G'day from Australia,

I bought an RVF400 a few months ago and absolutely love it.

In the not too distant future I would like to give it an overhaul and install a Tyga system and get the shock sorted, as it's currently like a pogostick.

The bike currently has an NC30 shock on it with a schrader valve installed so it's obviously been re-gassed at some point (must have been a loooong time ago).

As I see it I have 2 options:
- Have the current shock rebuilt
- install a cbr600rr shock

I don't want to spend a fortune on an aftermarket shock as it is just my weekend road bike.

I have been doing plenty of research and what i'd really like to know is, what do I need to change on the cbr shock prior to installation? By this I mean valveing, springs, oil etc.

If I go down the route of installing the cbr shock I could stockpile all of the stuff over time and get it rebuilt and setup professionally before installation of the shock and exhaust.

Could anybody that knows please advise the following:
- What oil to use?
- What spring rate/length to use for optimum performance and without raising the rear too much?
- Which valves to use?

Any info that you could provide to me would be greatly appreciated.

you could also buy one of the many aftermarket shocks made specifcally for the rvf400..

modding and revalving something can turn into the same price as aftermaket shock.

the nc30 shock is better than the stock rvf shock and since its already been valved and re-gassed at some point would probably be chepeast and easiset to get that rebuilt.

not a bad shock especially on a road bike.

If the shock has lost gas pressure it will have no damping effect - the oil will froth. Just pumping it back up might resolve the immediate issue.
Cheapest option first!

Where abouts in Australia are you? If you're in or around Melbourne you shold definitely give Trevor Manly a call, this guy knows everything there is to know about making our 400's handle like a dream, and he's very reasonably priced. He's worked wonders with getting the VFR and RVF stock suspension working very well.

Hey Ronin - I am located In Melbourne. Where does Trevor work from?

Could you possibly provide contact details?

These days Trevor works from home in Seville out past Lilydale up the Warburton Hwy. It's not exactly close but he does a great job. His phone number is 0458 048 168. He probably won't answer, don't be offended he usually won't pick up when he's busy. Just leave a message and he'll call you back.

I race with Hartwell MCC and Trevor is always at each round helping out. We're racing at Broadford on the 8-9th August if you wanted to talk to him. He's helped out nearly all us guys racing 400's.

Brilliant, thanks for that :D

What is the Hartwell 400cc class like? Full of seasoned racers or will racing newbies be able to be competitive?
I have been looking at gettiing into racing at Hartwell in the next year or 2 and have been doing plenty of research but I havn't been down to a race day to suss it all out yet.

I havn't done any track riding but will be doing plenty of track days and tuition moving forward.
I'm pretty keen on getting a vfr400 for racing but a lot of 600cc bikes are available for around the same money

The 400 class at Hartwell is great, full of great guys who are more than willing to help any new guys who are willing to learn. Unlike other classes, the guys in the 400 class will help you if your bike breaks down or you crash and need assitance with fixing stuff. I've had parts leant to me without havig to ask just so I can get out for the next race.

Yeah, there's plenty of 600cc bikes going for the same price as a lot fot he 400's, but I enjoy the 400 class of racing more as it's a lot closer and we're more interested in keeeping costs down so everyone is on roughly similar machinery.

Once you've done a few trackdays and start to feel confident you should come and try out racing at one of the rounds. You can purchase a 1 event racing licence to see if you enjoy it .

Thanks for that - sounds like a good class to start in!

When coming out to try racing i take it that I will need to set my bike up properly as per MA regulations? Or are there seperate rules for try-outs that allow you to ride a road going bike?

Unfortunately it doesn't matter whether you'll be riding your bike only once or for the next 10yrs, it stil needs to be prepared to the same standards. All the mods that need to be done are purely there for everyone's safety and don't really take a huge amount of time.

You'll need to lock-wire front calipers, radiator cap, oil sump bolt, radiator drain bolt and oil fill cap. You'll need catch tanks for the oil breather (located directly on top of the rear cyclinders, the rectangular box with a short tube attached) and the radiator overflow. Also, this year they brought in a requirement to have protection for the engine cases (alternator and clutch covers) in case you case and oil is spilt through a cracked case. A rear sprocket 'shark fin' (can't think of the proper name) is needed at the front of the sprocket to stop your fingers getting caught between the chain and sprocket. I think that's it.