Hi everyone. I've spent the better part of the last few days searching around the forum, but I am completely overwhelmed by the amount of information on suspension set up. I took my '98 to the track last year as a last minute option (someone decided to run over my 600rr), and found out pretty quickly the rear shock was going.
It's time to replace my shock, but I don't know what would be a good option for me. I'll probably be tracking the viffer in the future, I'm not particularly rich, and I'm a decent treeshade mechanic (whatever that's worth). If someone could help me out with my options I'd love you forever.
A good option is a low mileage shock out of a CBR929 - lots of owners fit aftermarket shocks and sell the old ones off for $20-$50. Register on www.fireblades.org and watch the classifieds section.
You need to make up a longer top mount, it's not hard (either to make if you can weld, or to have someone make one up for you). See here for a how-to from Veefer800Canuck:
The 929 shock is certainly an option....as is paying through the nose for a for an ohlins, etc. However, what I did, and what I recommend doing, is sending the shock to Race tech. They will rebuild it with goldtech valving and spring it for your weight/riding style for about $350. then you can drop in front springs that match for about $100. When the smoke clears, you'll have a great all-around custom set up for less than $500. It made a huge difference in my riding. The rear tracked great and the front end quit diving in turns or under hard braking. For the money, you can't go wrong.
I have no affiliation with Race tech.....but I can tell you, do not take the shock to any of the "certified shops" they recommend on their site....send it directly to race tech. I got a stock shock for my 2000 off of this forum for $20 and shipped that to them....kept my old one as a spare and kept riding till it came in.
Using some junk stock shock from another Honda or any other bike for that matter should not be considered an option for track duty on any bike. Buy a Penske or Ohlins. You can get a brand new Penske double clicker for about $850 setup for your weight though just about any Penske dealer and you can have it retrofitted later to go on different bikes by sending it back to Penske. The only dealer that I would stay away from is Traxxion. I would recommend http://www.hordpower.com/ as a good dealer I've delt with in the past, they can order one for just about any bike.
I certainly understand the argument for going with a good aftermarket shock - I have an Ohlins in my 4th Gen, coincidentally it's a CBR900 Ohlins cool.gif - and I've also done the 'rebuild the OEM shock' option. It's worth noting that after you've spent the $ on having the OEM shock rebuilt, you still have an 'emulsion' shock, meaning the gas and oil are combined, with no separate reservoir, which means that when it gets some heat in it (like at the track, or the Gap), it goes away - this is why the CBR929 shock has a separate reservoir, and why the serious stuff has remote separate reservoirs.
How you do it depends on a few factors, the first being cost, and KB indicated that cost is a factor. Same for me, I just got lucky with the Ohlins (which is why I suggested looking for a CBR Ohlins...)
To get you up and running on a budget, the 929 shock beats all comers. It will do the job, pretty well by all accounts.
If you really like to push it, and you get your $ worth out of your trackdays, then for sure an aftermarket shock is the only option.
If you just like your riding and have the budget, an aftermarket shock is money well spent - certainly better than a pipe, tinted screen, rimsticker etc. But not better than full protective riding gear, which should always be the first priority.
I think the 00/01 CBR 929 ONLY shock mod is a great swap for your 5th gen, it's cheap and is far better then the stock viffer piece. As long as it's in good condition it will perform much better then the stock unit even at the track. Now if you VFR is going to be a track whore a higher end shock would be the way to go, otherwise the 929 shock is an easy, inexpensive improvement for the 5th gen. fing02.gif
slowf2337, Jul 7 2008, 10:07 AMUsing some junk stock shock from another Honda or any other bike for that matter should not be considered an option for track duty on any bike. Buy a Penske or Ohlins. You can get a brand new Penske double clicker for about $850 setup for your weight though just about any Penske dealer and you can have it retrofitted later to go on different bikes by sending it back to Penske. The only dealer that I would stay away from is Traxxion. I would recommend http://www.hordpower.com/ as a good dealer I've delt with in the past, they can order one for just about any bike.
You can also get Penske shocks directly from Penske, Jim Lindemann, or Phil Douglas at AfterShocks. Anybody but Traxxion. They would probably send you one for a Hodaka Combat Wombat and tell you it's the correct shock for your bike.
Another big factor is your weight - at 225 or so I'm not going to get good performance out of any stock shock - I'm just too heavy for them. IIRC the VFR & 929 shocks are sprung for a 165lb rider.
I did a stock 929 shock and cranked the compression damping to compensate a bit for it being undersprung for me. I'm pretty happy with it. I'm going to have it resprung/revalved over the winter.
I've also seen a couple of things for another Honda literbike shock (954? Blackbird? not sure) recently. It had a higher spring rate than the stock VFR or 929 shocks...
Rustbucket, Jul 7 2008, 12:37 PMI've also seen a couple of things for another Honda literbike shock (954? Blackbird? not sure) recently. It had a higher spring rate than the stock VFR or 929 shocks...
The CBR 1100XX Blackbird is a bolt in replacement that runs what I think is the heaviest spring Honda uses at 16.8 kg(942 lbs) vs the VFR's 15.3 kg(858 lb), but it needs to be shimmed about 1/4" for the fifth gen. The shock is the same POS as our stock shocks, but should be valved slightly stiffer to go with the bigger spring. fing02.gif
Rustbucket, Jul 7 2008, 12:37 PMAnother big factor is your weight - at 225 or so I'm not going to get good performance out of any stock shock - I'm just too heavy for them. IIRC the VFR & 929 shocks are sprung for a 165lb rider.
I did a stock 929 shock and cranked the compression damping to compensate a bit for it being undersprung for me. I'm pretty happy with it. I'm going to have it resprung/revalved over the winter.
I've also seen a couple of things for another Honda literbike shock (954? Blackbird? not sure) recently. It had a higher spring rate than the stock VFR or 929 shocks...
I have a stock shock off of my 954rr when I put a Olins on it.(best money I ever spent). I might be willing to give it to ya. I just have a question will it fit on an 07? If it will I might do the same thing and revalve it at RaceTech I don't ride my VFR hard enough for an Olins (Thats what the 954RR is for)
rescue13, Jul 7 2008, 01:26 PMI have a stock shock off of my 954rr when I put a Olins on it.(best money I ever spent). I might be willing to give it to ya. I just have a question will it fit on an 07? If it will I might do the same thing and revalve it at RaceTech I don't ride my VFR hard enough for an Olins (Thats what the 954RR is for)
The 954 shock differs is a few ways from the 929 shock, one it's sprung softer and the reservoir is on the opposite side. For the 5th gen the 929 is the best one to use, but I've heard of the 945 shock being used on at least a 5th gen and maybe even a 6th. So I think it can be done, either one will need a spacer for the top mount to make up for the difference in length. unsure.gif
rescue13, Jul 7 2008, 01:26 PMI have a stock shock off of my 954rr when I put a Olins on it.(best money I ever spent). I might be willing to give it to ya. I just have a question will it fit on an 07? If it will I might do the same thing and revalve it at RaceTech I don't ride my VFR hard enough for an Olins (Thats what the 954RR is for)
The 954 shock differs is a few ways from the 929 shock, one it's sprung softer and the reservoir is on the opposite side. For the 5th gen the 929 is the best one to use, but I've heard of the 945 shock being used on at least a 5th gen and maybe even a 6th. So I think it can be done, either one will need a spacer for the top mount to make up for the difference in length. unsure.gif
Cool thanks for the info........ Hmmmm might have to just order the correct ohlin's after all rolleyes.gif If you think you still want to try the 954rr shock let me know.
Baileyrock, Jul 7 2008, 02:24 PMThe CBR 1100XX Blackbird is a bolt in replacement that runs what I think is the heaviest spring Honda uses at 16.8 kg(942 lbs) vs the VFR's 15.3 kg(858 lb), but it needs to be shimmed about 1/4" for the fifth gen. The shock is the same POS as our stock shocks, but should be valved slightly stiffer to go with the bigger spring. fing02.gif
Does it have the additional resevoir like the 929 shock? I thought that helped out in aggressive riding. It doesn't matter too much to me - I really wanted the fully adjustable damping...
Baileyrock, Jul 7 2008, 02:24 PMThe CBR 1100XX Blackbird is a bolt in replacement that runs what I think is the heaviest spring Honda uses at 16.8 kg(942 lbs) vs the VFR's 15.3 kg(858 lb), but it needs to be shimmed about 1/4" for the fifth gen. The shock is the same POS as our stock shocks, but should be valved slightly stiffer to go with the bigger spring. fing02.gif
Does it have the additional resevoir like the 929 shock? I thought that helped out in aggressive riding. It doesn't matter too much to me - I really wanted the fully adjustable damping...
No, it's just like the stock shock w/only the rebound screw and spring load adjustment.
All good points were mentioned. If your not doing any track days then I wouldn't spend the $$ on a penske, elka, ohlins etc. Just get a 929 shock and send it off.
I plan on doing just that with the Racetech setup....because my vfr is NOT going to the track. I would love to but I would cry when I crash it!
End of thread · 20 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 13 Sep 2008