Veefer800Canuck

Actually, i'm calling it a GL800RR-SP2 now. :wheel: GL = Goldwing for the touring mods 800 = obvious RR = for the performance mods SP2 = for the RC51 forks Hope you enjoy the smoothness of the VFR. I rode passenger on a BMW Boxer once and I'm not sure how anyone could stand the vibration. I figured an opposed motor would be smooth, but I guess it needs to be a 4 or a 6 like the 'wing or a Volkswagen or a Subaru.

The shock is off an Erion edition 929, the triangle linkage and dogbone are standard VFR800 items. The 929 coincedentally has the same spring rate as the VFR, 15.3 kg/mm The reason for the shock install is to complement the front end which has been swapped out for RC51 forks and brakes. The 929 shock is 3-way adjustable and has the same stroke length as the VFR shock. So I gain compression damping adjustment and an external reservoir. I'd surely like an Ohlins or HyperPro or WP shock, but this rear shock is a real bargain compared to an aftermarket unit. Maybe eventually if I find a used shock in good shape I'll pick it up, but I didn't have a grand for Ohlins or even 500 for a HyperPro. Translate that from USD to Cdn and it's $$$ quick. And raising the rear ride height is to compensate for the increased trail due to fitting the RC51/CBR954 triple clamps. border='0' alt='user posted image' /> 100_0230.jpg border='0' alt='user posted image' /> Picture005.jpg

So, I went out and installed the 929 shock in place of the 954 unit today. I feel somewhat better about having the correct spring rate, (15.3kg/mm Vs 14.6) and a lot better about how the reservoir is not so close to the exhaust system anymore. Good thing EBAY CBR shocks are cheep! What I did discover was that the 929 shock is approximately 4mm longer than the 954 shock. At least the Erion 929 unit is. (The one with the white spring Vs. yellow) I slid the shock home without tightening up any of the bolts and checked the unweighted ride height with the longer shock and modded upper mount. I had wanted to increase it further after the initial install of the 954 shock, so with the longer unit, it seemed prudent to check first. I wound up with 12mm more ride height as compared to stock but I figured I could still obtain a tad more yet, so I removed the shock and upper mount again and added a second washer in addition to the one shown in this pic: border='0' alt='user posted image' /> The second washer all by itself gave me approximately 3mm more ride height. Glad now that I made the modded upper mount on the short side to begin with. There isn't really any easy way to increase it further, I could possibly slide in 1 more washer without having the lower shock eye contact the dogbone, but the forward mounting bolt of my hugger would contact the inside surface of the LH peg bracket. I could remove the peg bracket and relieve it in that spot, but it didn't seem important enough to try. Also, with a new rear tire and full tread, the rear tire will probably be either only a couple mm off of or maybe even lightly resting on the ground with the bike on the centerstand anyway. Can't go much more than that in any practical sense. SO, after all is said and done, I've got 15mm more rear ride height than stock and 11mm less ride height in the front. Mind you, this is completely based on unweighted measurements IE: wheels totally off the ground in each case, measuring from the axle to a reference point on the frame. This should nullify the effects of the greater trail from the RC51/954 triple clamps and once I get a fresh rear tire it should steer as quick as or quicker than stock. Hurry Spring! :wheel:

I dunno, can you provide more pictures of your lovely and talented spokesmodel who is carefully displaying the airbox lid? :salesman:

The problem still remains that either the 954 shock reservoir will reside close to the rear cylinder's exhaust pipes if faced to the right, or interfere with the plastic undertray ahead of the battery if faced to the left. I thought about facing it rearward by rotating the upper shock mount, but that puts the compression damping adjuster screw facing the aft cylinder head. And rotating the lower shock eye only moves the rebound damping adjustment screw, not the compression damping adjustment screw which is located at the top. None of these problems exist with the 929 shock. So I'm switching to the 929 unit as soon as it arrives. Good thing they're cheap and plentiful. 26 bucks! Dr. Toto made the call on the 954 shock interference and I thought I could carve out a way around it, but not without making compromises I didn't feel comfortable with. The interference between the reservoir and the undertray when faced to the left is greater than 1/2", maybe closer to 3/4" Isn't Bodging fun??? :beer:

It's all in the way the reservoir faces. See this post here for pics: http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.p...ndpost&p=186175 I thought I could find a way around it, and 954 shocks are newer, with the possibility of finding a mint one easier, so I got one, but there isn't an easy solution to the reservoir interference without cutting the undertray. Even then, the adjuster screws would face the wrong way and be obstructed. But yea, 929 is a better fit physically and spring rate wise.

:beer: Like this one perhaps: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...item=4596249503 border='0' alt='user posted image' /> This post brought to you by Safe-T and Auctionsniper.com :salesman:

Well, the reservior is sort of close to the exhaust system, like slightly less than an inch. If you rotate it, there's interference between the plastic undertray and the reservoir, plus the damping adjuster screws would then face the wrong way and be obscured. I thought about spinning the shock, but the part of the plastic undertray that interferes is a shield for the main wiring harness to/from the rear of the bike (ECU, etc) and I didn't feel comfortable cutting that away. Also there's a mount for a fuse ahead of the battery that sprouts off that plastic and you'd lose that too if you cut it away to make clearance for the reservoir. All in all, on a 5th gen, a 929 shock would probably be a better choice, fitment wise and spring rate wise. 929=15.3kg/mm, same as the VFR, 954 = 14.6kg/mm As for the 4th gen, I can't say. Probably possible, but somebody else will have to chime in.

I had originally done Ver 1.0 of the upper mount: border='0' alt='user posted image' /> 954 shock install 015.jpg But I decided it wasn't beefy enough, only 3mm wall thickness, and the OE shock bracket is 5mm. So I fabbed Ver 2.0, but there's a wiring harness right there, and I was concerned about rubbing with the square tubing: border='0' alt='user posted image' /> 954 shock install 016.jpg So ultimately I went with Ver. 3.0 which has 6mm wall thickness and no possibility of rubbing on the wiring harness: border='0' alt='user posted image' /> 954 shock install 009.jpg

Reason, the 954 shock has a remote oil reservoir that makes the oil last longer and regulates heat better, also the shock is fully adjustable. The vfr stock shock only has rebound adjustment and not compression, also it does not have a remote oil reservoir. OK, never one to let fear and good judgment stand in my way, here we go: Prop up tank and undo the upper shock mount: 954 shock install 001.jpg Undo the bolt that holds the top mount to the shock: 954 shock install 002.jpg Undo the lower triangle linkage: 954 shock install 003.jpg Jack up the swing arm for clearance: 954 shock install 004.jpg Out she comes: 954 shock install 005.jpg 954/VFR shocks side by each: 954 shock install 006.jpg VFR upper shock bracket with bolt removed, plus 954 shock bracket for reference, man is that hollow bolt ever beefy: 954 shock install 007.jpg Need to extend the VFR upper shock bracket approximately 42mm, so I got a 1/2" extra-heavy pipe collar, shortened it to suit like this: 954 shock install 008.jpg It was bolted together in preparation for welding. After welding and painting: 954 shock install 009.jpg An M10x120mm bolt was needed to hold the modified mount in place. You'll note the washer, trimmed to clear the frame cross member. This is because I didn't want the pipe collar bearing directly against the aluminum frame, I wanted to spread the load over a larger area, hence the washer. Plus, I deliberately cut the collar a tad short so I could make up more ride height as required, limited by the lower dog bone/shock eye clearance issue. I found I'll need at least two more washers added: 954 shock install 010.jpg 954 shock install 011.jpg I wound up shortening the bolt to 114mm, cleaned up the end threads with a die plus I ground down the bolt head to .175" (for adequate clearance of the upper shock eye) which is still thicker than the stock VFR mount bolt head was. Also used a Nylock nut to keep things attached. Reinstall modded upper mount, bolt shock into place: 954 shock install 013.jpg Reattach the triangle linkage: 954 shock install 014.jpg Voilà! Shock install complete! Actually, I still need to add another couple of shims. Ride height is not quite where I want it.