slowhawk

that is what i was noticing from pics.
i did a bunch of research and found the rc arm fit best.

 

Hey Hawxter996... yeah I new the RC arm was an easier fit (exhaust wise) as the RC has basically the same exhaust setup and the shock is over to the right side just like the Hawk.

I am curious if the 954 is shorter/longer than the RC arm. From the discussion, it seems like the RC arm might be about 15mm-25mm (1/2"-1") longer. If they are the same length, it seems like the RC arm would be far easier to use, as the exhaust would be untouched. The only forseeable benefit of the 954 arms would/could be the length, and the cost... much cheaper and easier to find than the RC stuff.

I'm actually doing the VFR swap, and got the 954 arm because I was curious if they were pretty much interchangable (VFR/954).... which it seems like they are close with exception of the rearset mounting... (But please nobody assume that is true, I've just been eyeballing the dimensions!!!)

J.

 

i looked up measurements for rc arm.
the length is 530mm.
slightly shorter than 929 arm.

 

Well one thing I can tell you for 100% sure is that the 954 and 929 swing arms is dimensionally identical in every respect... Same lenght, same width same everything... The are however cosmetically different and the 954 has stock welded mounts for spools... Also the triangle thingy (can't remember the name... doh) at the bottom is different giving a different dampening characteristic between the two bikes...

So the length of the 954 is the same as my measurements, and the same "problem" should arise with the mounting bolt being to short...

 

I thought the same thing, but after looking at the wheelbase numbers for the KTM RC8 I'm not sure there is a fundamental problem with having a 1450-1475mm wheelbase. The way I'm planning to go I'll be able to go back because nothing will be permanently modified. Maybe a touch longer wheelbase would actually help with corner exit drive?

 

this is what ducati does with their race bikes.
they extend the swingarm to put more weight up front.
for better entrance and exit speeds.

 

Seeing as the VTR is notoriusly light up front (look at the actual numbers on the weight bias...), putting a bit more weight up front would probably be a good idea...

The idea for me aswell is to keep all expensive parts stock, smaller parts may be exchanged... The main goal being it can go back to stock in a matter of minutes...

As I got the 929 swingarm dirt cheap (less than $150 for an almost complete unit, it was missing the caliper bracket, with shipping included... I should be able to keep this experiment under $200... And if it fails I'll just sell the 929 stuff and make atleast part of my money back...

 

That seems a better choice than the 929 one!
Ciao

 

Probably, yes... But it's also a quite expensive one...

I'm gonna experiment... I'll probably get around to it early next year after the holidays... (Working retail sux... ) And then I'll let you all know how it affects handling...

 

not to bad ,ebay,this site and speedzilla.com helped very much to keep cost down.
not to mention selling off stock parts.

 

Well, yeah... But I think my swap will be below $200 with all parts and shipping... That's probably less than what an RC swingarm will cost bare...

 

what wheel are you using?

 

Probably the stock one... If I can make it fit... If not I'll swap in a CBR wheel... That should double my budget though...

 

dont think stock will fit.
im pretty sure cbr wheel is wider in axle area.
have you compared cbr and hawk arm at axle?
isnt cbr wider?

 

I never did measure it accurately.. but it seems to actually be the same... wonder of wonders... possibly a few mm's that needs to be shimmed...

Also, the images riccardo posted (i reposted a few posts back) has what appears to be the stock wheel... It has the groove on the spokes that the VTR has...

 

Um... found a bunch of problems solved some and got myself a whole new set of them...

Um... rear axle on the VTR is 20mm and on the 929 25mm other than that dimensions on the rim are the same... So I checked and found that the bearings was easily replaced as the outer dimensions are the same... Wonder of wonders... Or just Honda standardization?

So having solved the rear wheel problem I started thinking... And found that I could simplify things greatly by swapping the two bearings in the brake side arm of the swingarm aswell, making them 20mm ID ... No spacer needed at that end then...

Unfortunately my spree of good luck ended when I tried to find a suitable replacement for the chain side needle bearing... No luck... But this side has a pivot spacer going all the way through, so a thin pipe as a sleeve should solve that...

Ordered all the bearings... Swapped them out and was going to look at making the sleeve...

Then I found that the 600RR has a rear wheel using a 25mm axle with the same tire dimensions as stock... Which looks identical to the 1000RR front wheel I have on the bike... and is substanially lighter than the stock wheel... So I started looking on eBay...

And it seems... I could probably... possibly... have bought a complete SP2 swingarm for $100 plus shipping...

And oh... I did find a unused & complete (claimed atleast) 600RR rear wheel for $90 plus shipping...

Now I just need a second VTR to bolt up the second swingarm with fitting wheel to... Dammit...

 

Oh... and I might need a replacement girlfriend, as my current one is malfunctioning... Something about me being crazy and trigger happy on eBay...

The fact that she went shoe shopping yesterday with her sister was also obviuosly the wrong thing to mention... Despite the fact that the damage from that will probably be about twice the amount I used on bike parts...

And while I may have two swingarms... Well, lets just say that she might have two pair of shoes... Or a few more... Add a couple of 0's at the end...

 

BTW... Not my auction... but a SP2 arm for $100 with $25 shipping.... your not gonna find much better than this from what I've seen...

J.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda...#ht_500wt_1217