Front suspension mods for gen 6

Discussion in '6th Generation 2002-2013' started by Joseph Michael Murphy, Sep 16, 2020.

  1. Joseph Michael Murphy

    Joseph Michael Murphy New Member

    Country:
    Mexico
    Joined:
    May 5, 2019
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Rosarito Beach, Mexico
    Map
    My Gen 6 is in hard shape. The previous owner was neglectful to say the least. I've been sorting out the bikes problems. Trying to keep it reliable for commuting to work.

    I need to do something about he front suspension. front feels skinny and wobbly at high speeds. If I look down the headset @ 90 - 100 mph I can see the axle having a lot of action. I'm sure the stock setup has blown shocks. I'd be amazed to find the seals are good.

    What is the "pro" move here? Is there a CBR headset and fork that fit? or??

    I really like the V motor configuration, frame and swing arm, riding position. I just want a more modern, adjustable setup in the front. I'm planning to do the 954 rear shock mod, I want something to match it in the front...

    Thanks for any suggestions!
     
  2. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

    Country:
    Kuwait
    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2013
    Messages:
    2,727
    Likes Received:
    625
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Map
    There's not too much wrong with a 6th gen fork that a little parts swapping can't fix. Your cheapest option would be to order fork springs and Gold Valves from RaceTech (which is the DIY option) or Jamie Daugherty at Daugherty Motorsports and order the parts for a fork spring and cartridge swap (which is more of a supplied package). That (along with replacing the forks seals and bushings with new OEM parts) will bring to fork up to a great standard. You should also look at replacing your steering head bearings, I'd suggest with a tapered roller bearing.

    Another option (if you want to add externally adjustable damping) would be to install forks from a CBR600F4 (which will work with the stock wheel/brake discs/axle/triples) but even then you would ideally swap out the parts above, and you'd need to delink the brakes.
     
  3. mello dude

    mello dude Administrator

    Country:
    Romania
    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2006
    Messages:
    4,127
    Likes Received:
    318
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Southwest Ohio
    Map
    There are definitely some "pro" upgrades to can do -- RC51,R1, others.....but those are major projects with all the parts you need to source.... plus it's also a brake delink job and that comes with more bucks and parts...

    My first suggestion is to contact Jamie Daughtery at DMr Motorsports. He is a suspension guru for these bikes. Typically you send your forks to him and he does an upgrade tuned to you.
    Also he sells 954 shocks also tuned for your weight..... and cost is very fair.

    Next you need to replace the steering head bearings, sounds like yours are shot.
    The OEM are ball bearings, tapered roller bearings are the better upgrade.

    Do this stuff, ...first... then if you want to go farther, the stock forks will sell on this form in a heartbeat.

    Then again if you are also not hot about the brakes, the delink using F4i lower fork with VFR uppers is a good way to go... still you have to get calipers and master cylinder... and change out the rear m/c to 14mm and get the 3 pistons in the caliper to work together.

    -- looks like Terry and I posted near simultaneously....
     
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2020
  4. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2007
    Messages:
    6,120
    Likes Received:
    853
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Desert Southwest
  5. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

    Country:
    Kuwait
    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2013
    Messages:
    2,727
    Likes Received:
    625
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Map
    Can't do anything but agree with you MD!

    Front end feel also has a lot to do with tyre wear/profile. A new tyre(s) at the correct pressures should also be in the OP's plan.
     
  6. Dannoxyz

    Dannoxyz New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2020
    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    S.F. Bay Area
    Map
    Yeah, supple radials like Michelins will really make front-end feel planted and responsive.

    If you're only using bike on streets, 80% of "pro" performance can be had with just springs calibrated to your weight and some GV emulators. Giving adjustable damping really lets you set up fork to your riding style.

    To get 20% remainder of "pro" setup will cost you +600% more with USD forks, cartridge kit, etc.
     
  7. Joseph Michael Murphy

    Joseph Michael Murphy New Member

    Country:
    Mexico
    Joined:
    May 5, 2019
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Rosarito Beach, Mexico
    Map
    I'm running the AVON tire that my VFR book recommends. I always keep an eye on them, the road conditions in Mexico suck. You must pre trip the bike every time. Such is the cost of living on the beach for 300.00 usd every month. jaja

    I pulled on the bikes headset like it owes me money, there is no play at the triple clamp that I can feel. I'm going to do the bearing upgrade anyhow. @ 70k mi. how much longer could the factory ball bearings hold out?? Not much is my guess.

    Jamie Daughtery at DMr Motorsports, sounds like the most direct rout to getting a fork and rear 954 shock that are tuned for my height/weight/riding style.
    I'm not opening the forks. I'm an accomplished mechanic(diesel/medium duty trucks/SBF's) & have a shop in the US. I've done forks for street, dirt bikes in the past. It's a nasty mess and I don't want it. I'm going to call Jamie and get a quote.
     
  8. Joseph Michael Murphy

    Joseph Michael Murphy New Member

    Country:
    Mexico
    Joined:
    May 5, 2019
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Rosarito Beach, Mexico
    Map
    I could find a crashed bike at auction here in San Diego to swap parts from.
    Which RC51, F4i, R1 years would I be looking for? I like the R1 idea. I've been on a few of those, the front end feels super stable. I have a shop with Air, tools and have access to some machining tools. With a donor bike, I might be able to pull this off.
     
  9. Joseph Michael Murphy

    Joseph Michael Murphy New Member

    Country:
    Mexico
    Joined:
    May 5, 2019
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Rosarito Beach, Mexico
    Map
  10. Joseph Michael Murphy

    Joseph Michael Murphy New Member

    Country:
    Mexico
    Joined:
    May 5, 2019
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Rosarito Beach, Mexico
    Map

    Which year CBR600F4? any F4i?
     
  11. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2007
    Messages:
    6,120
    Likes Received:
    853
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Desert Southwest
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Joseph Michael Murphy likes this.
  12. Joseph Michael Murphy

    Joseph Michael Murphy New Member

    Country:
    Mexico
    Joined:
    May 5, 2019
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Rosarito Beach, Mexico
    Map
  13. Joseph Michael Murphy

    Joseph Michael Murphy New Member

    Country:
    Mexico
    Joined:
    May 5, 2019
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Rosarito Beach, Mexico
    Map
    Wow, dude. That's looking slick. You're making a track bike?
     
  14. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

    Country:
    Kuwait
    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2013
    Messages:
    2,727
    Likes Received:
    625
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Map
    I'm sure anything is possible with enough money thrown at it. But to keep the linked brakes you need to stay with the same 3 piston calipers AND you need the secondary master cylinder on the left leg and the delay valve across the top of the legs. All of which says to me that you need to keep the VFR's forks intact, but feel free to swap out the springs and cartridges. Yes they're messy but IMO not very hard to work with. I've been a fork tinkerer for decades and strangely enjoy the challenge of modifying shim stacks...If you were to get that 954 front end, the internal damping components will be very similar if not identical to the VFR, just with some external adjustable low speed bleeds.
     
    Hans Olsson likes this.
  15. VFR1200

    VFR1200 New Member

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2009
    Messages:
    193
    Likes Received:
    43
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Calgary, Canada
    Map
    I did my front end over the winter last year. The bike had hardly any mileage, but had sat around for 10 years and not used.
    I changed the headstock bearings (from sitting and not moving, a notch had formed and you could feel it).
    Stripped the forks. new seals and upgraded the fork oil to Honda SS-47. The standard oil wasn't good enough for my style of riding. When I took the forks apart, the oil had two colours. The top that poured out first was red, the rest when that poured out was black and disgusting.
    The bike is now great on the front end and feels like new.
    Oh yea, new Avon Spirit ST tires. The 12 year old OEM tires were cracking LOL.
     
    Hans Olsson likes this.
  16. VFR1200

    VFR1200 New Member

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2009
    Messages:
    193
    Likes Received:
    43
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Calgary, Canada
    Map
  17. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2007
    Messages:
    6,120
    Likes Received:
    853
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Desert Southwest
    It might see the track some day, but it's a 100% road bike. It's the RVF in my sig line.
     
  18. Joseph Michael Murphy

    Joseph Michael Murphy New Member

    Country:
    Mexico
    Joined:
    May 5, 2019
    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Rosarito Beach, Mexico
    Map
    I'm sending the forks to Jamie and buying one of their custom rear shocks. I'm going HAM on the exhaust while the bike is apart.
     
  19. Hans Olsson

    Hans Olsson New Member

    Country:
    Sweden
    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2019
    Messages:
    64
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Eskilstuna Sweden.
    There are no drain plugs on the front forks,why is that?
     
  20. wiremanjon

    wiremanjon New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2016
    Messages:
    141
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Morris County, New Jersey
    Map
    manufacturers don't do that anymore. Just take the forks out, open the top and drain the fluid out.
     
Related Topics

Share This Page