Peg scraping

[lostinflyz]

so got my vfr400 race bike finally out to the track for a good fang but i think it has some massive ground clearance issues.

Round every corner ive got pegs scraping and all sorts. my left hand side is now significantly shorter. i can lean the bike mountains further but it just scrapes and i dont wanna fuck up the track (or lose the rest of my peg).

Im figuring that the shitty old shock and my fat arse are causing the prick to be too damn low to be able to really be able to motor it.

I hear the VFR is kinda low in the rear to start with and im no small feller. What solutions may or have worked for others. Spacers on the rear shock or just a new shock. or have i missed something all together.

[Morcs]

you can go much faster without getting pegs down. work on that.

learn to use your knees. with the vfr, the exhaust where it comes under the swingarm will touch the ground at a similar time as the pegs (depending on suspension setup) and getting that down will actually lift the rear wheel off the track (ive done it)

so firstly, lean less, and go faster, concerntrate on lines.
secondly, wind that rear shock out and as hard as it will go.
thirdly, use your knees to feel where the ground is to judge the point before you are leaning too much.

[mouldy]

Check which way the concentric chain adjusters set , you may be able to 180 it for ground clearance

[FilthyLuka]

How are you cornering? Perhaps a bit of arse shifting + wing mirror kissing might help the situation

[jrandom]

There's probably nothing wrong with your shock apart from having a spring on it that doesn't match your weight.

Get it re-sprung, then learn to kiss your mirrors, and all will be well.

[FROSTY:Me]

Hanger bracket spacers will cost ya ferk all to make and give ya more clearance.
Otherwise follow the advise above.
Reverse the chain adjuster,heavier spring.-Thought I suspect itll need a rebuild to be honest--given the bikes age
More body english --HANG OFF MORE
Im normally a supporter of if it feels comfortable do it but if you dont have ya knee firmly planted on the deck when all this scrapery is happening you probably need to hang off heaps more.
For the record Ive had the pleasure of following Kawa kid and Two smoker round some tracks. (I'd rather have been in front of em but what the hey) --Anyhoo both of em had the pegs grinding away madly -folded up even. they still made it around the corner

[Robert Taylor]

so got my vfr400 race bike finally out to the track for a good fang but i think it has some massive ground clearance issues.

Round every corner ive got pegs scraping and all sorts. my left hand side is now significantly shorter. i can lean the bike mountains further but it just scrapes and i dont wanna fuck up the track (or lose the rest of my peg).

Im figuring that the shitty old shock and my fat arse are causing the prick to be too damn low to be able to really be able to motor it.

I hear the VFR is kinda low in the rear to start with and im no small feller. What solutions may or have worked for others. Spacers on the rear shock or just a new shock. or have i missed something all together.

Despite what else has been said the reality in fact is the rear ride height IS too low on that model. Raising the rear ride height not only affords you more lean angle / cornering clearance, it also gives more swingarm anti squat angle. Not only that it places more weight on the front and sharpens up the steering angles. That will absolutely have to at minimum be balanced up with firmer springs in the front as they are woefully weak on that model.
Sure you can go faster by riding around the problems but you are not going to go significantly faster until you turn it into a racebike!
The choice is yours, try and do it cheaply which almost always gives only a very limited result. Or to do it properly and yes that inevitably does cost money. That involves spring and pistons in the front and custom building a rear race shock ( including adjustable ride height ) as they are long since out of production for these bikes. We have built a couple this year already, for that model.

[DEATH_INC.]

Yep, what Robert said.....raise the rear ride height 40mm, it makes 'em heaps better.

[lostinflyz]

yea i dont thinks its a hang off issue. knee is down hard round every corner. literally its go slower or run off the track. at least the way im riding. i cant really see how standing up the bike is gonna help that. but i can try
in terms of riding round peg scrapping it seems silly as every 3 meets will need new pegs (not to mention the angry track people) as i took off well over a cm of peg yesterday.

Thanks for the advice on the rear shock. i have heard many rumors about the rear of the bike being a bit too low outta the box. In terms of raising the rear height is it just by spacers or are aftermarket or race shocks longer naturally. may have to consult the accountant again it sounds like.

[Robert Taylor]

yea i dont thinks its a hang off issue. knee is down hard round every corner. literally its go slower or run off the track. at least the way im riding. i cant really see how standing up the bike is gonna help that. but i can try
in terms of riding round peg scrapping it seems silly as every 3 meets will need new pegs (not to mention the angry track people) as i took off well over a cm of peg yesterday.

Thanks for the advice on the rear shock. i have heard many rumors about the rear of the bike being a bit too low outta the box. In terms of raising the rear height is it just by spacers or are aftermarket or race shocks longer naturally. may have to consult the accountant again it sounds like.

Aftermarket shocks with a ride height adjuster can be adjusted longer AND also shortened back a little for example a wet race. But its not only that, its also about delivering much improved overall adjustability, mechanical grip and improved tyre life. In the end event its all about how much faster you want to go, personally and with the assistance of machinery that is working at a higher level.