New F4i with a few custom mods :)

Blue70 · 10-19-2005, 12:39 PM

I picked up this 03 F4i a month ago, so far I have put on the Tapeworks graphics, put on the carbon fiber Yoshimura, added a homemade undertail with 954 tail light, and just did a 600RR swingarm conversion.. I have a few more plans, but I like it

(anyone interested in the swingarm swap can check out my tutorial HERE I am going to do one for the undertail with 954 tail light next, a lot of people have been asking about that one)

and a few before and afters

oober · 10-19-2005, 12:55 PM

looks good...

Claudius · 10-19-2005, 12:55 PM

I think it looks fantastic. Very subtle and cool looking. What is the effect on handling of putting in the new swingarm? Did you have to get/use an aftermarket shock?

Nevrsumr22 · 10-19-2005, 12:57 PM

Sweet. I did a number plate for my F4i just buying the vinyl by the foot. I was kind of a bitch but turned out looking nice. Only cost like $10.00 though.

Blue70 · 10-19-2005, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claudius

I think it looks fantastic. Very subtle and cool looking. What is the effect on handling of putting in the new swingarm? Did you have to get/use an aftermarket shock?

Thanks.

I don't think anyone other than bike guys would ever know the differences.

The basic rundown is an 03-04 600RR swingarm, caliper, bracket, and brake line. the shock needs to come from a 1000RR for the shock reservoir to clear the battery box.

The 600RR swing arm is 1.5" longer than the F4i. I don't notice the extra length. I had to soften up the settings on the shock a hair (about 4 clicks softer up top, and 1/4 turn softer on the bottom) it now feels like stock.

For more detail you can CLICK HERE for my tutorial

clsmitty · 10-19-2005, 01:34 PM

I doubt most people will understand the amount of work you put in the bike, my compliments go out to you!

hybrid · 10-19-2005, 01:48 PM

While I personaly dont get the amount of fabrication that went into it (only because I know the engineering math that it takes to do it properly and have a hard time believing you know the measurements and angles involved to do it) I can appreciate the amount of time it took to figure out how to make it fit and actually move will full range of motion.

I think your heart is in the right place but the techie in me would be scratching my head if I did it without my suspension geometery programs.

What I am interested in is your tail light conversion. It looks pretty sweet and I am in the middle of building molds for that kind of thing and I would love to see what you got there and I might just make a whole undertail out of carbon for that conversion if I see what you have going on.

So while my opinion is biased and mixed in views, I think its a great addition and a very well written out tutorial.

Blue70 · 10-19-2005, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hybrid

While I personaly dont get the amount of fabrication that went into it (only because I know the engineering math that it takes to do it properly and have a hard time believing you know the measurements and angles involved to do it) I can appreciate the amount of time it took to figure out how to make it fit and actually move will full range of motion.

I think your heart is in the right place but the techie in me would be scratching my head if I did it without my suspension geometery programs.

What I am interested in is your tail light conversion. It looks pretty sweet and I am in the middle of building molds for that kind of thing and I would love to see what you got there and I might just make a whole undertail out of carbon for that conversion if I see what you have going on.

So while my opinion is biased and mixed in views, I think its a great addition and a very well written out tutorial.

The suspension linkage and geometery should be worked out by Honda, it is all housed in the swingarm, and the lower link swings up right in place, just like the 600RR

I am not an engineer so all I can tell you is that is nice and smooth all the way through it's range of motion, it don't bind anywhere, and feels as good as stock by my butt meter

What kind of info are you looking for on the tail light? I basically took the tail off my bike, traced the outline on a piece of cardboard, made a cutout for the taillight, mocked it all up. When I was happy with it I transfered it to a piece of aluminum and powdercoated it

If you are looking for something more, just let me know

hybrid · 10-19-2005, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue70

The suspension linkage and geometery should be worked out by Honda, it is all housed in the swingarm, and the lower link swings up right in place, just like the 600RR

I am not an engineer so all I can tell you is that is nice and smooth all the way through it's range of motion, it don't bind anywhere, and feels as good as stock by my butt meter

What kind of info are you looking for on the tail light? I basically took the tail off my bike, traced the outline on a piece of cardboard, made a cutout for the taillight, mocked it all up. When I was happy with it I transfered it to a piece of aluminum and powdercoated it

If you are looking for something more, just let me know

What I was getting at was things like where the link actually mounts on the frame versus the shock mount and all the angles inbetween. Its tricky math and I cant do it without my programs that cost me from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars to buy. I had to learn it because of my previous career and its those things that can drasticaly alter the handling of a bike and while I know you can fuck that up pretty bad on a streetbike and no one would care or notice I would know its not right and be pissed.

For all I know the mounts are identical in location and without me measuring it up I couldnt say yay or nay. The props is for you taking the time to figure out how to make it fit and work as well as it does. Not many people would dare to do that.

I thought that maybe you had an undertail that you grafted the light into somehow.

If you just used a piece of aluminum and cut out the light its not really a help to me but I may look into building a full undertail with that light in it just because it did streamline the tail section so much. I like the look of it!

You should toss some close ups of the undertail and let me take a look at what you have going on there.

Blue70 · 10-19-2005, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hybrid

What I was getting at was things like where the link actually mounts on the frame versus the shock mount and all the angles inbetween. Its tricky math and I cant do it without my programs that cost me from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars to buy. I had to learn it because of my previous career and its those things that can drasticaly alter the handling of a bike and while I know you can fuck that up pretty bad on a streetbike and no one would care or notice I would know its not right and be pissed.

For all I know the mounts are identical in location and without me measuring it up I couldnt say yay or nay. The props is for you taking the time to figure out how to make it fit and work as well as it does. Not many people would dare to do that.

I thought that maybe you had an undertail that you grafted the light into somehow.

If you just used a piece of aluminum and cut out the light its not really a help to me but I may look into building a full undertail with that light in it just because it did streamline the tail section so much. I like the look of it!

You should toss some close ups of the undertail and let me take a look at what you have going on there.

Thank you for the compliments.

I understand what you are saying about the geometry, but I don't think it can be far off , if at all. I figure it has to be real close to what Honda designed, if you look at the swingarm and linkage, all the linkage and shock mounts are incorporated into the swingarm. The only thing that mounts outside of the swingarm pivot is the lower bracket, and if you look at the 600RR picture you can see it is about parallel with the ground, and so is mine. If that is the only varible I would say it's real close.

I will try to walk around a 600RR with a set of calipers and find out for sure.

This is about the closest I have of the tail light right now, I will try to get some more

hybrid · 10-19-2005, 06:48 PM

Well to do it properly you cant caliper it really.

PM and I will tell you how to come up with the measurements for it to be proper.

I dont want to get into a huge tech paper on the subject, lest I have everyone asking me how to retro fit this or customize that.

BurnMyHeartDown · 10-20-2005, 01:54 AM

You have a jardine sticker. and a yosh can. ......

Blue70 · 10-20-2005, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurnMyHeartDown

You have a jardine sticker. and a yosh can. ......

Shhh.
The decal came on the swingarm, That decal and all the Honda warning decals are gone now, I was excited the swingarm was on so I took some pictures before cleaning it up

suwand28 · 10-20-2005, 06:34 AM

that's nice...I think you did a helluva job.
btw, where in NC are you? might be cool if I could see it in person. plus you can come over to my place and work on my bike...

...j/k...

ps. you should join some us for the rides around Raleigh. you know we have a 12 month riding season around here...