Front end transplant, Firestorm onto VFR750

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Couple of reasons for this. Not least of which is that the forks on the VFR were pitted and fixed with araldite a couple of years ago. I usually reckon on this lasting 2 years and not to disappoint me, when I went out to do this job, it had shat all the oil from the right fork all over the yard.

I also find the VFR underbraked, especially when loaded. The Firestorm has 4 pot opposed callipers rather than the two pot, sliding ones on the VFR.

A lot of people say the firestorm forks are a bit wooden but compared to the tired, boingy, leaky efforts I have on now, it can only be an improvement. They also have adjustable damping.

You need the following parts off the firestorm:
1) Forks.
2) Wheel spindle and spacers (the firestorm one is longer)
3) Brake callipers.
4) Master cylinder (lever is the same so get one with a bent lever cheap off ebay Wink

)
5) Mudguard.

All the other bits fit so you retain the handlebars, yokes and front wheel.

Fitting was totally uneventful. Unbolt the VFR parts, bolt on the firestorm parts and bleed the brakes.

One thing is that the firestorm forks are 10mm shorter. This will alter the geometry a fair bit. I'll need a longer road test to see if I can live with this (might even be an improvement?). If it's too twitchy, I can always go back up to a standard, 70 section front tyre which would go some way to raising the front end again. I've been running it on 60 section ones to speed up the handling.

The shorter reach means the standard brake lines are a bit more curved about. Not too much though.

Extra twiddly bits and a really tacky looking remote reservoir
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/DSCN0692.png
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/DSCN0688.png

Spindle is wider to accommodate clamps on both sides
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/DSCN0691.png

More brakes can only be a good thing. Note fork oil all over tyre.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/DSCN0689.png

I don't think the yellow goes very well with the rest of it though
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/DSCN0687.png

So, I was looking at £180 to get new fork stanchions and my brake callipers needed a total rebuild.

I've spent:
Forks with spindle and mudguard: £70
Callipers: £65
Master cylinder: £25
Brake pads: £21

I make that a win.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

chillyman0 · Nearly there... Joined: 11 Sep 2008 Karma :

nice! you did make it sound easy, so easy its really tempting me and i've only had mine less than a month. I dont know yet where you are coming from with the poor brakes as i got mine with shitty old tyres that spin out and lock up really easily. Next week on with some roadsmarts, they had good reviews

nice post, well done! Karma

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preivious : 2007 Skyjet 125 (died), 1991 gsf400 (problems, rotting in garden)
1996 gsf600n (sold)
current : 1996 VFR750 for sale, PM for info! 2000 E1 ZX-9r

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Pie-Roe · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Karma :

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WildGoose · White Van Man Joined: 21 Mar 2002 Karma :

Nice work.

Were all the used bits ebay jobs or elsewhere?
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :