Definitive List of Road NC30 Upgrades?

[Doomah]

I'm after some inspiration and knowledge, so if you guys would be so kind as to suggest whatever you think is a good upgrade for a road NC30, I would be very grateful! I'd like to make this a definitive list, as it's always good to have all the useful information in one place!

I'm thinking things like fork upgrades - is it REALLY necessary, is it cost beneficial, and if so is it best to look at a front-end conversion or decent internals? I hear G. France does fork internals...

How about engine upgrades? I'll be pulling both of my engines apart within the next few weeks to replace a head. At the same time I'll be doing the valves, shims and clutch. Is it worth getting an uprated clutch? I do love my launches...

Oh and is there anything I can do with the rear brake as I'm constantly appaled by it everytime I put my right toe down. Pads, braided hoses and new fluid has done nothing... Is there perhaps a better caliper which will fit straight on?

Will also have to re-jet soon.. Are there any less restrictive exhaust systems available for the NC30?

[Cammo]

I would spend all my money on suspension and sticky tyres. New fork internals and a new rear shock ($$) will get it handling well. The stock rear suspension really limits the handling.

Get some braided lines for the front, and decent pads, and it'll stop very well if your brakes are in good condition.

Braided line is a waste of time for the rear brake, you'll get more feel out of a rubber line. At the end of the day it's not really used to slow you down, so feel is more useful than outright power.

Stick a good half exhaust system on, and a loud can. Jet the carbs to suit. Leave the standard air filter and airbox alone. An extra clutch spring will help at the expense of a heavier clutch action, could be a literal pain for the road. Gear it down one tooth (to 14) at the front for better acceleration (this will throw your speedo out).

RVF carbs are better for the road IMO, so whack some on.


Enjoy!

[Cammo]

I'd like to make this a definitive list

I don't think you'll ever find a definitive list, as people's opinions and the size of their wallets vary.

Get it handling, stopping, going and looking slightly better than standard and I think you'll be there for a roadie.

[hannakournikova]

I agree with Cameron.
Good tyres
good suspension - fork kit (Rick Oliver) and shock (£350+ unless use an RS250 shock)
good brakes - braided lines and decent pads
well serviced bike and motor
3/4 race system and can - jet accordingly

[royster81]

good suspension - fork kit (Rick Oliver) and shock (£350+ unless use an RS250 shock)
Good tyres
good brakes - braided lines and decent pads
well serviced bike and motor
3/4 race system and can - jet accordingly

thats pretty much all you need to do to the bike and it'll love you for it,i'd put sorting the suspension up there as nearly one of the first things to fix be it new or rs250 modded to fit,anything is better than the 14+yr old jap stuff

you don't really need brembo/nissin calipers from the 1ltr bikes but if you want the look and the car park kudos go for it but sort this stuff out first

[hannakournikova]

there is also some cosmetic changes you can do.
Royster has painted his pillion seat one of his bikes, looks very well. Or try and get a solo seat cover?
For JDM look keep the big indicators, maybe colour code the housing to your paint scheme? clear lenses?
Crash bungs would be a nice addition, no drill type ones though!
New clip ons?

[royster81]

i would spend my money on suspension and tyres before cosmetics
rick oliver does the fork kits,even if you just go springs only and no revalving and sort out a rear shock,rick also does a linkage mod where it lifts the back up 27mm (thereabouts) which give the bike a better stance,you legs are straighter when your stopped and because the rear is lifted and the rising rates are changed on the shock it's a bit firmer (not much mind you) but the bike trips in quicker

tyres ,most people use dunlop A10's or gpr70sp's,or bridgestone 090's ,these are great tyres so why look for anything different

rear shocks,people fit rs250 aprilia shock,cheap to get,cheap to mod and once rebuilt to take the weight they are meant to be a cracking job,hard to find i think

you could buy an after market shock,ie a nitron sport shock from rick,comes in around £400 but others are out there and maybe cheaper,i'd like to put either a nitron or an rs250 in my road bike but the track bike needs finished first

[Doomah]

Already got the front braided hoses. The lever doesn't pull in smoothly though, which suggests to me that there's air in the hoses and they need bleeding - so I'll do this again soon. I've also rebuilt the calipers twice but never put new seals in, just used the best of two sets that I had.

I also understand that the rear brake isn't really used for stopping, but I would like to be able to use it for correcting my speed when going 'round corners. If it were even the slightest bit worse than what it is then it would probably speed me up instead of slowing me down. I think you're right Stickshift - a braided line on the rear brake is a bad idea. I'll look into swapping it back to standard and see what sort of mods people have done here, and whether there's any performance gain.

I don't think I'll be going so far as to put a multi-hundred pound rear-shock on the bike, though of course I have considered it. The idea of an RS250 shock appeals greatly though :D. I'll have a look for one. I assume they don't fit straight on, so I would need some kind of custom linkage? Does Rick do these as well?

The idea of lifting the back up a bit also appeals to me, but 27mm might be a bit much. Would that not adversely affect handling at straight-line high speeds?

I like how nobody has suggested any kind of engine improvements. This suggests to me that ol' faithful simply doesn't need it .

Stickshift - I like the idea of a 14-tooth front sprocket. I also like my speedo though! What's the best way around the problem of it throwing my speedo out, if I were to swap the sprocket?

Oh and I've already tried bt-090s and was very impressed. Shredded them quite quickly though, so thought I'd try the harder ones (I think they're 010s? Still have an 090 on the front tho'). I think I'll definitely be going back to softer tyres, as the grip was just superb :).

Thanks for the suggestions folks, all much appreciated! I'm now going to scour FleaBay for bits

[fumb]

I like how nobody has suggested any kind of engine improvements. This suggests to me that ol' faithful simply doesn't need it

Check and correct your valve clearances, clean your carbs and float bowls. Balance your carbs after doing this. Borrow the gear and this should only cost you the price of some shims. Made one hell of a difference to my bike and for very little cost.

My bike runs as sweet as a nut with out any further engine mods.

[hannakournikova]

Doomah, i will have a nice clean Hagon shock for sale soon, will keep you posted.