6th gen. GPR V1 Steering Stabilizer Install

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by stoshmonster, Jul 4, 2009.

  1. stoshmonster

    stoshmonster New Member

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    I thought that I'd post this up to show my fellow 6th gen. owners a steering stabilizer option for their machines. I've used plenty of different top mount and side mount tube-style steering stabilizers on my bikes in the past,but I've never used a rotary style steering stabilizer before,and I decided that with my '03VFR I'd like to give it a try. I wanted something that was colorful,rebuildable,and easy to install and adjust. The GPR V1 steering stabilizer fits the bill. It comes in eight different colors,black,blue,red,orange,gold,purple,green,and titanium which is sort of a medium grey color. In the photo gallery on GPR's website is a pic of a V1 steering stabilizer kit installed on a 6th gen.,but no kit is listed for the 6th gen. on the V1 product page. I contacted GPR,and Randy Norman informed me that the kit shown on that 6th gen. was a prototype that was never actually put into production. Bummer! I did some quick checking and found that the steering stem nut on the '03-'04 CBR600RR is the same as the one on my '03 VFR800. Some more quick checking revealed that the top triple clamps on both bikes (which are not actually the same physical part) are remarkably similar in shape. So I ordered an '03-'04 CBR600RR V1 steering stabilizer kit and hoped for the best,I wasn't disappointed. The base plate bracket for the top triple clamp bolts right on. Just a note for reference people,the stock steering stem nut uses a 30mm socket to remove it,and the steering stem nut supplied in the V1 kit (which you must use) uses a 32mm socket to install it. I replaced the two 6mm grub screws that adjust the base plate with 10mm long stainless steel ones for a bit more stability. I used Blue Loctite on those grub screws when I installed them. The bolt hole spacing for the post mount lines up perfectly with the two front gas tank mounts,but the post mount itself is 10mm too short. That's a simple fix. I got two 1/4" thick by 3/8" tall round chromed steel spacers and two 6mm x 40mm long stainless steel allenhead bolts from the hardware store that did the trick. I capped off the hole in the steering stem with a plastic block off plug from the hardware store as well. Once I had all the parts together,install time was about 15 minutes. Easy peasy. Here are a couple of pics of the base plate and post mounting,and the steering stabilizer installed. Enjoy my friends.

    The red arrows in this pic show the grub screws that I replaced,and the green arrow shows the round chromed steel spacers that I used.
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  2. CandyRedRC46

    CandyRedRC46 Member

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    this is one of the best upgrades I've seen. even though the vfr is a pretty stable ride i would definitely feel much more comfortable with this on the bike. especially when that front wheel touches back down...:thumbsup:
     
  3. stoshmonster

    stoshmonster New Member

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    Thanks CandyRedRC46. It's an easy,neat little mod that almost anyone can do,although at $495.00 for the steering stabilizer plus the $13.00 for the extra hardware that I used it certainly isn't cheap.This mod might work well for the sportier riding 6th gen. owners that like to use their bikes for track days. If any of them were thinking about running a steering stabilizer this might be a viable option for them.

    I agree with you CandyRedRC46,the 6th gen. VFR is a fairly stable platform.
    I used to think the same thing about my old 1980 CB750F until one day when my front wheel hooked a pavement rut on the freeway at high speed. It was only by the grace of God that I survived the "Tankslapper of Death" that followed,because I'll tell you nothing I did helped to save the bike from crashing that day. Ever since then,stable platform or not, I've always preferred to run steering stabilizers on my bikes whenever possible just for that little extra measure of safety.
     
  4. powerslave

    powerslave New Member

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    Thanks for posting this.....Yes the vfr is stable for the most part, but I've almost had mine buck me off with a wicked head shake...I also depended upon the grace of god to save me, because I was nothing but a helpless subject of physics that day!
    Been scratching my head ever since that day as to how to tastefuly mount a stabilizer.
    Thanks!!!!
     
  5. CandyRedRC46

    CandyRedRC46 Member

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    head shake?

    so what circumstances brought on the headshake?
     
  6. 02 VFR Rider

    02 VFR Rider New Member

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  7. CandyRedRC46

    CandyRedRC46 Member

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    doesnt seem to be listed... guessing you use the one for the f4i?
     
  8. 02 VFR Rider

    02 VFR Rider New Member

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    '03-'04 CBR600RR V1 steering stabilizer then add the shims
     
  9. stoshmonster

    stoshmonster New Member

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    Huh....wazzat....? ^^^^^:doh:

    ^^^^^^Hey CandyRedRC46,no offense intended,but you weren't like drinkin' and postin' or nuthin' were you? :heh:

    Just kidding my friend.:sorry:

    That's a big affirmative. ^^^^^^:thumbsup:

    I used the '03-'04 CBR600RR GPR V1 steering stabilizer kit on my bike. If you click on the link to Hard Racing that Kevin provided and scroll down the web page to the Inventory Blowout Sale you'll see that the first two V1 steering stabilizer kits listed are a Black and a Red kit for the '03-'04 CBR600RR.
    Gotta say that $319.00 for the kit is a screamin' deal. Dammit,that's $176.00 less than what I paid for mine last year in July! :mad: :lol:

    I posted this pic in another thread but here's a pic of the post mount with the chromed steel spacers that I added.
    I've made one small change since I originally posted this thread. I originally used two 6mm by 40mm long stainless steel allen head bolts to secure the post mount. I've since replaced them with Purple titanium allen head bolts from Pro-Bolts USA.
    If you're thinking about doing this mod CandyRedRC46 remember you'll need both a 30mm and a 32mm socket for the top steering stem nut.

    [​IMG]
     
  10. CandyRedRC46

    CandyRedRC46 Member

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    my funds and time are currently tied up in vfr electrical bullshit right now... no go...
    ive got a stator, rr, and vfrness to install, then recoop for a while before i can get into any fun mods...
     
  11. stoshmonster

    stoshmonster New Member

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    Oh man,I hear you there my friend.^^^^^^

    I've been working on my bike for the last six years. Sadly though she didn't even leave the garage at all during the 2010 riding season. I had work to do on my other bikes and just sorta ran out of time and money.
    Hopefully,if all goes well this winter,I'll be posting up some funny pics of a Perfect Purple VFR next spring. :pray2:
     
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