Oh No! Not Another 5th Gen Front End Swap?

Yes it is. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/smile.gif)

I'm still waiting on the fender and rotors that are (hopefully) in the mail as I write this, courtesy of a guy that was stripping his 2001 RC 51 (SP1) over on Speedzilla.com. I got the forks, triples and axles from the same bike. The VFR has had its entire LBS (lines, calipers and prop valves) stripped off, and all lines replace with Galfer custom-built lines. I expect the bike will be in this state for a couple more weeks while I wait for the rest of the parts to arrive.

The front wheel and both caliper came from a 2005 RC 51 (SP 2), and both wheels have been stripped of their paint in readiness for powder-coating. I was undecided between silver, gold or black and thought that I'd ride it around like this for awhile until I'd decided which way to go. Polished is just too blingy for the long-term, IMO. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/biggrin.gif)

The helibars were purchased off Ebay for the princely sum of $110, but they were scratched up a bit and needed powdercoating. The Vortex top triple came courtesy of SAFE-T here on this board (Thanks, Rick!) and was anodised black. They both look brand new.

Front master cylinder came off a '07 GSXR 750, donated to the bike by a close friend. It runs a 17mm MC bore, so I expect plenty of stopping power with the new set-up.


Knowhow for the whole project came from previous trail-blazing Frankenviffers (Veefer800canuck, SAFE-T, Swiffer and AB-Oz). Can't thank you guys enough for the knowledge you so willingly shared. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)

The OEM 5th Gen forks, front wheel, LBS and calipers, fender, triples etc will be put up on Ebay in a couple of weeks to help defray the cost of these mods.

I have to apologise for the grainy shots taken with my mobile phone camera. I'll put up better quality pics when the project is complete (as though it ever will be, LOL!).

Still to come - Ohlins rear shock and Powercommander PC II.

(IMG:http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e163/Throttlestop/BremboRCS002.jpg)

(IMG:http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e163/Throttlestop/BremboRCS004.jpg)

Good stuff mate!
Yep, I got a lot of my stuff from speedzilla.com, excellent forum.

That front wheel looks pretty shmick, pity to cover it with the rotors really.

Good job!!1

Love to read posts like this (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)

Dutchy, Jan 30 2008, 11:16 PMGood job!!1

Love to read posts like this (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)

Thanks!

Here are a couple more of the (grainy) pics. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/smile.gif)

The reservoir for the brake MC is a little untidy, so I plan to clean things up a little bit, probably with the addition of an alloy reservoir from the aftermarket.

(IMG:http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e163/Throttlestop/BremboRCS005.jpg)

(IMG:http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e163/Throttlestop/BremboRCS006.jpg)

(IMG:http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e163/Throttlestop/BremboRCS007.jpg)

Did you replace the rear brake master cylinder??

Also, your headers look awfully black. Did you paint them??

You've got the helibars mounted above the triple. Thats an awful lot of lowering of the front with an already shortened fork in there. Watch the steering, it MAY be a little steep.

Larry
VFRrider

Darth Bling, Jan 31 2008, 09:30 AMDid you replace the rear brake master cylinder??

Also, your headers look awfully black. Did you paint them??

Yes, they were painted. I had the entire header system out of the bike a few weeks before, with high-temp black paint. They seem to be holding up well.

(IMG:http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e163/Throttlestop/VFR1.jpg)


The rear MC is due for replacement. I bagged a used 07 GSXR 600 MC off Ebay, and that will go on this weekend. I lined them up and found only a slight deviation in the upper mounting hole, that can be sorted by grinding/enlargement. The bottom linkage is almost the same length as the stock VFR's.

vfrrider, Jan 31 2008, 09:52 AMYou've got the helibars mounted above the triple. Thats an awful lot of lowering of the front with an already shortened fork in there. Watch the steering, it MAY be a little steep.

Larry
VFRrider

Thanks for the heads-up, Larry. I will be careful during the running-in phase, when I first get the bike on the road with the new mods. BTW, those are CBR 929 helibars.

I have good guidance from Veefer800canuck's pioneering effort:

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.p...c=28433&hl=

wow! Do join us to show off your bike at the next outing! How's the PCII, is it working?

The front end looks much lower. Any clearance issues yet? I managed to scraped by lower cowl over some hideous speed humps.

snowparang, Jan 31 2008, 10:53 AMwow! Do join us to show off your bike at the next outing! How's the PCII, is it working?

The front end looks much lower. Any clearance issues yet? I managed to scraped by lower cowl over some hideous speed humps.

Thanks, Hansen. I have not yet mounted the PC II. The bike was already on the stand being stripped when I got it from you. It will go on this weekend, together with the O2 eliminator kit I have made (out of 330 ohm resistors). I will certainly join you at your next VFR ride/gathering.

I plan to raise the rear once the Ohlins shock comes in later this week, then get around to take some serious post-op measurements. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/biggrin.gif)

Cassandtim (Tim) is finishing his upper and lower triple clamp CAD designs tonight to achieve OEM rake and offset with SP1 forks. He has a CNC mill lined up to turn them out, so we should be able to begin assembly in March (after vacations and ski season (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/tongue.gif) ). I'd like to compare our final measured figures against OEM targets (with Elka rear shock in place) and against those of other frankenviffers.

I won't claim that he'll be willing to have any more triples machined, but the CAD files could come in handy for others.

Well with SP1 and 929/954 triples going the way of hens teeth, CAD/CNC will eventually be the only option. Good to hear it's an option that's already being explored (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)

Nice work, Throttlestop!

Now, just those awful DumboEars™ to get rid of, and that horrible blue paint to cover up, and your bike will be TotalBlingCity™! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)

Throttlestop, Jan 30 2008, 09:05 PMI plan to raise the rear once the Ohlins shock comes in later this week, then get around to take some serious post-op measurements. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/biggrin.gif)

Looks great so far, but if you plan to raise the rear with an already dropped front be very careful as this combo will be and extreme steering change IMO. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/unsure.gif)

Throttlestop, Jan 30 2008, 07:05 PMThanks, Hansen. I have not yet mounted the PC II. The bike was already on the stand being stripped when I got it from you. It will go on this weekend, together with the O2 eliminator kit I have made (out of 330 ohm resistors). I will certainly join you at your next VFR ride/gathering.

I plan to raise the rear once the Ohlins shock comes in later this week, then get around to take some serious post-op measurements. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/biggrin.gif)

Great job Throttle. I also put the clip ons over the triple and raised the rear end significantly. IMHO, the decreased trail from the RC front end necessitates some drastic changes in ride height to get the neutral-quick steering back. At least that was my experience: http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.p...36323&st=50 Lowered the front another 5mm or so and raised the rear, probably about an inch by swapping dogbones. It turns easy now and runs through corners almost comepletely neutral. I look forward to your impressions.

vfrcapn, Jan 31 2008, 05:54 PMIMHO, the decreased trail from the RC front end necessitates some drastic changes in ride height to get the neutral-quick steering back. At least that was my experience:

Makes sense, I forgot about those other factors! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/rolleyes.gif)

with my setup, SP2 forks, helibars on top of a 954 triple, I measured front as 8mm shorter than stock, axle to headstock.
I have a 3mm shim on top of my ohlins rear.

That setup seems to work for me...

vfrcapn, Feb 1 2008, 07:54 AMGreat job Throttle. I also put the clip ons over the triple and raised the rear end significantly. IMHO, the decreased trail from the RC front end necessitates some drastic changes in ride height to get the neutral-quick steering back. At least that was my experience: http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.p...36323&st=50 Lowered the front another 5mm or so and raised the rear, probably about an inch by swapping dogbones. It turns easy now and runs through corners almost comepletely neutral. I look forward to your impressions.

Thanks, Capn! I just read that entire thread and I'm really glad I did. I'm sold on the rear height increase, and will go for a 2.4 or 3mm increase on the Ohlins unit as a start, then work my way forward from there.

I've some experience running increased trail (and wheelbase) via a set of adjustable triples on my track bike, and I'm hoping I know what to look/feel for when I take the bike out for the first time, possibly in 2 or 3 weeks' time.

Its odd though, that no one has mentioned the effect a raised rear and increased wheelbase would have on swingarm angle (the effect that would have on anti-squat, and in turn stability in turns).