I'll be the first to admit that I'm a fat kid at heart. And Belly. I'm 6'0" and pushing 230 lbs. Right now I have the stock shock on the Viffer and since I'm doing a total rebuild, I'm curious as to whether there is a better choice for me.
Do I need to upgrade my shock or can I adjust the stock one enough to be a comfortable and responsive ride?
To quote Jamie D, "The stock shock is made for a 12lb rider".
I ended up going the 929 shock route and had Jamie freshen it up and add a heavier spring. (929 has the same spring rate as the VFR)
I'm 6' and am pushing 200# (guess I should start working out again), and the stocker wasn't stiff enough
I'm 6'1" (or I was when I was younger), and 225 lbs. My son has always told me that I wasn't fat, I was just a good size man. I love that kid.
Anyway, I've been looking for a 929 shock for quite some time now. Every post I read says you can pick them up on eBay for $20.00 or so. Well, the "or so" must mean $60.00-$90.00. I have yet to find one for $20.00 or anywhere even close to that. Anybody have one they'd like to sell me for $20.00?
Not trying to hijack this thread....
Has anyone had experience with the Traxxion Dynamics shocks? The have a lower cost "sport shock?" for street riders. $650
http://www.traxxion.com/shocks-2.aspx
Thanks in advance.
Penske shocks are top notch. I have several friends who competitively race under sponsorship in some fashion.
I can only comment on street riding with a penske. I had one on another bike. It was as good as any other shock I've had (fox twin clicker and Ohlins) For street riding, the differences are not all too apparent. The huge difference is canning the stocker.
It's less blingy than the Ohlins but who cares? I think the non-res penske would be a huge upgrade over the stock shock mainly for being spring to your weight and having actual damping. The factory shock sacks out pretty quick.
[image: View Post]joneill, on 16 February 2011 - 12:31 PM, said:
Not trying to hijack this thread....
Has anyone had experience with the Traxxion Dynamics shocks? The have a lower cost "sport shock?" for street riders. $650
http://www.traxxion.com/shocks-2.aspx
Thanks in advance.
You can't go wrong with a Penske shock. Quality stuff. As long as the spring rate and valving are set for your weight, you're golden.
[image: View Post]Veefer800Canuck, on 16 February 2011 - 01:35 PM, said:
[image: View Post]joneill, on 16 February 2011 - 12:31 PM, said:
Not trying to hijack this thread....
Has anyone had experience with the Traxxion Dynamics shocks? The have a lower cost "sport shock?" for street riders. $650
http://www.traxxion.com/shocks-2.aspx
Thanks in advance.
You can't go wrong with a Penske shock. Quality stuff. As long as the spring rate and valving are set for your weight, you're golden.
when our stories match, it makes me feel like I know what I'm talking about sometimes. :)
I would hope you can't go wrong with an $900 shock!
I think I paid about $60 for my 929 shock. They are probably starting to get scarce. Probably more of 'em on VFRs than 929s these days.
I bought a 1100# Eibach spring, and installed it myself with my own collar/upper mount adaptors. On the lowest setting it's just right for street riding/touring, and about 2 clicks up works good on the track. I weigh about 210, and have hard bags on the bike most of the time.
You definitely need a proper spring compressor to change out the spring. It's not something you want to go wrong. You'll want to do the fork springs at the same time to keep her balanced. I've got .95s in there, and it feels pretty good.
For my 3rd gen, I went with a freashened up 929 with a spring set for my 240lbs. Talk about AWESOME. My knees felt better too since they were not having to compress as much.
Jamie did a fantastic job and the price was great.
Rich
Who is the Jamie D I keep hearing about?
You need to go on e-bay. Buy the 929 shock unit and send it straight to Jamie D. He will fix it up for a couple hundred. Definitely get the correct spring. Valving, etc is a luxury. If you start riding hard, doing track days, spring for a rebuilt shock or new penske/ohlins/wilburs. But for just street, the 929 unit with the new spring would probably be great. Mine is.
Is there a how-to for installing the 929 shock on a 5th Gen? Search = No results found for '929 shock install'.
[image: View Post]EasyE, on 16 February 2011 - 07:44 PM, said:
Who is the Jamie D I keep hearing about?
Do a member search for JamieDaugherty.
I just went through this- for some reason it's impossible to find it on VFRD. Google "929 shock swap" and you'll find a thread by our very own Veefer800canuck on the fireblades.org forum with a link to the VFRD thread. Awesome how to with pics and super easy. With feet of snow in the yard it'll be a while before I can try it out though :( BTW just keep watching flea bay, I got mine with 4000 or so miles for $22 shipped- it cost him $14 and change to ship it :cheerleader:
I'm using the Penske shock. *Very* happy with it.
E-Ticket
[image: View Post]Misspent Youth, on 16 February 2011 - 08:10 PM, said:
Is there a how-to for installing the 929 shock on a 5th Gen? Search = No results found for '929 shock install'.
The hardest part is creating a new upper mount since the 929 shock is shorter than the stocker. Not too difficult if you can do basic metal fabrication. You can either modify the stock mount with a longer bolt & spacer or make a new one like I did.
[image: View Post]MBrane, on 16 February 2011 - 11:41 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Misspent Youth, on 16 February 2011 - 08:10 PM, said:
Is there a how-to for installing the 929 shock on a 5th Gen? Search = No results found for '929 shock install'.
The hardest part is creating a new upper mount since the 929 shock is shorter than the stocker. Not too difficult if you can do basic metal fabrication. You can either modify the stock mount with a longer bolt & spacer or make a new one like I did.
Yeah, I found it (search 929/954 and it comes up). Prefer to rebuild stocker when time comes - is that not a possibility?
[image: View Post]Misspent Youth, on 16 February 2011 - 11:51 PM, said:
[image: View Post]MBrane, on 16 February 2011 - 11:41 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Misspent Youth, on 16 February 2011 - 08:10 PM, said:
Is there a how-to for installing the 929 shock on a 5th Gen? Search = No results found for '929 shock install'.
The hardest part is creating a new upper mount since the 929 shock is shorter than the stocker. Not too difficult if you can do basic metal fabrication. You can either modify the stock mount with a longer bolt & spacer or make a new one like I did.
Yeah, I found it (search 929/954 and it comes up). Prefer to rebuild stocker when time comes - is that not a possibility?
Yes the stock shock can be rebuilt, but it's not really worth rebuilding. Better to spend that money on a better shock IMHO. If you do have the stocker rebuilt beware how it's done. Whoever did the one on my GF's bike drilled a hole in the top of it, and the screw they used to plug that hole was rubbing directly against the main wiring harness. Morons.
I have a 929 shock on my 5th gen and the suspension was instantly better...until I pushed it real hard all day and it was exposed as an under-sprung stocker. I am sending that one to my friend Thermosman who will put an Ohlins spring on it and do some "WSB magic" to it.
I also have a 600 Hurricane Fox twin-clicker laying around. I wonder where I can find the specs on it to see if it is an option for VFRs.
Not trying to hijack this thread, however, I have an '04 and am considering the 929 shock route, is there a particular model year(s) 929 that I need to be looking for on eBay?
[image: View Post]MBrane, on 17 February 2011 - 12:04 AM, said:
Yes the stock shock can be rebuilt, but it's not really worth rebuilding. Better to spend that money on a better shock IMHO. If you do have the stocker rebuilt beware how it's done. Whoever did the one on my GF's bike drilled a hole in the top of it, and the screw they used to plug that hole was rubbing directly against the main wiring harness. Morons.
Yikes. Good counsel. I know a better shock's the better way, but as an MBD (multiple bike disorder) sufferer who's not overly concerned about top performance, I like to conserve $$ where I can and not waste a rebuildable piece.
[image: View Post]Knute, on 17 February 2011 - 08:02 AM, said:
Not trying to hijack this thread, however, I have an '04 and am considering the 929 shock route, is there a particular model year(s) 929 that I need to be looking for on eBay?
The 929 shock is the best swap for the 5th gen VFR, the 6th gen has fitment limits. If your having a shock revalved/re-sprung then the F4i is a better swap for the 6th gen.
See "Vtec Shock options":
http://www.vfrdiscus...-shock-options/
BR
[image: View Post]Misspent Youth, on 17 February 2011 - 10:44 AM, said:
[image: View Post]MBrane, on 17 February 2011 - 12:04 AM, said:
Yes the stock shock can be rebuilt, but it's not really worth rebuilding. Better to spend that money on a better shock IMHO. If you do have the stocker rebuilt beware how it's done. Whoever did the one on my GF's bike drilled a hole in the top of it, and the screw they used to plug that hole was rubbing directly against the main wiring harness. Morons.
Yikes. Good counsel. I know a better shock's the better way, but as an MBD (multiple bike disorder) sufferer who's not overly concerned about top performance, I like to conserve $$ where I can and not waste a rebuildable piece.
Yeah, don't waste money rebuilding a stock VFR shock as you can rebuild a much better shock to start with (929) and have it fully adjustable to boot for the same money, other than the cost of scoring one off ebay ($50). :fing02:
BR
[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 17 February 2011 - 11:08 AM, said:
[image: View Post]Knute, on 17 February 2011 - 08:02 AM, said:
Not trying to hijack this thread, however, I have an '04 and am considering the 929 shock route, is there a particular model year(s) 929 that I need to be looking for on eBay?
The 929 shock is the best swap for the 5th gen VFR, the 6th gen has fitment limits. If your having a shock revalved/re-sprung then the F4i is a better swap for the 6th gen.
See "Vtec Shock options":
http://www.vfrdiscus...-shock-options/
BR
Thanks for steering me in the right direction BR. I darn near pulled the trigger on the 929 earlier today on eBay, good thing I held off and asked.
[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 17 February 2011 - 11:12 AM, said:
Yeah, don't waste money rebuilding a stock VFR shock as you can rebuild a much better shock to start with (929) and have it fully adjustable to boot for the same money, other than the cost of scoring one off ebay ($50). :fing02:
BR
Have a 954 shock on the way (I know the 929's a better fit) and I know it's 4mm shorter than the 929 - who makes a good bracket/spacer for the fitment (I saw JD will modify the shock, itself, and replace the spring, for $270, but that's not an option for me)? I saw some back and forth in the original thread, but don't see that anyone's marketing one. Need one taller than the one for the 929 (capacity for adjustable height a plus), one that doesn't allow the shock to rotate. I'm sure it's not that big a deal to do, but I'm not set up, nor do I have the time.
I have a 929 shock for sale in the classifieds :491:
[image: View Post]Knute, on 17 February 2011 - 03:05 PM, said:
[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 17 February 2011 - 11:08 AM, said:
[image: View Post]Knute, on 17 February 2011 - 08:02 AM, said:
Not trying to hijack this thread, however, I have an '04 and am considering the 929 shock route, is there a particular model year(s) 929 that I need to be looking for on eBay?
The 929 shock is the best swap for the 5th gen VFR, the 6th gen has fitment limits. If your having a shock revalved/re-sprung then the F4i is a better swap for the 6th gen.
See "Vtec Shock options":
http://www.vfrdiscus...-shock-options/
BR
Thanks for steering me in the right direction BR. I darn near pulled the trigger on the 929 earlier today on eBay, good thing I held off and asked.
Actually a member here Did install a 929 shock on a 6th gen, I think it's either in the vetc shock option thread or on it's own in the mods section. :biggrin:
[image: View Post]Misspent Youth, on 19 February 2011 - 10:29 AM, said:
[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 17 February 2011 - 11:12 AM, said:
Yeah, don't waste money rebuilding a stock VFR shock as you can rebuild a much better shock to start with (929) and have it fully adjustable to boot for the same money, other than the cost of scoring one off ebay ($50). :fing02:
BR
Have a 954 shock on the way (I know the 929's a better fit) and I know it's 4mm shorter than the 929 - who makes a good bracket/spacer for the fitment (I saw JD will modify the shock, itself, and replace the spring, for $270, but that's not an option for me)? I saw some back and forth in the original thread, but don't see that anyone's marketing one. Need one taller than the one for the 929 (capacity for adjustable height a plus), one that doesn't allow the shock to rotate. I'm sure it's not that big a deal to do, but I'm not set up, nor do I have the time.
Yes the 929 shock is a Much easier install, but yet again others have made a 954 shock work with more effort.
BR
[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 19 February 2011 - 12:42 PM, said:
[image: View Post]Knute, on 17 February 2011 - 03:05 PM, said:
[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 17 February 2011 - 11:08 AM, said:
[image: View Post]Knute, on 17 February 2011 - 08:02 AM, said:
Not trying to hijack this thread, however, I have an '04 and am considering the 929 shock route, is there a particular model year(s) 929 that I need to be looking for on eBay?
The 929 shock is the best swap for the 5th gen VFR, the 6th gen has fitment limits. If your having a shock revalved/re-sprung then the F4i is a better swap for the 6th gen.
See "Vtec Shock options":
http://www.vfrdiscus...-shock-options/
BR
Thanks for steering me in the right direction BR. I darn near pulled the trigger on the 929 earlier today on eBay, good thing I held off and asked.
Actually a member here Did install a 929 shock on a 6th gen, I think it's either in the vetc shock option thread or on it's own in the mods section. :biggrin:
Yes I did see that in doing some further research. Still, I think the F4i will be the better option for me to pursue. Thanks again.