St. Stephen

For many years a series of Arai Signets have been my every day helmet. But as the price has approached $1000 (yikes!) I've looked around for something with just as much protection for less money. I ended up buying an AGV K6S in August for $630 plus tax. Not cheap, but definitely less! Plus: - Significantly better field of vision, both top/bottom (85 degrees) and left/right (190 degrees). I noticed this immediately, a big difference. - A lot lighter! I weighed my size large at exactly three pounds. - It has a much simpler, faster, easier face shield removal mechanism. If you've ever replaced an Arai face shield you will appreciate how much better this one is. Minus: - I always wear glasses while riding. So far the fit is tight enough that it takes a little work to get the arms of the glasses through the foam interior to my ears. Hopefully this will loosen up with use. - Not really minus but the AGVs seem to run a bit small. My fat head fit in a medium Arai but my AGV is a large, and fits very well. So far I'm very happy with the K6S and I recommend it. Side note: for years I've avoided the Cycle Gear stores--my impression was that they just sold low-end house brands with not much selection. If I was going to buy at a bricks-and-mortar I'd spend at my dealer. But I wanted to try the helmet on first, so I visited the CG store in Santa Rosa, and was pleasantly surprised. Lance the manager was an ex-club racer, passionate about bikes, and knowledgeable. And they carried real brands like Alpinestars, Sidi, Michelin, Arai, etc. Who knew?

I'm guessing he means the top case? So, a cover for the structure that attaches and supports the top case? Like a cowl over the passenger seat on 6th/5th etc.?

Hey Darryl, if you need help with grunt work moving Lance's things or just clearing stuff out let me know. I'm going back and forth often between here in the north bay and north county San Diego where we have family, so would be happy to stop and help. I think you have my contact info. Rough year for you, hang in there.

Damn. RC1237V just texted me with the news. Sucks. A great guy. I only rode with him a few times, but some random memories: Breakfast in Kernville, maybe 2016, ready for Brian, TC, and Duc2V4 to lead us north through the Sierra. Lance arrives...in a 'Stitch! I'm not alone! Random stop somewhere before arriving Shaver Lake. "You guys sure get going fast, I didn't get my gloves on in time!" Smart, great rider, lover of 5th gens. I didn't know him well, but I'm really happy that I knew him.

My confidence in Captain 80's limitless expertise has been shaken to the core. Everyone knows the courtesy phone is white. 😉

Keep those updates coming Smitty, you're getting close. Lots of fun following your progress, and admiring all the stuff I am not skilled enough to accomplish myself.

Welcome back to your 8th gen Grum! Great to hear you are riding again, and with purpose(wine)! Stay healthy and ride more.

Welcome to the forum Trevor. I bought a red 2010 VFR1200F as soon as it became available. Owned it for seven years, what a great bike. Never regretted my decision. I sold it to buy a Multistrada just to get modern electronics that the VFR didn't have, don't regret that decision either! VFR1200 PROS: Best brakes I have ever experienced on a bike I have owned, better than the Brembos on my Ducati. What a fantastic motor, just endless pulling power and a sweet sound. For me pretty much a perfect sport touring bike, just eats up the miles. CONS: Kinda heavy, pushing 600lbs. Power is restricted a bit in the first two gears by Honda but there's an easy fix. Removing the plastic and putting it back on is something I am very happy to never have to do again. Love all those Suzuki's! My first bike riding legally on the street was a Suzuki, and I rode a kinda beat up GS400 in my college days. And I have always been a Kevin Schwantz fan. Let us know when you find it. My 2010 VFR:

Great photos Seb, and of course what a beautiful (red) bike. Knuckledragger is usually used as an insult but not in your case! In my east coast days my best trips were Skyline-->BRP-->Dragon--Cherohala, plus the many offshoots from the BRP. We always did the dragon a few times but Cherohala was my favorite, scenic, long and very empty. Of course I can't say I was getting a knee down every corner, the wildlife kept me alert. Sorry about the shock but you seemed to be coping somehow. 😄 Offshoot (Goshen Pass):

Only about 180K miles. I went to work by train the first five years of ownership, then moved to the midwest where I had a short commute. But it's been cross country a few times, and was the workhorse for most jobs you would usually use a truck or van for. And w AWD and OK ground clearance it worked off road too. Also, it was a five speed, pretty rare. Both my sons learned to drive on the Element, knowing clutch and shift turned out to be useful. As Captain mentioned, I also shed a tear when the guy I sold it to drove off. Not as attached as most of my bikes, but a solid, dependable Honda. It never sat in a garage, spent 20 years in the hot sun, snow, rain and (KCMO) more than one ice storm. Titus Canyon Road in the middle of nowhere, Nevada across the state line into Death Valley:

No, not that Honda. 20 years ago today I brought home my brand new 2003 Honda Element, $20,000 cash. I have owned that car for two decades, it has been one of the most practical and useful vehicles we've owned, and no car payments meant some monthly cash was freed up to spend on motorcycles! Here is it, just arrived home to Cranbury NJ, July 17, 2003, probably 15 miles on the odometer: With just a few detours we have always owned Hondas. My wife's car is a 15 year old TL. Our first new car was a 1980 Civic wagon. I got a CRX the first year it came out. Two Accords, an Odyssey. The most incredibly beat used Honda 350 Scrambler when I was in college. 1985 VF700 which I kept for 16 years. 2002 VFR, 2010 VFR, 2003 RC-51 (which I am NOT selling). And a few lawnmowers. 2003 Honda towing 2003 Honda, on the way to a track day: What's next? Ordered a Subaru Crosstrek. With a trailer hitch!

Wow guys, two great looking bikes. No Hawk, but I've got a Honda v-twin! Always loved the pure simplicity of the Hawk, great sound also--yes, like the SV. Endlessly modifiable! By coincidence, about 90 minutes ago I was leaving my RC at my local independent shop and spotted a very nice Ascot sitting there, immediately thought of the Hawk and what a great 3rd bike it would be...

Cheers Darryl! Can't wait for that pic of you (legally) riding for the first time. Which one first?

Thanks for your travelogue Skids, lots of fun to follow. Your photos are better than the ones I get in the Edelweiss marketing emails every week! Have a great trip back home.

Have fun Dutchy! I think Rt. 120 into Yosemite is still closed, you may have to take 140 aka El Portal into the park, a bit further south. Lots of water this year from the record snowpack, and some minor Merced River flooding, but spectacular waterfalls. You're going to have a good time, enjoy.

I know Captain is right, but wish you luck nevertheless. Post some photos once the project gets moving. Yes, an 85 VF700 was my first V4, yours will (hopefully...) look like this:

That is a great plate indeed! Welcome from the north bay. Thanks mainly to member JeffyJeff we manage to put together a ride or two each year, keep an eye out here at VFRD. Anyway I'm sure you'll end up at Alice's many times, just up the hill from you. Best wishes for lots of fun riding on a great bike in the fastest color!

Thanks for the update Darryl, keep 'em coming, I want a pic of your first ride. Hang in there you're quickly getting back to normal.

Don't listen to these guys, this is all you need: 😉 Seriously, that's just my level of electrical knowledge! We have so many experts on this forum, myself obviously not being one of them. I only bought a voltmeter a few years ago because that's how Grum started every problem solving post.

Great trip, great photos Steampunk. My first year with my Ducati I did nine days Sierra/AZ/CO/UT (from Norcal). I ended up in Durango planning to do 550 but the fires had closed parts of the road. Damn, still on my list! Headed east instead, 160-->149-->50, ending up in Montrose for the night--a pretty great alternative route!

Hey Bren, not sure if you are responding to me or WillMitch. If me, those are original factory engine cases for my 2003 RC-51. Larger view:

Those gold cases are pretty cool, even if you don't like the color--it's HRC!

"Lose some BS..." I must figure out the same plumbing on my RC-51: remove all the CA EVAP stuff. Checking VFRD sucks because it reminds me how minuscule my garage skills are despite decades of VF/VFR ownership.

If you choose the right oil it will unleash factory power. Read this somewhere...

Amen! I don't typically hesitate to post taunting photos of sunny CA winter riding, but not this year. 11 inches of rain so far in March as measured at Santa Rosa airport, and another week to go! Even on the rare sunny day the backroads are mossy and greasy. I feel like I'm back living in Eugene...