6th Gen fork internals upgrade

I've read somewhere, but swear I can't find it, that F4/F4i fork cartridges can be put into 6th gen shocks. This provides compression, rebound and dampening thus making for a highly tuned ride.

Anybody know what fits in the 2007 forks?

 

I thought those were inverted shocks...?

 

There's a fella here who can tell you all you need to know (not me) but I am fairly sure that nothing will fit in our forks without machining. I may be wrong but for some reason that's what I'm thinking. The usual is springs, valves and oil, which I would imagine if set up correctly will suit you just fine.

 

Yes. thanks, guys. It's not that bad as she sits. Sag is good. I think the fork oil needs to be a hair lighter. Rebound is slow. Maybe I'll just leave her alone. Thanks!

 

-- If you were talking about taking the internal guts from the F4i fork itself and installing it in the VFR800 fork assembly, I dont see any reason why that wouldnt work either. You make have to shim it a bit to get it to length. It may take some tinkering.


Good luck,
MD[/QUOTE]

Thanks, MD. Yeah, I've got some internals from a 2000 F4 I'm going to try at GP Suspension out here. They are really good at what they do, just not as popular as Race Tech. Dave is going to give the internals a try and will shim where necessary. You know, the setup is pretty good on the VFR stock. Unless a guy buys a Ohlins equipped machine off the showroom, stock suspension usually requires some adjustments. I'm over 250 lbs so the rear is maxed out on the stock shock and the fronts could use .95 springs, but really, she handles well. Just want to make it razor sharp for the times I leave the bags at home and follow the boys in the mountains. Thanks, again.

 

I've read several posts about it but I have never sought out the exact details on it. I think you just have to snag the internals and the fork caps at the top and they are basically a drop in upgrade to the forks. Of course while they are out you can upgrade the internals in the cartridges as well for a very finely tuned ride.

I really hope someone with the specific knowledge on this chimes in because I want to know as well. While I'm a ways away from doing this, it is still handy to have the knowledge before getting into the project. It makes for excellent planning.

 

I'm subscribed to this thread and I'll be watching for the F4 compatibility info.

I really need to get the suspension on my 08 sorted, I'm coming from an 03 SV with a gixxer radial conversion and I'm really feeling it. Though for a stock setup I don't feel like it's horrible, and with a little work I'm hoping I can live with it.

I'm relieved that the VFR fork legs are large enough in diameter to resist deflection in most street braking situations, and that it's starting out as a cartridge front.

One question (don't want to thread jack) can valves or accessories from a vendor like race tech give us any more adjust-ability on rebound and compression? or are they fixed once theyre in?

 

I know that RaceTech offers rebound emulators however those are internal to the forks. They are adjustable to adjustment requires the internals to be removed. I've heard good things about them.

This is my understanding of other options.... so please someone correcet me if I am wrong here. The F4i internals or the Traxxion Dynamics cartridges offer the ability to externally adjust compression through replacement fork caps. This gives you compression and preload at the top of the forks. I've not heard of anyone being able to add external rebound to the stock forks because of how it would have to be mounted to the fork sliders and drilled in, etc.

The only way to add both external rebound and compression is to replace the forks entirely... This can be done in numerous different front end conversions but usually comes at the cost of the loss of linked brakes, ABS if it is on the bike, and many other complications that have to be worked out.

Almost everyone is happy with the results of upgrading the internals with what is readily available. Few go to the extent of swapping the front ends.

 

So do most folks that don't do swaps just make the front rebound match the rear by way of just adjusting the rear? The stock rear on an 08 does have rebound adjustability correct? or is that just compression??

 

I believe so. Most that you will find will just do the revalving and spring the forks per their own weight. I've not talked with anyone that has added the rebound emulators to their forks on the VFR but would love to hear from someone that has.

The rear shock is only preload and rebound adjustable, no compression.

 

I asked same ?? on 6th gen but only got links to 5th gen fork swaps.

So anyone know anything about the 6th gens??
I don't want to take forks apart to adjust them.

Also anyone know anything on swapping a rear shock from another bike w/ comp and rebound adjustment, ride height adjusment a plus as well ??

 

hey any of our Euro brothers have the low down on the Euro only CB1000R front end swaping with a 6th gen VFR ?????

 

There are lots of threads pertaining to this question. You will find a lot of them focusing on a 929, 954, or F4 shock. There are either some modifications necessary or sacrifices when going this route... such as suspension travel IIRC.

 

Just to clarify - the stock VFR forks have both compression and rebound valves from the factory. What they do not have is external adjustments for damping. Their only feature is spring preload adjustment.

Swapping out the caps and rebound rods from an F4 or F4i is possible and really pretty easy. It would add external rebound damping adjustment only. Keep in mind that this is low speed damping adjustment only, the high speed damping is controlled by the valve pistons and the shim stacks. Additionally, the biggest gains are had by improving the compression damping, this swap would do nothing to improve that.

As I mentioned, it's simple and easy. If you find a set of slighty bent F4 forks on eBay it can be pretty cheap too.

 

Thanks guys! This is a really active forum!

Anybody have a cheat sheet on what year F4 internals will do the job in the 6th gen tubes?

 

any way at all short of swapping the front end to get comp and rebound external adjustment?? high and low speed ??
and any info on a rear shock swap for 6th gen??
others have posted it has been done but I only find info on 5th gens not 6th.

 

All years of CBR600F4 and CBR600F4i are the same and all will work.

The only front end that has high and low speed external adjustment is the lastest version of the R6. The high speed adjustment doesn't really do anything either. External high speed adjustment is just starting to become common on aftermarket shocks.

A full front end swap is difficult because the VFR requires pretty long forks for clearance. RC51's are possible, and some have made R1 forks work as well. The late model CBR's are too short to fit without extra effort (read: money).

 

Jamie's right. The only way to get external rebound and compression is to buy a set high zoot racing forks. Get a set of slightly bent F4/F4i forks, take out the internals, get them shimmed for you weight and riding style, and matching springs and oil, and adjust the pre-load and rebound from there. As far as the shock, just get a Penske 4-way adjustable. I did this same exact thing with my '91 VFR (only F3 fork internal) and the results were amazing. I played with the rear shock a lot, but the forks were settled. I didn't play with them much. I talk in the past tense because my VFR is still in pieces in my brother's garage. :frown: But that's all you need to do. If you buy an F4 shock, you'll still need to have it tuned and it's really worth it to just go aftermarket.
Rich