFR800FI axle assembly compared to 1990 VFR750F (RC30) � the long and short of it.

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All the bearings, seals and spacing were identical (as are Honda�s P/Ns. The only difference in the axle shafts were their length � the shortest being the 1990 RC30 with no cush drive to the longest belonging to the VFR800 series to accommodate the large cush drive. I do believe that the RVF750F series did employ a small cush drive and had a slightly longer axle than the RC30 � but I have never really confirmed this � and the Honds RC45 line drawing showing lug and nut hub configuration for the RVF750 has me flummoxed.

In fact � I do not know if any VFR750R or F incorporated a cush drive which would make all the 1990 RC30 axle hardware compatible. I would certainly like to hear from some owners on this matter.

Finally, my hand-made one-off rear axle on my 2000 VFR800FI which used no welds, exotic steels, ground (not cut) threads and an RC 30 axle shaft and wheel nut hardware (wheel mounted is a five spoke Dymag cast magnesium in �Silver Sparkle� finish). There may be modified rear axles out there for mounting a single bolt RC45 wheel to an VFR800 series bike � but I could not find on at the time I modified my Gen 5. And I wanted the axle to be the last part to fail on my ride (and by design, the wheel and swingarm would fail well in advance. Watch that wheel torque closely when using cast magnesium wheels.

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All the best,

John

PS: JOE - if yoy are still reading the board, maybe you could access the OEM fisf for the RXF750R/F series - the one I have is obviously wrong - thanks in advance.

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Oooh, I'm digging the dual inlet/outlet exhaust on the '45!

Never seen one of those before!

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Oh, BTW, nice work on the single nut conversion!

The info and pics are incorrect. The RC30 and RC45 are both single nut wheel retention and without cush drive.

The picture you describe as the 90-93 RC45 (which does not exist) is actually the 3rd Gen VFR750F. The picture of the 94-97 RC45 is actually 4th Gen. They both have cush drives and 4 nut wheel retention.

Try www.crotchrocket.com for correct pics. They list the RC30 (VFR750R) in 1990 and RC45 (RVF750R) in 1994.

[image: View Post]rhubarb, on Aug 28 2007, 08:10 PM, said:

The info and pics are incorrect. The RC30 and RC45 are both single nut wheel retention and without cush drive.

The picture you describe as the 90-93 RC45 (which does not exist) is actually the 3rd Gen VFR750F. The picture of the 94-97 RC45 is actually 4th Gen. They both have cush drives and 4 nut wheel retention.

Try www.crotchrocket.com for correct pics. They list the RC30 (VFR750R) in 1990 and RC45 (RVF750R) in 1994.

Thank you for the correction. I knew well ahead something was wrong as stated in my post. I learn something new every day.

Thanks and best regards,

John

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Guess I should have chimed in here sooner, since I have one of each, but it has been very difficult to type, since I crashed at the mini-motard races two weekends back and dinged up my right hand and left side pretty good (bad!) But I am healing pretty well...just hurts more at 51 than it did at 18! :unsure:

Actually, the first parts fiche image is the correct one for the RC30. The other images are not for the RC45. Neither of the set ups work for the 6th Gen VFR (which I also have).

Other than wheel design & cool factor, I am not sure why you would want to convert to single nut axle for routine road use. I find I can pull the wheel on my VFR800 faster than the RC's because of safety wires, etc. Plus no center stands on the RC30 = needing a lift/stand. But looks like a neat conversion. :thumbsup:

ronayers.com has the correct parts fiche images also. BTW, the RC 45 first you show is the one I have now. Would love to find out about the second one's exhaust system...cool.

Cheers! :salesman: