Hello all, new 5th gen owner here. My recent purchase needs quite a bit of work. Fork tubes are pitted and I'm surprised the seals aren't leaking - or maybe they've leaked all they can! Front left brake is stuck on pretty firmly - like I need quarter throttle to get moving. So I'm planning on solving both with a front end swap. I've had a good search of this site and others so I have a bit of a plan but want to verify it will work. Option 1 - complete CBR F3 front end including forks, wheel, brakes, yokes and stem. Actually a job lot with a good deal of other CBR parts. £150 and relatively local to me. Bargain...owner claims the tubes are in good condition but I'll believe that when I see it. Condition unknown beyond that. Option 2 -CBR F3 tubes, with VTR lowers and 929 calipers. Brand new tubes and new bushes etc and k-tech springs (trying to find out what weight they are). Takes,a F3 wheel (not included). Nicely painted and comes with a carbon fender which I don't really care for but wont say no to. £400 but it's a few hours drive. Main question here is will VFR wheel bolt straight on in place of F3 wheel? With or without spacers. I'm assuming both of these will fit? - forks being slightly shorter but not enough to dramatically change handling. I'll probably go for option 1 if it is really as described as I can always spend the difference rebuilding them.
I can confirm that VTR1000F lowers will work nicely with the stock VFR wheel/axle/spacers/discs in the VFR yokes. If you have F3 yokes I suspect the VFR wheel probably won't work as the disc spacing will be too wide. VTR forks are narrower as are the discs on a VTR wheel and I expect the F3 is the same. You will need to add spacer washers (like a total 3mm thickness IIRC) between the callipers and fork legs to centre on the VFR discs ( Make sure you use an appropriate diameter master cylinder to match those callipers. This also means you will have disabled the linked brake system. The quick and dirty fix is to swap the rear master for a CBR600 unit, and repurpose the double length banjo bolt from the PCV to join both of the original rear brake hoses at the rear master; it works for length and angle like it was made for it, and keeps all 3 rear pistons in play.
I've have done it with VTR1000 lowers and VFR800 upper tubes. Terry had done the deed too. Here's a link to recent job by one of our members. https://vfrworld.com/threads/complete-vtr1000-front-end-swap.61857/ Formula goes.. VTR1000 lower tubes and VFR800 upper tubes. Alternate - F4I fork lowers, 6th gen upper tubes... but then need 6gen triples and clip-ons. Calipers - 954/RC51/F4i/CBR600 Master Cylinder Front - Lots of alternatives, but my 3 cents, get the OEM one to match caliper. Stock rotors/wheel Build fender bracket - printed. SS brake lines front. Rear 14mm master cylinder Brake caliper 1. Bridge line to have 3 piston working together 2. 2 brake lines operate all 3 pistons. 3. Drill out hydraulics - then 3 piston work together. Search here there is plenty more.
