Thoughts on a wet Sunday morning

Morning everyone,

It's been a while since I've been on here, since my reg rectifier issues I think. Thanks for all the help on that, you managed to get a complete mechanical dunce (me) to actually carry out a replacement and repair the wiring that's still fine to this day. Since then, there's been a house move into the heart of the Peak District, loads of work stuff going and a few track days on the old girl in between putting another 5000 miles on her. She's about to go over the 20,000 mark in twenty miles so just about run in Still hasn't missed a beat with good servicing and just passed her MOT with no advisories as usual.

On the slight downside I still find the standard clipons too high for me (I have a messed up right wrist) and still get pins and needles in my right side most rides. And I think if I want to keep her for many more years to come there's a few things I'm going to need to have done. As I said before I'm a mechanical dunce so it's probably going to cost a chunk of change because I would generally pay a professional to do it right - I also have very little time spare due to my work commitments. To mitigate things further I've been able to ride one friend's gen1 CBR1000RR 2004 for a bit that was a fair bit comfier for me strangely, as was an SP1 I was lucky enough to ride (completely counter intuitive I know). The SP1 was glorious but a fair chunk of change for me to buy a decent one and the blade was lovely but lacked that sexy wildy addictive sound that we all know and love. I also went to look at a few 5jj R1's that were nice in a nuts sort of way but I have such a soft spot for late 90's - early 200's Hondas. I also test rode a 954 but strangely it didn't feel special at all which I found surprising as I thought it would be the next one for me.

So here's where I'm at. I've got enough budget to chop the VFR in for a reasonable condition SP1, or a low mileage 100RR blade. Alternatively I could keep the VFR and get new shocks (or refurbish mine), and fully refurbish the brakes (including braided hoses and possible delink). To get those done professionally would cost a decent wedge but still cheaper than trading the bike in. However, I'd still have the clipons issue which I believe from past threads is incredibly difficult to get lower clipons to fit. I bloody love the VFR but she can be a bit painful for me on longer rides.

The last thing is I can't just keep the VFR and buy another bike since we only have room for two in the new place and my better half has a CBR600.

1st world problems I know And I'm not sure there's a clean answer as I want it all but it's been a while and it's a wet Sunday before the TT starts so I thought I'd just put it all out there. Have a great Sunday everyone!!!

 

Without access to have a look at my own, do you think it’s possible to install a set of bars below the triple tree instead of above it like they currently are?

 

Hi TeamWire,

I don't think so from what I've read on google fu, although I could be wrong. I think there's a few discussions around vtr bars or blackbird ones but usually the issue is either fitting the cables or the bars hitting. I think it has been done before with other bars but its a bit of a nightmare from what I can tell. Generally most people want to raise their bars on fifth gens rather than lower so I don't think it's tried too often.

It's a funny combination of a repaired Hamate hook fracture and broken scaphoid plus associated nerve issues from an accident (including shoulder impingement) that makes certain positions a bit of a bugger. I've been dealing with it since I got the bike and I stretch/rehab all the time to mitigate things but it's a bit annoying really.

 

Blackbird is out, as would be CBR1000rr or RC51 or later 600rr models due to the 43mm shock tubes.

Check out early 2000s CBR600rr or a Superhawk, those are equipped with the 41mm shocks like the VFR. And obviously any 41mm bars as long as they’ll accept the Honda controls.

 

Thanks. Will look into those

 

That's great knowledge Mello and well worth a shot. Even a little bit lower might help, the ergo on the 5th bars just put my wrist into a shonky position that it doesn't like. And yes, will definitely want to upgrade the suspension if I keep her so thanks. I'll look into it tomorrow while watching the start of the TT

 

The project part is the most difficult for me. I'd have to pay to play rather than doing the work myself (possibly changing clipons excepted). I have a retired mechanic longtime friend who does my servicing as a kindness, but he's busy building a Lancia Stratos as his own latest big project and doesn't have time for anything else really. I'd have to take it somewhere professional and they're often reluctant to do the sort of work needed, or it will usually take months. Having said that there are some great bike places not far away so it wouldn't hurt to ask.

It's one of the reasons I like coming on here - the specialist knowledge is simply incredible, and people are always willing to help.

Thanks again.

 

Ok, I went and looked at some beautiful gen 1 and 2 fireblades then almost dropped the cash on an sp1. However, I would seriously struggle to move the vfr on even though I have someone wanting to buy her. I think I've secured extra garage space next year so I can keep the VFR which is great and gives me the rest of the year to get my bike sorted.

So here's the question - If you had £1500 (well up to £2k) or so to spend on updating the suspension/steering/brakes what would you do? I'm thinking along the lines of what Mello recommended with different forks (with a bit lower clipons) and rear shock plus delink brakes and braided hoses. Also does anyone know any garages/mechanics in the central or north England (or anywhere within reasonable distance) that could do the work?

It's about this moment that I wish I was bloody good with engineering not sodding law

Thanks in advance

 

If you're bike isn't set up for you, setting it up for you (regardless of the bike) is very likely to transform it for you. Have you ridden one set up for someone near your weight?

 

I would do exactly that. Suspension upgrades and make the VFR the way it should have came in the first place (imo, apologies to those who like their Gold Wing brakes). Linked brakes... an exercise in complexity for gains that should be easy for a VFR rider, any sport bike rider... how to use two brake systems as needed/required/wanted. Also added weight, unsprung weight... the worst kind.

There have been a lot of posts lately about these systems failing. Yes, some is lack of maintenance, But there quite a few clean, reasonable mileage bikes that are giving headaches and costing money that could be used on fun stuff. Like buying 3 or 4 braided brake lines, not 30*. And then not having to create that same post, "I can't bleed my brakes."

They did finally get the Linked Brake System right on the 2014 VFR tho. It's virtually impossible to pick out on the bike.

*exaggeration for effect

 

Thanks for the reply. It has been setup for me when I last did a track day as best as the stock suspension will go. It's still not that great but I agree it was better. I think after 20,000 miles (turned the dial this week ) she needs a complete refresh at least. Given I'll need to refresh everything I though I may as well see if I can improve over the stock setup.

 

Yeh the linked brakes are not the best for servicing and is one of the key things I wanted to change, especially for track days. It feels like I may as well get it all done in one go if I can. I do have her serviced every year by a friend - He REALLY wants me to delink the brakes

 

So it sounds like you wnt to accomplish 3 things:
1. Lower the bars 2. Improve the suspension and 3. Ditch the linked brakes

I can't really comment on 1, but agree with the suggestions about using VTR1000F bars if you stick with the stock 41mm forks, or possibly CBR600F3 bars.

De-linking the brakes can be done in a casual way (keeping the 3-pot calipers and adding linking pipes) or in a more assertive manner, replacing the 3-pot calipers with decent 4-pot opposed calipers. Personally if you are going to do it, I'd do it properly. Mello's list is very comprehensive if you want to do the 43 mm fork, but you can get most of the same benefit (4-pot calipers, adjustable rebound) just by installing some VTR1000F lower fork legs and damper cartridges. The CBR forks are nice and I thought felt stiffer than the VTR and have external compression adjusters, but I never played with those much.

Front suspension of the VFR, VTR, CBR600F4, 954 etc is all based around the same 20mm cartridge. You can get basically the same performance if you install decent springs, valve bodies and shim stacks, these are things that require no special tools or mods, just patience. The stock fork is undersprung and has too much restriction to oil flow on big hits to compensate, which makes it quite harsh on bigger bumps. My current VFR has 0.95kg/mm springs and Racetech Gold Valves in compression and rebound, and I used the fork caps and rebound adjusters from some VTR forks that I had to hand. I have no plans to delink these brakes and actually quite like the way the bike brakes with both ends working together, although I do have all of the necessary parts...

The PO of my bike installed a Nitron R3 shock at the back, which has adjustable everything and works very nicely indeed.

 

Mello, you are a true gentleman, that is a fantastic list. Thank you.

Same goes to you Terry. And yes you're correct that is exactly what I want to accomplish. I really love the bike and it's only just run in at 20k. I'm not likely to get that lucky again. The engine is fantastic and I really like the way it looks so it is definitely those three things. I've been wondering if I can get some clip-ons fabricated or perhaps get adjustable ones to work. Padgetts is not too far away so could ask them about that bit.

It probably sounds daft but I'd be happy to put another bike's worth of cash to get it right as it's so close to being perfect for me - alternatively if I had tons of cash I'd buy an rc45 as a second bike but that is way way out of my league

Also going to add new chain and sprocket. And a friend has a spray booth - we've just discussed refreshing the wheels and will do the mudguard.
I've just got to find a garage up for working with me on this, or somehow persuade my mate to put off his Lancia (and a number of other) project for a bit....

 

Update

A few things have happened since the last post though I'd keep in touch on here. Firstly thanks for all the advice, as usual it is the best place to come and I'm going to try and post on here more even though I have basically sod all advice to give beyond 'Buy a VFR'

Ok, where to begin. I've managed to negotiate an extra bit of garage space where we live with room for an extra bike then I went and bought a second bike last week when I wasn't really expecting to but you know how it is A K1 GSXR 750 in lovely condition by a real enthusiast. Apart from taking care of the usual 750 gremlins, plus braided lines and so on he returned it to completely stock spec (including the stamped original exhaust). I'm picking it up this week at some point so will post pictures once I've got her.

The second thing that happened was my mechanic friend decided to buy a silver 2001 VFR after riding mine. I was only explaining the updates I wanted to make and asking how much he was willing to help me with. The next thing he's bought one. Mega result for me (and him). He's far keener to help and will teach me at the same time. Now, because of the second bike I've decided to keep the forks stock - instead I'll update the springs/oil and clean them up. I'm going to replace the rear shock and have it properly setup for me. I'll also put braided lines on the brakes plus clean them up. We are going to look at 4th gen clip-ons or VTR's but beyond that I'm going to clean up any bits of the bike, like spraying up the forks, and keep her as is. I've realised I'm never going to sell her and I've now no need to take her on the track or anything it changes the game for me.

Thanks for listening to all my ramblings and I'll keep updating on here with piccies as I get each bit sorted.

Have a great week everyone!!!!

 

Bike number 2 picked up