VF1000F Wheel Swap

looking great !!

 

Hub ready for some paint this afternoon. The seal is an old weather-cracked one that I'm using for masking the bearing well. I tapped the stud holes deeper and put the countersink back in so they are ready for studs after paint. Also machined the seal lip down to be flush with the seal that has to be pressed right to the bearing, 6mm thick was the slimmest seal I could source in the needed diameter dimensions. That gives me the needed 1mm clearance from the hub to the chain adjuster. It's that close to get the chain and wheel center the same as factory without more complicated machining, which then starts a chain reaction of extra machining on other items.



Front spacers finally done.


The little one is 5mm thick. The slimmest seal I could find that is suitable is 6mm thick. So.... the last thing to do is turn the axle "nut" down to 22mm, in 2mm. 1mm will act as the spacer in the seal.



This one was that close to get the wheel centered too. The way the axle nut engages in the fork lower, it was the easiest way to accomplish what I need. Plus the axle gets installed in the wheel before installed on the bike, so it will be easy to get the nut into the seal without damaging anything.

Edit: After thinking about it, I could have machined the nut back 2 mm and made a 7 mm spacer. Nuts. Oh well, pretty much the same amount of work on the lathe. When I was just figuring out spacers without seals my mind just focused on "5mm spacer". Maybe I'll still do that for the next time I have the wheel off.

 

Same difference, but what a dork. I'll do another set the "right" way.

 

Got them shot Friday afternoon. Pretty creamy, gonna look sick.

 

Modified hub assembled. Came out nice, looks pretty "stock".

 

Craftsmanship !! beautiful !!

 

Front wheel spinning for balance as I type. Gonna look great, can't wait to ride it.





The Pirellis were harder to mount than I anticipated, but they went on without too much cursing. Pirellis also run very true to size, even a touch smaller. This Rosso II 170 measures 168, which is what I was hoping for. The Avon on the 1000R wheel swap is a 170 that measures 178, and it still clears the chain (it's close tho). So a touch more clearance is nice, and a 180 Pirelli is a possibility in the future. This is plenty of tire for this bike and doesn't require a offset front sprocket. A 520 conversion would help too, but I didn't want that to be mandatory. I had a lot of nice 530 stuff to use and save money.



Forks coming apart for a change to a single compression Gold Valve, retaining adjustable rebound damping. Already has 1.0 springs. Getting steel braided front lines while it's up.

Time to roll on the lift it seems.

 

What a beautiful bike, will that fit in the crate with the VF1000R ?

 

Yep. Be careful with my new RC51.

 

Short shake-down ride, I have to say... wow. After I finished the 100oR with the wheel resto and tires, I doubled down on this while in the "mode". Worked my ass off, lots of last minute details. Still not done, wanted to take more tech pics, but just kept going.

 

When I was setting up the Gold Valve, I decided to make a change from what I did on the VF1000R and compare. With only one valve handling compression valve duties, I switch from the 2 hole bleed plate to the 4 hole.



Good news: Way better. Little abrupt edges like man hole covers and expansion joints are nothing now, but when the fork moves hard enough to get into the real valving, it feels firm and sporty still. I also used 10wt oil on both bikes (15 is usually recommended with Gold Valves as a start) because I was retaining the adjustable rebound damping adjustment. But I upped the pre-load on the valving spring (heaviest Yellow spring) to 4 turns to compensate (from recommended 2 turns on double valve installations). Feels really good.

Bad news: I have to fish the Gold Valve out of the 1000R fork to install the 4 hole bleeder. Not a terrible job, remove the spacer and spring and use a magnet.

 

Of course I will, she's waiting on some new clothes, coming soon:

 

That's better.


I actually made a half millimeter adjustment to perfectly center the wheel on this bike, after the new bearings and real spacers (not just spacers and washers on the mock up VF750F). Not totally necessary, but it will also help with some clearance on the right caliper bracket.

 

New spacers are spot on, wheel is perfectly centered. Blue is actually really good in the sunlight. I was skeptical in the harsh shop lights.

 

Holy Mother of Zeus, PRISTINE.

 

OUTSTANDING!!!!!!

 

Well I've done a few shake down rides to scrub in the tires. Yesterday I went for a real ride down in the valley. HOLY SHIT. This thing handles amazing. It was pretty good before as it had the right springs and a custom CBR shock properly sprung and valved by Jamie. It's a completely different bike now, I'm so happy, worth the work for sure. Add a click of rebound in the rear and will probably come out a half turn on the Gold Valve. The Rosso II are nice, not a hint of protest. Already scrubbing off the Rosso II lettering on the rear edge and I was taking it, what felt like, pretty easy. This bike is an absolute joy.

 

Happy to read that and it looks KILLER!!!!!

 

Very clean and sano looking 1000F! How's the power output? Stock w/slip-ons?