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Everything posted by FromMaine
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No shop anywhere near me would mount tires not bought from them, so they turned customers into DIY's. About 18 years ago I bought a Black Widow paddock tire changer and a HF balancer. The convenience factor became apparent immediately. I averaged 4-6 tires a year for myself and 6-12 for guys in the same position as me. I don't charge for it as motorcycles are my hobby, not a business. Also, it turned our to be a good way to meet the few sport/sport touring guys here in Mid Coast Maine.
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Ride for any length of time, and you will have a Muppet. If you ride and have not had one, rest assured, your Muppet Moment is coming. Wouldn't be to hard on your self. The bike sounds fine, obviously you planned well to have Givi bars for just such an occasion. The torn hamstring and you leaving in an ambulance is worrying though. I hope its not a bad as it sounds. Instinct is a hard thing to overcome. In 2007 I lost my bike in a left hand corner and stuck my foot down. Broke every bone in my ankle and dislocated my foot a bit more than 90 degrees. 3 surgeries and lots of Titanium got my foot pointing in the right direction, but the soft tissue injuries plague me to this day. Whatever the Dr. and Physical Therapist says to do, do it. I hope you have a speedy recovery mate.
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Hey D, so what's been happening with you?
FromMaine replied to Duc2V4's topic in OTHER Motorcycle Talk (non vfr)
Well, that is fantastic news. Time to gear up! -
Technically not today, but Spring of 2022. But since my password stopped working in Dec 21, and I was not able to get back online until recently, I'm playng catch up. After riding around 50k and burning through a set of Nelson-Rigg and Rapid Transit saddle bags, both of which needed numerous repairs to get that far, I decided I needed something a bit more substantial. Pretty sure there was no oem hard bags for the 4th Gen, maybe Givi's, but rare and not particularly attractive if what I did see for hard bags on a 4th were Givi's. So, since I had bought a couple of semi rigid bags for another bike, but sold it before using them, I had a go at making them work on the VFR. To be clear, these are American Tourister computer, carry on, roller bags. They have enough room for a 15" computer and maybe a days worth clothes for a business trip. 2 of them are plenty for my needs. They are not waterproof, but way more than the Rigg's or Transits. The material is cloth backed heavy vinyl, so a few plastic liners do the job. BTW none of the rain covers I have ever used stand up to highway or post highway speeds. The supports are 1/4" rod, washers welded to attach at the passenger pegs, threaded to attach to a tab on the back rest, (custom). The squares on the supports locate the bags and keep them from moving fore and aft. The straps with quick releases hold the bags to the supports, the straps across the passenger seat pulls them in to the bike. It is solid, over 10k and zero issues. The only thing I did to the bags was 3M contact cement 3 layers of really soft felt to the insides to protect the tail piece. I never bothered to take pics as I was putting it together so the pics are cobbled together from what I could find. Feel free to ask for any information I left out. Edit. My other pics failed to upload. We have had sketchy, slow internet since the hurricane. Will see if I can add them later. Ok, finally got pics to upload. Bottom shows the support(s) with attachment points and design, middle the straps that hold the bags to the supports and the straps across the seat, top is what the whole show looks like in touring mode.
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I would agree 100%. Once I looked up how to use if properly, as in flipping the pin, it was great as it was self limiting as far as how much you could flare the rivet. I did find out though that at full compression it would only flare my RK chains rivet to 5.31mm. The RK guide said 5.45-5.55mm was the rivet head range. This was easily fixed by finishing the rivet with my Stockton tool. Since I use DID, RK and EK chains, I'll just keep my calipers handy as usual and check as I go to make sure the rivet is right. Next step is to get a 27mm spanner so I can ditch the adjustable.
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"On reflection" 🌧️ Seem to remember having a few of those myself...........
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Been a Long Time! - Perfect Day for a Ride.
FromMaine replied to Grum's topic in Ride Reports - VFR Touring/Riding
Lets see, by my calculation, you are getting 43 kilometers per bottle (750ml) of really good red wine. By adding a tail bag, top box, or back pack (4 bottles) you could decrease that kpb (kilometers per bottle) to 28.5 and make 33% fewer trips. The enviromentolists would bow at your feet. Right? In all seriousness, great to have you back mate. None of us here really know what it took for you to be able make this post, but I bet it was a lot more than the few sentences you provided. All that and back in the saddle says a lot, well done! Your expertise was missed by more than me me around here, I look forward to to reading more of your posts in the future. -
Replaced my chain and sprockets on the 97. The old girl has 108K ( 173 K) kilometers on her now. While taking a break from cleaning the swingarm and counter sprocket areas I came across the chain tool that came with the bike when I bought it 10 years ago. When I initially looked at it, I dismissed it a a chain breaker only, and a cheap Chinese one to boot, and tossed it into the back of a toolbox drawer. I have been using a Stockton chain tool, and its worked OK, but since I seem to be the only guy in my area with a rivet tool, its useful life is fading. So I went online to see if I could identify the one that came with the bike and maybe get some kind of use out if it. I searched chain tool and variations of wording and found nothing in 15 minutes of looking. Finally right at the end I saw a video posted of someone putting a new DID chain on and it looked like he was using that cheap thing in my tool box. Watching further, I found out that it was in fact a DID tool, and lo and behold if you pulled the breaker pin out and turned it around, you have a rivet anvil. We having a saying in New England " when light dawns on Marblehead" well, I had one of those moments. Of course I looked up DID rivet tools and was astonished to find they cost almost as much as a decent rear tire. So, apologies Dave in Iowa, I finally get and appreciate your gift you threw in when you sold me your bike.
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I am going to shut down vfrd soon
FromMaine replied to HispanicSlammer's topic in Site Comments, Help, & Support
Many Thanks for having a rethink and keeping this site up and running. As VFR resources go, this is, and has been, my go to site for reliable and trusted information for my bikes. It has also allowed me to meet and ride with some great like minded induviduals over the years. That's a hard act to follow, so again, Thank You! I'll echo the past comments of others, let us know what we can do to assist you to ease the load and keep this place going. -
Installed a license plate bracket and light on my 90. Original owner cut the mud guard off for looks I guess. Must not have ridden in the rain, mud, snow or dark....................... All of which we have in abundance here in Maine. Came with a brake/riding light and turn signals. Easy enough to wire them into the loom, so I kept them.
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Extremely well presented and written. Thank You.
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455324071_VF1000FEandVFR800FE2.jpeg
FromMaine commented on Ronsk's gallery image in Member's Gallery
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57fe7f021eb62-2016-10-1212-47-47.jpg
FromMaine commented on Helweg's gallery image in Member's Gallery
3rd gen with a high mount exhaust and rear grab rails and a rear seat cover. That is nice! My 3rd gen I just picked up is a either or as far as the rails and seat cover go. Would like to see a close up of the set up. My 91 I had in the UK had no rear cowl so I have no clue how that works A NR,.........NR..........NR...............nuff said. -
VF500F2 Aka MBD Incubation Period At Least 52 Years
FromMaine replied to Dutchy's topic in Earlier VFRs
More like getting caught dating his teenage daughter.🙂 Some days I think I would be better off pulling a plug wire on my 1000's and 750's, certainly easier on the wallet. -
VF500F2 Aka MBD Incubation Period At Least 52 Years
FromMaine replied to Dutchy's topic in Earlier VFRs
Got it. That's quite a life style change!🙃 -
VF500F2 Aka MBD Incubation Period At Least 52 Years
FromMaine replied to Dutchy's topic in Earlier VFRs
Seconded. What's next? -
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Yeah, stepped out to my garage 2 days ago to see snow quietly falling. No test ride that day. Spent the day installing new brake and turn signal additions. Started the bike just to hear the sound.
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until
I need a ride right now. In fact I need 3.......................ish May SMR in Franklin then a first Gen GT in Cruso NC. June AHMRA races in Millville NJ July, Pick up my 13 year old niece in PA and drive back to Maine and stuff her with Lobster Rolls, Chowder, and local corn for the month. August TBD, maybe ride out to SD, the only state in the lower 48 I have not been to. Sept. Maine, maybe up to Eastport, Madawaska, Houlton etc. A proper loop is easily a 1,000 miles. -
VFR1200 Old Road NSW Australia pic1
FromMaine commented on Clint's gallery image in Member's Gallery
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until
I'm in. Booked for Wen/Thur the 19th and 20th There is a first Gen get together that weekend in Cruso NC near where the BRP and 276 intersect, I'll be there Fri/Sat. Looking forward to this, I hope our Canadian friends can make it.