Ducati Rear Wheels???

Due to the absolute lack of wheels on the market for our bikes, is it possible to modify the rear hub to accept Ducati Wheels?

KC-10 FE out...

 

IMHO, from previous discussions on the big list, it'd be a lot easier and cheaper to adapt your hub to accept an RC30 or an RC45 wheel, even though you'll also have to machine your rear caliper to clear the wheel.

jD

 

VFR800 to RC45 Rear Wheel Conversion

I am interested in mounting light weight rear wheels designed for the RC45 on my 2001 VFR800. I have read internet discussions stating that a rear hub conversion kit is available from Dymag to accomplish this. However, Dymag informs me that this kit is no longer available. Is anyone aware of other options, apart from designing replacement parts myself?

 

You may be able to use the stock RC45 rear axle parts in the VFR swingarm.

But you should research and take measurements before you proceed. Don't take my word for it because I've never done it.

In any case, expect to do some modifications/machine work. Not for the faint of heart or those who are not experienced wrenches.

 

I've done it, but I used a combination of Ducati and Honda parts, most of which required various degrees of modification to fit, and which also meant de-linking the brakes (http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1107240550/gallery_654_61_11688.jpg)

It is easier to do for the 750's than the 800's due to the size of the 800's rear caliper. I really didn't want to give up the rear rotor but the amount of material that needed to be taken away from the 800's caliper so that it wouldn't contact the wheel was prohibitive. The 750 can retain the stock rotor and caliper, with only slight machining of the rear caliper for clearance.

Dymag's kits used to be made by SuperbikeRacing in the U.S. Another VFR owner in Sweden (Fleming Sorsdal) later made them for Dymag, but I haven't heard from him in over two years.

There was a shop in Germany (http://www.kostners-streetbikes.de/shop/d_65.htm) that did the conversion, but I have recently heard they no longer offer it.

I have seen a couple of members on vfrdiscussion.com (Busy Little Shop) that have done single-nut conversions. It's a fairly costly modification, and the only rear wheel that seems to work for the 800 without changing the rotor/caliper setup is the Dymag Sport Magnesium. But at least you can get a matching front as well. SuperbikeRacing used to be a Dymag distributor and sold their rear conversion as part of a package with the Dymag wheels for the VFR.

If you are looking for lighter wheels, consider that the 4th gen. wheel only weighs 12 lbs, which is the same weight as the Ducati's Marchesini aluminum wheel.

If you still want a Ducati-style rear wheel and are looking for a matching front, anything made for a CBR600F4 or VTR1000F will work.

 

I have considered that option and have been searching for an RC45 rear axle, but it seems like a search for the Holy Grail, they are extremely rare. Tachyon makes an RC45 rear axle that allows the use of a larger diameter nut to secure the rear wheel (similar to the HRC RC45 kit), but Tachyon has stated it is not compatible with the VFR800 rear hub assembly. It therefore seems that if an RC45 rear axle were used, then the entire RC45 rear hub assembly would also have to be used. I'm not sure machining the axle would be an option, since such parts are typically heat treated and case hardened steel. Precision machine grinding the axle to the required dimensions might be an option, but would also be extremely expensive.

If the axle itself was modified, was it machined or ground? Were any new threads cut?

 

I don't want $2000 custom race wheels, I just want the OEM wheels from this Duc, which is also going to be my next bike: They mount in the same manner as the wheels on my 89 Hawk so I'm curious if I could get the hub from a Duc onto my VFR without F'ng anything up. Guess I need to see how much the OEM hub is at the local Duc dealer...

KC-10 FE out...
lane:

 

honda still sells them new. not hard to get.

larry lovisone aka "Mr. rc45" has done this mod before

email him here: netters2(at)comcast.net

he'd be glad to send you a pic of the mod for the rear hub

 

I'm a watching this thread as it's the next mod, besides the F4i front end

 

Here's a guy (http://guukan.org/vfr/swingarm/swingarm.html) who's got an MV Agusta swingarm on his VFR...

 

Larry's (Mr. RC45) rear axle modification costs around $1500. The parts you would need to put an RC45 spindle in your VFR swingarm cost about $1800.

I modified my VFR800 for about $500 by getting a press-fit axle machined that fits inside the VFR's spindle, secured by a nyloc nut on the driveline side. I have OEM Ducati Marchesini wheels on my VFR.

I have heard of other people who have put RC30 eccentrics in by using a cylindrical spacer. The Ducati eccentric is smaller in circumference and marginally wider than the VFR's, and you may have to modify/fabricate either a brake torque arm or caliper hanger (or both) plus have the cylindrical spacer made up to fit it all.

If I had to do it again, I would try this route. I currently have all the parts for this mod, just haven't been able to find the time/money to pursue it.

 

:jaw:

For the mod you performed, what exactly had to be machined & what kind of axle did you use? This is EXACTLY what I want to do.

KC-10 FE out...
lane:

 

Logic first told me not to respond to this post, but I could'nt resist. My idea though simplistic in nature, sounds easy(probably won't be) & assumes that you have access to spare parts for both bikes. Wouldn't it be possible for a good welder/fabricater to graft a Ducati rear portion of a swing arm to the front portion of a VFR swing arm. Just one of those wild a$$ ideas that flew thru my head as I was reading this. I've seen a single sided swing arm grafted on to a 86' VFR so it should be possible; but I might be talking out my a$$ too??

SAFE-T: You have one very sweet looking bike, just checked out your gallery. To bad there not a good way to dress up a nylock though; the Duc' wheel looks very nice on there though.

 

I had some pictures on another computer - all I have right now are some thumbnails from another website, but I added them to my gallery.

I had an axle machined for me based on measurements the machinist took from a Ducati spindle - this was then press fit into the VFR's spindle.

The VFR800's rear caliper is too large to use anything other than Dymags, so I adapted a Ducati rotor, caliper and caliper mount to fit. This involved increasing the circumference of the spindle where the rotor mounts, since the Ducati's rotor bolt circle is larger than the Honda's.

Next I had a Ducati caliper mount machined out to fit on the Honda eccentric, since the Duc eccentric is smaller. The Ducati mount is meant to slide on a pin that is part of the swingarm, while the Honda uses a linkage so I had this area filled in and a hole drilled to attach the Honda torque rod to the caliper mount.

Lastly, I needed to have the Honda torque rod 'sliced' so the end of the Duc caliper mount would line up with it. This neccessitated the removal of the original press-fit mount from the Honda torque rod and a new set of press-fit spacers made. I also had to get the Ducati rotor machined down a couple of mm to clear the mounting bolt between the Ducati mount and the Honda torque rod.

The drive pins are RC45 parts.

 

Damn... I was under the impression this was a fairly easy thing to do. I guess not.

KC-10 FE out...
lane:

 

For the VFR750 it's relatively straightforward, as the rear caliper and rotor can be retained. In that case all you do is machine the axle, press it into the spindle and drill holes for the drive pins. You still have to machine some material off the side of the rear caliper for clearance but other than that it's straightforward - I did one for a '94 in Sweden.

The VFR800 is a more difficult beastie. I had seen others who did their own modification, and talked to VFR owners who were willing to make me one but in the end I wound up having to figuring out most of it myself.

One other option is to look for a smaller rear rotor from another Honda with the same bolt circle as the VFR's that you could use with either a 4th gen rear caliper or Ducati rear caliper, in which case you would only have to fabricate a caliper mount.

 

If someone out there is genuinely interested, I think it is definitely possible to retain the stock VFR800 rear rotor using a Ducati Brembo rear caliper and a fabricated caliper mount.

I have a spare VTEC swingarm - I will look it over and doublecheck the possibility of this as a 2nd generation design that is more plug'n'play than my first one.

 

Very Nice bike Safe-T

I also was thinking of changing the wheels on the bike for lighter ones but it seems like such a task to do it. Are the latter model vfr's wheels lighter or heavier?

 

The 4th gen rear wheels are the lightest (12 lbs). The third gen (8-spoke) is the heaviest, with the 5th/6th gen wheels in-between. I don't know about the front wheel weights.

 

Hello everyone, I am new here, and I only own a piece of a VFR 800. That piece would be the single sided swingarm. I am following this thread because it is exactly what I need to do. SafeT has nailed exactly what I need to do, but I do not understand exactly how to do it. I have a 01 CBR929RR, and I have modified a 98 VFR swinger to fit my bike. I need the conversion to fit a Duc Brembo 3 spoke rim to match my stock CBR 3 spoke front. I would appreciate any input on the best way to do this. I know you guys may not like a CBR here, but look at it this way, it is part viffer!!:biggrin:

Thanks,

Tom

P.S. I have posted a pic of the bike (pre Swinger coversion). Let me know what you think in a PM