Ok, so one of the things I've planned to do this off season to install the CBR954 swingarm that's been collecting dust in the shop. I measured up and planned for the parts that I thought would be most difficult. Just for the heck of it I measured the pivot to axle distance and much to my dismay I found a huge difference - roughly 50mm. That means this swap will increase the wheelbase of the motorcycle by that much. This is not something that I really want to do because I fear the adverse effects it will have on the handling. I'm also installing a WP shock so I'm also concerned that the improvement (assuming) it will provide will mask the losses due to the swingarm.

Has anyone done this? I'd like to hear what changes in handling you've experienced. Of much lesser importance, I'm also concerned about the looks. Any pictures?

 

I think I've seen a cbrXXX swinger here before but I think hacking its brace and then welding it to the vtr arm would be easier. dunno'

How about running shorter triples to offset (pun intended) some of the 50mm? Just a thought. Good luck.

 

I used an RC51 SP2 swingarm that I modified to fit the vtr. I cut the origional pivot mounts off and welded new mounts on the the swingarm is the same length as a stock vtr swingarm. If you are interested in doing something like this I could do the same modifacation to a CBR954RR swingarm for you. However it is not cheap as a fixture also needs to be made to ensure the swingarm is straight when its welded up. Send me a PM if you are interested. I'll post pics of my bike and a modified RC51 swingarm later today.

 

Jamie,

just go for it.
you can always modify it later ,if you feel you need to.
i would try it as is before i modify it.
still need to do some things to my bike.
some welding, powdercoat and bodywork selection.
to name a few.

 

I don't know what it looks like back at the axel holders on that swingarm, but is there a way to slot that and then reweld the holders further in, to shorten most of the 50mm?

 

you would have to be very careful here.
have to account for tire growth at higher speeds.

 

right, there probably isn't any clearance as the wheel moves forward. they are usually quite close.


Jamie, what is your goal with this? Stiffer? be able to use an RC51 rear wheel? I have wondered about simply modifying the axle carrier on the rear of the SH swingarm to accept an RC wheel and add bracing as has been done. Might be a simpler mod, but depends on your goals. Adding 2 inches to the wheelbase just seems like it would introduce so many downstream changes - handling , chain length, the squat forces would be different etc.

bill

 

Bill,

rc51 wheel is wider in axle area.
cbr 900 wheel is direct fit on superhawk swingarm.

 

I plan to use the stock VTR wheel with the CBR swingarm. The goal here is to improve the handling, that's my concern about the wheelbase. As some of you know I'm all about performance and could really give a rip about looks (the bike gets washed once a year whether it needs it or not). I may just get it in place and see what happens. This really isn't the way I like to do things but without any facts to go on (other than general suspension tuning rules) I don't feel like I can make a judgement call.

Whatever I do will be reversible, so I could always go back if I had to. I just want to do it right the first time so that I don't have to go back and start over.

 

Here's a couple of pics of the shortened RC51 SP2 swingarm.

 

couple more pics

 

is the cbr954 arm wider than superhawk's?
was wondering about that.
please post pics as you move along.

 

It's not wider at the pivot area (not significantly anyway). I'm not going to modify the swingarm, so unless I can get some first hand info I might shelve it in favor of other projects. As you can tell, I'm really undecided about.

 

i was wondering about axle area.
i think that is wider than the hawk's

 

It is, but that's not a big deal at all. The axle is larger diameter and the chain adjustment mechanism is different, those are bigger hurdles. I can deal with that stuff, in fact that's the fun part (besides riding it). I'm into cutting and welding up the swingarm like Mr. Billet (sweet though!) so the length issue might take some more thinking about.

 

The wheel of an CBR1000RR should be a good fit as it's wider and has been tested as fitting on a SP2 rear swing... And it's a good enough look-a-like for the VTR front wheel...

 

That's nice to know, however I'm just going to stick with the original because it's an exact match with the front (ha ha). I only want to swap swingarms, everything else should look the same. I want to make it look like it came that way from the factory. Plus, I really don't see what going to a 1000RR wheel would gain me.

 

Well since the swingarm is wider, that should fit (without any additional spacers) and it's also considerably lighter... And it should also match the axle dimensions...

But as you said... the original wheel is a perfect match for the front...