Improve forks on '86 VF500f?

Waiting for my replacement frame give me time to consider modifications to m '86 VF500f. I am not wild about the "air" front forks, mainly I can't find info on how much air I should be running, what setting to use on the external damper control. I don't want to siginifcantly modify the bike as I want to keep it as stock as possible. However, the forks suck. Are there progressive fork spring available, I heard the springs from the Kawasaki EX500 are a common switch. If so what length of spacer is needed to set the pre-load? How many cc's of fork oil and what weight is best? I weigh 225 lbs.

41mm CBR 600 forks with 17" front wheel.

Swap on the complete front end and go.

[image: View Post]Veefer800Canuck, on 18 February 2011 - 07:33 AM, said:

41mm CBR 600 forks with 17" front wheel.

Swap on the complete front end and go.


Thanks, I'll start looking.

[image: View Post]irishjohn, on 17 February 2011 - 07:31 PM, said:

Waiting for my replacement frame give me time to consider modifications to m '86 VF500f. I am not wild about the "air" front forks, mainly I can't find info on how much air I should be running, what setting to use on the external damper control. I don't want to siginifcantly modify the bike as I want to keep it as stock as possible. However, the forks suck. Are there progressive fork spring available, I heard the springs from the Kawasaki EX500 are a common switch. If so what length of spacer is needed to set the pre-load? How many cc's of fork oil and what weight is best? I weigh 225 lbs.
There are progressive forks springs by the WP,there are not preload but its works very good!
(I know because i had put them into my old VF 500F!Paolo Tarrozi offers fork Brace for this model too!!!!

[image: View Post]irishjohn, on 17 February 2011 - 07:31 PM, said:

Waiting for my replacement frame give me time to consider modifications to m '86 VF500f. I am not wild about the "air" front forks, mainly I can't find info on how much air I should be running, what setting to use on the external damper control. I don't want to siginifcantly modify the bike as I want to keep it as stock as possible. However, the forks suck. Are there progressive fork spring available, I heard the springs from the Kawasaki EX500 are a common switch. If so what length of spacer is needed to set the pre-load? How many cc's of fork oil and what weight is best? I weigh 225 lbs.



Oh boy, where to start! Maybe some general comments:

- Do not put any air in the forks, that just makes a bad thing worse
- You do not want progressive springs, straigh rate (linear) springs are the only option for performance
- I suggest using a 150mm air gap. One quart of fluid is more than enough for both forks. I'd use 10w if the forks are stock inside.
- With the correct rate spring a 16mm initial preload will get you in the correct range of rider sag

No matter what you do the forks are still damping rod technology. Gold Valve Emulators make a big improvement and are relatively easy to install. That said, they still don't give you the same performance as actual cartridges. I have a modification where I install full cartridges from a CBR into the VF500F forks. That's a great mod that doesn't require custom parts or clearance issues like a complete front end swap would. Considering that I charge less than a used complete front end off a CBR would run you I think it's a decent option. Combine that with some upgrades to the rear and you can make an already great handling bike much better!