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Most people would say that if no one has ever done a particular VFR mod, there's probably a reason. Oh. Yeah, that does make sense... But another way of looking at this would be to say that most people obviously don't enjoy challenges! There are a few reasons why the SC63 triple clamps are nevertheless a good candidate for a VFR fork swap, and a few reasons why they're not. The pros: 1. They've got a 35mm offset. Most other VFRs have a 40mm offset, but the "traditional" Frankenviffer fork swap uses triple clamps from the CBR900RR Fireblade series (929, 954) or VTR1000 SP1/SP2/RC51, all of which have a 30mm offset. A 10mm reduction in fork offset is substantial, so trail will be increased quite a bit unless other things are done to decrease it (such as raising the rear or lowering the front). The VFR1200 yokes' offset is closer to the RC36's yokes' offset, so fewer other changes to the suspension would be required compared with using 30mm offset triples. 2. They don't need completely new bump stops. The VFR1200's bump stops are too tall, but only by about 5mm, so they can be shaved down fairly easily (I used an end mill mounted on the chuck in my drill press). They're not in exactly the right place, but they can be drilled and threaded to use M6 bolts as adjustable bump stops. 3. The VFR1200 yokes appear to be very strong. Coming off a heavier bike, it's not surprising that they are very substantial. 4. There's no need to use a different lower bearing. They use the same upper and lower bearings as the RC36, so no need to use a 3mm spacer (which is required to fit the CBR/RC51 SP1 lower yoke into the RC36 headstock. 5. In theory, yokes with more offset should = more steering lock. We'll see if it makes any practical difference, but the traditional swap noticeably reduces steering lock, so more would be better. The cons: 1. The RC36 fairing stay needs to be seriously modified. Yup, there's no way around that. By "seriously" I mean the main top fairing stay will have to be cut and welded in order to even clear the VFR1200's lower triple. Facing forward and looking down through the LHS top yoke opening in this pic, you can see the lower yoke opening--that's as far as it goes before it hits the fairing stay! FIrst it hits the side of the fairing stay's horizontal tubing (both sides do this), but even if that tube were flattened it wouldn't get very far before hitting the mounting brackets (again, on both sides). I can see that the offending parts of the fairing stay can be cut away and new bits welded on, so that is what I plan to do. Unfortunately, I haven't welded anything in about 10 years--and I wasn't very good then! 2. The lower clamp has 55mm fork tube openings. (Most USD forks used on Frankenviffer swaps are 54mm in the bottom clamping area.) This is not really a huge issue. When I bought my lower triple clamp from the ever-helpful KenG he included some 0.5mm aluminum shim stock, which can be wrapped around the fork bottoms to effectively increase the fork diameter to 55mm, which should then clamp perfectly in the VFR1200 lower triple clamps. (The upper is the same size as the others.) 3. The VFR1200 upper triple clamp is not really a gull wing. It looks like the 929/954 top clamp from the top, but it is really just sloped on the top; the bottom surface is flat. Of course, you cannot use another top clamp because it would have a different offset, too. But the difference is not much (and it is sloped), so this shouldn't affect the clip-on location too much. 4. It's not very easy to find VFR1200F triple clamps. They're available from Honda, of course, but like all OEM parts, they're very expensive even from a good discount Honda parts place like Partzilla. I have been scouring eBay US and UK for VFR1200 front end parts for months, and have seen very few sets appear. Not enough crashing, guys--please see what you can do to increase the supply! So, over the next few months/years/decades I intend to do this swap, using SP1/SP2 forks and front wheel, and will post my "progress" here. Obviously, the main problem is the fairing stay. I've got some ideas and I think I can modify the stay, but it could all go pear-shaped, too. I wonder if my welder still works? Ciao,

I've been reading several threads about fork swaps and there is always a part when they talk about the trail or rake being changed or making sure that it doesn't. This is where my inexperience and general ignorance of motorcycle geometry comes into play. As I understand it, the angle of the forks to the ground gives us the rake. And the angle of the forks combined with the height of the axle is what determines the trail. Am I correct so far? If so, then wouldn't the rake be determined by the angle of the head where the yoke/triple tree mounts? And then the trail would be determined by the length of the forks that are used. Correct? As a side note, it appears as though it is always the same forks that are used. RC51, f4i, or R1. What about other models that have inverted forks? The FZ1 has them as do Suzuki TL1000R's. Basically I am just curious about the basics. Thanks all!

Howdy Not been on here much, or for quite a while either to be honest. I have an '09 Vtec and I'd like to swap the forks over to something a little more adjustable, and dump the linked brake system. As far as I am aware I CBR600F4i forks slot straight into the VFR's triples, is this correct? I know I will need to get the brake callipers and mastercylinder from the CBR too, but is anything else needed? How do I go about removing all the Linked Brake system too, I know the short cut for the rear is to run a short hose between to the two banjos, but what about all the rest of the components? Thanks in advance.

Hi, There is soooooo much info on here relating to fork swaps and I have read most, but not all. I'm looking for confirmation that a 2004 RC51 top bridge will work with a CBR929 lower triple and steering stem. I know the offsets and fork tube sizes are right, it is the steering stem mounting through the upper bridge that concerns me. I'm building a 5th gen VFR track bike and the 929 steering stem and lower triple came today and there is a lot of room where the stem extends through RC51 upper triple. I have to order all the hardware (bearings, nuts, seals, etc.) none of that came with the used parts. I don't want to order more parts and find out it won't work and I have to back track. I'm appealing to the collective wisdom of the VFRD Borg to help me answer this before I move forward. Please let me know if you have insight or answer to this question. Thanks!

Hey guys ... very quick question. If I swap out the forks on my '03 6 Gen can I keep my headlight or does that have to go in place of the RC51 headlight setup. I love the VFR headlight and would hate to lose it. I've done a search for this but haven't found an answer. I saw a 5th Gen that seemed to keep his headlight setup. I'm sure the answer is out there but haven't seen it yet. Thanks, Austin

A 1000mi journey begins with one step. Well, step 1, I bought some things for a fork swap - 01 RC51 forks/triples/axle/fender. CBR929 top triple on the way. The fender looks better than the picture shows - its just dusty. I have zero experience working on suspension components so I have what might be some dumb questions (my personal history is littered with stupid questions, ask some of my old professors, or even worse some of my old girlfriends....) that the VFRD gurus might be able to answer for bearings, should I use the RC51 parts or the VFR parts? while doing this it would be very cool to add radial brakes - but most forks with radials are too short, is it possible to use a fork lower with a radial bracket on the RC51 forks? Or maybe "stretch" a shorter fork by 30mm or so (possibly by using the inner components of RC51 forks)? jim