I took my newly aqiured VFR Y2K out today and decided to see how it would do really pushing it....First off it really REALLY doesnt handle like my R6 did....its expected but it was a night and day difference...power wasnt the real issue, but the suspension was way to soft, in some apexes scary soft...I need to start adjusting and playing with different settings...Ive noticed alot of people have swaped out with other bikes suspensions, is this why??? Is there no sweeet spots in the stock suspension??? Im not by any means dissapointed in the VFR I still think its one of the best all around street bikes...Do any of you guys use a VFR for track days??? Maybe I need to come to grips that this is a SPORT TOURER.....Any how I still like it!!!!
The real issue is the lack of adjustment on both ends. This is the main benefit from adapting things like RC forks and 929 shocks, out of the box they still need to be set up for proper sag...
It was the rear that pushed out badly, but once again I havent even tried to adjust the suspension any from where it was set at from the original owner, which i believe really only used the bike for commute...Boy was I sore my arms and shoulders pushing that extra wieght, its been awhile scince I tried pushing a heavy bike in the twists..I say Heavy because of what Im comparing it to....Im excited to play with getting it setup with stock or swaping....COOL MODDIFICATIONS!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/biggrin.gif)
I'm betting that since you haven't touched the settings, you haven't changed the fork oil either... this is a great place to start as you have no way of knowing when it was done last.
Get yourself a shop manual and get started, it will make a big improvement in the ride. Do that and set your sag, then see how it feels and go from there.
SEBSPEED, Mar 2 2008, 10:19 AMMight want to try dialing in a little rebound damping too(on the rear), if ya can.
Yeah Im gonna play with it some, the rear is where the slopy was the most...It felt lke it needed less compression to me..but we will see...I was amazed at how sore i was in the arms and shoulder after my fun...I still feel it a little! Does anyone use a 5th gen for a occasional trackday..I know its not an ideal but just curious...I noticed a few pics in here with 6th gen and older doing laps.just curious!
timmythecop, Mar 2 2008, 12:57 PMIts handling poorly because you havent installed the Honda Handling Package (HHP), consisting of two bolts from Maryland.
(IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif) OH YEAH!!! No wonder!!!! I'll run out right now that'll catch those MVs in the curves Im chasing!!!
I'm just curious - what tires are you using and at what pressure settings? Granted I have an RC 51 front end bolted on, but even before that I found the bike to be quite planted in the corners with the stock suspension properly set up sag-wise, with brand new Pilot Power tires. Its not as easy to ride as my GSXR, but its no slouch either in twisty sections.
Throttlestop, Mar 2 2008, 08:33 PMI'm just curious - what tires are you using and at what pressure settings? Granted I have an RC 51 front end bolted on, but even before that I found the bike to be quite planted in the corners with the stock suspension properly set up sag-wise, with brand new Pilot Power tires. Its not as easy to ride as my GSXR, but its no slouch either in twisty sections.
They are Power Pilots CTs, the bike feels good in the front but the rear just sinks way in...Im going to try to play with the settings and see what i get I just havent had time lately....
JJbigbird, Mar 4 2008, 10:05 AMThey are Power Pilots CTs, the bike feels good in the front but the rear just sinks way in...Im going to try to play with the settings and see what i get I just havent had time lately....
The stock shock might be the culprit. It may need to be changed out.
If sag is not set correctly the wieght of the vfr will definitly affect handling negatively, she needs to be balanced front to back in terms of preload/ridehieght. Oh and yea lots of us do trackdays, we tend to raise up the bike a little more than street to keep it from scraping and it will perform rather well with the right tires. I mean Freddy Spensor uses a vtec for instruction purposes in his riding school! Are you as fast as "Fast Freddy"?
Sloppy in the back - thats usually from not enough rebound, or the front end is dipping too low vs the back so the rear is sliding too easily. VFRS handle best at neutral, sag 30-35mm front and back dynamic measure (rider on the bike to fully extended)
You will be amazed at how different the bike will feel once you get the sag sorted out properly - night/day comes to mind. However I replaced my shock after 30k miles cause it was toast. A 6 year old 5th gen - the shock might be done. I installed an ohlins - linderman engineering will rebuild stockers, and there are mods using cbr shocks too. New oil for the forks will stiffen that up.