Vortex Rearsets and Crashability

Burphel · September 30th, 2017, 11:34 PM

Hi everybody. So, looking back at the last couple of rounds with OMRRA, I've noticed something with my pit buddies and wanted to see if others have noticed this as well: Vortex rearsets don't take any damage in crashes - the bike's frame bends instead. I was still running stock with Yosh risers when I crashed, but over 4 crashes by friends with 300s in the last couple of rounds, all 4 have wound up with somebody looking around for a big *** prybar to get it straightened out. Pretty much all of us are a bit concerned about the potential for screwing up the frame permanently.

The footpegs themselves have a scored area about an inch in from the tip that's *supposed* to be designed as a failure point, but none did. And the mounting brackets didn't take one for the team either. I'm considering over the winter just drilling a bunch of Swiss-cheese holes in the pegs to weaken them up a little bit. I'd much rather replace a $30 peg than have my frame buggered up. Any thoughts?

Sirref · October 1st, 2017, 05:07 AM

This is a common problem around me as well

The vortex rearsets are designed for supersport frames which are much stronger than our frames. As such our frames fail first. Easiest solution is to run yoshimura adjusters with the stock rearset and swap the peg to the vortex peg.

Other solution is to drill through the mounting point all the way and replace the bolts with longer bolts that go all the way through, then secure the other end with locking nuts. As a side effect this creates the best feeling peg setup I've seen on a 300

Zaph42 · October 1st, 2017, 06:53 AM

Yeah, I've seen this too. And it's not just vortex rearsets, it's any rigid rearset.

My advice is to not run rearsets on this bike and only use the Yoshimura spacers with the OEM folding pegs.

The guy who bought my 300 racebike took off the Yoshi spacers, laid it down a few times and destroyed the frame.

I've seen this with some supersports too. It's not as bad as the 300 situation though.

DannoXYZ · October 1st, 2017, 08:59 AM

I put folding footpegs on my Woodcraft rearsets after having to bend frame back after 1st crash. Original solid pegs did break and grind down additional 1/4" off remaining end. But still bent frame mount anyway.

My 2nd crash after that had only minor sliding damage under tip of folding peg. The shifter peg got ground down more than 1/2-way though. Fairing over alternator cover got pinched and ground all the way through along with 10mm of alternator cover. Bent handlebar and ground-down clutch lever. All replaceable parts and best of all, no frame damage!!!

Burphel · October 1st, 2017, 04:52 PM

I should have added, after the crash, my stock bracket cracked, so I now have the Vortices (I can't make myself bastardize that, sorry). I think I'm gonna go with Sirref's idea of using longer mounting bolts, and probably still do some drilling to weaken up the pegs a bit.

Back when I had my SV, I had some stock risers like the Yosh ones, and they bent in a crash, while the clip ons and the frame were usable. I hadn't thought about it, but when I went to order new ones, the guy said that was actually an intended part of the design. Shame that big racing companies like Vortex et al haven't given more thought to incorporating a designated weak point into their parts that'll protect more expensive components.

snot · October 1st, 2017, 06:45 PM

Really?!? Well this sucks since I have Vortex after breaking the oem when I went down.

tgold · October 1st, 2017, 07:37 PM

It has little to do with it being Vortex. I bent the mounts using stock rearsets with riser plates. The frame is thin there. The best fix is not just to drill holes and run longer bolts, but to drill oversized holes and weld in tubes where the through-bolts go. This will make the frame stronger there.

Sirref · October 1st, 2017, 08:14 PM

Tgold is right, the extra step to reinforce the frame will go a long way to minimize the risk of the frame bending there

DannoXYZ · October 1st, 2017, 08:53 PM

I think they made rearset mount soft on purpose to prevent the frame bending at the swingarm mounts. That's just a couple inches away and if you get enough force on rearsets, you can bend frame where swingarm mounts. Then it'll be much, much more trouble and $$$ to fix.

Mechanikrazy · October 1st, 2017, 09:53 PM

Just adding on. Running OEM with Yoshi risers and PSR pegs. I actually love the PSR pegs for the price and for the grip.

I took the Vortex rearsets off my trackbike because of the frame issue.

The OEM bracket will break in a lot of crashes, but there are cheap Chinese replicas on eBay now. The only thing I haven't figured out is a cheap replacement for the shift and brake pedals when they get bent way out of spec.

Zaph42 · October 2nd, 2017, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechanikrazy

The only thing I haven't figured out is a cheap replacement for the shift and brake pedals when they get bent way out of spec.

These are really nice, cast aluminum with a folding tip.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/152173719558

September 30th, 2017, 11:34 PM	#1
Burphel ninjette.org member Name: Brian Location: NW USA Join Date: Aug 2016 Motorcycle(s): Triumph Bonneville, Ninja 300 Posts: 204	Vortex Rearsets and Crashability Hi everybody. So, looking back at the last couple of rounds with OMRRA, I've noticed something with my pit buddies and wanted to see if others have noticed this as well: Vortex rearsets don't take any damage in crashes - the bike's frame bends instead. I was still running stock with Yosh risers when I crashed, but over 4 crashes by friends with 300s in the last couple of rounds, all 4 have wound up with somebody looking around for a big *** prybar to get it straightened out. Pretty much all of us are a bit concerned about the potential for screwing up the frame permanently. The footpegs themselves have a scored area about an inch in from the tip that's supposed to be designed as a failure point, but none did. And the mounting brackets didn't take one for the team either. I'm considering over the winter just drilling a bunch of Swiss-cheese holes in the pegs to weaken them up a little bit. I'd much rather replace a $30 peg than have my frame buggered up. Any thoughts? __________________________________________________ Let he who has never re-used a crush washer cast the first stone...

October 1st, 2017, 05:07 AM	#2
Sirref Private Joker Name: Ben Location: Towson, MD Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): '99/'01 Ninja 250 "sketchy", '13 Ninja 300 "yoshi", '03 GSXR 600 "merlin" Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '14	This is a common problem around me as well The vortex rearsets are designed for supersport frames which are much stronger than our frames. As such our frames fail first. Easiest solution is to run yoshimura adjusters with the stock rearset and swap the peg to the vortex peg. Other solution is to drill through the mounting point all the way and replace the bolts with longer bolts that go all the way through, then secure the other end with locking nuts. As a side effect this creates the best feeling peg setup I've seen on a 300 __________________________________________________ I see you over there seeing me, do you see the me I think you see?

October 1st, 2017, 06:53 AM	#3
Zaph42 ninjette.org sage Name: John Location: Appleton, WI Join Date: Apr 2015 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 300 (race), Ninja 1000 (road) Posts: 504	Yeah, I've seen this too. And it's not just vortex rearsets, it's any rigid rearset. My advice is to not run rearsets on this bike and only use the Yoshimura spacers with the OEM folding pegs. The guy who bought my 300 racebike took off the Yoshi spacers, laid it down a few times and destroyed the frame. I've seen this with some supersports too. It's not as bad as the 300 situation though. __________________________________________________ Ninja 300 - CCS Ultralight Thunderbike Racing I want to "like" your post but I can't due to forum rules. Sorry.

October 1st, 2017, 08:59 AM	#4
DannoXYZ ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: AKA JacRyann Location: Mesa, AZ Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17	I put folding footpegs on my Woodcraft rearsets after having to bend frame back after 1st crash. Original solid pegs did break and grind down additional 1/4" off remaining end. But still bent frame mount anyway. My 2nd crash after that had only minor sliding damage under tip of folding peg. The shifter peg got ground down more than 1/2-way though. Fairing over alternator cover got pinched and ground all the way through along with 10mm of alternator cover. Bent handlebar and ground-down clutch lever. All replaceable parts and best of all, no frame damage!!! Last futzed with by DannoXYZ; October 1st, 2017 at 10:55 AM.

October 1st, 2017, 04:52 PM	#5
Burphel ninjette.org member Name: Brian Location: NW USA Join Date: Aug 2016 Motorcycle(s): Triumph Bonneville, Ninja 300 Posts: 204	I should have added, after the crash, my stock bracket cracked, so I now have the Vortices (I can't make myself bastardize that, sorry). I think I'm gonna go with Sirref's idea of using longer mounting bolts, and probably still do some drilling to weaken up the pegs a bit. Back when I had my SV, I had some stock risers like the Yosh ones, and they bent in a crash, while the clip ons and the frame were usable. I hadn't thought about it, but when I went to order new ones, the guy said that was actually an intended part of the design. Shame that big racing companies like Vortex et al haven't given more thought to incorporating a designated weak point into their parts that'll protect more expensive components. __________________________________________________ Let he who has never re-used a crush washer cast the first stone...

October 1st, 2017, 06:45 PM	#6
snot sammich maker Name: snot Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 white 300, 09 KLX 250 SF, 09 thunder blue 250(traded) Posts: A lot. MOTM - Apr '15	Really?!? Well this sucks since I have Vortex after breaking the oem when I went down. __________________________________________________ https://www.brocksperformance.com/VZ...0035+C450.aspx

October 1st, 2017, 07:37 PM	#7
tgold ninjette.org sage Name: Timm Location: West Seneca, NY Join Date: Oct 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2006 1050 Speed Triple, 2010 250 Ninja racebike, YZF320RR? Racebike Posts: 556 MOTM - Nov '15	It has little to do with it being Vortex. I bent the mounts using stock rearsets with riser plates. The frame is thin there. The best fix is not just to drill holes and run longer bolts, but to drill oversized holes and weld in tubes where the through-bolts go. This will make the frame stronger there.

October 1st, 2017, 08:14 PM	#8
Sirref Private Joker Name: Ben Location: Towson, MD Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): '99/'01 Ninja 250 "sketchy", '13 Ninja 300 "yoshi", '03 GSXR 600 "merlin" Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '14	Tgold is right, the extra step to reinforce the frame will go a long way to minimize the risk of the frame bending there __________________________________________________ I see you over there seeing me, do you see the me I think you see?

October 1st, 2017, 08:53 PM	#9
DannoXYZ ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: AKA JacRyann Location: Mesa, AZ Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17	I think they made rearset mount soft on purpose to prevent the frame bending at the swingarm mounts. That's just a couple inches away and if you get enough force on rearsets, you can bend frame where swingarm mounts. Then it'll be much, much more trouble and $$$ to fix. Last futzed with by DannoXYZ; October 2nd, 2017 at 07:18 AM.

October 1st, 2017, 09:53 PM	#10
Mechanikrazy ninjette.org guru Name: Al Location: Orange County, CA Join Date: Dec 2015 Motorcycle(s): Thruxton R, R6 450 triple, EX300 (sold) Posts: 263	Just adding on. Running OEM with Yoshi risers and PSR pegs. I actually love the PSR pegs for the price and for the grip. I took the Vortex rearsets off my trackbike because of the frame issue. The OEM bracket will break in a lot of crashes, but there are cheap Chinese replicas on eBay now. The only thing I haven't figured out is a cheap replacement for the shift and brake pedals when they get bent way out of spec.

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