looking for parts to make a 5th gen more touring than sport + givi monokey racks

Discussion in '5th Generation 1998-2001' started by paulkelley86, Feb 10, 2015.

  1. paulkelley86

    paulkelley86 New Member

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    I am brand new to the forum so if I am doing anything wrong it is in ignorance!

    I am a recent vfr purchaser, I come from an fz1 with just about 100k miles. I have been a honda fan all if my life and found a 99 vfr for $1600 with 30k so I had to have it. It was down with cosmetic damage so I am in the process of plastic welding and doing the bodywork and repaint now. I guess I might as well post pIcs.

    Anyway I am looking for things like more comfortable Bars, preferably helibars but I would convert to lsl or something too.

    Corbin or similar Seat

    Maybe drop footpegs

    I have full givi hard luggage on my fz1 but need top and side racks to put them on the vfr

    Also open to long distance Reliability mods or advice, the past 2 years I have put 80k miles on the fz1 commuting and the vfr will be taking its place.

    I am also an automotive tech/college instructor/locomotive mechanic so I can speak the tech language and understand similar thinking that only we have. I do, and will be doing all of my own work. I started with soldering the reg Rectifier wiring to eliminate the resistance in the infamous connector, as a side note my fz1 overheated that connector as well when I started running an electric Heated jacket.

    Let me Know if you have some touring parts or advice! All my stock parts are Clean if you are looking to trade also!
    Oh, except the seat, it had a small tear.
     

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  2. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

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    Welcome aboard.

    You've already attacked the known weak spot in the VFR with the R/R wiring. Many of us also install a voltmeter just to keep an eye on the charging system as the R/R itself can also fail, and potentially take down the alternator and battery in the process.

    Mechanically the gear-drive VFR seems to be bulletproof (touches wood) and aside from the usual wear items like clutch plates they can do really high mileage without issues. I bought mine with 45k miles and found the gearshift pretty sloppy, so I installed a FactoryPro Shift Star, and I can highly recommend that to clean up the shifting. Thermostats fail with age normally half open, that slows the warm-up and leads to hot running; these are a bear to get at, you need to pull the throttle bodies and wrestle with old radiator hoses. Some have reported the fuel pressure regulator diaphragm failing which leads to poor fuel economy. There's an occasional report of gearbox failures but they seem pretty rare and no different to other makes and models.

    If you want to tidy up the handling, replacing the stock shock and front springs/dampers is well worth doing. The cheapest shock option looks to be Daugherty Motorsports who specialise in V4 stuff and can offer a refurbished, modified CBR929 shock set up to suit the rider, and also the front end parts. IMO the VFR has very decent geometry and with some proper legs it handles great.
     
  3. BWeiss

    BWeiss Johnny Partseed

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    Really, the only reliability mods you need to do is buy and upgraded Regulator/Rectifier (or buy a spare to keep stashed under the seat) and the VFRness (upgraded wiring from the stator to R/R). These bikes can eat the R/R and leave you stranded. Maybe an LCD voltmeter near the gauges will help you monitor the health of the charging system.

    Not really a mod, but go through all the electrical plugs you can and give them a good clean and put them tightly back together.

    As far as the comfort mods, you have pretty much the normal list there, and plenty of information on each one of those.

    More people like Seargent seats more than Corbin (food for thought). Drop pegs are sold as a bolt on, or people have modified Buell pegs (again, plenty of info out there). Search the classified or Ebay for the Givi Racks.

    If you like to ride spiritedly in the twisties, and any heavier than about 170lbs, you'll want to look into a suspension upgrade. Jamie Daugherty here on the forum does fork work and modified cbr929 shock to your taste, definitely check him out.


    Thats all I can think of for now, I may add more later. But, welcome aboard and can't wait to see your progress with your bike!
     
  4. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    Welcome to The World! A couple of us members here pass through your neck of the woods on our way to Palomar and areas South of Ortega, so maybe one of these days you can join us.

    The key things have been touched on and I would have to agree with them. When I upgraded my 5 Gen, the first thing I went for was a suspension upgrade, however, I wanted my 5 Gen to be more sport oriented than touring, that's what my 6 Gen is for. However, since I did some of the mods to my 6 Gen that you were mentioning, Heli-Bars, Sargent seat, GIVI top case. I can say that even on this bike I changed the suspension. Both done by Jamie Daugherty ( www.daughertymotorsports.com ).

    That being said, if I were to do some things over again, I probably would look into a custom seat vice one of the "generic" upgrades and maybe LSL super bars too.
     
  5. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    Go to a local seat guy and get something custom fitted to you. Same price as a Sergent
     
  6. V4toTour

    V4toTour New Member

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    Slap an airhawk r seatpad on whatever seat you got. Seriously
     
  7. JimGregory

    JimGregory New Member

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    I found a like new 5th gen with stupid low miles. Added heli bars from ebay, sargent seat new, a givi wingrack from ebay and a topcase from ebay, and 21 litre side cases from revzilla. Now I want to find some E360 cases to replace the 21 lire cases. My suspension, and bike now only has 6k on it and seems fine to me. I love the thing.
    Oh forgot! Added heated grips, a powerlet outlet, a voltmeter, a relay and fuseblock as well. Also a VFRness. Still original R/R.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    Jim, really like that rack on top of your box, great idea, did you mount it ?
     
  9. vfrcapn

    vfrcapn Member

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    Welcome, nice find at that price.

    Givi made a side and top Wingrack and tubular style side and top racks. The tubular style came in an original and newer re-engineered style, the two tubular styles can not be interchanged so make sure you get the correct side and top rack if you buy separately.

    Here's a link to some lowering blocks: http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/34097-bls-footpeg-block-install/page-5

    MRA makes a nice touring screen, the other usual companies have some too. I really liked the Harris hugger for keeping the back of the bike clean(er).

    Powercommander makes some units for this bike if you want to smooth out the throttle response.

    Is this an original California bike? They are down a few hp due to milder cams and reprogrammed ecu.

    '00-'01 mirrors bolt right up and come without the rubber condom if you find the condom annoying.

    After that it's just time and money.
     
  10. JimGregory

    JimGregory New Member

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    Yep. It is a givi part though for that case. Makes it look slightly less like a webber grill. Carries a lot of stuff though.
    As an aside, I hate the looks of the wingrack without the bags on. And my girl lost her handholds! So if I get the E360 cases she can hold on to the handles of them. May not be the safest route though.
    I ride 2 up almost exclusively when not commuting to work.
     
  11. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    Just a thought, have you seen those harnesses that Velcro around your waste, and has two handles on each side to hold on to you....but I sure she likes to lean back against the box right?.....okay, have a good one
     
  12. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    I bought these for Katie to use and now she refuses to ride without them. I had to turn around twice to go back home and get them. I do not even notice her holding them.
    php8lUCsE.jpg
     
  13. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    Thats it, thought I saw them somewhere's
     
  14. JimGregory

    JimGregory New Member

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    I have thought about them. Seems like it would not be the best solution for braking though. Is it? The standard grabs were great. I have been looking at mountain bike bar ends. But I need a clamp that opens fully not just a pinch clamp.
    something like this might work but of course it's in the UK and I am not. I could clamp them on to the tubular part of my wingrack/topcase bits. I would like to have something pretty solid she could hold on to when braking instead of flopping into my back and banging her boobs. Not that thats such an awful thing for me..
    [​IMG]
     
  15. vfrcapn

    vfrcapn Member

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  16. Pliskin

    Pliskin New Member

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    Jim - you could try looking at marine industry suppliers as well for "clamp on" type of equipment. Not that they'd have anything specific for a bike, but boaters are always using clamps for rod storage, outriggers, etc. They come in all different sizes, and materials that run from plastic to S/S. Have no idea if it would fit your needs, but just a suggestion.
     
  17. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    As I mentioned in my other post, I don't even notice her grabbing them, this includes when I'm braking. I also have a top case with back rest for her so that may account for lack of noticing a little bit.
     
  18. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    But Katie is an experienced two up passenger and that makes a huge difference.......been there....
     
  19. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    You have to start somewhere, but no amount of experience being a passenger can keep someone from sliding into you on heavy braking, but normal riding is easy to accommodate. Based on Jim's post "I ride 2 up almost exclusively when not commuting to work.", I assumed his rider was experienced.
     
  20. Big_Jim59

    Big_Jim59 Member

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    This is way off topic but I was in Italy in the 1970 and I snapped a picture of a Moto Guzzi Falcon with a second set of handle bars for the pillion. It was like a tandem bicycle.
     
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