Project VFR400R

[craigs23]

Well, I got it. The bike arrived on Thursday and it's pretty much as expected - good spec, good bodywork, bit of a has job underneath.

This isn't a usual spit and polish job, I've had to strip the bike to start work - and there's a lot of work to do. There's some strange bodges, dodgy wiring, dirt, filth, scum which all needs sorting, one by one, as well as replacement parts needed.

Looks clean and tidy? Well, I can assure you it isn't. The bike's a bit of a state underneath all that aftermarket fairing.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00361.jpg

Shock needs desperate replacing, exhaust needs a polishing:

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00349.jpg

Chain and Sprocs ready for the bin:

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00354.jpg

Yuck:

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00351.jpg

Been fiddling around a bit these last couple of days, since stripping the bike yesterday morning. The list of required work literally quadroupled.

However, I have discovered that along with the radial front master cylinder, matching clutch, rearsets, RVF front end, there's also an aftermarket Japanese full system of unknown brand (the can needs changing asap though, it's crap). Tested a small part of the downpipes and should come up like chrome.

Lost a bit of momentum as a few mates to come over to be abit suprised that there was a perculiar half-breed of a 400 sitting stripped in the middle of the garage, sans radiators, forks, both wheels, etc, so didn't get everything done today that I hoped to. Rads cleaned and resprayed, engine front now degreased and cleaned, new discs installed, fork bottoms resprayed. I've also started work scrubbing the front downpipes.

When sorting the electrics I found a modded CDI unit with a seperate "HRC Not for Road Use" box plugged in. Hmmm, wonder what that could be...

My new garden sculpture, by the amount of work needed, this may be off for a week or two atleast:

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00007.jpg

A few bits missing for general degreasing:

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00008.jpg

New callipers added, require new pads, replacement discs, new front tyre, carbon front mudguard, top and bottom yoke respray...

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00009.jpg

Most of my time and money will probably be spent working on what I have got already, however, the budget is extending to a multitude of aftermarket parts, namely lots of carbon, setup forks, aftermarket shock (most likely WP), C&S Kit, etc.

[NSR Mick]

[G]

Remember to ride it as well .

[0ddball]

You need you get yourself a woman.

[Groove]

Here we go again



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|| Past: 1991 Kawasaki ZXR 250 ~ 2003 Honda CBR 600 F Sport ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1999 Yamaha R1 ~ 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R J ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1998 Honda VTR1000F Firestorm ~ K1 GSXR 600 Track bike ~ K6 GSXR 1000 ~ 2006 Speed Triple 1050 || Current: 2005 R1 https://www.adrucore.co.uk

[Going2fast]

Jelous

beautiful, darn i really want a 400 again.
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Passed My Test 15/03/05
BikePics Profile ||| 96' RVF 400 ||| 01' CBR 600 F Sport ||| 2009 Yamaha YZF-R6 Delivered 23/06/09
/-\ndy

[EuropeanNC30R...]

I'd recommend 15/42 sprockets if you want to increase acceleration without losing top-end.

[craigs23]

[Delvard]

Love your topics Craig....But you're as mad as a march hare Good luck with it
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A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

[SoulRider]

looks pretty good, cant wait to see the finished result
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My Bike Pics

[Andy C]

glad you got it. Will look so nice if you get it to the standard of the RVF or blade!!

Hope you get carried away and make something really special
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99 RS125 --> 02 SV650s --> 03 Speed Four --> 92 RXS100 --> 93 CB400sf --> 01 CB600f Hornet

[mrchips]

Looks like a good wee project you got there. Any more Autosol job lots coming up on ebay?
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Northern Irish? www.nibikers.com

[quacker_boy]

That paint job going as well Craig? Doesn't look too good in my opinion! Your bike to play with though

I love the detailed pics showing your OCD worst nightmare! I can just see your face when you slide your finger along the rocker cover..."dirty"

I have to say i really like the look of that Tyga body work though, don't let anything else distract you, except us lot demanding more pictures and a progress report!

It's gonna be a lean, mean, cornering machine!
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wizzzard wrote: Imagine God just stopping by, tidying your front room up and then quietly letting himself out again. Statisticly more likely to happen than Korn being on here.

[craigs23]

Cheers all

[quacker_boy]

Got started on the downpipes already Are they slightly flame burnt or something towards the manifold...it looks a bit brown?

Polished rims? Go on you big tart, you know you want to
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wizzzard wrote: Imagine God just stopping by, tidying your front room up and then quietly letting himself out again. Statisticly more likely to happen than Korn being on here.

[craigs23]

There's not going to be a lot of polished elements on this bike, unless I decide to set to work on the frame.

There is a bit of heat staining right up by the exhaust ports, the brown shown on the left hand side is the reflection of my garage wall. I've only set to work on the front downpipes so far, ready for reinstalling the rads (the lower which covers them).

Hopefully this shows a little more:

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/frontpipes2.jpg

[quacker_boy]

Ah right i see what you mean, limited polished elements eh?

Sure, whatever you say!

Look forward to seeing what work you do tomorrow
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wizzzard wrote: Imagine God just stopping by, tidying your front room up and then quietly letting himself out again. Statisticly more likely to happen than Korn being on here.

[garth]

Are you going to change the seat unit for a cbr6 item?
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[2Smoke]

Craig, that looks the same as the system on my NC30, I've been told its a Yamoto system in stainless steel. Any chance of some better pictures of the exhaust especially from the fairing backwards?

Cheers
Paul
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Currently in the stable.. '89 TDR250, 86 NSR250 '79 350LC, '79 DT175MX, 82, Pasola, '98 R1, '95 Speed Triple.. all of them total sheds..

[Gazdaman]

You seriously need to make a business of this, there's money to be made!

Gaz

[craigs23]

Maybe Gaz, but my hourly rate wouldn't be too good considering the time involved.

That's a great help Paul as I have been wondering what it is. I'll see if I can get some pics later on when I get back from work.

No plans to change the seat unit though, just tidy it up a bit.

Didn't get as far yesterday as I thought I would have - the engine degreasing took longer than expected. Everything's ready to plug the rads back in now though, afterwhich I'll hopefully start work on the top yoke.

New C&S and brake lines in the post so hopefully they'll be fitted soon as well.

[Deano]

friggin ell, you polished your calipers you are a mad man. top job though

[killa]

I think the bikes gorgeous Craig, i'd like to come and see it TBH.
See how you work etc....

Dont start doing this as a job, it's not worth it, you might get sick of it.
Your own bike should have what ever time it needs.

A good read
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[0ddball]

[craigs23]

Yeah, sorry Spanner Monkey - what with work and everything, I don't have the time to make a detailed writeup with pics - maybe work I do over the weekend could be recorded in more detail, if I always had my camera with me. I have written a few cleaning guides (well, basics) on a couple of forums, think I posted one in the General Section not too long ago. Using the same tips really, as well as stripping and checking all mechanical condition of the bike's parts as I go.

Calipers are off an RRX Fireblade; which is cheating a bit. Bigger piston diameter than the standard RVF items and a direct fitment. They did require a clean and service before they went on - luckily the rubbers are okay and so are the pistons. Needs new pads though, as they're a different fitment to what was attached beforehand. New Goodridge lines to follow shortly.

It's an RVF front end Luke, almost a direct fitment, bar a spacer above the headraces.

Of course, I won't be giving up my day job (mostly because I spent a lot more time and effort getting it), but as a hobby, even as a slightly obsessive one, can't complain really. Besides, I wouldn't want to do this kind of work full time.

The project continues: Rads now in place (needs new fluid though), glad to see that my recently polished front downpipes are on full display (and this is with the fairing off!):

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00011.jpg
(see the top of the page for before-worked pic)

And this little package arrived this morning, will have to wait until the weekend to fit it.

https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/whers84/DSC00016.jpg