900RR brace. Finally back on her own 2 feet.
05-04-2014, 06:31 PM
#1
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Location: Gettysburg, Pa
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900RR brace. Finally back on her own 2 feet.
So I read this mod was one of the most involved and I now believe it. Lots of cutting, grinding, filing and fitting! Just got the bike off the stands today and went for a easy ride around the block.
I powdered the caliper carrier flat black so it would disappear. Very happy with the results. I also cut out a bunch of material if you can tell.
Some assembly shots. I know your admiring my custom "stands".
A new custom brake line is on my quick list. The OE one is not gonna cut it long term [for me]. And I'm not sure about a chain guard yet which is why I didn't cut off the brackets. I prefer something there to contain the lube. I do regular chain cleaning and lubing so the stuff does fly somewhat.
Overall really happy with the look and eventually I'll find out about the benefits. The tire clearance was a lot tighter than I hoped, but it is a new[er] chain.
Thanks for the inspiration James, Kenmoore and Erik!
I powdered the caliper carrier flat black so it would disappear. Very happy with the results. I also cut out a bunch of material if you can tell.
Some assembly shots. I know your admiring my custom "stands".
A new custom brake line is on my quick list. The OE one is not gonna cut it long term [for me]. And I'm not sure about a chain guard yet which is why I didn't cut off the brackets. I prefer something there to contain the lube. I do regular chain cleaning and lubing so the stuff does fly somewhat.
Overall really happy with the look and eventually I'll find out about the benefits. The tire clearance was a lot tighter than I hoped, but it is a new[er] chain.
Thanks for the inspiration James, Kenmoore and Erik!
05-04-2014, 07:58 PM
#4
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Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Posts: 834
looks good. very worthy mod. one of the best ive done. a word of advice in regards to hugger/ chain gaurds... i used the same type of box brace you did which is the earlier 92-95 style. i bought a hugger/ chaingaurd from fleabay for aroun $75 for the later style 96-98 brace cuz i figure they were close enough of a fit. not the case. they have ones for the earlier style brace we used on there for twice the price. i ended up selling it because it would have been a weird fit plus it touched my cans. i settled on a hugger from Airtech for around $85 that doesnt have a chain gaurd. ill eventually try to find some sort of chain gaurd to go along with the hugger.
looks good tho and i know youll enjoy how planted the rear feels now. i was amazed at how much stiffer the rear felt when going over speed bumps. didnt even realize there was up and down flex when your vertical.
looks good tho and i know youll enjoy how planted the rear feels now. i was amazed at how much stiffer the rear felt when going over speed bumps. didnt even realize there was up and down flex when your vertical.
05-05-2014, 06:17 AM
#6
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Good job! It is a very involved mod. Makes a front end swap look simple.
I didn't retain a chain guard on mine because i like the open racebike look.
In 1996 i discovered maxima chain wax, which doesn't fling, and i've been using it ever since.
James
I didn't retain a chain guard on mine because i like the open racebike look.
In 1996 i discovered maxima chain wax, which doesn't fling, and i've been using it ever since.
James
05-05-2014, 07:53 AM
#7
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Superstock
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Location: UK
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That is very factory looking, superb job and I even like the way the welds on the top plate by the brace does not continue right across and leaves a gap in the middle. Was there a reason for that?
(:-})
(:-})
05-05-2014, 09:04 AM
#8
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Location: Geneseo, IL
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Those are the factory welds on the 900rr brace, cybercarl.
Wolverine, do you have any pics showing your modified rear caliper carrier before or after mounting?
The end result looks great. Super clean Hawk,too.
Wolverine, do you have any pics showing your modified rear caliper carrier before or after mounting?
The end result looks great. Super clean Hawk,too.
05-05-2014, 01:48 PM
#9
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Location: New South Wales Australia
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Well done.
I got a great deal of satisfaction doing mine.
Early model 900RR chain guards fit.
Haven't got any for mine yet.
Wait until you ride it at speed, you won't believe the difference it makes.
No more wallowing over uneven surfaces and feels as planted as a 100 year old oak tree.
Well worth the effort!!!
Bike looks fantastic by the way.
I got a great deal of satisfaction doing mine.
Early model 900RR chain guards fit.
Haven't got any for mine yet.
Wait until you ride it at speed, you won't believe the difference it makes.
No more wallowing over uneven surfaces and feels as planted as a 100 year old oak tree.
Well worth the effort!!!
Bike looks fantastic by the way.
05-05-2014, 06:33 PM
#10
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Thanks for the comments. I was going for a factory look and I think I achieved it. Major props to the local welder I used, he did an awesome job! Miller Fab in Littlestown, PA. So all in @ $32.13 for the arm shipped + $50 welding and $20 for powder. $102.13 
Funny you mentioned the Maxima. I actually used an old bottle of that exact stuff I had laying around after my ride. 
Yes, that's factory and no I do not. I was a little impatient to get it back together @ that point so I didn't take any pics. This shows the general idea of where I removed material.
06-25-2014, 04:40 PM
#12
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To follow up on the handling benefits I experienced, 2 words, holy ****. Rear end feel is very much different from a stock Hawk. I've been very comfortable with my VTR's handling for a bunch of years. Last year totally flogging the dragon with no LEO's around brought us closer together than ever before. That being said, I have a ton less wiggle and flex from the aft. Well known local roads can now be ridden at an even more spirited pace (if I so choose). Bang for the buck, for me, this mod is way high up on the list. Huge improvement for the little cash I spent, YMMV. I would certainly not recommend the brace with no other mods to the stock suspension. As I climbed the ladder of improvements, this step was a large one.
To top off the seat of the pants feel, every time I look at the bike, I can't help but grin. The visual aspect is well,
. Next I'm thinking cbr1k front. If I could only find a deal like J.S. got!!
To top off the seat of the pants feel, every time I look at the bike, I can't help but grin. The visual aspect is well,
. Next I'm thinking cbr1k front. If I could only find a deal like J.S. got!!
06-26-2014, 08:37 PM
#15
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Wolverine, now you know that this is a most worthy mod, I too like you want a CBR front end.
Alas, here in OZ they sell for upwards of 1500 bucks so I am saving like mad at the moment.
Alas, here in OZ they sell for upwards of 1500 bucks so I am saving like mad at the moment.
06-27-2014, 05:01 AM
#16
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06-28-2014, 03:57 AM
#19
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Moriwaki? Carbon chin spoiler and cbr front end and this bike will be perfect (except for the massive swaths of virgin rubber on the edges of the rear tire). Partial to the yellow, similar to my 1999 CBR900RR
Last edited by jerryh; 06-28-2014 at 03:59 AM.
06-28-2014, 04:28 AM
#20
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