Baileyrock

Hi Baileyrock,

Thank you for your donation of 50.00 USD. We look forward to improving the forums with your donation.

Thanks VFRDiscussion

Hi Baileyrock,

Thank you for your donation of 50.00 USD. We look forward to improving the forums with your donation.

Thanks VFRDiscussion

After firing up my 02 for the first time in 3-4 years it sounds like I need to change out my front CCT for the third time at 106k miles.

Because I'm old and lazy I will again us my method of removing nothing but the air box. Too lazy to mess with coolant and tiny hoses. lol

The rear CCT gets drenched in oil and rarely wears IMO so I won't touch it at all.

Ride-on brotha viffers

On 6/11/2020 at 10:31 PM, Jelorian said:

Indeed I did.  Actually I purchased them 4 days apart! LOL!  While I am a firm believer that suspension is one of the most important things to be addressed, I still want to get the best bang for the buck.  I am sure that spending $1300 with Jamie on his new BD product will get me one of the better setups as far as suspension, I also need to realize that $1300 is more than 1/3rd the total cost of the motorcycle.  With Ohlins even more.  I know I can't go wrong with either.  I guess it all boils down to what I really want to invest in both bikes.  I will always deal with getting suspension setup correctly before doing any engine or cosmetic mods.

Check out the classifieds now, I have and Ohlins rear shock and a full set of Race Tech gold valves for your 02 for only $500 plus shipping.

Funny I started this thread way back in 06 and it's still a good one.

On 6/26/2020 at 11:16 PM, BusyLittleShop said:

No doubt Bailey miles are never in moderation... 100K Bailey miles equals 300K normal miles... I gather you're still running 5w30 Mobil 1???

You know it Larry, thanks for oil your input throughout the years.

I actually just fired up my 6th gen last week after  4 years and it still sounds good!

Kevin (baileyrock)

Bought my 02 wrecked with 200 miles on it, rebuilt it and rode the crap out of it until 2016.

Hi Baileyrock,

Thank you for your donation of 50.00 USD. We look forward to improving the forums with your donation.

Thanks VFRDiscussion

Cool to see this decade old thread still going!

Thanks all.

9 hours ago, Switchblade said:

Right here in God's country !

 

Rode the   Dragon 3 times this week and went to Fraklin  for lunch Tuesday on the 51.

That's right, you finally got a Real bike to play on! 

Underoath87   Did you ever get this swap completed? 

On 3/30/2016 at 10:29 PM, duccmann said:

THANK GOD FOR FRIENDS WITH TOOLS AND THE KNOW HOW. OH AND IPA

You had me at "friends with Beer" 

On 8/24/2016 at 9:22 AM, Switchblade said:

Never crashed at the Dragon on it, it got totaled on Blood Mountain on 60. 

Just messing with you anyway, so details are not that important. 

Where you been man??? 

The thread lives on!  

On 10/13/2015 at 4:23 PM, Switchblade said:

Common problem with this bike , my 03 did the same thing .

David, I think your bike did it from all the Dragon rash on it!  

Yeah the XX shock is a little longer than stock VFR.

Hmm ok something more to look into for setting up suspension.

Thank you for the reply and more onsite to suspension.

That extra length won't hurt and will actually quicken the steering some.

Search rear shock change out and slap that XX in there. Might take an hour and you can always go back if you don't like it for some reason.

BR

I have read a little on this post though I'm still unsure about what spring rate / shock I should use.

So any shock / coil to person weight guru's please chime in and share your thoughts.

I am 115kg ( 253 pound) my VFR800 2003 is all stock , I have a shock from a CBR1100XX black bird .... Will the black bird shock be ok to use ??

I am 6ft tall and my riding skills are ok ,I don't race on the tracks though I don't mind throwing it into some bends when the path is clear.

What's people's thoughts

Kris,

The XX shock would be an improvement over stock as it's got a 16.9 kg spring if I remember correctly, BUT at your weight if you were to set up the bike properly something in the range of 22-24 KG and at least 1.1kg fork springs would be in the ball park.

I think the XX shock is slightly longer then the 6th gen shock as well, so for starters I would slap it in the bike and set sag as best as you can and it would be an improvement over stock, but not the same as setting it up for your weight. Sounds like your not a ripper, so the XX shock would be an improvement over stock.

BR

A good friend gave me a rear 99f4 shock. Im somewhere between 140-145lbs without gear. This is mainly used for high speed track and Im wondering what the correct spring I need for track use and if it needs to be revalved? Also would swapping the vtec spring onto the f4 shock be ok?

Pretty sure the F4 Shock had a 14kg spring where the VFR has a 15.3kg Spring. If the VFR spring will fit I would install it.

Have you or do you plan on any fork work?

Wow Thanks for all the Help guys!!!!

I agree that i will try the stock VFR 0.85 springs before I go buy a set of Ohlins 0.90 units.(not very hard to change after)

The next purchase will have to be the Racetech valves, weather they are from Racetech or from Jamie (would love to give him a lil extra $ for some baseline shim stacks) im not sure yet.

Forks are apart and working on sandblasting/ repainting the lower legs.

In regards to the rear shock, I have no issue with making some custom adapter for my wall mounted automotive spring compressor to remove the spring and I have talked with a few locals that will recharge the shock for a reasonable cost.

Again would love to buy the valves from Jamie, Its clear now that i have a game plan I should get in touch with him and is wisdom!

Will prolly do the forks first but will look at the rear shock shortly after.

Thanks again for the help guys!

Stock fork springs are .744 like mentioned, not .85.

Personally at 135 lbs I would test and measure rider & free sag before any spring change from stock on either end first. I wouldn't think you would need too much of a spring rate increase except maybe the rear at a stock 15.3. Seems like a 17kg or abouts should in the ball park.

If you are de-linking the brakes and removing all associated items especially removing the mini rear subframe from the rear of the frame that supports the brake lines and blocks then the 929 shock will work nicely and has the same spring rate as the VFR's 15.3 kg.

The F4/F4i forks are shorter, I think on my bike ther was only an inch or so above the top triple clamp. I ran stock F4i clip-ons, but they hit the top of the side fairings at full lock.

BR

Another suspension thread back from the dead, Good Stuff!

BR

I'm planning on doing the F4i shock swap on my '07 VFR. I know I'll need to change the spring, but at 180 lbs doing moderate street riding/commuting in Florida, can I avoid modifying the internal components if the shock came off a bike with low miles? I'm mainly looking for a smoother ride.

What spring do I need?

PS: yes, I know I could ask Jamie, but I'd prefer to firsrt gather a quick general opinion before a professional one.

At 180 lbs you would be in the 18-19 kg range if i remember correctly(stock is 15.3 kg). Yes i would try slapping the spring on and installing the shock, then play with the damping adjustments to see if you like the results. Even if you have to max out one or both adjustments it doesn't matter if you like it. Ideal, no, but I'm sure it would be an improvement over stock. I think the F4i shock is around 3/8" shorter then the vtec so you have to make up that amount by shimming under the top mount, may require a longer bolt.

Check here

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/19712-vtec-shock-options/

Thank you!

Do you have any idea of where I should look for compatible springs? Are there any OEM springs that would fit the bill?

The F4i used a rate of about 14 kg vs a stock VFR rate of 15.3 kg which is soft unless your less then 150 lbs.

I found no other Honda spring is stiffer then the VFR except the XX Blackbird at 16.9 kg.

Sonic springs offer a good selection on springs.

Br

I'm planning on doing the F4i shock swap on my '07 VFR. I know I'll need to change the spring, but at 180 lbs doing moderate street riding/commuting in Florida, can I avoid modifying the internal components if the shock came off a bike with low miles? I'm mainly looking for a smoother ride.

What spring do I need?

PS: yes, I know I could ask Jamie, but I'd prefer to firsrt gather a quick general opinion before a professional one.

At 180 lbs you would be in the 18-19 kg range if i remember correctly(stock is 15.3 kg). Yes i would try slapping the spring on and installing the shock, then play with the damping adjustments to see if you like the results. Even if you have to max out one or both adjustments it doesn't matter if you like it. Ideal, no, but I'm sure it would be an improvement over stock. I think the F4i shock is around 3/8" shorter then the vtec so you have to make up that amount by shimming under the top mount, may require a longer bolt.

Check here

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/19712-vtec-shock-options/

BR

Okay, just to be clear, I can bolt in a stock 929 shock as an improvement on my 5th gen, and all I might need are some washers/spacers to get this correct? There are lots of 900/929/954 shocks out there. Some with white and some with yellow springs. Are they all the same? I like this idea and the inherent low cost of the upgrade. There are lots of decent looking low mileage shocks for sale for less than $50!

The 929 Only has the same spring rate as the VFR(15.3 kg), no difference in the yellow and the white springs that were on the Erion version of 929. You will have to make up length of the shorter 929 shock by shimming the top mount bracket which may require a longer top frame bolt.

BR

I have no experience or knowledge of ELKA myself, I've always used Penske and Ohlins on my bikes.

We did have a ELKA group buy years back, the shocks seems very nice from member comments but they (ELKA) had no clue on proper spring rates. If I remember correctly most were shipped with the stock 850lb spring on them.

For some reson the suspension industry was littered with faulty spring rate calculators for VFR rears!!!

JD was using a bad one as well, but after some discussion he modified his calculator years ago and offers his customers much more accurate rear spring rates as a result.

You're welcome mighty Professor of Liquid Logic...

BaileyRock.jpg

Nice one Larry, but that was a long time ago!

Now it's a case of JACK!

What about my Oil Logic ?

I agree...

WooHoo, I am somebody!

Thanks Larry!

OK we figured out you put me in the hospital!

What about my Oil Logic ?