Upgrading/Restoring brakes on 86 VFR

So I finally got my '86 VFR700 restored and running (see details here) but I am in need of some brakes. They work but the pedal is very mushy even after bleeding them with brand new fluid.

I eventually want to put an F2 or F3 front end on it an am wondering how to proceed with upgrading the brakes. With a CBR front end will I end up using the stock calipers anyway or can I upgrade rotors and/or calipers to CBR equipment now?

If I get some Galfer brake lines for an 86 VFR will they work with CBR components in the future or will I need to get CBR Galfer lines?

 

Master cylinder? How are the front brakes?

BTW, the law of diminishing returns applies to these '80s bikes. I know there are tons of mods for these old sportbikes, but they're still gonna weigh over 500 pounds and develop around 80 HP at the crank no matter what you do. If you want a more modern sportbike, try something manufactured in this Millenium. Just my opinion.

 

Convert to CBR F2 wheels and a 4 into 1 exhaust and you bring the weight down below the 500 lb mark...I think i had it calculated that if we were to remove the 70 lbs difference between the street VF and the Race VF the weight would be below that of a 98 GSXR 600 which is 480 lbs.

 

I should have been specific; I meant lever instead of pedal. The rear is ok.

A master cylinder rebuild is likely a good idea but I am still wondering what VFR parts would be reused when swapping a CBR wheel and forks in. If I would be using the CBR master though I'd prefer to just pay for a rebuild kit once.

Jonathan I thoroughly understand your "law of diminishing returns" but I'm afraid your reading too much into this. I know what can and can't be done with this bike and how antiquated it is compared to a modern machine. I'm here because I like the VFR and at the moment am concerned about the braking which isn't what it should be for even a stock bike (mostly due to it's age) and since I already plan to upgrade to F2 wheels I'm hoping to maximize dollars spent.

 

not sure if you have since found a solution, but if not here goes. With the F2 conversion, you would use the F2 rotors, calipers, and brake pads, rear rotor, and rear VFR caliper. that is per hondavfr.org. Not how sure how old that is, but i am using that as my foundation for the F2 front and rear conversions. But i found Galfer has front pad for (CBR(fd096)), front disc((CBR)(DF005)), Rear Pad(CBR(fd134)), and rear disc(CBR(DF013))..all of which can be purchased at www.cyclebrakes.com. my problem is finding a decent caliper to upgrade to. Brembo has a master cyclinder that works with Galfer single or dual brake lines. but its not cheap. that is the route i plan to go. as stated earlier i am trying to find a decent front caliper (CBR) and rear caliper (VFR)...maybe nissin 4 piston will be good....if anyone can offer any suggestions on good break calipers for both forementioned bikes, that would be great. I hope that answered at least part of your question.

 

If the lever is mushy, you either have the brake lines expanding, or still have air in the line. Have you burped each banjo bolt - working from the junction up?

 

I ended up getting Galfer lines which didn't make much difference. My brakes were passable for the remainder of the riding season but nothing great; they were still mushy at the lever even after carefully bleeding them. I'd bled at all the banjo bolts and at the master with no luck. I've been considering getting a different master cylinder as well and I know some have more "power" than others. Can someone point me to a technical article or share some input to help me understand how to determine what master cylinders would work with what calipers as I've heard you aren't supposed to just randomly throw things together. I've seen Honda CBR F2 board where people throw 919 master cylinders on their bikes for more braking power; would that work for us? That seems like the ideal situation for me; using a newer master cylinder I could get from Ebay rather than spending big $ on a Brembo etc.

 

yeah i was just trying to keep things to just 2 brands. Brembo for master cylinder and calipers and galfer for everything else. but i was having a time finding some reasonable Brembo calipers. Then i looked at EBC with no success. as far as the 919 goes, i really hope that is a possibility. cause i sure need more options for brakes. did you switch to braided brake lines. not sure if you mentioned that or not.

 

I did get galfer lines which are stainless braided lines and rebuilt the front calipers and added EBC HH pads with only a little improvement; primarily from the pads.

 

If any of us were interested in a more modern sportbike, we wouldn't be making these threads. Diminishing returns are still returns. And what world do you live in where you can't modify an engine? Your opinion = uke:

In the realm of NO returns is the F2 brake conversion under discussion; I have the whole F2 front end and the F2 uses the same Nissin 2 piston slider calipers as the VFR, there is ZERO improvement to be gained there. I'm looking into 4 or 6 piston Nissin calipers; I'll let the board know how it goes once I get together the money to try it.

 

:yield: :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

come on guys play far, play far..it was only his opinion. LOLOLO. i have been looking online for a nissin 4-6 piston caliper...i assume it would be for the F2...can you possibly list a website as to where i can purchase them....

 

If is has the same type calipers that the 1000R and 1000F has, then you also want to make sure the slider pins are free on both calipers. They must be very free to work properly.

 

fatso: www.cyclebrakes.com has a good price on Shindy Products marketed Nissin six piston calipers for $503 a pair; I also found a site for an outfit in Hawaii that has four piston calipers for $210 each http://www.project-h2.com/prdc_ct2/ct02e_e.html . Unfortunately, until I actually get a pair, I can't say whether they'll bolt straight to the F2 forks. They might need an adapter plate, but once I have them to spec off of I can draft a design for such and have it made up. I'm hoping it won't be necessary; by eyeball the angle is right and the 90mm bolt span meshes with the stock calipers. I haven't decided which to go with yet, for a mere 80 dollar premium for the six pots jobs I'm leaning toward the massive overkill. It's not like I won't need a $200 radial master cylinder either way :biggrin:

 

If you go down the f2 route, change the fork lowers for vtr firestorm ones and then use those brake calipers.
I am in the process of doing a brembo conversion on my bike.
I have 94 f2 fork legs with f3 lowers so I can get some commercially made adapters from Japan. There's also a 65mm caliper set.
http://japan.webike.net/products/1113303.html
And also use the larger disc from the later vfr750s.
I will still be using the f2 front wheel, to retain the speedo drive.

Roger