Dutch724 Posted October 23 Posted October 23 Lots of plans for the VFR this winter. The frame that is broken will be addressed and fixed. The dealer that I bought it from is actually paying for that (darn, nice of them). I have a paint and body shop lined up for the new paint job and to repair some of the fairings that have been damaged. The wheels will be going out for powder coating. I’m going to go with black unless there is a better color suggested. Of course with the work being done on the wheels I will have to change the wheel bearings. There is some mechanical items that I would like to get sorted while the bike is naked. I need to check on the valves seeing I have 27,000 miles on it and I’m not sure if they have ever been looked at. The thermostat will be changed to free my mind from worrying about it next summer. I seem to have a high idle (2000 RPM) issue that I would like to get sorted out. Tried to adjust it the other day but it seemed like the screw drive was not making good contact with the idle screw… or operator error, but didn’t want to strip the screw. It will be easy to see what is going on when its naked. Spark plugs will be changed. I have no idea they have been replaced. If I’m able to get the right coils I will change the bike over to COP. Brake fluid will be changed as I have noticed some dark fluid and had to add fluid when the bike was delivered. The master cylinders need a good cleaning as well. Someone told me to look at the fuel pressure regulator. Does anyone see that as something that needs replacing, is it a weak link? The final piece that I need to replace is the regulator. That seems like a big job like the valves. What is everyone else's winter projects?
mello dude Posted October 23 Posted October 23 Good luck on all your work... you might review my thread on the thermostat/hoses/brake refresh... (still fooling with it, jeez I'm slow)
Member Contributer Terry Posted October 23 Member Contributer Posted October 23 I always liked the wheels in silver on my red 99. I don't do winter maintenance because nature allows me to ride all year round here (but I do fit heated grips). 3
davenay67 Posted October 23 Posted October 23 29 minutes ago, Terry said: I always liked the wheels in silver on my red 99. I don't do winter maintenance because nature allows me to ride all year round here (but I do fit heated grips). Silver wheels do look good. They tie in nicely with the silver frame spars.
mello dude Posted October 23 Posted October 23 Did mine in silver....the light makes them look darker than they are......yet to mount tires though... 1
VeeEffArah Posted October 24 Posted October 24 Looking at putting the grey / silver wheels on my 07 Anniversary. Must......resist.....white wheels.... Going to do annual coolant flush, brake bleed, oil and filter change stuff. Replace fork springs with proper weight spec rate and decide on a rear shock. Keeping this one so need good suspenders on it.
Dutch724 Posted November 4 Author Posted November 4 On 10/23/2025 at 9:00 PM, VeeEffArah said: Looking at putting the grey / silver wheels on my 07 Anniversary. Must......resist.....white wheels.... Going to do annual coolant flush, brake bleed, oil and filter change stuff. Replace fork springs with proper weight spec rate and decide on a rear shock. Keeping this one so need good suspenders on it. White wheels..... No Way!! More power to you. I'm not fond of white wheels. Almost time to start emptying the wallet on this VFR. 1
mello dude Posted November 4 Posted November 4 1 hour ago, Dutch724 said: Almost time to start emptying the wallet on this VFR. Had a good laugh on that one.... I know exactly what you mean! Budget? What budget?
Member Contributer Terry Posted November 4 Member Contributer Posted November 4 1 hour ago, mello dude said: Had a good laugh on that one.... I know exactly what you mean! Budget? What budget? If you are in this game for profit then you may have missed the point...smiles per $ is where it is at. 1
Member Contributer Lorne Posted November 4 Member Contributer Posted November 4 On 10/23/2025 at 6:00 PM, VeeEffArah said: Looking at putting the grey / silver wheels on my 07 Anniversary. Must......resist.....white wheels.... Why not white? Though anything other than dark grey/black looks great in a tricolore VFR. Perhaps this comparison will help you choose.
mello dude Posted November 4 Posted November 4 Its been quite awhile, but the father/son riders -- The "Carvers" used to post quite a lot on this forum... and they built that RWB bike in the last photo with 8th gen wheels and brakes, PLUS installed a 5th gen engine in it, I think headers too..... I drooled so much over it that I offered to buy it!
Dutch724 Posted November 4 Author Posted November 4 Ok ok, I can see your point on white wheels with a tri color bike. Not on a red,or yellow VFR. I had thought of the bronze color on a red bike. For sure it's all smiles when I'm riding this amazing bike. There is definitely no profit I'm looking for. My VFR is a keeper when I get done with it. 1
Member Contributer Terry Posted November 4 Member Contributer Posted November 4 40 minutes ago, mello dude said: Its been quite awhile, but the father/son riders -- The "Carvers" used to post quite a lot on this forum... and they built that RWB bike in the last photo with 8th gen wheels and brakes, PLUS installed a 5th gen engine in it, I think headers too..... I drooled so much over it that I offered to buy it! Mmmm...6th gen bodywork, 5th gen engine and 8th gen wheels is a pretty sweet combo. That back wheel (which is also on my 7th gen 1200) is a work of art. We have a member (Highside) local to me that has/had a burgundy 6th gen with tuned 5th gen engine, R1 forks, trick shock and some sexy (Marchesini?)wheels. Actually he sold me the the gold wheels that are now on my 6th gen. I also have a nice 8-spoke rear wheel in black in my Mancave that was too nice to leave sitting in a breakers yard; that one also originally came from the same source. I had the rims on my '86 powder-coated in white and being the OEM colour they looked fab, but you either need to be anal about cleaning after each ride or just give up. At least the powdercoating had a nice gloss which helped. When I had a previous '86, I used oven-cleaner on the rims; I'm sure one could abuse that and corrode the rims but it worked really well if you were careful and quick. 1
Member Contributer MBrane Posted November 5 Member Contributer Posted November 5 I used paint stripper to remove the black from my 5th gen wheels. It practically fell off unlike the white primer on the 4th gen. That stuff was really stuck! I just give 'em a good polish when I swap new rubber on. 5
Member Contributer JZH Posted November 5 Member Contributer Posted November 5 14 hours ago, Lorne said: Why not white? Though anything other than dark grey/black looks great in a tricolore VFR. Perhaps this comparison will help you choose. It's no use, Lorne. White wheels on a VFR is a Marmite/Vegemite question. I had my '90's wheels powdercoated black at the first opportunity! However, black wheels on a '93 "fridge" model would be an abomination... Ciao, JZH 1
Dutch724 Posted November 5 Author Posted November 5 Seeing this has become the subject at hand.... About wheels. I'm torn between Black and Bronze wheels. The bike will be painted Italian red. Is there a shade of bronze or maybe any shade will look good with the red paint? I would like to get the opinion of everyone in the class. I want the bike to stand out a little but not be abomination or I can just stay with the black.
VeeEffArah Posted November 5 Posted November 5 16 hours ago, Lorne said: Why not white? Though anything other than dark grey/black looks great in a tricolore VFR. Perhaps this comparison will help you choose. Because if I go with white, I'm going to spend too much money on a 8 spoke rear. 😁 Plus a friend has white wheels on his 07 Anniversary. He did paint the front fender the same red as the accent stripe which looks good IMO.
Member Contributer Lorne Posted November 5 Member Contributer Posted November 5 4 hours ago, JZH said: However, black wheels on a '93 "fridge" model would be an abomination... White '93 VFRs really do stand out. I like the look of my '09 a lot, but the '93 is even nicer.
Member Contributer MBrane Posted November 6 Member Contributer Posted November 6 13 hours ago, Dutch724 said: Seeing this has become the subject at hand.... About wheels. I'm torn between Black and Bronze wheels. The bike will be painted Italian red. Is there a shade of bronze or maybe any shade will look good with the red paint? I would like to get the opinion of everyone in the class. I want the bike to stand out a little but not be abomination or I can just stay with the black. Given a choice I would go with black to keep with the red/black/silver combo.
VTCAL Posted November 6 Posted November 6 16 hours ago, Dutch724 said: Seeing this has become the subject at hand.... About wheels. I'm torn between Black and Bronze wheels. The bike will be painted Italian red. Is there a shade of bronze or maybe any shade will look good with the red paint? I would like to get the opinion of everyone in the class. I want the bike to stand out a little but not be abomination or I can just stay with the black. I find that the black wheels on my '99 are BLAH! I'm thinking white, or bronze, But I'm lazy and not a paint guy.
Burger Posted November 6 Posted November 6 13 hours ago, VTCAL said: I find that the black wheels on my '99 are BLAH! I'm thinking white, or bronze, But I'm lazy and not a paint guy. plastidip is your friend. before and after: just make sure to apply it nice and thick so you can peel it off easily once you decide to change things up, i'd do 4 or 5 coats at least
Member Contributer FromMaine Posted November 7 Member Contributer Posted November 7 On 11/5/2025 at 7:56 AM, Dutch724 said: Seeing this has become the subject at hand.... About wheels. I'm torn between Black and Bronze wheels. The bike will be painted Italian red. Is there a shade of bronze or maybe any shade will look good with the red paint? I would like to get the opinion of everyone in the class. I want the bike to stand out a little but not be abomination or I can just stay with the black. My 86. 90. 97, and 01 all have white wheels, so you know what side of the fence I am on. Personally, I think MBranes polished aluminum or Mello's silver would be the next best choice. If it has to be Black or Bronze. I would go with a high gloss black. I am still waiting to see a bike with Bronze wheels that I think the wheels and whatever color the bike is doesn't look mis matched. But, its an opinion.🙂
Member Contributer Captain 80s Posted November 7 Member Contributer Posted November 7 8 hours ago, FromMaine said: My 86. 90. 97, and 01 all have white wheels, so you know what side of the fence I am on. Personally, I think MBranes polished aluminum or Mello's silver would be the next best choice. If it has to be Black or Bronze. I would go with a high gloss black. I am still waiting to see a bike with Bronze wheels that I think the wheels and whatever color the bike is doesn't look mis matched. But, its an opinion.🙂 When my 95 needs new tires I'm going to give it a shot. I have an 8-spoke and an extra front wheel that will get a bronze I found. I think it will pop with this bodywork. I shot it as a base coat for the color on the 92 wheels, so I was able to see it briefly on the same wheels. I have a shot of it somewhere before the final color and clear coats. 2
VFRRS Posted November 7 Posted November 7 White wheels matter! Easy to wipe over with powder coating on them. A good supply of wet wipes in the shed keeps the Mrs' guessing too 😉 4 1
mello dude Posted November 7 Posted November 7 ^^^^Nice work on that 5th gen! (Stiill not a fan for white wheelz) 😉 1
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