Anyone know anything about Progressive fork springs?

They'll slide right into the VF1000R triples.

 

are they the correct length for an interceptor?

 

Also would i need to use a CBR conversion kit with CBR forks?

 

No, you can get the whole front end on there, wheel, fender and all. I have not had a set in my hands to measure them, but most folks(I think) would raise the tubes in the trees if they could for better turn-in and response, so if they are a bit shorter, it won't be too big a deal.

 

just to clarify...the CBR and the 1KR have the same fork spacing? so all i need is the 1KR triple trees and the CBR front end without one of jamies front wheel kits?

 

I am considering doing a cbr front end swap on a 85 500 but everywere that I read about it is pretty vague on what all is needed to complete it. I need the entire front end assembly with rim and tire and brakes and handlebars and a new triple tree? What all can I reuse when I am doing this?? My fork seals are completely shot and about to fall off they are that bad, so its along time coming but I think from what I have been reading that the cbr swap will be the best, right???

 

The CBR forks are too short to be used on the VF1000's. They would allow the tire to hit the front head and/or radiator. I hope that I don't need to tell you how dangerous this is!

Luckily for you the 500's can use the CBR forks because they are physically small enough to do so. You'll need the entire front end including forks, wheel, triples, brakes, etc. The CBR triples will bolt directly into the 500's steering head. You might have clip-on interference, but a set of VF1000F clip-ons would solve that. You'll probably also want to get heavier rate springs for the CBR forks. You can reuse your front master cylinder but will need to get CBR calipers. Hopefully I'm not forgetting anything, it's been a while. I choose to upgrade the stock forks these days. I've found that the stock VF500F forks with a set of RaceTech Gold Valves perform better than a stock set of 91-93 F2 forks. The 94+ forks are cartridge type and are on par with the VF500F+RT. The typical cost of an entire F2 front end with wheel, fender, etc. is roughly the same as buying an F2 front wheel, my kit, and rebuilding/upgrading your stock forks. If you can get a complete front end cheap somewhere that would be sweet, but it's pretty tough to do.

 

Im assuming the VF750 has the same issues as the VF1000?

 

I suppose I could just reuse the forks I have but I am going to have to get fork seals and whatever else is part of doing that project.

 

Jaime what would your suggestion be for this: I am going to have and get a set of fork seals and I would like to get a better set of rims but I don't want to have to do alot of other thing just to do this. I like the way the rims and tires look on the cbr600rr I don't know if thats even close to possible but thats the way I'm shooting for.

 

Can't be any shorter than RC51 forks? Numerous people have made those work...

 

I'd just rebuild the forks (~$75 in parts) and get either an F1 or F2 front wheel. The 600RR wheel would take about $400-500 in custom parts to make work, so you might want to forget about that one. The F1 wheel bolts right on (with my kit) but the F2 wheel would require machining at your local machine shop. The cost to machine the wheel varies from shop to shop but it typically between $100-250.

Correct, the 700/750/1000F's share the same frame, dimensionally speaking.

Yes and no. Yes, there are people who have put RC51 forks on their bike. The RC51 forks are a little longer than F2 forks, but not much. Basically those guys are running a serious risk. I know some have just WAY oversprung the forks to compensate, therefore hurting a lot of the performance gains from the swap, and simply assume the risk. Others just don't know what they don't know. It's pretty easy to check clearances but most people don't. If you check out the VF1000R Yahoo Group there are some pictures of a guy in the UK who made a swap like this work. He had all kinds of custom machined parts including really complicated upper triple clamp. To reproduce these parts would be somewhere in the $1000 range, if that tells you anything.

I've checked this stuff out quite a bit myself, if it could be done easily I would have done it to one of my bikes.

 

So either way it sounds like im better off refurbing one of my spare sets of 750 forks with new springs and emulators or swapping on a complete 1kR front end

 

Yup, and I would go w/ the 1kR front end out of the 2 choices, as you'll have more clip-on options. (using different stock bars from different bikes to get the ergos you want).

I haven't been able to check clearances yet, but I have a set of F3 racing clip-ons I want to use on mine.

 

That is exactly the answer I was looking for Thanks Jaime sound like I will be rebuilding my shocks and trying to find a F1 wheel my stock front one is bent from the PO curbing it obviously pretty good. Its good for in town riding but not so much for anything above like 50. How long out is the front shock rebuild on your "how to" section on your site? If I do the F1 front wouldn'I want to do the F1 rear so they match? Are they both direct bolt ons with your kits? Work with brakes, speedo, sprocket, fenders, and axles?

 

Sure, you could swap an F1 rear but there really would be no gain in doing so. You would be spending money and not getting anything in return, for that reason I don't offer a kit for the F1 rear wheel.

I don't know when I'll get to that part of the How To. I've been so busy that I can't even work on my own bikes. Because of all that I've been a real slacker in keeping my site up to date.