RC-51 front end installation

"I'm a mechanic, not a computer programmer!!" Please read this quote with a Dr. "Bones" McCoy accent... Actually, I'm neither a mechanic or a comptuter geek...just a humble home tuner. Modifying a bike is way easier than messing with a computer!!I'll see if I can figure out some way to post some pics.

 

I didn't modify the SP-2 forks, but they had been revalved prior to my purchse of them by an RC-51 suspension specailist in California. There is no mention on the spec card of any change in length so I think they're stock length. The rear is also stock height with the Ohlins as far as I can tell. I dropped the front forks (raised the top of the tubes higher above the triples) to keep the length the same as the VFR forks and have had no problems. Steering seems slightly quicker than stock, with very quick turn in. I have lots of room to move the forks up and down to fine tune the handling as I get more time on the bike.

 

I'm gonna give it a try in the next few days. This whole picture posting thing has me baffled. Hopefully I can figure it out!!

 

As long as you're swapping out your forks for a set from an RC51,I wonder if a set of Attack Performance RC51 triple clamps would fit in the steering head on the 6th gen. VFR frame. These triple clamps are machined from billet alloy and are made specifically for the RC51. They're fairly beefy components and the lower triple clamp is secured with three pinch bolts per side. The steering stops are adjustable and replacement parts are available. You can actually buy insert bushings right from Attack Performance to change the fork offset on these triple clamps anywhere from 0 to 6mm.
If you had the cash and really wanted the perfect set of triple clamps for this mod RedDukeRider,Attack Performance states on their website that they welcome inquiries regarding custom triple clamp applications. Just some food for thought.
These triple clamps are very high-end components and are most definitely on the spendy side,but I thought I'd toss them out here anyway for your viewing pleasure.
Keep us posted on your progress. I currently own an '03 VFR800 and an '04 RC51 SP2,and since I've already removed the linked braking system from my VFR800,I'm very interested to see how this mod turns out on your bike. Good Luck.

 

Those Attack tripes are nice. IIRC they're a little more than $1K? There is a guy over on VFRD who machined up his own triples for just this purpose, putting the RC front end on the VFR with a larger offset. He had drawings but I imagine getting them machined up would be pricey also.

Nice thing is every bike/rider is unique along with their approach to this project. It's cool to see the different solutions.

 

Attack Performance has the RC51 triple clamps listed in their online store for $845.00.
Scott's Motorcycle Service has them listed in his online store for $819.00.
I'm not real sure but from the looks of it you might need to spend another $60.00 for the ignition switch mounting bracket too.

The Attack Performance triples are just about the last word in cool VFRCapn,but Holy Smokers they're downright spendy!

 

Great analogy!

Damnnit Jim, I'm just a doctor! Did you ever notice he's the only member of the crew that got away with calling Captain Kirk "Jim"?

 

Spock called Kirk "Jim" in at least one episode.

Threadjack over.

 

The one where Spock had the 7 year itch and fought Kirk for his 'bride'.

Good grief I'm a geek. lol

 

Amok Time, because I am an even bigger geek and watched it during the Star Trek marathon on Space Channel.

 

Rule #1 of VFR World

1. Any thread or post may head off in a completely different direction or tangent from the original subject.

 

"Dammit Jim - I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer!!" Classic!!

 

So true.

Scoe, you have a picture of the upper triple and bars you're using w/ that front end?

 

Hey Capn - yes I do. I'll try posting one on the weekend if I can figure out how to do it. I'm not that bright.....

 

Here you go Capn.....I hope this works.
Upper tripple and fatbars picture by sdcoe - Photobucket

 

Thank you for the pic scoe! This cleared up some questions that I had concerning fork lenth. How far do you think the drop of the upper triple is from the stock vfr upper to the clamp of the tubes? This is obviosly why you can use the shorter forks. Is your upper tree the same dimentions as the stock 929/954 upper in the same regaurd?

 

Thanks looks very nice!

 

Thanks Capn. How do you get the pics to show up? All I could get was the link to Photobucket. I would like to post a few more pics.

 

I'll check the dimensions for you, but the general idea is the same. Both have a "gull-wing" design that drops the fork clamping point compared to the top of the center stem. I think this design drops it a bit more than the stocker though. The nice thing about this claimp is that you can use conventional bar mounts like I did ( I used Tag Metal bar fat bar style clamps with a KK-125 dirt bike bar cut down a bit in length) or you can go with a clip on style bar. This lets you experiment and get something you like.