bud

I know, I know :) most folks say to postpone the valve clearance check for a long time, but I prefer to follow the maint. schedule. Maybe after the first check-up and everyone is within spec, I'll get a little lazy on future checks. Perhaps while the bike is all torn apart for the 16k service, I'll have them take a look at the O-rings and replace them...thanks for the suggestion.

thanks for the input...sounds like there isn't a hard and fast rule about replacement age of these things, but I'll keep on eye on them, and ask my mechanic's opinion when I take the bike in this next year for the 16,000k valve clearance check.

Apologies in advance if this seems like a dumb question 🙂 So... i've owned my '98 VFR for the past ten years, When I bought it, there was about 5,000 miles on the odometer, and I'm just now about to hit 16,000 (I know its inexcusable to only put 1,000 miles a year on the bike...just don't have much free time to ride). I've kept up on all the usual maintenance and the bike is stored indoors so its in great shape. Just curious though...even though my bike has ridiculously low mileage, at some point all the hoses and brake lines and other rubber bits are going to hit an age that they should be replaced, right? From a safety/reliability standpoint, I'd think I should have all the coolant hoses and brake lines replaced eventually, but maybe that is just throwing money away on something that isn't needed. Curious with you all think? Any recommendations would be appreciated. thanks

thanks again for all the info! I ordered the Oxford touring grips and installed them this weekend. Already had a powerlet plug and voltmeter lines running from the front of the bike back to my fuzeblock, so the oxford power line just followed the same path. No need to trim the grips for length or add any filler tape/heatshrink on the helibars...though I must've not used enough superglue initially because the left grip started slipping on the first ride out.... removed the grip and gooped on a lot more glue the second time around (definitely make sure to put towels under the grips to keep any glue drips off your fairing). Not sure why I didn't install these things years ago... might not need to ever use winter gloves again.

thanks!

I'm planning to install heated grips on my bike this winter...but I'm a little confused as to which model I need to get. I see that Oxford makes a 'touring' grip as well as a 'sport' grip. Is there any difference in size at all or is it just a different pattern on the grip? I've got a 5th gen and am using Helibars. Also, I was planning to wire them through my Fuzeblock on a switched circuit instead of wiring directly to the battery - I assume others have done this as well without an issues? One last stupid question.... the helibars put the grips up really close to the front fairing when making a tight turn with the bars all the way up at their locked position... does the wiring cord coming off the grips smack into the fairing when using helibars? I assume its a tight fit...just curious what to expect before I order the grips and start installing them. thanks for the help!