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FFS.... @skuuter 😉

Gonzaga, near Reggio Emilia. VID-20240406-WA0049.mp4

Two days after buying the VFR I got caught out by loose sand on a highway exit and down I went. Skinned knee and separated A-C joint (collarbone) for me and some plastic damage to the VFR. Three weeks later we were both back on the road, definitely nervously on that first ride. A couple months later I took a longish day trip: ferry to the mainland, Hwy 1 to Hope, north on Hwy 5 over the Coquihalla to Merritt, Hwy 8 to Spences Bridge, then back on Hwy 1 to the ferry terminal at Tsawwassen, and back home. About 750 km/450 miles and 2 90-minute ferry rides. This photo is on the Coquihalla with Yak Peak in the background. Despite appearances, I am not praying but it's clear why I never had an acting career.

Plenti Benelli 🙂

This is nearly 41 years ago...before the invention of colour! Not sure why I'm looking so stern...my girlfriend took the photo. It is easy to see why I never made it into the movies too. This was the bike that I borrowed for a test-ride from the dealership I worked part-time at, and dropped at over 100mph discovering just how powerful those front brakes were in a pre-ABS world...this is the "after" photo, after I purchased and repaired the thing. Maybe I was thinking about how stupid I was (and to be fair, still am).

...I bought this lightly used 2 year old VFR750, and haven't been without a Honda since then; several VFRs and a handful of VTR1000F. I'd bought the bike late that afternoon, and being early March it was a dark, damp first ride to visit my folks. I'd love to have it back, and in that condition.

I thought my experience in obtaining OEM hard luggage might be informative/useful for others, because things have apparently changed over the years since the bags were in production. When I bought my '07 Anniversary Interceptor a little over a month ago, I knew I wanted hard bags. I was unsuccessful in locating an Anniversary RWB bike with OEM Honda bags, so once I got it home, I started researching. I pretty quickly decided that I wanted the OEM Honda bags... even though they are basically Givi bags, the mounting brackets tuck them in better, and shape integrates better with the bike. Option #1 was to look for used bags (eBay, etc), but I couldn't find anything, so I started researching part numbers. I was able to find the part numbers for the brackets and bags pretty easily, and discovered that there were originally two separate part numbers for the brackets (side mounts and center brace) and additional part numbers for the bags. I was able to track down the center brace on eBay, and found what I believe to be the last set of side brackets in the US at a dealership in Ohio. I was also able to order the bags new from Honda, and was told at the time I got one of seven sets of blue bags left in the US. Side brackets: 08L41-MCW-1000W Center brace: 08L41-MCW-800B (number no longer in Honda's system) Blue bags: 08L41-MCW-1E0 To my great surprise, the bags purchased under the part number above included all the mounting brackets! None of my research had indicated that would be the case, but then again, almost all the threads I found on the subject were at least 10 years old... All in, it's not a bad deal, and only about $200 more than buying the current production bags and brackets from GIVI (not including my extra brackets... LOL). TLDR: there are still some OEM bags out there, and the blue ones, at least, come with the mounting brackets. On to the rest of the story... When I started installing the mounting brackets it was immediately apparent that they were not going to fit with my Delkevic exhaust. The mounting arm that bolts to the center bracket behind the license plate is angled to match the triangular OEM muffler and wouldn't clear the oval aftermarket muffler. I am fortunate enough to have the ability and tools to do some fabrication, so I cut off the offending mounting arm, and modified the center brace so the stay would be horizontal instead of angled, and thus clear the muffler. Then I welded everything back together. The rest of the mounting procedure was easy bolt-up, per the instructions.

I don't do as much touring as I used to, but I do like the utility of hard bags, even around town. I think the widest setup I've had was a 1st gen VStrom 1k with Givi bags... definitely needed a 'wide load' placard! I had Givi 'cruiser bags' on my 'Busa and that was a really nice setup. Much narrower, and top opening. Had to pile more stuff on the seat, but it was a surprisingly good touring mount. I run just a small top box on my FJ-09 occasionally, and that was a nice compromise, but the factory bags on that were pretty narrow, so I usually just ran the bags.

Mate, you're funny! I asked you to confirm or deny 4 Questions and you just say "Yes exactly", never mind.....and.... What shop?? Ok so if you're hearing the Starter Relay Click EVERY time, then you most likely have an issue with the Relay internals, or a faulty main cable to the starter motor, or starter motor fault. See attached photo and remove the Starter Relay cover. When the fault is active. Grab your voltmeter, Ignition to Off. With your black meter lead to battery Neg terminal, now probe the two Main Terminals (4 see pic) on the Starter Relay with the other meter lead. One terminal should measure 12v. Now turn Ignition to On, bike in Neutral. Now probe the other Starter Relay Main Terminal, press the Starter Button. Do you hear the Relay click AND Measure 12v.? Is the Starter Motor spinning? If you hear the Relay Click but Don't measure 12v. = Probable Starter Relay faulty/Intermittent. Another brutal Test is to simply use a couple of screwdrivers shorting the two main relay terminals. Do this with Ignition Off and Make sure you're in Neutral. The Starter Motor should spin over every time you make the short, if it does then you don't have a starter motor or main cable issue. You can download the Service Manual from this site if you don't already have it. It will show how to fully test the Starter Relay. By the way. What was the brand, type and part number of the new Battery you fitted? And it's Fully Charged? Bedtime for me. Let's know you get on. Nighty night!

Mate. Is there something wrong with my English? I seem to have this problem a lot! In trying to help you, I asked a couple of simple questions, important in diagnosing your issue and I don't get an answer! Thanks regarding your Battery Terminals, good to know they are fine! Again....Is your fault specfic to No Cranking OR Does it always Crank over but doesn't Start??? There's a Big difference between the two situations. Again.... If its a No Cranking Issue - Does attempting to Crank the bike in the Fault condition Change when Starting with the Clutch Pulled in and Sidestand UP? If your're saying there are NO Cranking issues AND only raising the Sidestand definetly cures the Fault and the engine starts, then this could relate to the ECM NOT seeing the Neutral Ground ( ECM Safety Interlock logic). Another important confirmation needed. You stated your problem was to do with "warm" starting, and now your saying the fault is there when "completely cold"? PLEASE be specific about these questions, without proper answers, we are on yet another wild goose chase!. Specific answers will put us on the path to fault finding............Hopefully!

You can get some pre-formed reinforced fuel tubing in different sizes that comes in a piece with varying angles and bends. Something might be workable. Also when I just Googled "preformed fuel line" some interesting stuff came up too.

Since I also have an Interceptor with GIVI bags in the garage at the moment*, here's a comparison back to back.... The Honda bags are about 6" narrower overall. OEM Honda: GIVI: * My BIL was shopping VFRs at the same time I was, and after a couple deals fell through, I put him onto a bike here in AZ that was my back-up plan if the deal on the one I bought fell through. He ended up making the deal, so I picked up the bike for him and am storing it until he can do a fly-ride or have it transported back to WI. So for now, I have double parked VFRs in the shop...

That's a short trip to the local shops for some of our colonial cousins across the pond!

Well as you dream something uninspected happen. Found this mint tail section for reasonable money! So orginal tail will stay 😁

It will be the best looking bike in 10th or 12th place. LOL

I'm not sure that bike is going to compete any better than the last 2 years to win the Ducati Cup, err, MotoGP title.

Yeah, "Powersports" is the word for many motorcycle dealers now, particularly the non-cruiser ones. But hey, Honda still creates some cool bikes! Johann Zarco's LCR Honda bike was just revealed, and as an RC-51 rider I just love the livery. (apologies for the hijack)