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  • Member Contributer
Posted

Replaced my front wheel bearings.

 

A trip in early May to the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia took a toll on my front rim. When I replaced my tires last Sept. I inspected the rims and bearings carefully as the bike was new to me. With only 11.5K on the bike they were as they should be.

 

I knew I put a dent on the front while I was in Nova Scotia. as I also blew my right fork seal.

 

I put the bike away for June and July, had a lot going on. In August, tucked into the front end to find the front rim had not 1, nor 2 dents, but 3. The left fork seal was shot to boot.

 

Having gone through this with my 4th Gen 10 years ago, I figured the bearings were toast. I had seals and bearings on hand, until I went to install the bearings, they were for my 3rd Gen..... .🙃, so had to order a set.

 

Anyway, some pics, because if not, it never happened.

 

The right bearing was chowdered. 

 

Edit:

 

For the record, the last picture is from 10 years ago and what your front bearing on your 4th Gen looks like after it disintegrates at 65 mph on the highway. I keep a close eye on my bearings now.😁

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  • Like 1
Posted

^^^^What are those blingy rotor bolts Maine? I like... 😊

  • Like 1
  • Member Contributer
Posted

Yeah, kinda "the Hood" choice of rotor palette presentation.

 

But, I've had that paint sitting around for a while after buying it for a non motorcycle project. The paint I use on my rims takes about a week to cure, and well, idle hands and a desire to use the can before it's use by date..........

Honestly thought it would be a little less  Mr. T after I installed them.😁

 

 

 

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  • Like 1
Posted

Installed new fuel drain hose, throttle body insulators & Napa Auto sourced radiator cap.

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I’m looking forward to road testing to verify cooling system performance.

I’d been chasing down some elevated coolant temps and a situation where the radiator fan or air flow at speed wasn’t able to bring the coolant temp below the switch threshold to turn off the fan. After testing and verifying the properly functioning thermostat I’d installed a year ago (I was thinking it may not be opening all the way), I tested the OEM rad cap I’d installed, what I thought was a year or two ago, actually ended up being 4 years ago. I should have tested that first because I found the cap would slowly leak. Buttoned everything back up and logged heat cycle times to compare to an earlier test and it looks good.

It was a good reminder to test/verify especially those things that were relatively recently replaced.

  • Like 3
  • 2 weeks later...
  • Member Contributer
Posted

Changed the coolant on the 8 Gen to Honda Type 2 ( as I had it in stock) which meant flushing through with demineralised water to clear the old stuff out.

 

The bodywork on the 8 Gen is beautifully made but what a royal PITA to get the fairing off and on again. So many tabs, clips, bolts. Perhaps I'm just slow but I'm sure the fairing antics took twice as long as flushing and changing the coolant.  There's also a section in the lower fairing behind the radiator which collects water and grit and rusts the bolt there. I'm thinking a couple of drain holes need drilling to sort that out.

  • Member Contributer
Posted

How did you get the original stickers off, just rip them?

Posted
5 hours ago, Thumbs said:

How did you get the original stickers off, just rip them?

I used a hairdryer to heat them up and then using a finger nail I pulled up a corner then pulled them off,mostly came off in large pieces.

  • Like 2
  • 4 weeks later...
Posted

Finished yanking the front end and cleaning the hydraulic oil off.  Tomorrow goes to the suspension guru for Andreani fully adjustable forks internals, straight rate springs for my weight, and OEM rebuild bits.

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  • Like 5
  • Member Contributer
Posted

Hi OT, do report back on your fork upgrade. You might be the first with an 8 Gen to tell us you've upgraded the internals. Quite interested in the Andreani kit so it would be good to hear your experiences particularly the range of compression adjustment.

  • Like 1
Posted

The previous owner of this bike had installed shorty levers for some reason.  It's something that has bothered me from day one, but I didn't do anything about it. 

I don't know why I waited so long to replace them, and now that I have....wow. I feel like I'm on a new bike.

 

Bike doesn't look any different in pictures, though, so that kinda sucks 😅

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  • Like 1
  • Member Contributer
Posted

Shorty levers rock. My activations are all 1 or 2 fingers. 

  • Like 3
Posted
10 hours ago, bmart said:

Shorty levers rock. My activations are all 1 or 2 fingers. 

 Man, I don't know how you get the leverage you need, especially on the road in certain situations. The longer levers make a huge difference for me and I feel like I can go deeper into corners because I can brake harder without having to reach over to get all my fingers on the short lever. Haha

Posted

To each his own... I also prefer the long style levers... 

  • Like 3
  • Member Contributer
Posted

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Redslut goes pizza delivery!

 

 

 

Yes honey, that box makes yet arse look huge!!

 

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  • Like 2
  • Member Contributer
Posted
16 hours ago, mello dude said:

To each his own... I also prefer the long style levers... 

All my bikes have long levers except my 2001. I have a genetic issue with my hands, they are failing for lack of a better explanation. I need all the leverage I can get.

 

I can certainly see why many guys would want shorty levers though as braking systems get better and better.

 

 

  • Like 3
  • Member Contributer
Posted

Last ride before commencing chemotherapy and managed to drop it at a traffic circle. Luckily no forward movement at the time because a pedestrian lady carrying a baby decided to step out into my exit lane at the same time a car driver who clearly hadn't seen me decided to accelerate towards me when he should have been giving way. Result: a rapid stop leant a bit to the right and over we go before I can get the foot down. By golly getting it upright again was a struggle.

 

Some scuffing on the crankcase cover and a few nicks on the fairing. I guess it was lucky. Any advice on repairing those minor marks?

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  • Member Contributer
Posted
1 hour ago, Presson said:

Last ride before commencing chemotherapy and managed to drop it at a traffic circle. Luckily no forward movement at the time because a pedestrian lady carrying a baby decided to step out into my exit lane at the same time a car driver who clearly hadn't seen me decided to accelerate towards me when he should have been giving way. Result: a rapid stop leant a bit to the right and over we go before I can get the foot down. By golly getting it upright again was a struggle.

 

Some scuffing on the crankcase cover and a few nicks on the fairing. I guess it was lucky. Any advice on repairing those minor marks?

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Sorry to hear about the medical issue. and yes you are lucky, I almost got taken out in my first month living in the UK in a traffic circle.

 

As far as the minor scratches go, I think your fairing would be Honda R334, Victory Red. You could look for someone who supplies paint pens in the UK or Europe. I certainly saw lots of VFR's in both, I would assume they are available. The link is for a US company, but will give you an idea of what I mean.

 

Honda VFR800F Touch Up Paint & Paint Color Codes

 

Probably the same is available for the Crankcase cover, but my newest VFR is a 2001, so I have no idea what the color code is. Sure someone here will be able to offer some info.

 

Lastly, I have put my manhood in my back pocket and marched into a large stores Cosmetic section with a motorcycle bit and color matched to nail polish. This doesn't last forever colorwise if left outside, but holds up well if the bike is covered or stored inside, and its as tough as nails. Just a thought.

 

Good luck mate.

 

 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
  • Member Contributer
Posted
On 10/28/2025 at 11:33 PM, DirtbikesRule said:

 Man, I don't know how you get the leverage you need, especially on the road in certain situations. The longer levers make a huge difference for me and I feel like I can go deeper into corners because I can brake harder without having to reach over to get all my fingers on the short lever. Haha

Same here 

  • Like 1

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