1994 RVF400R Build Project

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by NorcalBoy, Nov 7, 2018.

  1. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    It's only getting started, but I believe the worst part is over with. I will feel a lot better when I know it's picked up and on it's way.
     
  2. Gator

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    If it sounds that good on a cell phone and reproduced on crappy computer speakers, then in person I think it will be very nice.
     
  3. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    The beauty is in the eye of the beerholder, ROFL. It's only as good as the mic on the phone. I'm just relieved it is running and tuned....I can take it from here. It will still have a second go on the dyno to map the ignition and to verify the jetting for my elevation, but my tuner here is going to do the final final on the tuning. So much work to do still....
     
  4. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    Received a few pics of the custom radiators I had fabricated by Radtec Racing Radiators in the UK. World Endurance Spec, 30% increase in cooling capacity, hand assembled with custom cores.

    A HUGE shout out to Diving Pete, Pete was kind enough to remove his stock rads and send them to Radtec to be used as templates for all of the mounting locations and to make sure they were an exact match to the stock rads for the OEM add ons, like the various hose clips, the fan mount, and to ensure the hose fittings were exactly the right size, oriented correctly, and exactly where they should be. Thanks, Pete!

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    I HIGHLY recommend Radtec, if you need new rads. Darren Jeynes is an awesome guy and an awesome fabricator. They do custom rads for just about every major racing series in the world. I think a set of his custom rads would solve a lot of the VFR cooling problems with the side mounted radiator model VFR's.

    I also was lucky enough to get a very special piece from Rick Oliver in the UK. Rick had two, CNC machined, billet, custom eccentrics made up for the RVF and he was kind enough to sell me one of them. It should be getting to me on Monday of next week, along with some other bits.

    After being hard anodized, with new bearings fitted:

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    Complete with seals and test fit into an RVF swingarm in Rick's shop:

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    This piece should shave a substantial amount of weight, compared to the OEM eccentric. Coupled with all of the ti pieces and the 520 conversion kit, this should be a pretty decent amount of weight removed from the swingarm of the machine.

    I also have another part being fabricated from Ti by a good friend of mine....I should have some pics of it to post later on today.....I also got news that the bike was picked up by Haulbikes today and has started it's journey to my garage. Looking forward to seeing it in person for the first time...then the project can actually kick off.
     
  5. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    FUCK-to-the-YES!

    Those are beautiful. Can't wait to see them mounted.

    +1 Diving Pete
     
  6. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    Thanks!

    Yeah, Pete definitely did me a solid . It was much easier, thanks to him!

    I have a custom overflow bottle system I designed that is slowly coming together, the mounts are being being water jetted from 1/8" aluminum and bent up sometime in the next few days..at least that's what they said. My buddy is machining up some aluminum blind hole mounts that will be tig welded to either the meter stay, or the front of the end caps of one of the rads. Will have to determine what mounting location ends up working out the best when the bike arrives and I can lay eyes on it to confirm fairing clearances. There will be two mounts, each holding a 250ml nalgene bottle. I ordered some special fittings for the Tygon F-4040-A hoses, which should should arrive today. The fittings will be sealed to the bottles with Loctite EA-608 epoxy. The stock bottle assembly is kind of an abortion and mounted on the subframe, which definitely needed to be removed and redesigned.
     
  7. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    Very nice bits!

    Pete did you a big solid. Very cool.
     
  8. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    Guys, Thanks for the compliments but I only did what other guys do on this forum all the time... I helped another member.
    This is going to be a seriously cool bike (& I CAN'T WAIT TO RIDE IT ONCE ITS FINISHED - LOLOL)
     
  9. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    & those Rads are just porn.....
     
  10. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    Pete, you are a gentleman and a saint, Thanks Again, my friend!
     
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  11. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    A good buddy of mine from SupermotoJunkie.com just finished spinning up some ti front axles for Pete and I. He said he is going to clean them up just a bit more and ship them out. You can't buy these ti axles commercially, so it was time to get a couple machined. I think they turned out great, even if I do say so myself.

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    The ti axle was the last bit of the puzzle for the front end hardware and everything that can be ti, is ti. Every little bit helps and the bigger pieces are where you can make the most effect with weight reduction. All of the pieces are starting to fall in place pretty quickly now.
     
  12. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    And just in case anybody could possibly need additional confirmation of just what a great guy Pete truly is....I just received these from the delivery guy, courtesy of Pete and his incredible generosity! I don't really know what to say, other than, Thanks Pete! I sincerely appreciate your generosity! I can only hope that the package I will be sending your way, is as well received as these were in my shop. That my friends, is a COMPLETE set of metric spanners! They will come in quite handy on this little journey I'm about to commence.

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    Thanks again, Pete!
     
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  13. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    Purty stuff. That's a cool set of wrenches, and big sizes!

    Did you have a Ti rod machined to stick in the axle hole to hold it too? :)
     
  14. RC46-SP2

    RC46-SP2 New Member

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    I was seriously looking at one of these locally, just to buy, polish and probably "mount" somewhere as garage porn ('cos it's the closest I'll ever get to an RC45, one of which I saw on the Yahoo auctions recently at ~$AUD45K...:Cry:

    The NC35 was, as you'd expect, considerably cheaper...

    Mrs was not interested, saying "you can def. get that, IF you sell the VFR..."

    Not happening. Bloody shame.

    TBH, I doubt I'd ever go to the extent that you're going to on this "build", but it would be very cool to have one of the most attractive bikes made in the last 30-odd years (IMHO) in the garage, even if I only chucked it on club rego, and wheeled it out for a ride every once in a while.
     
  15. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    The 35 is pretty rare here, there a few NC30's rolling around, but getting them titled and registered is hard to do. Let's just say the 35's aren't cheap here. I've already done the 800 build thing and there really aren't any new bikes that I've even been interested in.

    I've always wanted one, ever since visiting Japan in the 90's and seeing them new, on the showroom floor in Ueno (Bike Town). Just to give you an idea, the msrp for that machine here in the US is quoted at 9275 usd......It took the motor vehicle department and the insurance company a little bit of effort to even figure out what it was originally, as it wasn't on the fresh US title.

    Most people would never go to the extent that I go, when I'm doing a build, I'm used to it. If anyone asks why, I typically won't even provide an answer. Price seems to be a bigger deal to VFR riders, I guess they are just a frugal lot.
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2019
  16. RC46-SP2

    RC46-SP2 New Member

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    Don't get me wrong, I admire the effort and dedication you have to do all of that (and it will be a top bike once it's finished). There are a handful of guys on here and VFRD who go "above and beyond" on their builds, and I "dips me lid" to all of them.

    I was lucky enough that my VFR had most of the good stuff (Ohlins/SP2 front end etc. and so on) done by the previous owner, who had had it from new in '99. "Well sorted" is how I'd put it. Since I've had it, I've just "tweaked" bits and pieces here and there...although I am planning a pretty comprehensive "refurb" later this year...

    The NC35 I was eyeing off has had a bit of after-market (Tyga, mostly) gear added to it, and looks very nice. I'm still half thinking of how I might be able to get it into my garage without the Mrs noticing... ;)
     
  17. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    I don't take it personally, I actually expect it around here. No worries!
     
  18. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    I totally agree - thats why I have 3 - ha, ha, ha

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  19. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

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    The motherlode!
     
  20. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    An NC35 deal my buddy set-up online that took 2 months to arrange and many weeks to happen...........
    (latest version).

    My buddy and shopmate missed buying this one last March when a very amazing whisky-drinkin Texan with a beautiful dog, who was planning to move to Romania,
    showed up with a long trailor-load of non-US exxxotics, MC's, NC's, NT's, VFR's, CBR's, 250's and 400's he wanted to sell, ex-Japan, ex-England. Typical stuff from Europe with middle mileage, nothing mint or not needing a little cleaning and oxidation removal.

    may #2 2018 034.JPG
    That's "Israel'" on board, as we called him while he stayed at our shop for 4 days, while Lenny's doin some serious thinkin. Certainly the most overwhelmingly- amazing motorcycle guy we ever spoke with, world-traveler, CCS racer, and spinner of fabulous tales of years of biking and buying bikes all over the world.

    Len bought 3, all 1980's, a CBR400, a VFR400, both in decent condition, although we couldn't get VFR running right first few tries. No matter, as he almost never does any riding or maintenance, just collects and lets 'em sit in his warehouse.
    may #2 2018 006.JPG

    and this is what he declined. Very fine condition, good runner. USD $5000.
    may #2 2018 035.JPG



    He also bought this MC21 CBR with all aftermarket body work, non-runner for just $1200 bucks ! sez if i can get it roadworthy, i can ride it, and i've already started work. :Sad:

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    oct 15---18 012.JPG

    other bikes he had for sale:

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    may #2 2018 060.JPG



    Naturally, the titles that were promised haven't shown up ! :Cry:


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    Some bike mag needs to do an article on NCB's amazing project. there's a lot to learn !
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2019
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