details on modifying the hub for vfr rear wheel

[cartz-rc31]

didnt see anything and was wondering what all is involved in doing the swap, what does the hawk stock hub look like compared to the vfr, and what is machined and changed allow the vfr rear wheel to fit? pic please if anyone has them

[NT696]

***RANT ALERT***
OK this subject is my pet peeve.
Not an attack or criticism towards you, cartz-rc31.

Would you machine off part of your cars wheel spindle just to fit a cool looking wheel? --Likely not.

My opinion is to modify the new (non-Hawk) part to fit.

Firstly, this is by far, not the easiest way to do it, but I feel it is the safest in the long run, and makes more sense from an engineering point of view.

The basic problem is the spigot on the spindle. It is larger in diameter than the internal hole in the VFR rim. All the modded spindles tend to have this spigot simply cut off. The wheel should locate with a close fit onto something. With the spigot gone, you are left with only the pressed in wheel studs.

The VFR rim mod will always involve machining, either way you do it. I simply am suggesting that any machining needed should happen on the rim.

The way I did it was to machine a bore into the VFR rim, and machine a custom outer nut spacer, and four bushings. My VFR rim also needed clearance for the four brake rotor mounting nuts.

The back side of the VFR rim:


The special nut spacer and bushings:


The assembly:


CAD assembly with the VFR rim transparent to see what is where:


GTR647 also did this style of mod. He may agree with me, that boring the hole in the rim could be more easily accomplished using a vertical mill and a boring bar instead of on a lathe.

-Just my .02

[GTR647]

I agree with the last post

it ain't that hard to machine the wheel, and this way you can have 2 interchangable wheels, and keep your spindle original.
also the single nut looks bad ass

[cartz-rc31]

looks sweet, also i had been considering see how a ducati rear wheel would fit since it is a 3 spoke like the front and is a center mount wheel like the hawks, i plan to go with a newer cbr front, 600rr or so with radial mount brakes, so i guess a 3 spoke would look close to the same. then,, thank you for the great info

[NT696]

also i had been considering see how a ducati rear wheel would fit since it is a 3 spoke like the front and is a center mount wheel like the hawks, thank you for the great info

Just be warned: The Ducati may not have the same wheel offset. The Honda Hawk / VFR offset is 19mm to the right hand side of the bike. If the offset is different, you will either be machining the Ducati mounting face lower, or making a wheel spacer.

[DefTrap]

Or just bung a vfr spindle in. No machining or nuffink.

[JR]

[cartz-rc31]

dam that single nut does look killer. need to get together the cash for a wheel

[NT696]

Or just bung a vfr spindle in. No machining or nuffink.

I've heard that the VFR spindle is not a straight swap. Something about the cush drive assembly requiring a spacer. Sitill, that is another option, (possibly better) than machining the VFR rim to fit the Hawk spindle. Easier to machine a round spacer for sure.

Can anyone confirm this?

[DefTrap]

I've heard that the VFR spindle is not a straight swap. Something about the cush drive assembly requiring a spacer. Sitill, that is another option, (possibly better) than machining the VFR rim to fit the Hawk spindle. Easier to machine a round spacer for sure.

Can anyone confirm this?

You need a spacer between wheel nut and cush drive as the viffer cush drive (that you lobbed) is fatter. It's a big washer really. I had one out of another cush laying around. Of course, as well as the spindle, you need viffer disc, brake and brakeplate to make it all work. It's as straight a swap as it gets, no machining stuff involved.

[robs321]

a vfr hub!

dont look a lot different to a bros modded hub! so cant see what all the fuss is about?

cheers
Robs

[NT696]

Finally!!!
A picture of a VFR spindle to show what im talking about. The spindle has a shallow round protrusion (boss) that is approx 75mm dia x 5mm tall. You can see it inside the stud nuts in Robs321 first picture. The rim has a shallow pocket, also 75 x 5 to locate onto this boss. (see my first picture posted)
On the Hawk spindle, the part that sticks out is nowhere near 75mm in diameter, but it is a little bigger than the next bore diameter in the VFR rim. So, because it is easier, most people simply lop it off, as shown in Robs321 second picture.

Im a mechanical designer, and I just feel that it is safer to have the radial forces (bumps) go through metal faces touching one another. The traditional modded Hawk spindle has the pressed-in VFR studs holding the rim on, transmitting the engine power (torque) and absorbing the radial bumps. Are the nuts torqued down tight enough to do all of this? Are the holes they were pressed into opened up exactly on center? Not a worry I would want to consider every time I ride.
I've said it before, I have never head of a problem with people breaking VFR studs. Ever. I just know they are being made to do something that they were never intended (or designed) to do.

If I were to do it again, I would make the VFR spindle fit the Hawk eccentric, keeping the drive chain lined up, and save a lot of hassle machining.

[cartz-rc31]

what would it take to make the vfr hub fit? is it as easy as using vfr compontents, cush drive, rotor etc?

also i love the chewed on coffe cup in the last pic!! LOL

[DefTrap]

what would it take to make the vfr hub fit? is it as easy as using vfr compontents, cush drive, rotor etc?

also i love the chewed on coffe cup in the last pic!! LOL

I think I said this earlier?

You need:
vfr750/800 wheel
vfr750 spindle & wheel nuts
vfr750 brakeplate
vfr750 brake caliper
vfr750 disc
hawk or vfr750 eccentric
hawk cush
a half inch spacer to make up for the fact that the vfr spindle doesn't have quite enough thread.

Bolt it up.

[cartz-rc31]

maybe did, sorry, so i can retain some hawk parts then which makes it cheaper. just have to keep my eye on ebay for some vfr stuff.