mrmatt

Ouch, sorry to hear that. Hope you have a quick recovery, maybe some carefully cultivated enthanol and motoGP highlights can keep your spirits up (pun intended)

Very nice, those 10 spoke rims are getting more abundant on ebay (I've been watching... :)). Any updates? keep up the good work

Very cool, keep it up

And more pics are always welcome!

One thing I'm concerned about is the area where the tail comes into the tank/frame and matching that angle, I haven't really gotten that far yet to see how close it is on the 4th gen

Who's that other guy from New Zealand that signed on not too long ago? Didn't he buy a 4th gen done up as a Castrol RC45?

That's Gav, will dig up his topic(s) and post links here.

Found it

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/63024-rc36rr-rvf-clone/

It's actually a 3rd gen...

Hey Sandy

I also share your ambition, love the RC45 but don't have the cash to buy one. Maybe when I become rich and famous... (not likely)

I've been taking it in a couple of stages so bear with me

So I started with a 4th gen since the frame is pretty close in appearance to the RC45 and doesn't have the frame vents that the 3rd gen has. I put a CBR954 front end on it, TBR headers for the left side exhaust, CBR900 gauges (the VFR ones can't fit), Ducati rear wheel (single nut), and planning to put a CBR900 subframe on as well since it's so much lighter. This is how far I got:

I have a few more in my gallery

The headlights are from aztec8 (or some such name), and I haven't fitted the subframe on it. The body is from Beasley Composites and does a pretty good job of fitting except for these places:

Belly pan: needed to trim a lot of this to get around the exhaust, may need to do more to raise it up for ground clearance

Clutch cover: had a lot of problems with the interference here, finally got tired of it and decided to cut it away

Mounting brackets are tricky, I have a small hobby end mill so I've been able to make my own brackets out of aluminum, also made the headlight mounting bracket.

I got tired of not having a bike to ride, so I put this one back together with the original body work and stock exhaust (with a Staintune high mount) and kept the fork and wheel upgrades to it. Then I found an engine and frame and have been building up a second bike that will eventually sport the RC45 bodywork. Only thing I changed for this build is I'm using a 04-06 R1 front end.

Then I bought a house (that doesn't have a very good garage), and got married, and started working on a Honda Hawk, so the only progress I've made in the last year is to put some wheels on it so I could move it to my new place.

So eventually I'll finish, but its been slow. And kind of expensive (more than I initially thought at least), but I love to tinker and build stuff so I'm having much more fun than I would if I just went out and bought one. Plus there's the fame and riches part...

Good luck, let us know how you fare, and if you have any questions just ask

IIRC, buried somewhere is a thread about someone using GSXR throttle bodies on a 750. I'm pretty sure the two engines won't swap over though.

I think that was flyguyeddy, not sure if he got it worked out though

Very nice, I have the same dream of putting an RC45 body on a 4th gen. This is as far as I made it though:

DSC02149.JPG

The subframe I'm planning to go with a CBR900 which is a much lighter aluminum one (not pictured)

I was having some problems with the clutch cover hitting the body, I finally got tired and chopped it out. I'll have to revisit that area to clean it up

DSC02150.JPG

Headlights are from Aztec8, I tried some CBR900 ones but they looked too small for the opening

then I switched back to the stock body so I could have something to ride...

Hopefully I can get back on it this fall, maybe do a couple engine mods too (hmm, scissor gears?)

Just saw the latest Motorcyclist has a blurb on the 1200 and VFRD got an honorable mention on the power derestriction of 1st and 2nd

I don't think upside down forks on a pre veefalo VFR are a good idea:

(that just made me cry a little)

Welcome, there are a lot of threads on the subject, I think the complete Fireblade (CBR929/954) front end are the most common and are a direct bolt on since the steering head bearings are the same as the VFR, you just have to think about the position of the fork tubes in the triples to account for trail. This is what I used on my '95 and was fairly straight forward. For my next project I'm fitting a 954 triple with a '06 R1 forks/wheel/brakes but for this I'm having to space the wheel 2mm on each side because the triple is 4mm wider than the R1 triple

Good luck

Thanks for the info. This winters project is all about the rear. I was wondering to cut down on the cost is it possible to modify the original header to allow duel cans and put a bend to reroute it under the seat? Or is this something that I should start over from scratch with?

Welcome

I think that's what several have done with the under seat exhaust, just take the outlet where the stock muffler hooks up and make something that will slip onto that. 929 shock is recommended over the 954 since it is closer in spring rate and the reservoir will not get in the way. There's a member here who will refresh the shock for you too and put the right spring rate etc, I think he's pretty reasonable and does a good job. Then you just need to get a spacer to go above the shock since it is a bit shorter

Well, I kind of started over with the project and got a different 4th gen so I could have one to ride and one to build, and working on a different bike project all together, and getting engaged, so I haven't been able to work on this one lately. But I have been improving my skills of grafting new subframes to different bikes :ph34r: (I'll have some pics soon on a different thread)

I'm hoping to get some projects out of the way so I can continue, I started a second thread for the build up of the bike here, so I might combine the two threads, not sure.

But I haven't forgotten!! Soon I shall triumph and have an awesome street bike!!

Thanks for checking SEB, appreciate it.

Any idea how that compares to the 05 R1 forks you're bolting up?

I prefer to use parts I know going in will work, but cheaper options are always welcome :)

I'll let you know about the R1 forks when they get here on Friday. :wink:

A quick run to the garage with a tape measure (Seb can check my work)

04-06 R1

Top of cap to top of axle: 714mm

Axle: 22mm

Top of cap to center of axle = 725mm

Anyone attempted the swap using CBR1000RR (06-07) forks or know of a reason they wouldn't work? The length looks to be right and they come stock with the spring rate I need, saving me a step and some coin. This is new ground for me so I appreciate any guidance, hints, or smacks people are willing to share.

Not sure, as long as the length is fine then I bet they'd work, I'm pretty sure they have the same offset (left to right), but the stem to fork center is different than the 929/954 (front to back). I'm going with the R1 front end with 954 triples for my current build (yeah, my garage is a mess...)

DSC02313.JPG

Let us know what you come up with for the oil radiator, I'm still struggling with that part...

Just about all of the CBR and VFR models use the same upper and lower stem bearings, so the 929/954 is a direct swap for the lower and you don't have to worry about matching bearing sizes or switching stems. I used the 954 upper and lower since I get the gullwing upper so I have more room for fork height adjustment (and I know they work together).

Most triples are interchangeable (within fork diameter sizes) so you can mix and match the upper and lower, however they did change the offset for the CBR1000RR so that triple will not work with a 954/929 lower (tried it). Not sure about the newer CBR600's. Sounds like you'll be fine with the 954/SP1 combo, I think some here have that setup but I don't remember what the differences are from the 954, I think its only the gullwing design but not sure...

Good luck

I've heard that the Superhawk (VTR1000) clutch is a match to the VFR, and right now I'm using a VTR brake master with my 954 front end

Really interesting, some smart guys on here... so the only conclusion I can come up with is that by riding a VFR I am increasing my intelligence quotient :warranty: :goofy:

can ya post up a few more pics of the hardbags/mounts? That sounds like it's got some possibilities.. :goofy:

agree, great job all around

Nice. Got a link to the seller of said block off plates?

I got mine here (ebay billet-boy) but there are several others, just search for 'hayabusa block off' or 'hayabusa emission' and it'll pop up

PAIR system begone!

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DSC02189.JPG

I found someone on the ebays that makes block off plates for a Hayabusa for $20, which work perfectly for the VFR. Now you say, why did you not make them with your mill and save $20? Well, I probably could and should have, guess I was just lazy this time.

Getting the rear pipes out was a real pain though, had to drop the tail to reach in to unscrew it, and then bend them all up trying to get it out, I didn't want to take the rear shock out too.

I am thinking of doing this body conversion to my 1993 which will be a track only bike but it still needs to fit properly to be safe. It looks like you have to raise the fairing up not only for the ground clearance but also for the brake resevoir. Is this true?

Also, do you think it would be possible/feasible to split the lower cowl into a left and right side once you were able to get everything fitted?

I am still in debate over that, it is above the distance the forks can compress but not much. To raise it I will have to remove the whole belly to go around the exhaust. For the upper I think my Vortex clip ons lowered the brake reservoir enough, also the mirror braces will push up the ends of the fairing to be 12" from the corner (below the handle bars) and give me more room.

I think it would be possible to split the lower, but then you'll have to come up with a way of fastening them all together, I'm going to try to make it just the belly and upper and it shouldn't be that hard to take off for maintenance.

Good luck, get some pictures, which body are you thinking of?

Got the Vortex clip ons installed, then realized one was upside down. Had to get the triple off again and make it right. I'm still working on making the wiring the right length, learned it's best to take the battery out BEFORE cutting wires to the fuse box.

Problems I'm still thinking about:

Ground clearance - have about 4" as it sits now, I can maybe get another inch but will have to hack up the belly a lot more. I also like how well it fits around the front tire, moving it up will just separate it visually (may not be significant though)

Oil Radiator - not sure if there is room above the fender how it was before, would like to put it below the main radiator but the PAIR system is in the way (may get rid of it too before I'm 'done')

Headlights - bracket I made works perfectly but need to get some sort of rubber gasket that will fill in around the fairing and headlight domes. Visually I think it is fine but the gap would let in lots of bugs, etc so I'd like to seal it off

Fuse box - not sure how to mount it, I know where but want something better than a bunch of zip ties

Progress is good, despite the 18F lows

Wow man really nice work!

What are you gonna do about painting this beast?

-P

I'm kind of partial to red... but I'm open to see some photoshop suggestions when its ready to paint

Headlight is mounted

Just mentally photoshop out all the wires

I cut two small sections off of some channel stock I have (1 1/2"x1/2", 1/8" web) and drilled a couple holes and another slot for the horizontal adjustment

I also made a couple of brackets to hang the fairing, the ones already there were not quite where I wanted them

(yes, the 1/4" web was probably a bit too much, but at least I'll be able to hang the bike from them)

For the headlight I might add one more link to the top screw hole on the frame so they won't sink, but I'll have to figure that in when I get the gauges mounted. Next I need to finish trimming the lower/belly to fit around the exhaust and clutch cover, or get all that electrical cleaned up...

Now in living color

I threaded the two holes on the forward bracket since there isn't much room behind the headlight dome, but everything lines up pretty well. After sketching it up on the computer I realized I didn't have enough room between the ends of the bracket so I had to move the screw holes in another half inch, and with the slide I have the flexibility for L-R adjustment