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keithbob

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Posts posted by keithbob

  1. I have a factory service manual for an 82-83 VF750S Sabre if anyone out there owing one. A bit of VFR pre-history, I owned an 82 for 30+ years and just recently let it go. (I still can't figure out why I sold the '00 VFR...)

    We're packing up the house in prep for a 2-yr trip on the bikes to South America, so it's FREE to a good home, just PM me an address to send it to.

    Keith

  2. I rode up to Mary's Peak yesterday but did not know the location of this memorial and did not see it. I asked the ranger at the summit parking lot but he was not familiar with it. If I knew the location I'd take an updated photo of the site. The summit road had gravel down the center of the lanes in places so it paid to be careful.

    Judi just reminded me that we put the stone down off the road (and the Ranger's won't know about it) because we did it on our own without permission. So it's best not to ask anyone official about it and draw attention. Not to seem selfish, but it's really just for us who know where to look, and who had a connection to Rich (that's all you VFRD folks, whether you met him or not).

    But they did put up that great sign for us!

    Thanks everyone, for the kind words and memories. And if I wasn't hosting a BMW campout the weekend of the Oregon Trails thing, I'd have to crash it and say hi to olds friends. I'd love to show you what tuned aftermarket suspension on a GS allows you to do to a front tire - amazing!

  3. We now have a perfect marker for finding the stone we set that marks where Rich came to rest!

    Head up Mary's Peak Road off of Hwy 34 until you come to Parker Creek Falls. Turn around and go back down maybe 150-200 yards. Exactly where he left the road, there is now an "ELEVATION 3000 FT" sign. In the photos below, you can see the sign, and my GS is parked directly above where the stone was placed, about 30-40 feet down from the road. You will see a large log, maybe 4' dia., lying at the base of the tree that it snapped off of. From the elevation sign, angle down to the left and you will find the marker stone just above the log. Pretty neat.

    There's even room to park a few bikes in the grass by the signpost.

    The forest is always changing, and the pine needles and duff have built up around the coffee cup and shoes, which are taking on a nice green from the moss. I cleared away the sticks and such, but left the natural buildup of things. It doesn't seem like 8 years have passed, but they have.

    As for me, I'm doing just great out here, and continue to have adventures on the GS, aka Shrek or The Horse or The Big Pig depending on what I'm traversing at the moment. I continue to check in here from time to time, and it seems things are carrying on in fine order, typical fashion. I may have to show up at another VFRD event to check in with old friends. One of my great memories is having 33 VFRs parked in my driveway when we had you all here in Newport in 2006.

    So if you go up to Mary's Peak and you were a friend of Rich's, or even if you never met him, now it's easy to find his marker. Remember, he loved his coffee, so if you pack a thermos, spare him a drop or two in his cup.

    Afterwards you'll need to go down to Alsea and have pie at Deb's.

    Parker Creek Falls

    Elevation sign

    How the stone looks today-

    Rich

    You really owe it to yourself to have lunch here. It's a regular stop for us locals.

    Deb

  4. I rode up to Mary's Peak yesterday but did not know the location of this memorial and did not see it. I asked the ranger at the summit parking lot but he was not familiar with it. If I knew the location I'd take an updated photo of the site. The summit road had gravel down the center of the lanes in places so it paid to be careful.

    The marker itself is down off the road, and there is no marker to tell you where to look. And things have changed a little since they re-paved a section of road there. Next time I'm up there I'll note the landmarks on the road by it, and maybe put a secret paint mark on the edge where you go down to it. It's quite unofficial, so the ranger would have no knowledge of it. I'll post up again with how to find it. Maybe the GPS coordinates, too.

    Thanks for thinking of Rich. I still drop in to VFRD from time to time, even though the VFR was sold quite a while ago. At least I still have the Saber in the garage to give me that old V4 feeling.

  5. Today was a thoughtful kind of day. I took a walk up into the woods above the house (it's deer season here), lovely morning, and saw a lot of nothing. But while walking back, I thought it would be a great day for a ride into the Coast Range to see how Rich's stone is getting on.

    I've had his coffee cup in my cupboard for three years now since Rich died, rarely use it, and it occurred to me that I should just take it up and set it by his stone in the woods. Rich LOVED coffee, and used to razz me about my preference of tea. For those of you reading this anew, my best riding buddy Rich had his last ride on the road that runs up Mary's Peak in western Oregon. His beloved Judi placed a stone at the spot where we found him.

    I put the cup by the shoes and hung out with him awhile. I don't know where the shoes came from, other friends and family members tend to stop by and leave things, too. The little wooden cross we began with is still lying there, and I noticed some words we'd scrawled on it still legible. In August, Didit and Jfviffer came up to visit with me, which meant something to Tony as he had met and ridden with Rich at the '06 PNW meet, just two weeks before we lost him.

    gallery_3463_5005_160498.jpg

    Rich's stone

    I go back every now and again, and it always amazes me how much things change at that spot in the trees. Two years ago, the massive spruce just below snapped in the wind and crashed down just missing the site. It's now a great thing to stand on and listen to the silence and watch the colors change as the light pours through the trees. Though it was sunny, the winding road up the mountainside was well-lubed with wet pine needles and green moss.

    I rode my late father-in-law's GoldWing up to the mountain. Darrel loved that bike, almost as much as his BMW GS that he rode everywhere. He died last April quite suddenly. He was preparing for his second ride to Alaska on the Beemer. Jalene and I inherited the Wing, along with the camp-trailer that it pulls. What a ride it is when you want to cruise in comfort and see the sights. Darrel and Rich would have gotten on brilliantly - both equally quirky and absolutely nuts about motorcycles. Both of them were taken from us without warning, and both of them I miss terribly.

    gallery_3463_5005_41033.jpg

    Still life - GoldWing with coffee cup

    I always have nice conversations with Rich about the ride up there. When I told him I rode the GoldWing up to see him, I heard some crap about how old I'm getting. I let him know that Colorado was a great trip, and about some other things going on in life. He wants me to bring him something to put in the cup next time I'm up there. I guess that was a little rude of me.

    So now rides to Mary's Peak will include a thermos of hot coffee. Doesn't have to be good, Rich seemed to like any kind of gut-burning swill.

    And while reviewing this thread while writing, I found where Baileyrock expressed a desire to come see the place. Well, Kevin, you get yourself healed up and make it to Oregon and we'll go for a little ride. BTW, buddy, though I didn't get to say it in CO, the words you and all the others posted when I was laid up a year ago were worth millions, and I know we all think of you every day right now, especially when we're on the bike. Heal well!

    gallery_3463_5005_102757.jpg

    Forest view, memorial stone at lower left

  6. That's a nice unit. Probably a very safe bet. I've had REI tents for years and years and they hold up great.

    FYI, I have the one-man tent that REI makes, also. I bought it thinking that it would be just that much smaller to pack, but in reality it has too little space inside to bring your tankbag, helmet and boots in out of the rain without piling them on top of your sleeping bag.

    The Half Dome should be a great compromise between easy-to-pack on the bike and interior space and convenience.

    Also, I use a knee-length Thermarest Light that packs incredibly small and still gives a nice cushion for sleeping. Down bags pack super-small, and stuff bags for your clothes are great space-savers, too.

    Keith

  7. it does look like it was meant to be there, keith. nice work!

    i understand that the voltmeter tells you voltage in your system - what do you do if it's too high/low? shut the bike off?

    i'm guessing watching this is to prevent you from overcharging or overtaxing your electrical system, correct?

    It's basically letting you know that your charging system is working. If it drops too low it warns you something has gone wrong and you're riding on borrowed time.

    Exactly. It MAY save you from getting stranded if you notice it in time. The Colorado trip is coming up... There are other units that light up red if voltage drops below a certain critical value to grab your attention.

    Keithbob, Very clean installation,maybe I am being a little silly,but does one have to go to a Honda Marine dealership to get one of these. Do you know if they can be purchased on line?

    You can order it from any source that sells Honda parts, I believe. I saw it online in many places, but since it's so cheap to begin with, I just ordered it from the shop down the street that sells Honda outboards. Took 3 days to arrive, no shipping cost.

  8. gallery_3463_423_17226.jpg

    Honda marine voltmeter in 5th gen

    Honda makes an analog voltmeter for it's marine products that is waterproof and will fit right into the side fairing of a VFR. I ran into this while browsing around on an ST forum. Here's how it looks installed into the left side of my '00:

    Honda part number: 37450-ZW5-000ZA (black face), -000ZB (white face). $17.00

    The instructions called for a 2-1/16" hole, but I used a 2" holesaw then gently sanded the hole from the inside until the meter slipped in without play, didn't take much. So that it is only activated with the key on, I wired it from the grip heater relay and then ran the negative directly back to the battery. Test readings matched those taken directly off the battery.

    A very simple install that leaves you with a stock-looking voltmeter.

    One caveat is that an analog voltmeter wired directly to a battery will drain it down if left for an extended period (days, weeks?), so I would only do this using a relay or splicing into switched power. Without a relay, I'd go with the Datel or other low-draw digital units.

  9. I'd love to go for a ride with some new folks, but I have a question... just how quick a bunch are y'all? I'm just getting back to riding after a three year hiatus. I was never the quickest riding in the bunch anyway and I'm even slower now. I'd hate to hold everyone up.

    It's not too far (maybe 15 miles) from the cafe in Philomath to the top of Mary's Peak. We'd welcome you being there. No worries about how fast or slow anyone is, this will be a fun ride that each can do at their own pace. Several of us will be two-up, not that that slows us much...

    Please come and join us!

  10. On the date you mentioned for the ceremony is August 31st. This is a Sunday not Saturday. Is the memorial on Saturday the 30th or Sunday the 31st of August? I never meet Rich, but will try and attend.

    Oops! My mistake. It is SUNDAY, August 31. I have edited the original post to the correct date. Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you.

    And thank you to all who will be there in spirit. I suggest a nice ride that day, wherever you are.

  11. gallery_3463_423_68341.jpg

    Hi all-

    I just got word from Judi, Rich Merrill's long-time girlfriend, that she has a memorial stone ready and would like all of Rich's VFRD friends to join her in placing it. I understand that it is a simple engraved rock that she wants to place where he came to rest. Any of you are welcome, even if you never got the chance to meet Rich.

    Judi asks that we meet on Mary's Peak, which is located on Hwy 34 just west of Philomath, OR, between 1 and 2 pm on Sunday, August 31. I would suggest we meet at the turnoff from Hwy 34 at the base of the road going up to the peak at 12:30 pm.

    If folks would like to have lunch beforehand, we can meet at the CD&J cafe in Philomath at 11 am. Rich and I liked that place and we often met there before our rides.

    Hoping to see many of you - Judi will appreciate having you there.

    Keith

    gallery_3463_423_98904.jpg

    Ride forever Rich

  12. Bill Mayer saddle?

    I might be Bill Mayer, but I don't think so. I have one, and I know the guys from spending a day a the Ojai factory this spring. They have big bucket cores like that, but I don't think they'd make one for a VFR that wide. Who knows, though, they will build you whatever you want!

    When they made mine, they actually started with a core that was shaped much like that, set it down in my seat and then carved most of it away, then glued other pieces in and carved more until they had the shape I wanted. I should do a post showing pictures of the process.

    It looks like it would be comfy, but boy is that butt-ugly or what?

  13. Looking forward to a better shot of the bar-end mirrors, also. I like your option for taking care of the mirror mounting points, and the idea of a secondary running/signal light.

    I've long considered bar-end mirrors, but have never tried them personally. Tell us about what makes a good bar-end mirror and what you would recommend for someone wanting to try them on a VFR.

  14. Nice look, George! It'll help loads on the dyno. :goofy: Seriously, that's gonna look great. Post another photo when it's asembled again.

    When is the dyno day happening? Can others of us tag along? Like David, I'd be interested in seeing if my PC map is close or needs more work.

    If he's not a DynoJet center, the place my brother works at up in Seattle is.

    Keith

  15. Enzed is right - I don't know if lifting the tank after opening up the airbox is actually better on the dyno. I do know that after installing the PCII and O2 elim. and getting a good map in it, I still had a very moderate flat spot around 4500-5500. Opening up the airbox has eliminated it, and the tank-lift was done at the same time. I don't know if there is more top-end power, but the mid-range is much improved.

    I looked at where the air has to pass through to get to the airbox openings, and it's a lot of small spaces. Collectively, they all add up, but turbulence and drag is (generally) higher for multiple openings than for a single one of the same area. Lifting the tank just a quarter inch actually makes a pretty big difference in the area exposed along the lower front edge through which air can flow.

    The real question is, is this change actually helping air to flow to the airbox, and, more importantly, is there a favorable change in airflow through the intake system and its resonant characteristics that results in more usable power and better throttle response?

    Throttle response is indeed improved. Power? Only the dyno will answer that question. I've read that it takes about a 10% change in power before the average street rider really notices it, and can easily believe it. I will be having the bike dynoed and the PCII map adjusted next time I'm up in Seattle - I'll report what I find.

    Keith

  16. Congrats on lockin' her in! Good job on the airbox, too. I think I'll do the screen idea. I opened mine up in a similar way last year, and now find all sorts of odd bugs and stuff on the filter.

    Remember, bug-infested air has to get to that big new opening now, and that's not easy the way the VFR is designed. I put some 1/4" spacers under the front mounting tabs, and found some longer stainless bolts at the marine supply store here. I just used a couple of 6mm (I think) nuts slipped over the bolts. The tank is still firmly held in place, and I often use a large tank-bag loaded with all my stuff.

    The result is more air coming in under the front of the tank. I haven't had it dynoed yet, but the tank lift seems to help in the midrange, which is where we need it. Sounds great, too.

    Keith

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