VF1000R Ohlins forks?

I was looking at possibilities for the VF1000R. They are very long front forks. I just went and measured mine and they were about 33" = 838mm. Ohlins universal are 800mm = 31.5". Would that be too short?

This is just food for thought.

Anyone with personal experience with converting these forks to anything other than stock please chime in.

How long are the RC51 forks?

Please don't respond with comments about the pricing because that isn't productive to the conversation. Thanks in advance.

Dave

I show the following lengths:

RC51 755mm
ZX10 (06-07) 743mm
ZX10 ((04-05) 730mm
R1 (06-08) 730mm
929/954 724mm
06/07 1000RR ???
04/05 1000RR 717mm

Dave,
Both VF1000RS (Tom) and Kel used RC51 fronts but they require work on the upper triple clamps / clip ons and sacrifice steering lock-to-lock movement. I was going to use a mid 90's FZR1000 setup as length wise it is closer, and with the Yamaha triples the low speed turning radius is better than the RC51. Check out wlodek1980's posts on his VF1000, last I checked it wasn't complete but he has it pretty far.
Still no pics?!

I was assuming custom triples with this deal so I am not worried about using the donor triples.
I had forgotten about the clip ons. That will require some thought.
I just don't want it to be a situation where there is any possibilty of touching that forward head.

[image: View Post]unbalanced, on 31 December 2010 - 09:04 PM, said:

Dave,
Both VF1000RS (Tom) and Kel used RC51 fronts but they require work on the upper triple clamps / clip ons and sacrifice steering lock-to-lock movement. I was going to use a mid 90's FZR1000 setup as length wise it is closer, and with the Yamaha triples the low speed turning radius is better than the RC51. Check out wlodek1980's posts on his VF1000, last I checked it wasn't complete but he has it pretty far.
Still no pics?!


I was under the impression that they did not like the RC51 forks. I am trying to search for wlodek1980's posts, but I am not finding anything about the forks.

I think you'll find that the answer is no - they will not work. It's really not the fully extended dimension but rather fully compressed. That's when you find out the problems. As noted, I think you'll find that the wheel would hit the front head and/or radiator. With a properly setup suspension you will use all of the travel, so based on that you want to be sure that you have clearance all of the time.

You really have two options. The first is to reduce the travel of the forks so they don't compress as far. For this situation you would need to reduce the travel by about 40mm bringing the total down to just 80mm. Unless this is a dedicated drag bike I don't think that's nearly enough. The other option you have is to fabricate some special triple clamps. This is not easy and usually costs a decent amount of money.

The real solution is to modify the frame and bring the steering head into a position that is actually useful. At that point it would better to just make a entire new frame so that you can address the other shortcomings!

[image: View Post]peregrine, on 01 January 2011 - 08:50 AM, said:

[image: View Post]unbalanced, on 31 December 2010 - 09:04 PM, said:

Dave,
Both VF1000RS (Tom) and Kel used RC51 fronts but they require work on the upper triple clamps / clip ons and sacrifice steering lock-to-lock movement. I was going to use a mid 90's FZR1000 setup as length wise it is closer, and with the Yamaha triples the low speed turning radius is better than the RC51. Check out wlodek1980's posts on his VF1000, last I checked it wasn't complete but he has it pretty far.
Still no pics?!


I was under the impression that they did not like the RC51 forks. I am trying to search for wlodek1980's posts, but I am not finding anything about the forks.


Forget that I found his thread. Thanks

I used an RC51 lower as an upper. It gave me the proper drop down. My R sits exactly the same height as stock. You can't get this drop with the stock 51 upper. The only draw back is you lose steering radius due to the different offset of the 51 triples. You don't notice this until wheeling around in your driveway. It really should have a custom triple setup but it can be done.

[image: Posted Image]

[image: View Post]JamieDaugherty, on 01 January 2011 - 08:59 AM, said:

I think you'll find that the answer is no - they will not work. It's really not the fully extended dimension but rather fully compressed. That's when you find out the problems. As noted, I think you'll find that the wheel would hit the front head and/or radiator. With a properly setup suspension you will use all of the travel, so based on that you want to be sure that you have clearance all of the time.

You really have two options. The first is to reduce the travel of the forks so they don't compress as far. For this situation you would need to reduce the travel by about 40mm bringing the total down to just 80mm. Unless this is a dedicated drag bike I don't think that's nearly enough. The other option you have is to fabricate some special triple clamps. This is not easy and usually costs a decent amount of money.

The real solution is to modify the frame and bring the steering head into a position that is actually useful. At that point it would better to just make a entire new frame so that you can address the other shortcomings!


I was waiting for you to chime in Jamie.
How much travel does the stock fork have that makes it so difficult to switch out?
What are the stock specs? length, travel, etc...?

Yeah Ohlins front and rear and a nice spindly frame inbetween. Probably handle like a pretzel...what do ya think?

It's winter time and my head has more ideas than my wallet can handle so I am sparking entertaining posts.

While I have your attention and what sparked the Ohlins idea is you are making VFR800 shocks fit the rear so why not get a nice aftermarket shock for a VFR800 to fit the VF1000R with your mod. Just saying.....

[image: View Post]Kel, on 01 January 2011 - 09:14 AM, said:

I used an RC51 lower as an upper. It gave me the proper drop down. My R sits exactly the same height as stock. You can't get this drop with the stock 51 upper. The only draw back is you lose steering radius due to the different offset of the 51 triples. You don't notice this until wheeling around in your driveway. It really should have a custom triple setup but it can be done.

[image: Posted Image]


I assumed custom triples.
How is the travel with that? Did you have to limit it?

[image: View Post]peregrine, on 01 January 2011 - 09:15 AM, said:

I was waiting for you to chime in Jamie.
How much travel does the stock fork have that makes it so difficult to switch out?
What are the stock specs? length, travel, etc...?

The spec is 150mm of travel on the stock VF1000 forks, but I've measured a bit less. I can't remember the OAL on the stock forks off the top of my head. Most modern forks have 120mm of travel, which is what I reduce mine to.

[image: View Post]peregrine, on 01 January 2011 - 09:15 AM, said:

Yeah Ohlins front and rear and a nice spindly frame inbetween. Probably handle like a pretzel...what do ya think?

It's winter time and my head has more ideas than my wallet can handle so I am sparking entertaining posts.

While I have your attention and what sparked the Ohlins idea is you are making VFR800 shocks fit the rear so why not get a nice aftermarket shock for a VFR800 to fit the VF1000R with your mod. Just saying.....


You'll find that I'm not a huge fan of the Ohlins stuff. It's ok, just way overpriced. The only thing worth the money is the new TTX stuff. I had an Ohlins rear shock on my F and got rid of it beause I can build a Showa that works just as good or better. That's what I'm running now. The shock covnersion I do are all custom and I can use almost any shock. I do a lot with Fox shocks because they are easily modified. The performance is all in the valving, something the early VF guys don't usually worry about. It's a shame because even with the stock forks you can make one handle pretty decent. Of course this takes all new internals in the forks and a new shock. The cost for all of that work would be less than a new aftermarket shock and about 1/4 the cost of Ohlins R&T forks alone. That's why I think it's a great value.

[image: View Post]peregrine, on 01 January 2011 - 09:20 AM, said:

I assumed custom triples.
How is the travel with that? Did you have to limit it?


No limit to the travel and I have yet to touch anything. Remember, my forks are dropped quite a bit from stock 51 upper location. In the photo above, the top of the forks are at the casting line in the middle of the triple. The collars above the triple are for the clipons. I believe the Rc51 forks might be different lengths for SP1 and SP2?

I like my RC51 front forks just fine thank you very much. Steering lock limited? Yes. This can be irritating in the garage, a non-issue on the road.

2000-2001 RC51 forks came stock with 5mm negative preload. Run that way with stock springs they will skim the front valve cover on full bump or full on brakes. I replaced the springs with a set from Racetech that are longer and are stiffer. The tire does not touch the valve cover, ever. It does skim the plastic coated spring cover on the front radiator hose from time to time. Who cares, no danger there. I used a stock flat RC51 top triple for years, I only recently changed the top triple to a CBR929 dogleg item.

2000-2001 forks are longer than 2002-2006. Can`t remember how much and I won`t speculate without measuring(don`t want my best guess to turn into "the truth".) Still in my PJ`s having coffee today, I`ll get to it later.

You don`t need 6" of travel on the front forks on these like the stock forks (5.9" to quote the Honda Service manual). 4"-ish on the RC51 forks works just fine. Travel isn`t really the issue here, fork length is. And control. And the stiff stanchions of the USD fork grasped by beefy triples.

It also handles much better with the front end dropped from stock, less like a chopper. Kick the a$$ up in the air a bit too, that will help.

The frame is far from "spindly", people tend to think that since it is steel and not massive chunks of aluminum it must be weak. Not true. People also forget the motor is soldly mounted to the frame...and VF750`s were raced with a very similar frame. Mine doesn`t handle like a pretzel. Neither does my VF1000F Interceptor with 2002 RC51 forks. Try it.

I`d like to try a set of RC51 Ohlins in my R. Haven`t been able to bring myself to do it yet. ($$$) I have an Ohlins shock on the rear and I do like it.

Thanks for the measurement of the Universal forks. 1.5" difference? Plenty of length. EDIT-Nevermind, just read your post below.

Don`t listen to nay-sayers. They haven`t tried it and simply dismiss without experience. Maybe even lead you down the wrong path. There is alot of antecdotal bull$hit out there.

That was just the measurement I took in my jammies with the bike fully loaded so I didn't account for sag.

Jaimie is NOT the first guy who I have heard talk about the Ohlins that way. My last bike had reworked forks and a triple adjustable Penske rear and was really nice on the street.

I have no delusions of making this thing handle like a new worked street bike.

I do like the idea of the RC51 forks, but for this first bike I may just go Jamie's route so I can spend a summer getting to know this bike.

The second bike could be a whole different story. I will take that down to the bare frame and go from there.

Guys thanks so much for all the info. I hope to get some definitive info before I do anything drastic so we will have to keep discussing this. Plus I wouldn't mind riding some bikes back to back with different set-ups for all you New England and NY guys.