NC30 Diet

Ive recently brought a VFR400 NC30 that isnt yet on the road,
so i have some time to change some things while its stripped and working on the fairings.

Coming straight from a 125 id say this bike is fairly heavy and my body mass situation doesnt help.. im working on that though :wink:

Can anyone help me shift some weight by replacing parts that are a bit excessive?




Thanks,
Keir

I don't know much about your bike but on a 6th gen. VFR like mine, the following are common methods of reducing weight:

1) Installing aftermarket exhaust cans

2) De-linking the brakes

3) Getting a lithium battery

4) Removing the passenger footpeg assemblies

5) Removing the passenger grab rails

6) Removing the center stand

7) Installing a fender eliminator kit

8) Removing the tool kit.


Everything stated above will shave about 40 lbs. off the bike. That's about as far as you can go without spending serious cash.

[image: View Post]2FAST4U, on 12 March 2011 - 09:17 AM, said:

I don't know much about your bike but on a 6th gen. VFR like mine, the following are common methods of reducing weight:

Everything stated above will shave about 40 lbs. off the bike. That's about as far as you can go without spending serious cash.


You sure about that? 40 lbs? Seems a bit optomistic there.



There's not much you can do that's simple to reduce weight on an RC30 that I know of.

[image: View Post]YoshiHNS, on 12 March 2011 - 10:38 AM, said:

[image: View Post]2FAST4U, on 12 March 2011 - 09:17 AM, said:

I don't know much about your bike but on a 6th gen. VFR like mine, the following are common methods of reducing weight:

Everything stated above will shave about 40 lbs. off the bike. That's about as far as you can go without spending serious cash.


You sure about that? 40 lbs? Seems a bit optomistic there.



There's not much you can do that's simple to reduce weight on an RC30 that I know of.



Although these are estimates, they should be fairly close

1) Installing aftermarket exhaust cans - 11 lbs.

2) De-linking the brakes - 6 lbs.

3) Getting a lithium battery - 7 lbs.

4) Removing the passenger footpeg assemblies - 4 lbs.

5) Removing the passenger grab rails - 2 lbs.

6) Removing the center stand - 3 lbs.

7) Installing a fender eliminator kit - 2 lbs.

8) Removing the tool kit. - 3 lbs.


This actually comes out to 38 lbs.

Removing the chain guard (like I did) and getting an aluminum rear sprocket - 2 lbs.


Edit:
Losing 40 lbs. and with a setup including a Power Commander, dyno-tuning, a high-flow air filter, catless headers, and non-quiet baffles removed from the cans, you could conceivably knock .2-.3 seconds off your 1/4 mile e.t. The best e.t. I've seen (for a 6th gen. VFR) was an 11.2 @ 120 mph. With this setup, you're now talking 11 seconds flat or a very high 10. If you got the big bore kit, you'd definitely be in the high 10's.

The NC30 is a featherweight compared to the 6th gen. I road one it felt like a bicycle in comparison, in reality it is about the same as my RM125. So I have no Idea how to help you. Sorry.

[image: View Post]2FAST4U, on 12 March 2011 - 09:17 AM, said:

I don't know much about your bike but on a 6th gen. VFR like mine, the following are common methods of reducing weight:

1) Installing aftermarket exhaust cans

2) De-linking the brakes

3) Getting a lithium battery

4) Removing the passenger footpeg assemblies

5) Removing the passenger grab rails

6) Removing the center stand

7) Installing a fender eliminator kit

8) Removing the tool kit.


Everything stated above will shave about 40 lbs. off the bike. That's about as far as you can go without spending serious cash.


Thanks this is just what i needed.

Just out of interest what generation is mine?
Its a 1993 NC30.

check www.durbahn.de most mods also help for your VFR

nc30 weight loss ? very little to loose as they are only about 360lbs :)

An aluminum rear sub frame will net several pounds (stock steel one is heavy). Full exhaust system is the most especially as the stocker has a rear manifold that weighs alot, maybe loose 10-15 lbs :) That's about it.

hit www.400greybike.info , THE 400 forum, for more info.

We need to remember that hels talking about the NC30, the 400cc little brother to the RC30.

And yes, the bike is already a lightweight, and no, there is no cheap/easy way to lose weight from the bike. Just the rider as already mentioned.

Exhaust system is going to be the first, cheapest, easiest thing to do. After that, it gets expensive real fast.

[image: View Post]Veefer800Canuck, on 12 March 2011 - 09:17 PM, said:

We need to remember that he's talking about the NC30, the 400cc little brother to the RC30.



Keir needs to check out the VFR forum in the UK.

http://www.bikersoracle.com/vfr/forum/

They have a tech area for the VFR400.

http://www.bikersora...isplay.php?f=48

Forums: 400greybike is the original, but it is very busy. The Bikersoracle site is useful, but has fewer actual NC30 owners.

The biggest weight losses would probably be in the exhaust (swap for aftermarket), wheels (swap for mags or carbon) and the battery (assuming the lithium batteries are suitable). Most parts, though smaller than RC30, don't actually weigh much less.

Ciao,

[image: View Post]JZH, on 14 March 2011 - 06:50 PM, said:

JZH
So.Cal., USA/London, UK
http://www.vsource.org
RS250; CBR400RRN; RVF400RT; VFR400RL; VFR444RN;


NC30, where's the jealous emoticon. Then I see J's sig. Geesh. all these guys with the cool smaller bikes.


:bliss: :cheerleader:

You best bet for dropping sprung weight is going on a diet yourself. ( <--- pot calling the kettle black here.... I'm 15-20# generous for my height)

[image: View Post]y2kvfr, on 15 March 2011 - 07:21 AM, said:

( <--- pot calling the kettle black here.... I'm 15-20# generous for my height)


If that's the case, than I definitely don't want to know what the ideal weight for 5'9" is.

[image: View Post]2FAST4U, on 12 March 2011 - 09:17 AM, said:

I don't know much about your bike but on a 6th gen. VFR like mine, the following are common methods of reducing weight:

1) Installing aftermarket exhaust cans

2) De-linking the brakes

3) Getting a lithium battery

4) Removing the passenger footpeg assemblies

5) Removing the passenger grab rails

6) Removing the center stand

7) Installing a fender eliminator kit

8) Removing the tool kit.


Everything stated above will shave about 40 lbs. off the bike. That's about as far as you can go without spending serious cash.

most of that stuff is not on an RC30 to begin with

Looking at mine, I can't see a whole lot of reduction items.

The stock exhaust can does weigh a ton, you can get an adapter link to mount about any can on it, but you have to cut the stock can off. Tyga makes some sweet exhausts for the NC (that duel carbon can stainless systems is the dogs bullocks) but be prepared to pay $1600 for it. Cutting the stock can and replacing it with a carbon/alu/Ti can save you about 15-20 lbs.

Tyga also has an Alu subframe available.

Wheels would help as well, though I might go with the RVF 17" rear, with the RVF shock linkage to make up the height difference. There's not alot of tire choice (at least in the the US) in sotck sizes.

I would say this though. The stock suspension while OK, can be greatly improved upon, very much so for those that weight more than the probably 160 lb rider this was designed for.

I would rebuild and re-spring the suspension before I did anything with weight loss. I had the rear shock completely re-valved and resprung, and it made quite the difference.

Honestly, I wouldn't be at all concerned about it's weight, as I doubt you'd see any appreciable gains. It's very compact weight wise.


--jeff

sounds like a goal could be to lose 20 lbs rather than change a potentially original bike...

I'm nearly finished doing a "mini" restoration on the one I just bought. Its true, there aren't any real obvious places to lose weight with one of these things unless you're ready to spend some serious cash. I'd say a Rick Oliver aluminum subframe and a lithium battery are going to be the best bang for the buck, maybe a front end conversion to something more modern with an aluminum lower triple and a much lighter front wheel(though this may be offset by the generally heavier USD forks).

Best bet is to hit the gym. I'm about 190 on a good day, should probably be about twenty pounds lighter for my height (5'-11"). There's no way I'm going to lose twenty pounds on this race rep for free!

BTW, I think an NC30's wet weight is closer to 400. I'm going to put mine on scales to verify this once she's up and running.

[image: View Post]y2kvfr, on 15 March 2011 - 07:21 AM, said:

[image: View Post]JZH, on 14 March 2011 - 06:50 PM, said:

JZH
So.Cal., USA/London, UK
http://www.vsource.org
RS250; CBR400RRN; RVF400RT; VFR400RL; VFR444RN;


NC30, where's the jealous emoticon. Then I see J's sig. Geesh. all these guys with the cool smaller bikes.


:bliss: :cheerleader:

You best bet for dropping sprung weight is going on a diet yourself. ( <--- pot calling the kettle black here.... I'm 15-20# generous for my height)


Im clinically underweight so im already ontop of that one thanks :wink:

[image: View Post]iArGod, on 18 March 2011 - 04:40 AM, said:

[image: View Post]y2kvfr, on 15 March 2011 - 07:21 AM, said:

[image: View Post]JZH, on 14 March 2011 - 06:50 PM, said:

JZH
So.Cal., USA/London, UK
http://www.vsource.org
RS250; CBR400RRN; RVF400RT; VFR400RL; VFR444RN;


NC30, where's the jealous emoticon. Then I see J's sig. Geesh. all these guys with the cool smaller bikes.


:bliss: :cheerleader:

You best bet for dropping sprung weight is going on a diet yourself. ( <--- pot calling the kettle black here.... I'm 15-20# generous for my height)


Im clinically underweight so im already ontop of that one thanks :wink:

[image: View Post]craig513, on 22 March 2011 - 10:19 AM, said:

I'm sorting out how to reply. This is my first time on this forum.
I'd say CB1 hit the nail on the head. My bike has tyga race exhaust which saves some kilo's. Other than that Rick Oliver's rear subframe with tyga plastics is the only other thing I can think of that will achieve an appreciable result. Rick Oliver is the guy to talk to-just google his name-he is on the same island as you. For a lighter idea-look for a nsr250 similar power much less weight

[image: View Post]iArGod, on 18 March 2011 - 04:40 AM, said:

[image: View Post]y2kvfr, on 15 March 2011 - 07:21 AM, said:

[image: View Post]JZH, on 14 March 2011 - 06:50 PM, said:

JZH
So.Cal., USA/London, UK
http://www.vsource.org
RS250; CBR400RRN; RVF400RT; VFR400RL; VFR444RN;


NC30, where's the jealous emoticon. Then I see J's sig. Geesh. all these guys with the cool smaller bikes.


:bliss: :cheerleader:

You best bet for dropping sprung weight is going on a diet yourself. ( <--- pot calling the kettle black here.... I'm 15-20# generous for my height)


Im clinically underweight so im already ontop of that one thanks :wink: