CornerCarver

Ok, just when I thought I was getting a grasp...I agree that the forks will move SW as you stated but in reducing the distance from axle centerline (and tire contact patch) to the point where a straight line down the steering stem would put the axle, I though you were reducing trail and making the bike less stable (lower trail-sometimes less stable at high speeds but easier to turn).

what am i missing? (besides the obvious- timmys Charm, Bailyrocks good looks, Sebs fabrications skills, etc...)

OK, the rear shock was purchased on the Elka group buy about 4 years ago and was built with 15mm increased ride height.

I have also rebuilt my 5th gen forks with Race tech gold valves and F3 internals and lowered the triples on the forks to drop them 18mm below stock height. the bike currently handles amazingly well for it's heft (and my heft).

Canuck, you are stating that the trail will be increase with the triple clamps that I mentioned. Is this because the offset between fork and steering stem is greater, thereby pushing the front wheel farther out in front of the axle centerline?

Ok. I have read every thread on this board related to USD fork conversions and the myriad ways to correct the steering geometry.

These

ZX14.jpg

are on the way and questions remain.

If i go with 929 lower and 954 upper triples, how has the geometry changed? Is my rake increased? Is my trail lengthened?

If I stay with the 929 lower, can a custom upper return the geometry to stock rake and trail?

For reference, as we discuss what needs to be corrected, I have included another image...

Rake and Trail.gif

Kevin,

It's yours. I have it on the shelf, will trade you for your highmount or you can buy it back. I know I will regret it when I am looking for panniers but you did me right before.

come see it or let me when you can meet.

Dang...that is chunk of change for the top triple...I can't wait to see it in Franklin in 108 days or so... :fing02:

Aaaahhhh, so Seb is planning on running his bars below the top clamp...that Tyga top triple is indeed flat.

He is young and flexible, I must have the bars above so i prolly just buy whatever crappy 954 top clamp I find. :biggrin: thanks for the tip on making mine smaller.

Yea...kinda guessed it was a Tyga, :biggrin: from being able to read and all but...I don't Sebastian as well as some of you but he doesn't strike me as a guy who threow down $250 for a top clamp...maybe there is a secret handshake at a secret Northeastern warehouse that gets you one of those for what they are asking for one of these... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA-CBR-929-954RR-UPPER-TRIPLE-TREE-RED-TC12AR-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem35a2e72348QQitemZ230366323528QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

but it was interesting to see that Tyga no longer makes top triples for CBR 954's....

now a question for you, Kevin....how do you make your links small and change the name to Here or whatever? :fing02:

Ok, well I guess I am diving in to the deep end here.

I just "won" these on fleaBay....it has begun.

ZX14.jpg

ZX14 top view.jpg

ZX14 Brakes.jpg

Soon I will have measuremements and data on another fork for the chart. Hopefully a wheel situation I am working on will come to fruition this weekend...stay tuned.

Seb, where did you find that sweet top triple?

ok, opionions from the gallery are welcome right now...

Kawasaki ZX10R forks with radial brakes or RC51 SP1 forks with axial brakes (probably Suzuki TL1000 six piston axials)?

What say ye?

I have been hesitant to post up because I am still researching what will work and what I need to fit it up....but here goes:

1. USD forks - probably KYB from a ZX10R or ZX14R (want Ohlins but who doesn't?)

2. De-link the brakes, radial mounted binders up front

3. CBR or Duc rear brake caliper and master

4. Marchesini or Brembo rear wheel, Ducati single nut

5. Matching front wheel, not sure about the wheels yet

Maybe I'll replace the windscreen that Baily duct taped together 3 years ago :biggrin: if I don't change out the stock plastic for something less bulbous

So to do all of this I have to get rid of some stuff...hopefully I'll be able to post some pix after this weekend.

Hi, welcome aboard and I think you have one of the best generation VFR's ever made. I actually like the way it looks now but of course as you get more comfortable with the bikes needs and your capabilities you can improve the appearance and performance.

Do you have anyone close by who can help you set the sag on your suspension? I think you first need to set the stock suspension preperly and make sure that the steering bearings are in good condition and greased and that the tires are properly inflated before you start spending money on other rear shocks that may or may not play well with your front suspension settings.

At 5'8' and a buck 45 you are almost a protypical japanese test rider and the stock suspension, if not worn too badly, should be able to be adjusted to provide you with a decent ride as you continue to improve.

My fat arse needed stiffer front and rear springs and I took the opportunity to revalve the front and upgrade the rear at the same time. I suspect that with fresh oil up front and proper sag that you will enjoy the bike.

Great looking project Shane, welcome aboard. Just a little advice, the site is not age restricted so the language could tone down a bit in your previous post.

Now to the important stuff....are you sure you ahve to cut up the rare left exit exhaust to realize your vision for the Duc tail? your stuff so yoru call but that is all that hurts me when I see you bringing a great V4 back from salvage.

Have you ridden a similar VFR before? if so, does the GSXR front end rake the forks out a bit and slow the steering? It may just appear that way to me wothout the front fairing to compare for looks.

good job and keep posting up the pix!

carver

Great work, a tremendous amount of effort is clearly visible for people who know what they are looking at and it fools the other 98% into asking what it is...

Maybe the raised front end is making the kick stand looke even more wonky...

I have a spare in a box at home. Let me see if i can get to it tonight. MiniCarver was supposed to be stacking VF500F engines in that area to clean up the garage today.

keith

Tim,

You guys done moving I hope. Drop a line if so, I am interested in a set of triple clamps with stock VFR rake and trail.

Would love to use your files if you allow it or perhaps ok Seb to send me his edited file with the gull wing top clamp me to take to a local machinist.

Thanks and congrats again on the amazing results on your rebuild.

keith

The hartley engine is the way to go.

So you are saying he should move to Chicago where finding a spare $28k for a custom machined 'busa motor "is the way to go"? :blink:

I don't know where he is from (I am guessing SoCal by his mention of a 510 - not many of those survived outside the dry southwest) but I wouldnt move to Chicago. Of course he did mention that he likes the "disposable" nature of the Nissan 240/260Z....isn't every car in Chicago disposable? :goofy: I turned down two jobs there recently because my transportation is Molly (my beat up 5th gen) or Oskar (my stage III Dinan E36 M3) and neither of the three of us would last through two Chicago winters.

I do love Chicago and usually spend a week there every May for the annual restaurant show. Great city , amazing restuarants, great museums and culture. Love the people of the midwest too.

I don't think he wants to spend big money, I think he wants to develop his own unique solutions to the riddle that each individual must answer. I applaud him for his dream and wish him the best in his pursuit of a job and new home for he and his future bride. :beer:

Keep us posted as you make progress and update your profile with your location, possibly someone on here will hear of a job opening that crys out for your unique outlook and skill set. :biggrin:

thanks for the write up and posting your experiences.

I have a gutted cat and PCIII, any potential benefit from fitting the 12 hole injectors to a 5th gen? increased fuel atomization? better power or more economical mileage?

How about adding an aftermarket fuel pressure regulator while in there?

carver

Don't know if Yack is still around. That's a sweet bike...

In Clubman racing in Australia they are getting 70-75hp out of them. When you get closer to 75 than 70 it starts to become a grenade, however.

yeah, thats about 170-190 hp per liter on 15 year old technology...pretty good for the basic engine that was 55 bhp in it's Japanese restricted form.

The original package was advertised to weigh 364 lbs...I want one. or three.

I want to retract my earlier statement regarding detonation. After looking at the pic on better monitor it definately looks like you dropped a valve on top of the piston.

It looks like you should be able to swap a rear head to the front with associated owkr to correct the issues you have already discussed BUT I would think you could get a proper front head for less money than the materials to replumb and correct the exhaust angle. Possiboly even a straight up swap at a salvage yard your rear head for their front head, maybe a couple pounds added for their trouble. I would not even offer my parts to them for swap if the price was reasonable.

Well, Dutchy has already helped with the pic posting and I can not assist with the head swap so my post is likely to be of no help at all.

I just wanted to say it looks like major detonantion took out the piston. Were you riding the bike when that piston failed?

and good luck with getting your engine together, here in the US we dont use the Euro standard G-H or F-G to denote the year. You may get more feedback if you post up what year bike those suffixes correspond to.

keith

Really loved the work you had put into your bike. Extremely thankful that you are ok and will be able to make better those little things from the initial build that although un-noticed by others always seem to nag at the builder. :ohmy:

May I recommend a 5th or 6th gen fuel injection set up to facilitate a ToroCharger? :biggrin: You had the looks down pat...

Amazing rebuild, glad to see your friends supporting you in the efforts to but the VFR back on the road.

I have a couple of questions:

1. how much of a gull wing would you need to mount clip ons above the top triple?

2. did you complete the revisions to your cad drawing and have you shared it with others from this site?

thanks in advance,

keith

Too funny Beck, runnin with Kev's misdirection to throw off the newbies...

Everyone knows it is indeed a panointer rod holder...that and 7 feet of gig line are the tools you need for a first rate suspnesion service.

Is it a mount for the front fender?

We should continue to narrow it down by suggesting things that it is not...Cam Chain Tensioner....