NC30 rear setup (lowering a jacked up bike)
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Please can you post items for sale or wanted in the correct For Sale section. Items / bikes for sale here will be removed without warning. Reasons for this are in the FAQ. Thanks
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KobaTheGrey
- Settled in member
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2015 2:01 pm
- Bike owned: VFR 400 R NC30
NC30 rear setup (lowering a jacked up bike)
Hi All,
I'm new to the forum and hope that someone here can help me with a VFR problem. I recently became proud owner of a 1990 VFR400R NC30 and I'm doing some minor repairs and adjustments on the bike. The previous owner likely jacked up the rear of the bike quite a bit. Comparing my bike to photos of other VFR400Rs on the internet, the rear seems excessively high and the current seat height is not the most comfortable for me. Also, the rear suspension feels too firm when riding and barely compresses when I sit on the bike.
The length of the dogbone measures exactly 10cm bolt to bolt (centre to centre) on the bike. Looking up related topics on the forum, the original dogbone measures 11.3cm.
Since I'm short, I'd feel more comfortable with stock height (well, closer to it) and would like to lower the bike.
The bike has an 18" rear wheel with a 160/60 R18 tyre fitted instead of the standard 150/60. The front wheel has a 120/70 R17 tyre instead of 120/60 (both Bridgestone Battlax t30). The tyres are in excellent condition, so I'd like to avoid buying new ones in 150/60 and 120/90 sizes.
My question is: can I just change the dogbone back to an original with 11.3cm length to lower the bike or are there other things to consider? Would the current tyre setup cause any problem with the original dogbone? Will the rear or the front shock need adjustment?
The rear shock linkage (triangle) seems to be an original nc30 part as far as I can tell by comparing it to photos online but I did not find specs so I'm not sure how to confirm it.
Does the rear brake torque arm play any role here? The one on my bike measures 13cm centre to centre, not sure if this is standard on the nc30 (the diameter of the rear brake disc that is installed is 22cm).
I post some photos below. I'm new to the VFR and not an expert with suspensions so I might end up bringing the bike to a specialist :) but wanted to get more info on this topic and see if it's worth trying to lower the bike myself. Any useful advice is welcome.
Thank you!
I'm new to the forum and hope that someone here can help me with a VFR problem. I recently became proud owner of a 1990 VFR400R NC30 and I'm doing some minor repairs and adjustments on the bike. The previous owner likely jacked up the rear of the bike quite a bit. Comparing my bike to photos of other VFR400Rs on the internet, the rear seems excessively high and the current seat height is not the most comfortable for me. Also, the rear suspension feels too firm when riding and barely compresses when I sit on the bike.
The length of the dogbone measures exactly 10cm bolt to bolt (centre to centre) on the bike. Looking up related topics on the forum, the original dogbone measures 11.3cm.
Since I'm short, I'd feel more comfortable with stock height (well, closer to it) and would like to lower the bike.
The bike has an 18" rear wheel with a 160/60 R18 tyre fitted instead of the standard 150/60. The front wheel has a 120/70 R17 tyre instead of 120/60 (both Bridgestone Battlax t30). The tyres are in excellent condition, so I'd like to avoid buying new ones in 150/60 and 120/90 sizes.
My question is: can I just change the dogbone back to an original with 11.3cm length to lower the bike or are there other things to consider? Would the current tyre setup cause any problem with the original dogbone? Will the rear or the front shock need adjustment?
The rear shock linkage (triangle) seems to be an original nc30 part as far as I can tell by comparing it to photos online but I did not find specs so I'm not sure how to confirm it.
Does the rear brake torque arm play any role here? The one on my bike measures 13cm centre to centre, not sure if this is standard on the nc30 (the diameter of the rear brake disc that is installed is 22cm).
I post some photos below. I'm new to the VFR and not an expert with suspensions so I might end up bringing the bike to a specialist :) but wanted to get more info on this topic and see if it's worth trying to lower the bike myself. Any useful advice is welcome.
Thank you!
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srad34
- Settled in member
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:52 pm
- Bike owned: '99 R1-4XV, '93 TTR, '89 NC30
- Location: Norf Lincolnshire
Re: NC30 rear setup (lowering a jacked up bike)
Just a thought, is it running a astandard seat unit and subframe?
Tyga ones seem to be way too high imho.....
Tyga ones seem to be way too high imho.....
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KobaTheGrey
- Settled in member
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2015 2:01 pm
- Bike owned: VFR 400 R NC30
Re: NC30 rear setup (lowering a jacked up bike)
Thanks for the response! The bike has a standard seat and subframe.
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Dynamohum
- Site Supporter
- Posts: 780
- Joined: Sun May 04, 2008 9:07 am
- Location: glasgow
Re: NC30 rear setup (lowering a jacked up bike)
Rvf dogbone maybe
Are the fork tops flush with top yoke
Also from picture spring preload is maxed you could try winding it back first ?
Are the fork tops flush with top yoke
Also from picture spring preload is maxed you could try winding it back first ?