Mello's mods

[mello dude]

Hey 5th genners - vfr2k2 asked about all the mods I have done. So, I thought some of you would be interested in my complete list. It really was a project. Check my gallery for pics. I'll add comments as asked here too..

Da Mods!
VFR800 upper fork tubes
Super Hawk lower fork legs and internal guts
Traxxion Dynamics full valving upgrade - excellent
1.00 km/mm Hyperpro springs - track stiff (Note: July 08, I have gotten so used to the springs, I really have no reason to change anymore, they work very fine. I was thinking of going down in rate, not anymore.)
Total brake system delink - da bomb!
RC51 Brake Calipers & Front/Rear master cylinders - impressive
Suzuki GSXR 1000 Front Brake reservoir - way lower profile than stock Honda.
Spiegler stainless steel custom brake lines on front - nice
Spiegler brake light pressure switch
Yamaha FZ1 brake line manifold (under steering head)
Noland Designs custom billet fender bracket -was expensive,but is perfect fit.
Penske 8981 double adjustable shock - excellent
1300lb Hyperpro springs - track stiff
Custom remote shock reservoir bracket -
Heat shield wrapped headers - dont wanna fry the Penske shock!
Kerker Carbon Fiber slip on - light!
Pyramid Plastics rear hugger - good idea but needs finagaling to work.
Custom license lite and fendor chop job - mellos taste
BMC air filter, Dyno Jet Power Commander 2 - good combo
Corbin Seat, DB windshield, 2001 mirrors
4th gen clip-on bars replacing stock - about a bar diameter lower than
stock 5th gen - I like!
Super Hawk fan - replaces stocker. Fan blows out instead stocker sucking in.

[reg71]

Sounds cool, MD. There are a few things I wouldn't mind having, but I'll probably just keep riding instead of taking things apart. ;)

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by reg71

Sounds cool, MD. There are a few things I wouldn't mind having, but I'll probably just keep riding instead of taking things apart. ;)

For the moment I'm gonna leave mine together, but there seems that there is always a little devil standing on my shoulder going -- "psst, hey what about this?" Probably what has saved me this winter is I bought another car and its parked in my work space. - Gotta get a bigger garage....

- Top on my list is probably back down the front and rear springs 10%. They are a bit rough for droning work.

MD

[MrHEAT]

Maybe i should move up to a colder climate, seems like when its cold out you have alot of time to fix up your scooter,i hope you made a bike you really like now :),,,good luck with it

[R.W.]

Here is a question, I'm 6' 210 lb and ride pretty hard in the twistys but will probable never make it to the track, I noticed you have 1.0 spring rate, on March 16 I have a appointment to have my full suspension done with Race Tech springs and the gold valve kit for the front and a Penske for the rear, The local suspension guru suggested .95, one of my buddies put the .95 in the front and told me he wished he went .90, the suspension guy suggested .95 on one side and .90 on the other to make it a .925, right now I have the choice on what spring rates to put in, what do you think?

[DANIMAL]

Hey Mellodude, Does it still say honda on the tank? LOL Sounds like some great mods. I agree with Reg. I could not do all those mods it would cut into my ridin time. which is why I got the damn thing. what were you going for? Seems like you could have kept the VFR stock and bought a CBR1000RR or (god forbid, a Busa) Maybe you just have too much time on your hands I'm joking of course. we all buy these things and then we want to personalize them. Mine has a name "girl" she out there right now i can hear callin to me i gotta go ride see ya

[VaRollOn]

MD--you have a serious gearhead affliction dude!! I love it!

I've always trusted OEM engineers more than my hack @$$ so I've never done more than Race Tech front, jet kits etc... basic stuff. I've had friends completely blow up their sh!t doing too much engine work etc..

I always worry about resale too, finding folks who know what YOU have can be a risk money wise. I am sure you do it for joy, not bike value per se anyway though...

[grinder]

OK OK I have to kick off the 5th vs 6th game again. Just a thought. If you did the equivalent mods to a gen6 it would kick the a--e out of a gen5. Not to say moding can't be fun. I've done a few myself but comparing a heavily moded gen5 to a stock gen6 just isn't apples to apples. We all know the stock suspension is a weakness as is the restriction of the stock exhaust system.

[John451]

Originally Posted by mello dude

Da Mods
VFR800 upper fork tubes
Super Hawk lower fork legs and internal guts

Most of the mods look worthy just confused why you didn't go for USD forks from the 929/954 Fireblade's or VTR SP1/SP2 for a lift in looks as well as handling ?

[RVFR]

Originally Posted by John451

Most of the mods look worthy just confused why you didn't go for USD forks from the 929/954 Fireblade's or VTR SP1/SP2 for a lift in looks as well as handling ?

I know why....but I'm not telling........ LOL

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by R.W.

Here is a question, I'm 6' 210 lb and ride pretty hard in the twistys but will probable never make it to the track, I noticed you have 1.0 spring rate, on March 16 I have a appointment to have my full suspension done with Race Tech springs and the gold valve kit for the front and a Penske for the rear, The local suspension guru suggested .95, one of my buddies put the .95 in the front and told me he wished he went .90, the suspension guy suggested .95 on one side and .90 on the other to make it a .925, right now I have the choice on what spring rates to put in, what do you think?

RW - If you weigh 210 - .95 should be good for a street bias bike - A lot of this is personal taste, maybe consider if a tic stiff/soft would bother you. I weigh 180 - 185 and am finding I would like it less stiff for the street work. Right now it pretty much a track set up. I'm thinking for me to get springs at .90 (Stock is at .74)

Another goofy comment - maybe its just me but it just seems bad Karma to mix spring rates - you probably cant tell the difference between .90 or .95.

MD

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by DANIMAL

Hey Mellodude, Does it still say honda on the tank? LOL Sounds like some great mods. I agree with Reg. I could not do all those mods it would cut into my ridin time. which is why I got the damn thing. what were you going for? Seems like you could have kept the VFR stock and bought a CBR1000RR or (god forbid, a Busa) Maybe you just have too much time on your hands I'm joking of course. we all buy these things and then we want to personalize them. Mine has a name "girl" she out there right now i can hear callin to me i gotta go ride see ya

I havent figure out how to quote more than one post in a reply so anyhoo - I'll comment to you all here............

Riding a buddys CBR1000RR kinda opened my eyes - no matter how much bucks and mods you do to the viffer its not gonna run or handle as good as a CBR.. That kinda slowed me down a bit on the "all out" mode on mods. (Well sorta anyway). What I also learned that there was no way that you could do a week on the road on the CBR and not have to visit the chiropractor when you get back.

When I started down mod road, I was thinking simple enuff - there was a nasty brake pulsation and I just had enuff of the link brake crap, so I'll just start there and try to go cheap. (Yeah, right..) When I figured out that wasnt gonna work, (brake brackets on stock forks), it was kinda down hill from there. ("OK geek - now what?")

So I'm off to look at fork ideas - and while I drooled at some Ohlins or the RC51 forks, my engineer brain was tugging at me going - With stiffer forks, well - how that gonna work with frame stiffness? Will it spit me off in a high speed sweeper? AAhhh! The curse of the engineer geek! (Yamaha engineers had to stiffen the frame of the 2005 R6 when they went to upside down forks because of the fork/frame stiffness problem.) I even considered for awhile of grabbing a gen 6 frame (it's stiffer) and welding the gen 5 rear bulkhead plates to it. (Money no object, it would be a 6th frame and Ohlins, 5th motor and body, 5th style exhaust, plus brake delink work. --Yeah, grinder, the 6th frame is better than the 5th, but the VTEC motor for me has issues.)

After a beer drinking session with another geek buddy - he reminded me to KISS and near stock forks were the way to go without redesigning the whole bike. So thats my overly long story on how I ended up with the Super hawk fork parts.

Another consideration is that I wanted to duplicate 4th gen ergos. The thought of going thru the aftermarket for the exact bars I want just put me off. I didnt want to buy something, then find out that I didnt like them, then be back to square one again. That could happen several times. So 4th gen bars it is. Perfect ergos.

So I'll add that the final result as a package works extremely well, its easily 2 or 3 level better than stock in brakes and handling. I am a pretty happy camper with it. (Although I'm never done.)

MD

A year and a half later comment. Geez looking out there now are quite a few guy that have done the RC51 fork conversion or R1 or whatever. That definately looks cool and could function well. Its kind of an itch, but reallistically with the setup I have - on the street the bike just rails where your brain tells it to go. It feels hardwired to my neurons. So far performance wise I want for nothing with the thing, (Well more power would be nice) I think the only way I'm gonna touch its outer envelope is to get it to the track.

[John451]

Originally Posted by mello dude

So I'm off to look at fork ideas - and while I drooled at some Ohlins or the RC51 forks, my engineer brain was tugging at me going - With stiffer forks, well - how that gonna work with frame stiffness? Will it spit me off in a high speed sweeper?

Think you are over worring about the Frame stiffness and if you want the best VFR possible go for it.

Often ride with 2 guys with VFR's USD fork conversions, both are fast road riders and track day junkies.

One has a Gen 6 with USD SP1 front and Wilbers rear and another with a Gen 5 with USD SP2 Front and Ohlins rear, both say the handling is a leap on even upgraded standard and the extra weight of the VFR helps with the compliance of forks so ride is actually smoother and better controlled than standard. Can point you to the conversion steps if you wish.

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by John451

Think you are over worring about the Frame stiffness and if you want the best VFR possible go for it.

Often ride with 2 guys with VFR's USD fork conversions, both are fast road riders and track day junkies.

One has a Gen 6 with USD SP1 front and Wilbers rear and another with a Gen 5 with USD SP2 Front and Ohlins rear, both say the handling is a leap on even upgraded standard and the extra weight of the VFR helps with the compliance of forks so ride is actually smoother and better controlled than standard. Can point you to the conversion steps if you wish.

Sounds pretty cool - I'd like to look at the conversion for fun, but realistically my bucks are spent- doing it twice would be wacko. And I cant really complain about the way the bike works now. Thanks for your input. Maybe someday.

MD

[R.W.]

One last question, the only thing I have left to do is the front brake lines, will their be a major difference and how much should I expect to spend, also what company should I go with?

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by R.W.

One last question, the only thing I have left to do is the front brake lines, will their be a major difference and how much should I expect to spend, also what company should I go with?

RW - Are you still stock brakes? I hadnt heard if you were doing the delink shuffle. Did you go with .95 springs? PM me if you want to trade emails direct on this stuff.

MD

[R.W.]

Ended up doing gold valves and .95 springs with a Penske rear, and I didn't go the delinking route, PM sent...

[gogator]

M.D.-tell me about the fenagling part of installing the hugger. I just got mine from superbike store. What problems did you run into and what the hell are the foam strips for? The way I read it, you install the bracket between the swing arm and chain guard goes last? So it hides the stock chain guard and brake lines? I could use the advice before I yank the wheel off and get started. I don't like surprises.

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by gogator

M.D.-tell me about the fenagling part of installing the hugger. I just got mine from superbike store. What problems did you run into and what the hell are the foam strips for? The way I read it, you install the bracket between the swing arm and chain guard goes last? So it hides the stock chain guard and brake lines? I could use the advice before I yank the wheel off and get started. I don't like surprises.

I'm assuming you are talking about a Pyramid plastic product from England. I just took a second look at mine - I havent fooled with it for a while. The stock chain gard stays in place. Everthing mounts over the top of it. The kit comes with 4 threaded stand offs that replace the stock bolts that hold the brake hose clamps down over the 2 brake hoses. Go ahead and start there and replace those bolts first. Then there is a bracket that is supposed to mount on top of these standoffs and yeah over the brake hoses too. That is where I had trouble. I ended up adding spacers on top of the standoffs - my guess a good 1/4 inch or more - to mount the bracket as the fender seemed to want to rub the tire - it was too low - without my own spacers. The fender then mounts to the two holes on the side of the bracket with the bolt and nuts from the kit. Worked out ok there. Then on the very front end of the fender you slide it down into the rear edge of the swing arm and take the huge monster wire tie thingy and loop it thru and pull for all ya got. Thats about it. - I dont remember any foam thingy - so recheck the directions on what is was for. I dont think I used it.

Over all, my comment is yeah it does the job, Do I like it? Well, no. It a flimsy, wobbly piece and given a choise as in next time, I would go for something else maybe a little stiffer - i.e. Carbon Fibre? I think still - that once in a while the thing still hits the rear tyre. I may trim it down a bit to see if that helps.

MD

- P.S. -- I was flippin thru some older posts and discovered that my delink story now has over 3100 views! Holy crap! amazin..

[gogator]

MD,

Thanks for the heads-up. The one I got was Powerbronze. My bracket mounts under the swing arm between chain guide and arm itself. As for flimsy, if thats the case, I'll glass the sucker and shoot it. I like the short fender idea. I have an eliminator set up for it but your looks better and will be way more protective. Nice mods! Ride on brother.

[reg71]

Originally Posted by mello dude

- P.S. -- I was flippin thru some older posts and discovered that my delink story now has over 3100 views! Holy crap! amazin..

Yeah, Michael had it on the main page for a while. I have read it 2 or 3 times myself. Whenever I get to thinking I'm gonna do the mod, I read it then just shut up and go riding! :)

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by reg71

Yeah, Michael had it on the main page for a while. I have read it 2 or 3 times myself. Whenever I get to thinking I'm gonna do the mod, I read it then just shut up and go riding! :)

It really wasnt that hard. What made it a PIA is I went in totally blind. If you ever do a fork upgrade - ie Racetech - that would be the time to do it.

[vfr2k2]

"I have commented on how a modded 5th beats the 6th."

Seems like a lot of mods just to beat a 6th gen.

Why not buy the 6th gen in the first place and get something good with which to start.

Oh and remember "no reserve on the tank" or the "rider"

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by vfr2k2

"I have commented on how a modded 5th beats the 6th."

Seems like a lot of mods just to beat a 6th gen.

Why not buy the 6th gen in the first place and get something good with which to start.

Oh and remember "no reserve on the tank" or the "rider"

Stirring the pot -huh? I wrote that a year and a half ago. The 6th does start with a better suspension, but 5th or 6th, I would have done the list to either. I didnt set out thinking to beat a 6th for me the 5th was the bike of choise. I ended up with a bike that was exactly what I wanted. Dont mean to set off another round of flames. Not going there.

Really the purpose of thread was to list the mods I have done. Maybe I should do an edit or retitle it.

MD
Oh and remember "no reserve on the tank" or the "rider":wink
Ok - I'm dense, wtf does that mean?

[vfr2k2]

There was a thread recently by a new member asking about a "reserve" on the fifth gen gas tank.
I told him after he had been around for some time he would notice there was no "reserve" on the "tank" or the "riders". As in reservations on comments made regarding the 5th and 6th on going discussions.
Oh those 5th guys aren't bad. Just dedicated.

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by vfr2k2

There was a thread recently by a new member asking about a "reserve" on the fifth gen gas tank.
I told him after he had been around for some time he would notice there was no "reserve" on the "tank" or the "riders". As in reservations on comments made regarding the 5th and 6th on going discussions.
Oh those 5th guys aren't bad. Just dedicated.

Thanks dude. I changed the opening line in my post in your honor.

I admit I'm a wackjob at times. Thats the side of me that built the bike.

Pease bro,
MD

[vfourbear]

Wow, lots of work! All good ideas though. The little devil on the shoulder is persistent, isn't he. I once kept changing a Harley I had until it would loft the front wheel going into second. Then I finally realized I was better off having multiple bikes, one for every style. Sure can run into some money though.

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by vfourbear

Wow, lots of work! All good ideas though. The little devil on the shoulder is persistent, isn't he.


Sure can run into some money though.

The little devil ---I would like to bound and gag the little bastard, he wont go away. My to do mod list is growing still! ---> Bleah!

Bucks spent ---- Thats an understatement, I've spent more on mods than I paid for the bike.

MD

[ILVFR75]

WOW, that's a lot of mods dude! Fun stuff.

[vfourbear]

Yeah but it satifies the itch. The trick is not to take it too far apart, cause then why it just makes sense to do this or that since I already have it apart. Then I always feel like I have to keep it forever cause you never get your money back, and it's hard to find that buyer that appreciates what you've done. It's the curse of the gearhead gadgetboy I guess. The money I don't even try to justify, some folks spend their disposable income on the ponies, mine goes to my machines!