'86 VF500F Rear Suspension Options

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by coaz4x4, Mar 20, 2011.

  1. coaz4x4

    coaz4x4 New Member

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    Ok, I've been riding my Interceptor for a while since getting it up and running again... the one thing I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to was the suspension, and now it's time.

    As far as I can tell (search the interwebs, ask parts guy at Honda dealer, etc.) I'm going to just have to replace the rear, and I can rebuild the front.

    Suggestions?
    -I've already got my parts ordered for the front, just need to focus on rear...

    Thanks!
    -Peter
     
  2. invisible cities

    invisible cities New Member

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    If I could recommend, check out RaceTech's emulators for the front forks.

    Also, replacing the stock monoshock with an F4i shock conversion is a great upgrade.

    Keep us posted on the progress.
     
  3. coaz4x4

    coaz4x4 New Member

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    I saw Jamie Daugherty's upgrade shocks for $270... But am wondering what it's going to run ms to get all the components for the upgrade, as well as s/h etc.

    Hopefully I can find something locally... Tuesday I'm hitting the phones.

    I've put about $1k in to this bike that's probably worth that... And am wary of putting $700+ in to the suspension when I can just put pennies towards another bike...
     
  4. slowbird

    slowbird Member

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    I had a modified F2 shock (from JamieD) on the rear of my VF500 and it was great.
     
  5. coaz4x4

    coaz4x4 New Member

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    What did it cost ya?
     
  6. slowbird

    slowbird Member

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  7. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    Amen to that. however I will say, it's tough to find a bike with stock suspension that's worth a shit. You can buy a 5th gen VFR and it won't take you long of riding the canyons before you decide you need to invest some money into the suspension.

    So then it becomes a matter of deciding which platform is more worthy of investing suspension upgrades into...
     
  8. coaz4x4

    coaz4x4 New Member

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    For all intensive purposes, a 24+ year old 500 won't carve like a 5th gen without a lot more mods than the suspension, and thats if a 5th gen came in a 500 model. That being said, I'd be happy with a suspension that functions, and stock is not a 'bad' word to me either, I just want new OEM not 24+ yr old OEM.
     
  9. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    We have some local suspension guys and AMA racers with a lot of knowledge and good prices over on cosportbikeclub.org

    I've spent some time with Rybo but not sure if he's doing rebuilds right now or not. Then there's the question of whether the 500 is technically "rebuildable". That is a benefit of going with Jamie, he's already done this research and knows the suspension side of the VF better than anyone else I know.
     
  10. coaz4x4

    coaz4x4 New Member

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    I emailed Jamie... hopefully I'll hear back soon.

    I did post on COSBC yesterday, nothing yet.

    Main reason for all this is I just got my GF in to riding with me, dumped some coin in to protective gear for her, would like the suspension not to bottom out as much!
     
  11. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    You sure? I didn't/don't see a thread over there.:confused:
     
  12. coaz4x4

    coaz4x4 New Member

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    Ha ha ha.. was actually waiting to be added again, hadn't posted since crash. It's up there now.
     
  13. coaz4x4

    coaz4x4 New Member

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    I can get one of these:
    Hagon
    for $394
     
  14. slowbird

    slowbird Member

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    Sounds like it's cheaper to find a used CBR shock and send it to JamieD
     
  15. invisible cities

    invisible cities New Member

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    The best option is to go for a shock conversion using an F4i shock with a remote reservoir, IMO. DMr offers these (owner supplied core) for a very reasonable price.

    If you would prefer to purchase a shock from a manufacturer that specifically offers a monoshock for the VF500F here are two that I found when doing research on this a couple years back (you have noted the Hagon above)

    Hagon Products M61040 rear mono shock, http://www.hagon-shocks.co.uk/

    Penske Racing Shocks UK 89E, 8981 & 8987 Series rear mono shock, single, 2-way & 3-way adj. damper, http://www.penskeshocks.com/
     
  16. Mind_Surfer

    Mind_Surfer New Member

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    Regarding the DMr shock, can anyone elaborate on reservoir vs. non-reservoir? The installation process in particular. Thank you.

    Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk
     
  17. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    The remote reservoir equipped CBR shocks give you the ability to adjust compression (?) dampening, not just rebound. Sometimes how the hose exits the shock body can interfere with things in that area. I think the 500 is straightforward in that regard. On one of my 1000Rs I had to modify a frame gusset a little and I used a different over flow bottle. Then it's a matter of where to mount the reservoir. But the 500 has some grab handles that provide a good location.
     
  18. Mind_Surfer

    Mind_Surfer New Member

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    Thank you Captain

    Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk
     
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