So this is just a big �ol hypothetical �what if?�
Here�s the situation; I own outright a 2007 VFR 25th Anniversary with ABS and 28k miles. The bike has zero issues, but due to my forthcoming child in December I am no longer riding it on the street. I paid right around $10,600 when I bought it in 2007, but due to the current state of the economy what I can sell it for is slightly depressing. Since I don�t need the money I�ve considered packing it up in a crate drained of all fluids and what not and mothball it until sometime in the future, or just bite the bullet and sell it for whatever I can get.
The other option I�m considering would definitely kill the resale value but would provide me with countless hours / years of entertainment. I have the tools and the ability to handle all the fabrication / alterations myself.
The Photoshop below is purely for speculation, just think of it as a rough sketch and don�t respond to this thread telling me that the exhaust is in the way of the foot peg, and there�s not enough room for the battery, and blah, blah, blah. I understand all that, the picture just represents a general direction as I would probably also alter the fairings more but I lack the Photoshop skills to properly represent that.
The main goal would be to reduce weight and improve suspension and handling, unless the 6th Gen Toro Charger becomes reality and then I may have to consider that as well. Otherwise I will just leave the motor alone.
Here�s a list of ideas for the bike;
- Throw away the entire rear sub frame, rear fairing, and seat. Replace with smaller lighter versions
- Catless header and low mount exhaust
- USD Forks / Wheel / Brakes combo
- More adjustable rear suspension
- Throw away dash and replace with smaller unit
- Toss the headlights and make the bike for track only use.
- Alter fairings to provide room for lower clip-ons
- Cut down windscreen and remove mirrors
- De-link and de-ABS the brakes
- Repaint bike with BNG :goofy:
- See if there�s any way to get the bike to run cooler� move radiators? Redirect airflow? This would require much R&D
I�d probably just sell the RWB fairings and buy a rashed set to modify in case anybody was horrified by the idea of cutting up a perfect set of RWB fairings.
My concern about making it a track only bike is that I wouldn�t use it very much� maybe twice a year? Maybe more depending on how far the addiction goes :biggrin: or maybe I wouldn�t find time at all. To be honest I usually have more fun building things than I do actually using them, so this may not be an issue.
So my question for you all is this; Good idea :fing02: ? or Bad idea :mad: ? If you think it's a bad idea, then what would you do with the bike instead? �and giving it to you for free is not an option�
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1253453594/gallery_11529_4527_439656.jpg
VFR CBR Comparison.jpg
Looks pretty good. I'd keep it street legal and use it when you can. Even if you use it a lot less than now, you'll still have a great bike in ten years. Better off riding it occasionally instead of mothballing it.
...and since you can't give it away for free, I'll give you a dollar...
Oh, and the footpeg is in the way of the exhaust.
Hell yeah! I like the look a lot... But don't stop there - make sure to include a Toro Charger when it becomes avail for the 7th gen and THEN you'll have a seriously awesome Frankenviffer... :blink: And yeah, I'd make sure to keep it streetable...
Looks good. I'd sell it for as much as I could and buy a salvage titled 6th gen cheap, then make the mods, especially if track only. No sense in cutting up a rare RWB unless it has a lot of sentimental value. But if you're thinking track only, why not a cheap salvaged F4i or 600rr?
:+1: what vfrcapn said!
I guess I am sentimental about the RWB since I had a RWB '85 500, and I really love Honda keeping the RWB alive.
I can't image hacking-up a perfectly good anniversary model. A guy here locally painted his RWB flat black?!?! :blink:
It's your bike, and decision. But, there's my $0.02.
The only person you have to please is you.
[image: View Post]JTG, on Sep 25 2009, 07:15 PM, said:
So this is just a big �ol hypothetical �what if?�
Here�s a list of ideas for the bike;
- Throw away the entire rear sub frame, rear fairing, and seat. Replace with smaller lighter versions Check
- Catless header and low mount exhaust Check
- USD Forks / Wheel / Brakes combo Check
- More adjustable rear suspension Check
- Throw away dash and replace with smaller unit Check
- Toss the headlights and make the bike for track only use. Err no, mine's a streetbike. :dry:
- Alter fairings to provide room for lower clip-ons Check
- Cut down windscreen and remove mirrors Err no, mine's a streetbike. :dry:
- De-link and de-ABS the brakes Check but mine was de-linked from the factory. :biggrin:
- Repaint bike with BNG :goofy: To each his own.
- See if there�s any way to get the bike to run cooler� move radiators? Redirect airflow? This would require much R&D My front rad runs the same temps as the side setup. FWIW
So my 4th gen is really a 7th gen? :cool: :fing02:
There's nothing wrong with you're planning to do. I've always liked the idea of thinking outside the box and fabbing your own stuff when it's not available in the aftermarket.
For starters, even if you installed a Torocharger on your VFR, it still wouldn't be a competitive machine on the track. Liter bikes would still smoke you. The VFR's long wheelbase and hefty weight alone would keep it from being a true contender on the track. On the other hand, if you really want to keep your VFR, wish it had a lot more power, and used it as a street bike, the Torocharger definitely for you.
Going back to your picture, I think the tail section looks a little small. The stock rear cowl is, for obvious reasons, the right size. As for the exhaust, it looks like you got that off the current generation CBR 1k. Nothing wrong with that. However, if you're gonna go that route, you might wanna look into doing something like what you see here. It's an aftermarket exhaust system for the CBR 1k that looks really good, IMO:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg262/redrider826/taylormadeCBR.jpg
Even though the 6th gen. VFR has been around seven years now, personally, I don't think the design looks all that dated. If I had to pick one thing I thought does look dated, it's the headlights. Today's sportbikes don't use that look anymore. About a year ago I imported a picture of my bike in MS-Paint and started playing around with the headlights. What you see below is what I came up with (it's by no means perfect, but it's an idea you can build off of.) If you're good with plastics, something like this ought to be doable:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg262/redrider826/lights.jpg
Fantastic job.
I was never a fan of the RWB on the 6th gen until now. It looks great on your mock up. In fact, that bike would look good on just about any color. White and Siver? Red and Black?
While you're at it, add a 600RR hugger and either an eight spoke rear wheel or a set of 20 spoke PVMs, also in black. I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
I love the look of it, but it seems such a shame to limit it to track use only. Think of the street cred!
[image: View Post]RED RUNNER, on Sep 25 2009, 08:29 PM, said:
Fantastic job.
I was never a fan of the RWB on the 6th gen until now. It looks great on your mock up. In fact, that bike would look good on just about any color. White and Siver? Red and Black?
Same here. I wasn't all that crazy about it when it first came out, but over the past year I've grown to like it. If I had one, I'd do the following:
1) fender eliminator
2) Remus Ti cans
3) powder coat the SSSA black to match the frame
4) supersport the front fender (and keep it blue)
5) install an 8 spoke wheel in the back
6) powder coat the wheels white, and
7) powder coat the front brake carriers black.
Now
that would be an awesome-looking RWB.
Thanks for all the input so far :fing02:
To answer some of the questions;
If I were going to keep it streetable I think I would just sell it because I'm no longer comfortable riding on the streets in LA. It's just too big a risk for me starting a family.
I agree about keeping a RWB stock because there is something very special about it, and yes I have considered selling it and then buying a salvaged bike to do all the mods on... this is definitely a possibility, the only thing that's nice about mine is I've owned it since new so there is no question or concern about the maintanence and condition of the bike.
As for it being a competitive track bike?... couldn't care less :laugh: I'm not racing, nor am I trying to "beat" anyone on the track, this is entirely for my own entertainment and as long as I could beat my previous time on the same track I would be happy. Anyone can buy a cbr600 or a gsxr600, but how many track prepped vfr's have you seen? I understand they're heavy and the wheelbase is a shocking :ohmy: 2" longer than a cbr1000, but they still do fine and besides I'm no Ben Spies or Valentino Rossi nor do I have any desire to be.
Yes, that is the cbr1000 muffler, although I would be open to anything the one I chose was just a really easy "cut and paste"... and that was about all the thought I gave it...
FotoMoto...yep, you had the very first 7th Gen all this time and no one even knew it :biggrin:
Keep the comments coming!
[image: View Post]Alien VFR, on Sep 25 2009, 05:30 PM, said:
...and since you can't give it away for free, I'll give you a dollar...
hmmmm...tempting, let me talk it over with the wife :dry:
Nice work JTG, along the lines of where I'm (very slowly) taking my 4th Gen - including the radial-caliper R1 front end. I think the best way to seriously modify a VFR for performance is to swap the bodywork for smaller closer-fitting bodywork from a race rep style of bike, including the smaller tail section - you can ditch a lot of weight in doing this, as well as bring the bike right up to date styling-wise.
I like how you cleaned up the lines, alot. Not a real fan of the CBR1K exhaust though. I do like the aftermarket version emeraldvfr posted a bit. Either that of under tail. Lose the passenger padding and smooth it out more like a solo tail. Continue the red and blue into the tail. White wheels with an 8-spoke on the rear. If you want to build it, do it. A smaller headlight, keep it street legal and ride it.
I like the way the CBR lower pipe looks on the bike. After seeing your custom pipes that you have on there now, I know if anyone can do it, you can. Good luck.
[image: View Post]The Phantom, on Sep 25 2009, 10:52 PM, said:
I think the best way to seriously modify a VFR for performance is to swap the bodywork for smaller closer-fitting bodywork from a race rep style of bike, including the smaller tail section - you can ditch a lot of weight in doing this, as well as bring the bike right up to date styling-wise.
Um, when you say "bodywork" I think fairings. Obviously the plastics don't weigh a lot, what are you talking about?
And, I think the smaller rear subframe/tail section makes the SSSA look Bad@$$!
It's surprising how much lighter the whole front fairing assembly from a CBR600 F4 is than the same parts on a 4th Gen, and the headlight is another story altogether. CBR600 headlight weighs about as much as the VFR windscreen! and the windscreen itself weighs twice what the CBR windscreen weighs.
And because the race rep fairings mount closer to the frame there's less metal bracketry involved, and you can make custom brackets from aluminium (including the front subframe).
I never said it was easy, just lighter...
[image: View Post]JTG, on Sep 25 2009, 09:39 PM, said:
As for it being a competitive track bike?... couldn't care less :laugh:
I'm not racing, nor am I trying to "beat" anyone on the track, this is entirely for my own entertainment and as long as I could beat my previous time on the same track I would be happy. Anyone can buy a cbr600 or a gsxr600,
but how many track prepped vfr's have you seen? I understand they're heavy and
the wheelbase is a shocking :ohmy: 2" longer than a cbr1000, but they still do fine and besides I'm no Ben Spies or Valentino Rossi nor do I have any desire to be.
Keep the comments coming!
Personally, I've never heard of anybody that wasn't going to the track to race. Nor have I ever heard of anybody that wasn't trying to beat the other competitors. Everyone I know that does track days does so not only for the purpose of racing, but to beat his competitors as well.
You're right, I don't see a lot of track prepped VFR's. In fact, I've never seen one. The reason people don't buys VFRs to prep for the track is because they know there's not much you can do to them to make them a competitive track bike.
As for the wheel base, I assure you 2" is a lot. You don't have to be a professional to notice it. Even I would. To say it's "only" 2 inches would be like saying a liter bike "only" beat you by 1.5 seconds at the drag strip. It's a lot.
OK, I've been in similar situation as you... my wife and I have a 4 year old and a 5 month old boy.
My wife is less than enthused about riding and still considers it pretty risky. Here's what we do at our household:
- I don't generally ride much around home. Most of my riding is weekend get-away with a friend, or to a bigger VFRD meet somewhere. This year, my only riding was to go to the Summer Summit meet in CO. Most years I ride 2 or 3 trips, but I had a lot of projects on the go this summer and not a lot of time.
- I made a promise to my wife to do as much as possible to ensure that I make it home in one piece. I now ride more cautiously and only rail through corners that I can see far enough to stop in the distance I can see. This makes for a little slower ride (on group rides, you will usually find me somewhere near the tail end of the pack for this reason.) I assume EVERY car is there to kill me; I don't linger beside or behind cars or trucks that I intend to pass. I slow for intersections where cars are waiting to turn left or as a vehicle rolls up to an intersection to the side of me. I try to stick to sane speeds in treed areas or where deer like to pop out of. I have a last will and testament that is filled out and current. I keep ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact and medical information on my person and cell phone. Does this affect my ability to enjoy a fun ride? No, not really. Sometimes other riders get a ways ahead of me, but everyone rides their PACE and sometimes I am with the group, sometimes not. I enjoy the ride either way.
- If it were me, I would keep the bike and ride when you can. Travel with it and go to meets or on little excursions once in a while. A short weekend on the bike feels like a week's holiday to me. Kids can wear you out at times, but it is important to keep going the things that make you who you are and to take a breather and have a vacation once in a while. You got to escape the daily grind once in a while. Do the same for the wife: send her away for a spa day or take a weekend getaway with her or send her on a girl's night out or whatever she's into, so that she gets her escape and relaxation when she needs it. She might not recognize when she is getting beaten down by the daily grind and could use it. It can do wonders for keeping your relationship healthy, as it WILL change between you when kids enter the picture, and there are adjustments you will be making.
- Did I mention KEEP THE BIKE?
- If you are set on the idea of the project, and / or track bike, here's my take: Sell the bike you have and get an older cheaper one, no ABS. Spend the difference on suspension upgrades, exhaust, whatever. Don't buy the Torocharger for a track bike, but I would definitely put one on a street bike. Also, if you do a different tail section, the one pictured looks too thin compared to rest of bike. I've seen 5th gen with modded RC51 tail and it looked just perfect. Might make a good match for the FrankenViffer front end on 6th gen...... OR just buy a different bike for track use like a CBR600/1000RR, or F4i, or Gixxer, whatever. They are more competitive right out of the box.
But if it were me, I would keep the bike as is, tinker with it on a smaller scale, and ride when you can. Why mess with a good thing?
Track vs. street, street vs.track, blah, blah.
It's a common misconception around here that the street is dangerous and the track is safe.
IT'S NOT AT ALL. Sure the enviroment is contolled but when you go down your doing 100mph. I've had way more friends get seriously hurt on the track than the street.
I DO LOVE THE LOOK. THATS SWEET.
If you enjoy working on things more than using them could you please move to Maryland and be my neighbor? I'll let you mod and maintain the hell out of my bike and keep the coffee coming as you work late into the night on my Uber-VFR.
As for making your own 7th gen... Why not do it. You wrote that you would have countless hours of fun doing it. That's what it's all about right? If it were and NR750 it might be a different story but there are a lot of RWB 6th gens out there and there is something cool about ripping into a bike that's all yours and perfect. Again, it's a machine that is meant to enjoy so have fun.
It is also a cool project to document from start to finish and you have an audience right hear that lives for this kinda thing.
You should be convinced by now. So, what are you waiting for??? Get your camera and head out to the garage!
[image: View Post]EmeraldVFR, on Sep 26 2009, 06:18 AM, said:
Personally, I've never heard of anybody that wasn't going to the track to race.
Nor have I ever heard of anybody that wasn't trying to beat the other competitors. Everyone I know that does track days does so not only for the purpose of racing, but to beat his competitors as well.
You're right, I don't see a lot of track prepped VFR's. In fact, I've never seen one. The reason people don't buys VFRs to prep for the track is because they know there's not much you can do to them to make them a competitive track bike.
As for the wheel base, I assure you 2" is a lot. You don't have to be a professional to notice it. Even I would. To say it's "only" 2 inches would be like saying a liter bike "only" beat you by 1.5 seconds at the drag strip. It's a lot.
How exactly are you going to "beat" the other competitors when there is no start or finishing flag? It's like the people who race in and out of traffic to keep the other guy from passing them... how ya going to win when there's no finish line? Besides which when you go to a track day you may very well be in the same group with another guy who has a Desmosedici RR, there will ALWAYS be someone with a faster bike you just can't win that game.
Of course a 2" longer wheelbase makes a difference, just like the weight makes a difference, but my attempt at humor failed.
Perhaps you are just a lot more competitive than I am? You know each to their own and all that :cool:
In the end none of this really makes any difference. I'm about 90% sure that I will sell the bike since there's 2 guys coming to look at it this afternoon, I just thought everyone might enjoy the Photoshop and would possibly inspire someone else to do the same.
Cheers,
Jon
[image: View Post]Q-Dawg, on Sep 26 2009, 07:12 AM, said:
but it is important to keep going the things that make you who you are and to take a breather and have a vacation once in a while.
Thanks for all the advice, but I've heard this line many times before. When I stopped rock climbing 5 years ago my friends said the same thing, "it's part of who you are, how can you possibly give that up?" Or when I stopped pursuing music on a professional level to focus on entertainment engineering, I got the same advice "music is part of who you are", and the same was true for skiing.
I think too often we confuse who we are with what we do. Motorcycling is just another hobby for me, and in my life it's time has come and gone. I enjoy being able to learn new things and become proficient at them and then try something else. I've had no regrets about any decision I've made so far and I've made some REALLY bad decisions. So in comparison selling a motorcycle seems like an easy thing to do.
I thought you were serious about the 2" wheelbase thing. And if you think our 57.4" wheelbase is long, have you seen the K1200S? It's 62.4. No joke.
Maybe it's the people I've been hanging around the past couple years. Many of them are Level 3 track day racers that are out to win at all costs. Some of them are probably borderline Level 4.
Best of luck to you in all your future endeavors.
JTG,
Your order has almost been processed! :cool:
I will be track testing it next Sat & Monday.
- Throw away the entire rear sub frame, rear fairing, and seat. Replace with smaller lighter versions - Well highly modded stock one approx 1/2 weight.
- Catless header and low mount exhaust- Done w/PCIII and custom map
- USD Forks / Wheel / Brakes combo- Not USD, But fully adjustable forks w/high flow valves and correct springs.
- More adjustable rear suspension- Done, above plus Penske rear shock.
- Throw away dash and replace with smaller unit- kept it because I had it!
- Toss the headlights and make the bike for track only use.- done, still need to block off cutouts
- Alter fairings to provide room for lower clip-ons- Running lower CBR clip-ons.
- Cut down windscreen and remove mirrors- done. no windscreen at the moment.
- De-link and de-ABS the brakes- Done, running 4 piston calipers w/EBC HH pads & Radial m/c.
- DID 520 kit w/ steel sprockets 15/45
- Pegs raised 1 1/2"
Dropped weight, it currently weights 470 wet w/1 gal of gas. (stock 538 lbs)
Will provide full ride report soon! :ph34r:
BR
[image: View Post]The Phantom, on Sep 26 2009, 05:37 AM, said:
It's surprising how much lighter the whole front fairing assembly from a CBR600 F4 is than the same parts on a 4th Gen, and the headlight is another story altogether. CBR600 headlight weighs about as much as the VFR windscreen! and the windscreen itself weighs twice what the CBR windscreen weighs.
And because the race rep fairings mount closer to the frame there's less metal bracketry involved, and you can make custom brackets from aluminium (including the front subframe).
I never said it was
easy, just lighter...
Lighter plastic is not the place I would start to lose weight. Okay, so the windscreen weighs twice as much, but that's what, 6 oz. instead of 3? We're taking fractions of ounces here where things like the rear subframe, passenger pegs, center stand, etc. are measured in pounds shaved off. I can understand the every little bit helps, hence people who pay $2500 for lighter rotors and so on but that's only when you get to that point where every single other place to shave more weight has been taken care of.
[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on Sep 26 2009, 02:51 PM, said:
JTG,
Your order has almost been processed! :cool:
I will be track testing it next Sat & Monday.
- Throw away the entire rear sub frame, rear fairing, and seat. Replace with smaller lighter versions - Well highly modded stock one approx 1/2 weight.
- Catless header and low mount exhaust- Done w/PCIII and custom map
- USD Forks / Wheel / Brakes combo- Not USD, But fully adjustable forks w/high flow valves and correct springs.
- More adjustable rear suspension- Done, above plus Penske rear shock.
- Throw away dash and replace with smaller unit- kept it because I had it!
- Toss the headlights and make the bike for track only use.- done, still need to block off cutouts
- Alter fairings to provide room for lower clip-ons- Running lower CBR clip-ons.
- Cut down windscreen and remove mirrors- done. no windscreen at the moment.
- De-link and de-ABS the brakes- Done, running 4 piston calipers w/EBC HH pads & Radial m/c.
- DID 520 kit w/ steel sprockets 15/45
- Pegs raised 1 1/2"
Dropped weight, it currently weights 470 wet w/1 gal of gas. (stock 538 lbs)
Will provide full ride report soon! :ph34r:
BR
Pictures pictures pictures. Post them up BR.
[image: View Post]alwaysaware, on Sep 26 2009, 03:03 PM, said:
Pictures pictures pictures. Post them up BR.
here ya go!
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/baileyrock/vfr%20track%20bike%2009/vfrtrackproject09003.jpg
:laugh:
OK, here's a few!
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/baileyrock/vfr%20track%20bike%2009/vtectrackproject015.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/baileyrock/vfr%20track%20bike%2009/vtectrackproject023.jpg
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/baileyrock/vfr%20track%20bike%2009/vtectrackproject032.jpg
[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on Sep 26 2009, 11:51 AM, said:
JTG,
Your order has almost been processed! :cool:
I will be track testing it next Sat & Monday.
- Throw away the entire rear sub frame, rear fairing, and seat. Replace with smaller lighter versions - Well highly modded stock one approx 1/2 weight.
- Catless header and low mount exhaust- Done w/PCIII and custom map
- USD Forks / Wheel / Brakes combo- Not USD, But fully adjustable forks w/high flow valves and correct springs.
- More adjustable rear suspension- Done, above plus Penske rear shock.
- Throw away dash and replace with smaller unit- kept it because I had it!
- Toss the headlights and make the bike for track only use.- done, still need to block off cutouts
- Alter fairings to provide room for lower clip-ons- Running lower CBR clip-ons.
- Cut down windscreen and remove mirrors- done. no windscreen at the moment.
- De-link and de-ABS the brakes- Done, running 4 piston calipers w/EBC HH pads & Radial m/c.
- DID 520 kit w/ steel sprockets 15/45
- Pegs raised 1 1/2"
Dropped weight, it currently weights 470 wet w/1 gal of gas. (stock 538 lbs)
Will provide full ride report soon! :ph34r:
BR
SWEET!! Start another thread, I want to hear and see all about this!! :fing02: Especially since I probably won't be doing this I'll have to live vicariously through you :biggrin:
[image: View Post]JTG, on Sep 25 2009, 08:15 PM, said:
So this is just a big �ol hypothetical �what if?�
Here�s the situation; I own outright a 2007 VFR 25th Anniversary with ABS and 28k miles. The bike has zero issues, but due to my forthcoming child in December I am no longer riding it on the street. I paid right around $10,600 when I bought it in 2007, but due to the current state of the economy what I can sell it for is slightly depressing. Since I don�t need the money I�ve considered packing it up in a crate drained of all fluids and what not and mothball it until sometime in the future, or just bite the bullet and sell it for whatever I can get.
The other option I�m considering would definitely kill the resale value but would provide me with countless hours / years of entertainment. I have the tools and the ability to handle all the fabrication / alterations myself.
The Photoshop below is purely for speculation, just think of it as a rough sketch and don�t respond to this thread telling me that the exhaust is in the way of the foot peg, and there�s not enough room for the battery, and blah, blah, blah. I understand all that, the picture just represents a general direction as I would probably also alter the fairings more but I lack the Photoshop skills to properly represent that.
The main goal would be to reduce weight and improve suspension and handling, unless the 6th Gen Toro Charger becomes reality and then I may have to consider that as well. Otherwise I will just leave the motor alone.
Here�s a list of ideas for the bike;
- Throw away the entire rear sub frame, rear fairing, and seat. Replace with smaller lighter versions
- Catless header and low mount exhaust
- USD Forks / Wheel / Brakes combo
- More adjustable rear suspension
- Throw away dash and replace with smaller unit
- Toss the headlights and make the bike for track only use.
- Alter fairings to provide room for lower clip-ons
- Cut down windscreen and remove mirrors
- De-link and de-ABS the brakes
- Repaint bike with BNG :goofy:
- See if there�s any way to get the bike to run cooler� move radiators? Redirect airflow? This would require much R&D
I�d probably just sell the RWB fairings and buy a rashed set to modify in case anybody was horrified by the idea of cutting up a perfect set of RWB fairings.
My concern about making it a track only bike is that I wouldn�t use it very much� maybe twice a year? Maybe more depending on how far the addiction goes :biggrin: or maybe I wouldn�t find time at all. To be honest I usually have more fun building things than I do actually using them, so this may not be an issue.
So my question for you all is this; Good idea :fing02: ? or Bad idea :mad: ? If you think it's a bad idea, then what would you do with the bike instead? �and giving it to you for free is not an option�
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1253453594/gallery_11529_4527_439656.jpg
VFR CBR Comparison.jpg
I'll take your spare parts, but it seems like you want a RWB cbr1000...........you may want to just store it and ride it when you get the itch... I know how it is to be bikeless and it hurts.............the vfr can be a track bike redue suspension and it will be fine..
[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on Sep 27 2009, 05:35 AM, said:
Lighter plastic is not the place I would start to lose weight.
Well we agree there - I started with the exhaust system.
[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on Sep 27 2009, 05:35 AM, said:
I can understand the every little bit helps, hence people who pay $2500 for lighter rotors and so on but that's only when you get to that point where every single other place to shave more weight has been taken care of.
Yes, you need to keep it in perspective. Vfroem took a massive amount of weight out of his 3rd Gen but the cost is prohibitive - cable clutch conversion, CF airbox etc. You can do it easily by walking into a dealership and wheeling out a GSX-R750 (but this is no good if you love the V4 :blush: )
I have a second, virtually stock 4th Gen in my garage, so when I get to the finish line with the project bike I'll have a good reference point to see whether it was worthwhile, but I reckon it will be - if I can take 15 kg out of the bike and we're talking 100hp and 240kg wet, power to weight ratio will have gone from 416hp/tonne to 444hp/tonne - that's a 6.3% improvement which is a significant difference. And the exhaust system alone stripped 6kg off the bike, so I can probably get close to 20kg reduction with the aluminium subframe I have - thats 454hp/tonne, an 8.4% improvement. Combined with a 6-8% power increase courtesy of exhaust and other mods, along with brake, suspension and gearing improvements, and you have quite a handy little performance bike that will surprise many a litre bike :fing02:
End of thread · 33 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 12 Apr 2010