1st Gen Roll Call

stewart I noticed your brake lines are the stock rubber in your photos. Install SS Braided lines and good competition brake pads. The lines alone are a necessity by themselves. You'll be glad you did.

I would ride a 1st gen without them and I don't.


Blight did you loosen the MC and tilt it downward so the banjo connection is below the MC floor? If not you still may have air at the banjo connection.

 

Didn't think of that one! I'll give it a try! Also, what about removing the wave washers on the floating disc bolts? That would allow the discs to sit where they wish and not have to move back into position (against the springs) when the brakes are applied? My theory is that the springs (6) are pushing the caliper lightly back into the caliper after brake release, and when the brakes are reapplied, the pistons have to travel farther to reach the rotors and actually stop you. Seriously, I have about 1" or more of free lever movement before I feel any braking, which is still rather weak.

I'm gonna try it and report my findings... after I do what you recommended above. Thanks for the tip... never too old to learn something new!

I might look into a 4-piston per caliper solution too. I had the small 10" rotors on my '77 XLCR, and the OEM calipers couldn't just get a grip. Scary actually. I installed a pair of really nice GMA billet 4 piston calipers, with braided lines, and the difference was like night and day! Instant power-brakes!!


Here they are mounted up on the XLCR:



I happen to think 'stopping' is more important than 'going', for obvious reasons.

Cheers,
BLIGHT

 

Grey - I know you are right, but my dilemma is that my R is 100% stock and I'm trying to keep it that way. It is also very low mile - only has 3900 on it - which is another reason why I'm trying to keep it as close to showroom condition as I can. It is rarely used which is why for now, I'm living with the limitations of the stock brakes. Who knows though, I might change my mind ........

 

Stewart you're never gonna see a 1000R cross Barrett Jackson for $100k so c'mon man ride that thing and enjoy it..modify the brakes..keep the original setup to switch back to if you wanna sell it and have some fun..that bike was not made for sitting in a garage!

 

stewart I know where your coming from. I did my goat that way originally. Original stock is very hard to find compared to pieced together stock/modified. I still have all the stock parts I replaced with performance stuff.

Keep it that for sure.

 

I think that you must be able to source SS lines that are sheathed in black, right?
Upgrading the performance without changing the aesthetic really at all - "win-win"

 

Good point. That way it would look stock with the added benefit of better brakes. I know places like Parker Hanifin and some NAPA stores can make the lines vs buying a kit.

 

Ah, the dilemma of the 1st Gen owners!

Do we modify the bikes to bring them into - or at least closer to - this Millenium , or do we leave them pristine and relive past glories that were and that might have been . . . ?

As I said, I am conflicted.

Of course, my VF750F was "high-mileage" (37,000 miles) and ratty when I bought it, so it was an easier calculation for me. Get rid of that terrible shock! Get some F2 wheels! But if I had a pristine clean 1st Gen with 4,000 miles on the odometer, I would probably keep it the way it was on the showroom floor and ride it just enough to keep it running great.

 

Shoot, I'm still trying to GET mine to 'pristine' before I make that call. Why do people have to be so happy with the rattle cans? :-/

 

I can't tell you how many times people have told me that. And that would be one's initial instinct, but it's not as easy as it sounds. About 10 years ago now, I set out to purchase and restore to showroom condition the 500, 750 and 1000. I did all 3 bikes back to back and just finished the 1000 last December. Early on, my intention was to ride them a lot. But after putting so much time into them, gaining a whole new appreciation for them and seeing at how great these 25 year old bikes turned out, it is now really hard to follow through with that initial plan. This summer was good one though and I did put a few hundred miles on each of them. I plan to do that for each summer going forward, but I'm hesitant to do more than that. I'm trying to keep my 800 as the runner.

 

Grey - Yes, I definitely want to keep it stock, but I do want to look into the suggestion that Guiseppi had about the SS lines that have the stock look. I never gave that a thought, but it is worth researching.

Alaskan - Yes, I am conflicted! I think I'm stuck reliving those glory days of the 80's.

 

Is the thing...
Coming off a ZX-14, I actually like the feel and overall performance of my "older" bikes brakes. The upgrade was done by the previous owner who was also sensitive (but proud) of the mod so seems to have taken great care in completing it.

If you look very closely, you'll see a little "telegraphing" of the stainless steel weave texture beneath the PVC sheathing but you have to be about 8" away from the line.

Hell, if you wanted to squid-it-up they have 11 different colours! (black being best) http://www.galferusa.com/html/p-bl-m.html

So I say...

 

Thanks for the link. Black is the way to go! I'll add it to the winter task list.

 

You got it, Stewart...the only thing that might give the mod away (to the ultra-discerning eye) might be the shinier-than factory banjos but they won't be that noticeable and should dull up in a season or two...you know, if you ride a bit!

 

Here's mine: 1983 VF750F

 

A beauty... looks 'minty fresh' as often said here! The first SuperBike in my opinion.

BLIGHT

 

Heavens! Is it as stock as it looks - right off the showroom floor? How many miles?

Aleutian Blue!!!

 

13,879 miles. I did replace the mirrors back to what came on the 83's. Also installed the original style R/H control switch. The P.O. had an aftermarket turn signal affair so I reworked the hacked up wiring and got it all back to original. It's an ongoing project, the only thing left that I can find is that the rear brake master cylinder reservoir is not 83 model original, however got one on ebay, just haven't installed it yet.

 

Tuning in late, but I'm here. Most of youse already know me & my 1st gens, but for those who don't...

84 VF500F. 2nd owner. 2300 original miles. Corbin 2 person seat. Yosh slip-on's (thanks again, list-member Ben!).



85 VF500F. 2nd owner. 15k miles. Corbin solo seat. OEM seat cowl. Full V&H exhaust. Maier dark windscreen, though it's not pictured in this early foto (thanks again, list-member Ben!). Jet kit. K&N filter.



And yet, there is room for more...

 

Very nice, indeedy-do!