Weight ratings, suspension upgrades,bike weight reduction. looking for opinions

Hey everyone. Just bought a 2000 vfr 800. I understand tire weight ratings, pressure adjustments and the such being an auto mechanic for 10 years as a living, and am on my 14th bike, everyone of them I have worked on myself, and have completely dismantled them all, so upgrading spring ratings isn't a problem. Are there stiffer rear spings available, or just go with a larger bike rear shock ? Bike has michelin pilots ct2, stock supension. Main questions I am looking to answer are: What sort of weight have people thrown at their bikes 500-600lbs 2 up riding with bags and gear when touring? Gross weight for a vfr 800 combined everything. passengers and luggage? Secondly. Tire max weight ratings (they are split correct) example you have 400 lbs on the bike so half for each tire 200 lb's each or a split in weight of some sort. 30/70 or 40/60 weight distribution? Manufacturers usually keep the weight ratings much lower than failure weights, or where belt failure starts to occur. Third question: suspension upgrades for more touring than sport riding. Fourth question: should I look at a higher weight rated tire? Lastly and this maybe a thread in itself. Who has done what to reduce the bikes stock weight? Any info from those who have done them would be great.

 

First off - welcome to the mad-house. I can’t really help with your technical questions but hopefully someone will be along who can.

I rather suspect that Honda tend to set very conservative official limits to their products to help ensure reliability. On my 07vtecABS the stipulated max weight capacity is 195kg. Riding 2 up at an average of 75kg per person leaves just 45kg which is the weight of a Honda luggage rack and full set of hard luggage without any contents. I suspect that many of us tourers routinely fill the luggage anyway and most of us have lived to tell the tale.

As for weight reduction, it’s mainly determined by what you plan to do with the bike and how much cash you want to throw at it. There are slightly lighter batteries, and exhaust systems, you can dump the centre stand, and removing the rear seat cover and pegs will save a few grams. Inherently a V4 is a heavy bike and if a light weight bike is so important it suggests the VFR may be the wrong place to start.

Anyway good luck whatever you end up doing

skimad4x4 - 6thGen Militia #218

 

You can buy different rated springs from Racetech.

Here is a direct link:
RACE TECH PRODUCT SEARCH

The VFR service manual lists the maximum weight capacity at 409 kg [902 lbs.] for the 49 States version. I am thinking that this includes the vehicle weight of 234 kg [516 lbs.], so you are left with 175 kg [386 lbs.] for passengers and gear.

As far as weight distribution goes, I really don't know. If you are riding 2up with gear it definitely makes the rear squat and really throws off the weight distribution. I know it's really easy to get the front wheel up on the CBR with my wife on the back. She doesn't like to ride on the VFR, so I wouldn't know about that.

 

Thanks for the opinions. I know from experience if the back gets too heavy the front gets too light. I think I should have bought the blackbird I was looking at. However it's a good thing perhaps she won't like riding on the back. It will be her first riding experience, since she has never before. Just gives me an excuse to buy another bike next winter. There was a higher mileage blackbird that just sold last month for 2500$ with tons of new parts on it. At this stage of life it's nice I can keep all my bikes now. A duck is still on my list and an 87 fxrs, and 86 interceptor.

I will check out the link for springs thanks. I'll probably just beef up the springs and stiffen everything up. Re sproket it for some more torque. Get a power commander and recurve fuel and spark.

Was looking to lose a bit of weight on the bike so more for gear and passenger

 

The Blackbird is a nice bike.

The reason my wife gave for liking the CBR better was she said it felt more planted to her and she gets less wind buffeting with the CBR. I can see the first, but not the second. :twitch: