KevCarver

Personally, the only thing about my 5th Gen I dislike is the slide caliper linked brakes. My main goal in a fork swap would be radial calipers. That said, I'm really happy with the RC51 stock brakes since I got mine a year ago. So stock RC brakes on my VFR would be dream for me.

Speaking of the RC51, that was designed to be competitive with 750's of the era. Now, it compares with the 600's of this era. Going to be pretty tough for a VFR to match up with the modern 750.

Bottom line: Build the bike that makes you happy! :rolleyes:

Is there anyone out there that has done a fork conversion w/o changing the brakes or front wheel? I have access to a full machine shop, so I'm not worried about custom fab work. I'm just wondering if anyone's done it, or knows the complications with it. I'm already working on building a alum rear subframe along with some other alum parts. My goal is to keep my bike as close to stock looking as possible while upgrading some things that I don't like (the linked braking I actually do like and want to keep).

I did a F4i front end on my vtec track bike which uses stock wheel and brake rotors, I did delink and use the F4i calipers & m/c but I'm sure you could fab the bracket needed to retain the linked brakes if desired. :rolleyes:

Could you change out the internals of the fork to keep the original lowers and linked brakes? Although I'm in the camp of wanting unlinked brakes and 4 (or 6) piston dual sided calipers.

Since you are ok, this is just a chance to keep on modding it! :ohmy: You going with a two line setup without the crossover this time? Were you using stock rubber lines?

Dammit, that's awesome! I wish I had found one of those before I got the Datels for my bikes. Oh well.

I really need a clock that looks like that one with a back light. 1.5 or 2 inch diameter, I would think. Anyone found one of those?

I think its just a case of "be like the racers" syndrome. I'm not even convinced an aluminum sprocket is necessary on a streetbike VFR. That's just me, of course...

I put a Vortex Racing keyless cap on my RC51 and on the way to the track in a torrential rainstorm the tank got a lot of water in it. Never had that happen before of heard of anyone else having that problem, but it is something to think about for a street bike. Normally I tape over the cap in transit, just because. Didn't that time, and now I know why I should have.

Bottom line: if you can fix your stocker, keep it. (My opinion...)

I've tried a few of them and haven't been impressed with any of them. They seem to have too much lag between gear changes and the light change.

On the first Suzuki 4 cylinder 4 stroke bikes (GS550, GS750, GS850, GS1000) they had a digital gear indicator that worked great. It had a brass plug in the end of the gear selector drum. On the outside of the engine casing right in front of the counter shaft sprocket was a contact module with either 5 or 6 connections depending on which model it was. You didn't even have to crank the bike up. You could turn on the switch, and rock the bike back and forth and change the gears. It was all electrical and didn't depend on wheel speed, tachometer speed or any other BS.

I've never figured out why more manufacturers don't put them on bikes.

They are still on there, but only tell us when the bike is in neutral! :ph34r:

Just seat time!

Rock On, Rocker! :fing02:

Can't wait to get passed by it!

On my fifth gen the rads are lower, they are more steeply angled downward, and shorter top to bottom. The RC rads are more square, nearly horizontal, and taller.

Cockpit area is pretty ok with the RC glass but doesn't quite match the lines of the VFR fairing stay. The side venting doesn't line up well with the rads becuase of the above issues. The lower is more than an inch away from meeting the sides and covers much of the rads.

I'd say you'd be better off finding broken crap online and fixing what you need. Either that or nekkid with maybe a little flyscreen type wind deflector.

Are the 5th and 6th Gens close enough to get anything useful from me fitting my RC51 bodywork to it? I'm guessing the rads are the main concern and are close enough to make it worth trying. Maybe you could get the intake snorkel from a F3 and route up some ducting for the airbox from the RC51 front intake? Not really ram air, but some cooler air under the tank for the airbox to pick up.

Since you got the parts, go ahead and start bolting stuff up! See what the Gixxer front end looks like in there! :biggrin:

They don't fit the Fifth Gen. In the US we had two versions of 636. I think I tried both and forget exactly which did what in the Fifth Gen neck. I want to say both were too thick as far as diameter and Second Gen was too short. I couldn't find a RC steering stem that was affordable to see if the RC stem would press fit into the 636 clamps. Of course with the new Big Piston Forks on the new ZX-6R, perhaps finding some of those would be fun!

BR, I'll take a look at the bodywork maybe Thursday. I wanted to try the 636 front end on my 5th Gen. Still might one of these days. I do have some parts to try it, but they're bent a little;) Mainly wondering if the RC steering stem will fit into the 636 bottom clamps.

Still no thoughts from anyone whether it should be of conventional full fairing tuck type configuration or an semi naked upright? :biggrin:

My thoughts would be build the hard parts first! Get it running, and working, then figure out what you want to do with it. Once you get a chance to run it, you may want full fairings. On the other hand, go with it nekkid! It's already a VFR track bike, why try to make it conventional?

In any case, I think its a fun project and I can't wait to see you pass me on it!

Awesome track tool!

The Bike or BR?

Doesn't look like junk to me, and not everyone can afford the latest and greatest parts. Luigi seems to know what he's doing.

I like the footpeg replacement parts, very ingenious! Nice work on the tank mods too, this will be a project worth following :rolleyes:

I got the impression that at the moment everything is in the "pre-production" fitment and fiddling stage. No doubt will be looking the business at the end.

I like the rearset relocation plates. Might get a couple interested buyers if you wanted to sell a fully developed kit! Or maybe just some copycats (Taking mental notes for my "dream" 5th Gen project!)

Sweet project! Something I've wanted to do myself, but lack the fabricating skills for it. Since you look to have raised the foot pegs those should be fine, but these bikes have a habit of dragging the headers. Maybe your properly sorted suspension will cure that?

Good luck and bring on the pics as you go! :fing02:

Looks great with the Yellow! Hows it look with the lights on?

Great pictorial :fing02:

Future plans: I think I will route the visible white/transparent delivery tube inside a black slightly larger tube making it completely unnoticeable

Because it is such a carefree setup you will likely forget to top up the oil container at least once. The tube being transparent enables you to notice the air bubbles in the system as a reminder. Maybe add some soot or graphite to the oil to get a darker color, but first ask Pablo if this may in some way be harmfull to the pump.

You could use an oil like Royal Purple or Silkolene if visibility is your goal. Not intended to be an endorsement of any one brand of oil, I'm only saying that those two oils have very dark visible color. Purple and Red, respectively.

For the 5th Gen riders, Sargent Seats come in a two piece design that allows you to use the rear cowl cover as a bigger trunk area without the passenger portion of the seat. Corbin also has a similar offer in a one piece single seat design. Instead, I picked up a second hand stocker and cut the back off and stapled the cover back down. Add to that the quick release pins replacing the Frakenbolts, and it is easily accessible! Can't find any pics, looks completely stock with the cowl in place. Stock seat suits me fine, without needing to spend the big bucks on an aftermarket!

Should be the same, right?  Just sub CF for GRP?

Kev

:blues:

Hav, you pack too much! :wheel:

Vacation '02 was on two weeks on a Nighthawk 750 (5400 miles).  I has a GIVI Wingrack with three cases, and a tankbag.  All were loaded full.  I had way too much stuff that I didn't need, and not enough that I did need.  Spent too much time cold!

Vacation '03 was two weeks on a VFR 800 (6400 miles), with GIVI two case wingrack and tankbag.  Took less stuff, and did a better job of choosing what to bring.  I did laundry more often this year than '02.  Spent too much time very hot!

I don't camp, so it was just clothes and stuff.  I went to a dealer for an oil change, so only one spare quart.  I don't tend to eat much on vacation, either.

I like to ride with a Camelbak, or similar item.

Kev

:blues: