Think I’ve just bought another project…..

[Exuptoy]

Just bought a 94-97 VFR750 swingarm (has to be the 94-97 for the 94 blade and bonus is the Blade shock fits straight in) and I bought a 97 on VFR800FI 5.5” five spoke rear wheel but I really want the earlier 90-93 8 spoke wheel but there’s not many spares about for them. Weirdly the 94-97 wheel is 5” which is smaller than the standard FireBlade wheel so that just won’t do.

Anyone got anything kicking about?

This is what I really want but the fiver will do me until I can get one. I’ll need to buy Ti countersunk BMW brake bolts to swap out the VFR ones as the earlier wheel is notched for the nuts on the hub but you can fit countersunk bolts and fit the nuts at the rear.

 

[Exuptoy]

So today I pretty much finished my subframe. Tweaked the lower to get the required angle then cut it so I could measure the shortfall.

Found the lower tubes a thinner wall than the upper ones, so cut the tube at 220mm put my 1/2” bar inside my 19mm thick wall, then welded the ends before turning down the centre section to 130mm as per my gap. The remaining 90mm it 16.5mm OD so it’s acting as a spigot inside the lower rails.

Then I cut off the Ducati tank support and unbolted the mount which was reshaped to fit the angle on the Blade tank.
Just need to accommodate the solenoid, reg/rec and CDI and I can get it off to powder.

 

[Exuptoy]

I have a set of 929/954 Fireblade 50mm usd forks and yokes winging their way to me along with a Shorai LiFePo battery from my mate so I can fab my battery tray and locate all the underseat stuff. Pretty much worked out what’s going where.
Forks and yokes are a straight swap, even carrying the same bearings, but I’m gonna try and modify the front wheel set up to keep my 16” front as I like how a Blade handles. Not sure if it’s worth it though as the 01-03 Blade has the biggest brakes of the lot at 330mm where the 94 has 296mm and the same wheel will carry the 99 310mm discs, but there’s no rush to do that bit. Lots to do before that becomes an issue.

 

[roofman]

A 16" scooter wheel just will not do, move along and come in to 2024

 

[Exuptoy]

We’ll see!

 

[Exuptoy]

The only issue a 929/954 front wheel with discs will cost me £400 plus. An SP1 will be nearer £600 . Apparently a 1000RR front wheel fits too with minor work.
However, I’ve done well this far on prices, so I’ll just keep my eyes peeled.

 

[Exuptoy]

Got my subby modified to carry a plate to mount the fuel cut relay, solenoid and maybe the Reg/rec. Got the CDI mounted beneath and just the battery tray to sort now once the lithium battery arrives.

 

[Exuptoy]

Managed to source a CBR1000RR rim with discs for a bargain. Gotta collect from Reading on my way through next week.

 

[Exuptoy]

Got my Lithium Shorai battery and decided against sticking it under the seat as it detracts from the nice open design of the subframe. It’s probably gonna live above the gearbox. Loads of room once I reconfigure the fuel pump and filter layout.

When I was up the garage I came across the 200mile MT10 shock after I replaced it with a new K-Tech DDS Lite. Thought I’d offer it up and whilst it was a touch too long, it fitted fine. That spurred me in to starting the next phase……the swingarm.

I found if I used the VFR pivot spacer instead of the Blade one, I didn’t need to make a spacer, but the engineer in me couldn’t put up with a mahoosive gap alongside the arm. Even though it’s up tight against the bearing it looks ****e!

I decided to use the Fireblade spacer the make a stainless spacer alongside to smooth the transition from arm to frame.

I can use a the pivot spacer to push against my stainless one and there won’t be a gap, also the castellated locknut can be use to fine tune the position of the arm and lock it up.

I tightened up the VFR spacer and found the arm too stiff and knew something was up, turns out someone had removed the anti crush spacer between the bearings so my over tightening was putting side loading on the bearings. I’ll either make a sleeve or get one from Honda.

I think it looks awesome, chain run is straight, wheel it centred (or will be once bolted on) I can’t wait to complete it.

 

[Exuptoy]

Got my spacer done and fitted then got the old chain temporarily refitted with a piece of para cord tied joining the two ends together so I could check my chain run and to measure what chain I need. Turns out it’s 112 links. Got my chain-tools out and one gave a good light along the side plates and the other gave a nice red dot in the centre. Thats close enough for me, looking nice and fairly straight.

I was going to fit titanium BMW S1000R disc bolt turned around so the early arm doesn’t foul on the later wheel and found my VFR800 rear wheel must have been fitted to an earlier bike by a previous owner as there were really deep witness marks from the brake disc bolts. As I was stripping down the arm to refurb it anyway I thought I’d fit the new disc bolts and flange face nylocs also in Ti, I then relieved the back of the wheel with a finger grinder where it had been marked It looks better but I’m annoyed that it was damaged. It won’t be noticeable once powder coated.

 

[Exuptoy]

So next up was to strip the arm for powder coat and fresh bearings and seals. While I was at it I removed the Fireblade spacer from inside the arm, estimated the length at around 164mm and cut it down then put it in the lathe and took a few 20 thou cuts u til it looks right before removing the bearings.

Last go off I decided I didn’t want to bodge the shock mount as the arm was offset to the left by 8mm to account for the wider motor, so after marking the 8mm offset and drifting out the bearing I put a hacksaw through the mount and pressed back in the bearing to retain the mount extension. I’ll get this tig welded then put a weld along the other side to stop stress risers from the sharp 90’ corner where I cut it off. It was previously a radiused corner.
Ill might get some abuse for cutting the mount but I don’t see it being an issue once welded back on. I’ve lost maybe 0.5-1mm and the bearing sleeve overhangs the mount by 1.5mm each side anyway but there’s still 28mm of original mount left plus roughly 7mm to be reattached.

Also got my 954 front end. That’ll be next.

 

[Exuptoy]

Today was just prep for powder etc, got my arm stripped of bearings and seals, (had to weld to two of the needle rollers and belt them out) then there was a few marks on the Cush drive cover so I hit it with 180/350/500 on my DA then polished back on the Creusen polisher.
Happy with that.
Thats all my stuff ready for powder coat and a pile of bolts and brackets off to zinc plating.

 

[Exuptoy]

Got my arm in for some tig alloy attention, wheel in for a minor buckle rectification, powder coating dropped off and bolts, brackets & spindles in for bright zinc. Coater wasn’t happy with the eccentric adjuster so I decided to clean it up a little!

 

[Exuptoy]

Away now for 2 weeks. Most of my stuff should be ready for fitting by the time I’m back.

 

[Exuptoy]

Just got wifey to send me a few pics of the welding on my swingarm mount to correct the 8mm offset as I forgot to take pics on Tuesday when Ai left as I was running late. I got the cut piece reattached on the opposite site and had the bottom of the cut welded to stop stress risers occurring, also got a gouge mark welded. Once I get home from offshore I’ll dress the welding and get it off to powder coat.
I got it welded at a local marine engineering place as I didn’t have enough confidence to do it myself. I am going to get some trigger time in as I don’t want to have to pay someone else the next time I have a project to sort!

 

[Exuptoy]

Arm ready for powder coat.

 

[Exuptoy]

Fitted the old swingarm whilst the single sided is out for powder coat, then removed the front end. About time this thing was treated to a proper set of forks.
Turns out all the big Hondas share the same head bearings, so whilst I have a brand new set here for when I complete the final build, for now I drifted off the old bearings from the 900 and fitted them to the 929/954 stem.
My /954929 spindle and front wheel are away for plating and powder coat so I knocked up a split spacer and fitted the 893 front wheel with the spindle in backwards then fitted the split spacer to keep the bike on 2 wheels. I was seriously thinking of going with the 16” front but thought better of it as the brakes would be a nightmare getting the calipers to fit with the smaller wheel, plus the 929/954 has 330mm discs!

 

[Exuptoy]

Got my clear bright zinc coated bolts back earlier. Just £40 and look at them!

 

[Exuptoy]

Had my wheels back and bought a tyres pair deal from M&P which were fitted yesterday. I spent an hour polishing up the stainless disc bolts I had here. And this is the outcome fitted with the Arashi wavy discs. These things are 330mm, the biggest discs Honda fitted to a sportsbike. At least it should stop well!
I was initially disappointed with the fact the Blade wheel was 3 spoke but the only 5 spoke Honda sell is the SP1/2 and they’re £600 used but after fitting the disc it’s clear that with the brake disc, forks and mudguard, you aren’t gonna see it!

 

[Red'n'Black]

Got my clear bright zinc coated bolts back earlier. Just £40 and look at them!

View attachment 455418

View attachment 455419

View attachment 455420

View attachment 455421

Who did you use? I've got some handles on the Fobco that could do with re-plating.

Did you have to blast them yourself first, or was that included?