Mods - Happy
 

I have the recommended r/r installed, carb synced, valves checked, braided brake and clutch cable and manual cam tensioner installed..... what's next?

I am thinking suspension but what exactly?

Well suspension would be the next best thing to get sorted for sure.

Daugherty Motorsports - Motorcycle Suspension Performance and Modification

Thats a link to Jamie Daugherty's website. He is a forum m i ember and is very good with Hawk suspension.

For me I went with the F4 shock conversion, and had him spring and valve forks for my weight.

Single handely the best mod I have on the bike thus far.

Another option would be to do a front end swap to a 929/954, 1000rr, or RC51 front end per the fork swap guide, but then you're looking at around $700-$800 just for the front end.

So needless to say, it really depends on how deep your pockets are.

Depends on. The riding you do. If you just commute/cruise around then maybe just get a repring and revalve for your weight. If your going for a performance oriented bike, than USD forks and aftermarket shock are the best thing you can do. And with the USD forks you'll most likely get better brakes which is a nice bonus

Did you do hawk's carb adjustment settings and pair removal?

Shift linkage mod was great for me, along with the shifter bushing. Way better feel at my foot now.

James

Do all the free mods and simple things like James said. Pair is an easy one. Same with moving the shift spline. Little things that add up to a better ride. Beyond those sort of things, it's personal preference and it gets expensive

One of the first things I did was steering head bearings. Tapered rollers are the way to go. Then the fork spring swap was the single biggest improvement to date.

How did tapered rollers positively affect your bike? (Just curious)

Adjusting the shifter splie is one piece of the puzzle. I replaced the heims, and i had a shifter bushing machined to replace the stock bushing. You can search for those threads if ya want.

James

im talking about the "free" mods. to move the spline you just loosen the bolt, move a spline or 2, and re tighten. now yes you can spend more money to get better shifting, but you can improve it for free in 2 minutes. another would be shimming the shock. couple bucks for a spacer.

and i have tapered all balls on my bike. its a fact that they work much better than the OEM style bearings, less wear, less friction, easier movement, etc... it doesnt so much "improve" but just allows the bike to work as it should much better than the stock bearings do. Honda has budgets and bottom lines and cant put the best parts on every inch of any bike. the stockers are much cheaper. do the oem bearings work? yes. do tapered bearings work better and last longer? yes. up to you if you wanna change them out though. i only did it cuz i was doing the front end swap so why not do it while i was in there

I really enjoyed the upgrade to 954 calipers with Honda pads and an '09 CBR600 radial master cylinder. I have Sonic springs (matched to my weight) and the Daugherty F4i shock with matched spring. Very nice. The calipers/mc with your braided lines will give you 1 finger brakes. A fork brace is a good mod too. Also a double bubble screen if you don't have one already.

The shock shim is a great $10 addition.

The heims for the shift linkage and the 1998 shift linkage rod is about $35 total.

Hawk's carb mods (shims and filling in a slide hole) is less than $1.


I didn't realize the tapered bearings had any real affect. I'll have to research that some more.

James

Tapered bearings are just so you never have to worry about head bearings again. They are way stronger and more durable.

As for the shock shim, you will swear you lost 45lbs on the bike and jumped on a CBR. But all it takes is a $1,25 washer and some clever engineering.

For sure the suspension is where you will notice it most. There is also things like Eastern beaver high capacity headlight wires that boost light by 45%.

Or do the F4i brakes. Real cheap but great feel improvement and you can sell the stockers to defray cost.

Thats a nice pair of vice grips you got there Joe :rolleyes:

I know right? You shoulda ridden the bike before and after the spacer.

Cutting the washer with a jigsaw was a bit dicey but worked fine.

Ok after a ride today here what I come up with. In having two bikes, I use the GXSF 750 to commute to work and the VTR for spirited ridding with friends. Here's my list...

1. shift mod ( can some post pics of what needs to unscrewed and the like)
2. touring wind screen - i cannt get low enough to get behind the oem screen lol
3. F4 conversion and springs for my weight.

Thats it for now... any other suggestions

Check the TPS setting!

Remove ridge from Air Filter Housing!

Both free and easy to do.