heavily modified 1st Gen VFR's?

[alden]

I'm curious, I've browsed this forum for a while now, and have searched the internet to no avail. Has anyone ever gone all out on a first generation via body, suspension, and engine mods?

I keep picturing my bike with a single round, a modified tail section, much wider/larger tires, and a modified front/rear suspension with a final look somewhere between a ducati monster and a VFR on steroids. Has anyone ever done anything like this before?

mine:


modified monster:


maybe something like this but much wider tires:


I don't think I'd do too much, if anything that couldn't be reversed, though from what I can tell the headlight/guages bracketing would require some cutting to clean it up.

[Sebspeed]

Check out Custom Fighters - Streetfighter Motorcycle Forum

[alden]

thanks! I've checked it out a little, so far nothing quite like what I'm looking into, but this is getting there:

[safetypro10]

One suggestion. Point that tag towards the end of the bike, it will hit the tire and get torn up, been there, done that.

Not a big fan of streetfighters personally, but if you change the rear subframe to something minimal and tuck all that junk in, it looks better.

Maybe a rear light fairing only, and a front bug screen, I just don;t know.

Larry

[drewl]

If that first pic is your bike currently, I think it would be a shame to change it. It looks super the way it is. If your bike looks rougher than that...mod away.

[alden]

Originally Posted by safetypro10

One suggestion. Point that tag towards the end of the bike, it will hit the tire and get torn up, been there, done that.

Not a big fan of streetfighters personally, but if you change the rear subframe to something minimal and tuck all that junk in, it looks better.

Maybe a rear light fairing only, and a front bug screen, I just don;t know.

Larry

Yeah I'm definitely not sold on the whole streetfighter look if we include everything that it entails (lack of flow, rough design, and usually half-a$$ed paint jobs)

Originally Posted by drewl

If that first pic is your bike currently, I think it would be a shame to change it. It looks super the way it is. If your bike looks rougher than that...mod away.

The upper fairing is really rough, the tank has been welded and needs to be repainted to be done right. I don't want to take away from what the VFR is, I just want to beef it up a bit and inject some personal style. The paint would likely stay the same design and most of the body would remain stock.

[drewl]

Right on. I just hate to see a perfectly good early model bike changed to the point of not looking like a VFR anymore.
Good luck.

[jamey2466]

not a lot of stock parts on this one all custom

[matt1986vf500f]

i agree with drewl, the 1st gen vfs look sexy anyway, mybe you need another bike were they offer more aftermarket parts for it.

[Sebspeed]

I'm putting a 636 front upper fairing and a complete Duc 1098 tail section on my 86 700 right now. Also have an F3 front end on it with F3 wheel/brakes, and a 900RR rear wheel so it will be running a 120/180 tire combo. Sonic springs and a Fox Twin Clicker round out the suspension, and it's got a Factory Pro jet kit and K&N filter, had a 4-2-1- Yosh system but I will be making a custom single undertail can for it.

Modified enough for ya? :-)

[Sebspeed]

And yes, the bike was rough to start with!

[alden]

nice! pictures of the project/completed bike would be awesome!

[JamieDaugherty]

Originally Posted by alden

thanks! I've checked it out a little, so far nothing quite like what I'm looking into, but this is getting there:

Lots of folks have modified first generation VF's (they aren't VFR's by the way, that might have hurt your searches). The picture shown above is of a bike with my rear wheel kit installed, just one of the possibilities for these bikes. The 500's weren't modified as much because, frankly, dollar for dollar you don't really get much. Your money is better spent on either a 700/750 or a 1000. Upgrades on those cost about the same but you get a lot more in return.

The best place to modify the 500's is with the wheels and suspension. Although they are easily the best handling of the early VF's they can still use a lot of improvement. Replacing the rear shock with something that works, Gold Valves in the forks and upgraded wheels make a huge difference.