98 Rear suspension options?

I've just joined NESBA and intend to do several track days with them this year. The experienced fellows there have informed me that the chassis limitation on my vintage VFR is ground clearance, which can be rectified by raising the rear ride height to a certain degree. Rather than install a link to alter the height I was looking to see if any aftermarket shocks offer height adjustability without altering preload and therefore suspension sag.

Anyone have any experiences to offer?

 

I believe ohlins and penske make them but they are pricey. Some sort of shims may work too I know a lot of people do it on the RC but I never messed too much with the rear on the VFR I just used the SportBike Rider settings and it felt pretty good.

 

I have to get off my ass and have a closer look at the installation. The links thay have for sale on e-bay from Lohr Germany are a lot cheaper than a shock but then it is fixed and you can't tweak it up or down. I can see how they shim the RC51 with the upper mount the way it is. Hmmm, I had better get busy and perhaps creative.

 

Don't know about Ohlins, but the Penske shock I bought for my '98 has a ride height adjuster at the base. The only tool that's required is a 1" open ended wrench. As I recall, there's something like a 12mm range of adjustment. I ended up cranking mine up to the maximum recommended height.

Another nice thing about the Penske was that I was able to custom order it so that the hose to the remote reservoir was the correct length and exited the shock at the correct angle and in the correct direction.

jD

 

Dare I ask where you sourced it and what it cost?

 

I'll have to look for my receipt. Mine is the Penske 8981 Double Adjustable.

In the meantime, here's the the URL FOR current price list on the
Traxxion Dynamics website:

http://www.traxxion.com/store/product_pages/products.shock.asp

That page also has a link to learn about the various models of aftermarket racing shocks.

jD

 

if u want to raise the ass end just get someone to make you new triangles wheren your shock bolts up at the bottom making the swingarm come down more when on the center stand

 

I put a Ohlins on the back of my 1999. Pricy but well worth it (in my humble opinion). It has a remote preload adjuster, plus comp and rebound damping.

 

Jack up

Replace the VFR dogbone with one from a CBR900RR and you will raise the rear 20mm; use one from a CBR600 and you will raise the rear up 40mm. I have both sizes if you are interested.

 

Just an idea as when I was looking around I came across this verision of Ohlins for the 5thg VFR not a bad way to go. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-...ryZ35592QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem