NC30 USD front end conversions

[venom51]

This is great thread on forks for the VFR400. I have a question. Mines is a NC24 ? and can I use whatever forks from the VFR400 model.

I would like to keep as close as possible to original in case I do decide to race it down the track.

Getting back to fork conversions...

I did convert my CBR250RR with NSR250 triple clamps, forks and brakes. They are heavy than standard, but with pre load adjustment, bigger diameter and 4 spot calipers it has made a world of difference to the bike.

I also had another cbr that someone had put USD RGV 250 forks on and that was a waste of time in my books. It's much heavier than the standard with no much to gain in handling or brakes for that matter.

I chose to go the USD route for a several reasons.

1.) Avaliability of parts for the newer front end. Everything from the top of the forks to the bottom. Wheels, brakes, calipers, bearing, springs and fork seals. All readily available at the track for the 05 CBR600RR front end I put on the bike.

2.) I like the recustion on un-sprung weight of the USD forks. If you are going to have to stop and start a portion of the fork why make it the heaviest part of the fork that is a conventional fork bottom? Simple physics. Do they offer an overall weight advantage. Possibly but I did not weight the stock front end after I removed it. If they do offer any it won't be much.

3.) I wanted the radial brakes.

4.) and least important...I like the looks of a USD fork over the conventional forks.

The important things to remember about the swaps is you want to make sure that you stay close to the same geometry and have room for adjustment if needed to attain the stock geometry or at the very least the geometry that performs best for your intended purposes.

I chose the 600RR front end as it was the closest in dimensions to the stock front end.

[viper_biker]

My full RVF front end conversion for a VFR will be for sale soon for anyone that's interested.

[mrdidlydingo]

Interesting discussion going on here, I have std forks in my NC and my ZXR they both work reasonably well on the bikes and the upgrades on the ZXR are kept to a professional rebuild /set-up & and CBR6 calipers mounted onto them. The Kawasaki ZXR forks are harsher and more 'crashy' than the Showa (honda) forks, more track orientated, I wouldn't like to see them on my VFR without being completely re dialled !

I too am looking at upgrading the VFR forks, however after several discussions much reading and some helpful words from the people on here they will be done via one of the spring kits available from R.O. on here, imho there is no benefit in fitting anything else as the brakes wheels and everything else works fine just the forks want tuning.

However my NC29 has USD forks from the NC35 fitted, why ? simply I couldn't get the brakes to work as I wished (I know Mr France will disagree) and so the NC35 Kit was a good more modern upgrade still from the Honda parts list and retained the stock wheel etc. Its been a great thing to do it altered the geometry of the bike slightly and we had to have all the suspension reset, once that was done no problems to report, it also brings the 400 more up to date (again my preference on its appearance)

Swapping major suspension parts is not a breeze its not going to happen in a day and only if your lucky on the auction sites is it going to happen for under £250 quid, even if you do get some cheap forks you should still rebuild them whats the point of putting them in to take them out again 4 weeks later ?

Be sensible about what you choose, its not always easy to get all the information on spring and damping rates so although the fork may be the right length / diameter / colour or whatever, you may still end up with something that is not suited to the nature of your bike or matched very well to what the rear suspension is doing.

Also from experience its not just the forks you will need, everything that hangs onto them or around them will need to be either replaced or modified in some way, right down to adjustment of the lock stops on the frame in some cases, you have been warned !


Sorry to bore you all hope some of this helps !


Oh and viper I wish you'd have sold those when I was looking for a set they are stupidly clean and would have saved me £££££'s in rebuilding/refinishing mine !