Has anyone done an ABS conversion on VFR800 (ABS not available in Oz)

Hello everyone.

I'd like to get a VFR800 with ABS (for the added safety). The trouble is that Honda has never brought the bike into Australia (at least not for sale).

"Grey import" laws are also likely to stop me from bringing one in from overseas (except through specific companies who will try to take much more money than the bike's worth).

Has anyone done an ABS conversion? Or does anyone have any info that will help me to figure it out for myself? Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards,
Danny

 

I am not recall anyone did the mod
Just get yourself a FJR or A Beemer. ABS is standar for those bike.

 

That is a tough one, alot of parts involved . Do not think it a wise (as far as money goes) idea.

 

Thanks for the replies. It would be nice to say that a FJR or a Beemer would do, but they're not Viffers... I could get a CB400 with ABS, but it's still not a viffer...

By the sound of it, I'll have to try to get a service manual for the ABS version and see what's different between the two (how hard could it be? I'm an engineer... Famous last words!)... Or pay extortionatley for a grey import... Thanks again for the replies. :smile:

 

An ABS VTEC has a pile of bits related to the ABS system, both fore and aft - a number of specially pre-formed hoses, brackets, tubing, fasteners, fore and aft pumps, wiring, speed sensor, tone rings front and rear, its own specially drilled right front rotor and rear rotor to accept the tone ring, wiring (I don't know if ABS has its own separate wiring harness or if it's integrated in to the main wiring bundles) and presumably ABS module (unless it's built in to the engine ECU - anyone know?). Not only that, if you look at earlier ABS models (02,03,04, etc), the tone ring and ABS sensor differ from later models, so you would have to be sure of parts compatibility if you buy them piece by piece. The ABS calipers are gold, non ABS black but I've never heard anything about them being functionally different - only the color. Presuming you could acquire all this, how would you test it to be sure it's working properly? By the time you buy all these parts, strip down your bike and try to integrate all this stuff, have all the frustration of installation, there still will be no way to know 100% it's going to work when you need it. How would you test it? I have an ABS model and wanted to have a spare front wheel ready to go. I checked on the ABS front rotor and it was something like $350. My other choice would be to take a non ABS rotor and drill and tap it for the tone ring - or be lucky enough to find a used one. Also, the rear shock on the ABS is different, having the adjusting knob mounted next to the rear pass peg. I'm not sure why Honda did this - that is, could you add ABS without changing the shock or stick with your present one . . .

Given the cost of parts from Honda I would suspect that the shipping of an ABS unit from the states would be in the same ballpark (or maybe less . . .) as the cost to buy all these parts so why not just buy it ready to roll? There are no doubt import hassles, but people seem to move cars all over the world without too much sweat. (at least you wouldn't have the right hand - left hand drive thing going . . . !) There are still a few new ABS VTEC's for sale in the US if you don't want to take the chance on a used one. And a dealer would probably be better with arranging international shipping. The hardest part would probably be the 4 to 6 weeks or so of shipping time! Best of luck on your quest.

 

Hi Cogswell,

Thanks for the info. It sounds like what happened when I bought myZZR250 from a friend, pulled it apart, put it into the back of my car (a sedan), took it home and reassembled it... Yes I could do it, but no, I wouldn't do it again... It looks like I'll either get a non-ABS bike locally or get an import company to get one for me (Australia's laws basically prevent most people from importing motor vehicles, so only the accredited companies can bring them in). Thanks again.