Here is the new upper shock mount after I painted it and freshly painted red F4i spring (was previously yellow). I have since stripped the paint from the spring and painted it black, because I painted it before I tried to fit it, and screwed up the paint with the grinder. I thought it should be black like the standard RVF spring anyway. Pics of the assembled rear shock tomorrow.

Hi,
This is looking good!!!
I'm not quite sure about replacing the spring... Is the R6 really too soft? I mean the shock is fully adjustable in terms of damping settings will this not compensate? I'm kinda new to this stuff so forgive me if I'm being ignorant. Also I have a spring from 1995 CBR600F (F3) - will this work ok?
Another question about the top mount...
Can I use the R6 one If: removed the bolt, drilled a hole for a new longer bolt and adjusted the height with shims?
Thanks

maciekmaciek19 wrote:Hi,
This is looking good!!!
I'm not quite sure about replacing the spring... Is the R6 really too soft? I mean the shock is fully adjustable in terms of damping settings will this not compensate? I'm kinda new to this stuff so forgive me if I'm being ignorant. Also I have a spring from 1995 CBR600F (F3) - will this work ok?
Another question about the top mount...
Can I use the R6 one If: removed the bolt, drilled a hole for a new longer bolt and adjusted the height with shims?
Thanks

Yes, the R6 shock is too soft, 550 lbs., and even with max preload, the shock is topped out, any fiddling with the settings will not further compensate. F3 spring is rated at 750 lbs, might work if you weigh 150 lbs, or less and run higher preload settings. The only way to know for sure would be to assemble the shock, mount it all up, and take free and rider sag measurements. Yes, you could probably use the R6 top mount as you described, just make sure you use as large of a shim as possible to give the upper mount some stability. Everything here is a work in progress, so get to work!

Hey!
Thanks for explaining this one. Will probably search for an F4i spring... Oh, by the way can I not just use the stock RVF spring?

maciekmaciek19 wrote:Hey!
Thanks for explaining this one. Will probably search for an F4i spring... Oh, by the way can I not just use the stock RVF spring?

No, it's too long. The stock RVF spring measures 6 3/4" on the shock, I am sure it has a 7" free length off the shock. You need a 6" spring. If you can, look for the other spring options above too, not just the F4 spring, try to find a spring that isn't tapered on the one end.

hmm... so if the stock spring is stiff enough just too long can I not simply grind off 1" of it?
Trying to cut costs as already spent heaps of money on this bike...

maciekmaciek19 wrote:hmm... so if the stock spring is stiff enough just too long can I not simply grind off 1" of it?
Trying to cut costs as already spent heaps of money on this bike...

no, sorry, can't do that. If you look at a typical spring, the coils are spaced differently along the length of the spring, some are linear, some are progressive. In other words, different parts of the spring compress and rebound differently. Also the ends of the springs are tighter and flattened out to fit flush on the spring collars along the entire circumference.

ps: We all spend heaps of money on all our bikes, that is part of the addiction. Addictions are never cheap!

Hahaha! Fair enough... More money to spend then. I hope the bike will run great after all this...
I'm still not sure what spring will be ideal for this R6 shock if not F4i.
Oh just realized... you said you need to add 17.5mm to the top mount, were you talking about the R6 mount or RVF mount?

Sorry to drag up an old thread but does anyone know how this ended up going? need to badly sort the rear on mine but cant afford a nitron/hagon/wilbers to suit.

any info would be greatly appreciated.

shaneo wrote: need to badly sort the rear on mine but cant afford a nitron/hagon/wilbers to suit.

Do you know what's wrong with your standard shock?

Nearly all shocks that can be made to fit from other models (gsx-r, 600rr, s1000rr, rs250 etc) will need a heavier spring fitted and revalving to work properly on your bike.

Easiest (and probably cheapest) option is to fit a late-model nc30 remote res shock if you can find one (even better get it refreshed).

Depending how shagged yours is, this non-remote res nc30 shock is probably worth a punt at $45 delivered: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NC30-VFR400- ... a54&_uhb=1