R6 forks

I've got a friend with an R6 front end that I would love to use for my 94VFR project... but there are a few issues. I don't as of yet know the total overall length but the steering stem is a full 2 inches longer than the VFR. It comes with all the goodies that I really want, radial MC, radially mounted calipers, and gold anodized fork casings, and it's complete from the axle to the clipons (minus brakepads). On the downside it's got a cable clutch but that can hardly be a deal breaker.

this is her
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I'm a machinist who works a lot with plastic, foam, and a little aluminum, so I have a few options. I can mill out new upper and lower triples (maybe just the lower) from scratch to mount my stock stem (is the lower VFR tree clamped on, pressed in, or welded?) to the forks either grabbing the fork tube two inches higher than originally designed to or I can make the lower like a reverse gullwing and try to grab it where originally intended, that's a lot of work and a fairly expensive piece of aluminum, but entirely doable. Or I can just pass on the whole thing. Anyone know of a conversion that worked out in the end? Also I'd like to use my original wheel as I just had it coated.

You could press out the VFR steering stem and find a way to use it in the R-6 lower triple, perhaps with some sort of collar if needed. Or bore the R-6 lower triple to suit.

The bigger problem is going to be the overall fork length. You might not have enough room for the front wheel/front cylinders upon full compression.

This is why the Honda triples using the 929/954 upper triple works well, because it has about 3/4" gullwing to it, and effectively drops the forks that much lower, making crucial room at full compression.

I think you should be able to get it to work, I'm going with the R1 front end on my current build, member 'Phantom' already has the R1 on his. I think it would be easier and cheaper to get the triple from a 929/954 as it uses the same diameter for the fork tubes and will bolt on to the VFR frame without modification (only thing you might do is make an adjustment for the steering stops, tap a hole in either the frame or lower triple and place a bolt in there). Depending on where you want your clip ons you might need to use the RC51 top triple as the gullwing design of the 954 doesn't leave much room to put them under.
With the 929/954 triple you would need about 2mm on each side the R1 wheel and rotors, but since you want to use your VFR wheel I'm not sure on the spacing. I'm also not sure if the rotors will be close enough (VFR is 296mm if I remember right, R6 is 310mm), so you might need to figure out something there

I think B4DY80 has found that dropping the forks through the triples about 19mm (going from memory on that) will get you to the correct rake/trail

[image: View Post]Veefer800Canuck, on 05 January 2011 - 01:31 PM, said:

You could press out the VFR steering stem and find a way to use it in the R-6 lower triple, perhaps with some sort of collar if needed. Or bore the R-6 lower triple to suit.

The bigger problem is going to be the overall fork length. You might not have enough room for the front wheel/front cylinders upon full compression.

This is why the Honda triples using the 929/954 upper triple works well, because it has about 3/4" gullwing to it, and effectively drops the forks that much lower, making crucial room at full compression.



Ah, brilliant, hadn't even thought of that clearance issue. That might mean that I will have to make a lower gullwing clamp for it all to work out afterall.

Thanks

Just told him to ship it to me, so I'm committed.

I knew that I saw someone on here do a Yamaha front end, I'll have to look in more detail about your project and B4DY80s' thanks for that info.

I'm excited. One way or another I'm sure I can make it work. I figured I'd probably have to go with aftermarket rotors and possibly have to make a spacer... a negative spacer will certainly be more complicated, we'll see.

I did the Yamaha R1 forks, but used the RC51 SP1 upper and lower triple. I would suggest the SP1 lower with 929/954 upper for maximum down length, as I suspect the R6 forks are pretty short.

All you need now is:

Hydraulic clutch actuation

Wheel with rotors and MAYBE some different spacers to allow for the difference in width from the RC51 to the R6 rotors.

Post pics, ask questions.

Larry
VFRrider

Good luck with this build and +1 on pics and a write up please Posted Image

Be interesting to see the swap progress.

Cheers

Not sure how much shorter the R6 forks are to the R1s. Other than that, if you go with RC51/929 triples, you're going to need new rotor and wheel spacers, and a clutch.

I've got lots of pics, but they're all here: DropBlog

Thanks for all the good info, I've got a lot to think about.

Kit

I'm not paying attention.

Your in Dallas with me. Give me a call and you can come by and see the bike and ask questions anytime I'm here. I travel alot, so call first.

Larry
VFRrider
214-289-1552

I have also done a fork swap and in my experience the forks were the least expensive item...

- 2000 R1 forks

- 929 upper and lower tree. I might use an RC51 upper if needed.

- I am using an '04 R6 front rim.

- I had to have custom wheel spacers made (2mm longer then stock) and space the calipers in. link to my gallery pics ( http://www.vfrdiscus...-wheel-spacers/ )

You have radial calipers so you might have to work on the rotor spacing (spacer plate machined and longer rotor bolts to be safe, I guess) to get it positioned properly in the caliper.
- Clipons (I used Woodcrafters with a 1" rise). They make sets with larger rise and with a little hunting I believe several people have customized clipons to fit.
You need to consider what you will be using for clipons and how this will affect clearances, stearing lock etc. While your brake lines should be OK but your clutch line will be to long... and lots of little things I have forgotten...

You can gain a lot of room if you use a 929/954 gullwing upper triple and combine it with a set of superbike bars.

Then you can slide the forks down in the triples until they are flush with the top of the triple.

http://www.superhawk...ead.php?t=21274

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