NC29 Suspension & Front Brakes Upgrades?

[CBR400RR_Repsol]

Hi everyone

Please forgive my newbie ways but...I've just taken my front wheel off and the calipers. I intend to remove the forks and get them refurbed. Can people please advise as to how and if it is a good idea to upgrade the forks? I'd prefer to do this without doing any mods - straight swaps? I've read about replacing the fork lowers with NC30 lowers? Any good/better than refurbing the NC29 ones alone? What parts would I need from the NC30 forks to do this?

Also read that this allows you to upgrade the calipers to NC30s which are better? Is this correct? Again would I just need the NC30 calipers and master? Would they go straight on and would I still use NC29 wheel etc? When I then upgrade the brake lines to Hels or the like would I need the NC30 ones instead?

Thanks in advance everyone
Kev

[Davez29]

Hi Kev and welcome.

First im sorry i cant be of use on the nc30 side of things but can tell you that a simple spring swap with new oil is really the best thing you can do for the mininum amount of work and cost. Take into account that theres two types of fork on the 29, the later R model had cartridge forks and rebound adjustment. These new springs and oil can be bought via Graeme France on this site. This upgrade alone transforms the front end from a sloopy wallowey mess to a nice steering and stopping bike.

As far as your brakes are concerned well i understand why people feel the urge to change them but all i can say is that my bike has great stopping power in a standard set up and this is confirmed by others who have rode the bike. Maybe save money by buying good honda pads and a fresh set of stainless hose. It might be good enough without all that nc30 bother. Just my opinion though.

[bikemonkey]

If you do want to go down the route of upgrading your suspension and brakes then fit the NC30 fork lowers, then why not go all out and get some adapter plates from Rick O and fit yourself some SP1/2 calipers and M/C.

Standard set-up you already have would also benefit from a good re-furb with genuine parts, but a lot of the NC30 owners on here love the upgraded calipers.

You may need custom lines for this, I don't know, but your front wheel and discs will still fit.

As for suspension, speak to Graeme France, he's the guy in the know for the little CBR's

[CBR400RR_Repsol]

Thanks to both of you for the replies and advice...

If the price isn't too much I guess I'd like to do the upgrade - just knowing how to do it and the specific bits I'd need I suppose. The Rick Oliver adapters are about £30 looking at the price guide I've found. Then its the lowers, calipers and master cylinder plus hoses (feels expensive already!).

I was going to replace the discs front and back with something like EBC pro-lites.

I don't suppose anyone knows about improving the back brakes as well as the front? Any thing just go straight on? whilst keeping the discs and wheels the same?

Should I re post the back brake as a separate topic?

Thanks again
Kev

[bikemonkey]

Keep it in the same topic

I don't think anyone has worked a way to upgrade the back brake, probably because there is no point. I only use my back brake to control the bike in slow moving traffic, and to stick my brake light on when I'm using the engine braking.

[CBR400RR_Repsol]

That saves me a bit of cash then...just need some braided lines, new disc and some pads

May be some day I will have some cash handy and get the rear shock upgraded to something like a Hagon/Nitron and I'll be laughing for the back end...

Thanks for the help
Kev

[tanuki]

Save your money, give your callipers a full service and rebuild they are more than capable of lifting the back wheel.

Do t be fooled into thinking that NC30 brakes are an upgrade just because they have more pistons and why anyone would want to add unsprung weight with calliper adapters is beyond me.

Service your callipers and master cylinder and a good set of pads is all you need.

[CBR400RR_Repsol]

Thanks tanuki

Any thoughts on whether the NC30 fork lowers is a good upgrade to suspension?

[Drunkn Munky]

Thanks tanuki

Any thoughts on whether the NC30 fork lowers is a good upgrade to suspension?

Well fitting NC30 lowers means you gota fit NC30 calipers so as tanuki said, why add weight? properly serviced the stock brakes are good but if you really must upgrade then yes its a good option, worth the cost? not really.

[CBR400RR_Repsol]

Cheers for the reply

Good bit of advice basing decision on cost worthiness...I'm not racing the thing (nor do I have unlimited funds - family man!) so every mod/upgrade has to make itself worth the investment.

Thanks again
Kev