JZH

Yeh, Vesrah is fine (or used to be). I've used them before, too. Ciao, JZH

FYI, some markets don't have "VIN plates" riveted to the frame; instead, they use VIN stickers located elsewhere (but the rivet holes in the frame remain). The VIN should be stamped into the headstock, regardless, however. If the frame has been replaced, the headstock would have come blank (and need to be stamped) and there would be no VIN plate or sticker (which would need to be swapped). Frame replacements are exceedingly rare (but I do have one for another model Honda--it is completely blank). Under the seat should be a small, white paint code sticker indicating the bike's OEM paint color and code. Under the numberplate there might also be a paper barcode sticker--but, being paper, this may not have survived. Ciao, JZH

I have to say that is some serious German engineering going on there! If you need any other Honda tool dimensions, they are in the Honda tool catalogue. I think I posted a scan of it some years back. Ciao, JZH

(Hey, it's only been a few giant tortoise years!) I was thinking about this bike today because I'm heading to California tomorrow for the first time in about six years. I'll see if it is in any state to ride one last time around the ol' stomping grounds where I grew up. I'm sure I will be back to California--but not on this bike. No, not because I'm selling it (sorry!), but because I'm finally selling my house there and shipping everything to Europe--including this very special bike. It was built with memories, good and bad. I had mentioned in the first post that I had bought the A&A kit in December 2008, but I didn't mention that was just after I had lost both my parents that year. That was the beginning of a rough few years, but working on this bike probably helped me get through them. (Not to mention my family!) I seem to recall that the PCV issue has been resolved since I last tried it in, er, 2012? Anyway, I will have another look when it's "over there" with me. Wish me luck! Ciao, JZH

This picture, of one of my old bikes, shows what happens over time when grit builds up in the end of the swing arm (it enters through the big openings next to the shock). As you can see, the bearing carrier has a casting feature that can catch on any grit which protrudes above the level of the machined part of the swing arm when you attempt to rotate the bearing carrier for chain adjustment. Once the pinch bolt is loose, there is nothing which should require hammer force to rotate the carrier. (You can also gently open the swing arm carrier opening even more by inserting a large, flat blade screwdriver into the split.) I don't see any real need for lube on these parts. Ciao, JZH

Please post your latest Turing Test results, and we'll go from there! Ciao, JZH

Indeed. The same applies to "standard" o-rings, seals and bearings for which dimensions are shown in the Honda Parts Catalogue. Not all dimensions are listed, and some which are listed are not "standard", so this trick doesn't always work, but Honda often massively overcharges for "standard" parts like those. Find some local or internet sources for standard automotive hard parts and you can save a bundle. Ciao, JZH

Sorry to say, but I seriously doubt there are 24 more people willing to spend that kind of money on an old sport touring bike. I think you're probably better off going single-nut if you're looking for that level of bling. Ciao, JZH

From memory, I think the rubber is more like 2-3mm thick. Ciao, JZH

Anyone care to guess which material the (steel) bolt on the left was screwed into? Ciao, JZH

I'm not a painter (nor an artist!), but everything I've heard about Honda paint colours is that there are only a few sources which even try to reproduce the Honda motorcycle paint colors (ColorRite in the US being one, RS Bike Paint in the UK being another). (Although a recent Google search suggests there may be more than I had thought!) Professional paint matching is quite sophisticated these days, so showing the old mudguard to an automotive paint supplier in Italy would probably be your best bet. Ciao, JZH

Webike in Japan is legit. But expensive! I've used them in the past with no issues. You could also just buy a sheet of rubber and cut them out. I have a set of hole punches for this, but you could even cut the holes out if you've got a steady hand with a scalpel... Ciao, JZH

I'd just like to emphasise that it is really, really cool that you're doing this. There are ways to make parts for our bikes even after all the OEM parts are gone, and fortunately there are more and more ways for enthusiasts to make certain parts themselves, e.g., 3D printing and CNC machining. We're entering a brave new world of trying to keep our ICE-vehicles going long after the OEMs have abandoned them. Ciao, JZH

You could find another Honda motorcycle from that era which was NH-254M from the factory (do some searches on bike-parts.fr), and buy a small-ish part like a front mudguard on eBay to check the colour. There's no guarantee (and I would think no reason to believe) that the re-spray was done using an OEM Honda paint colour. People usually re-spray with whichever colour they like and have easy (cheap!) access to. There are a few places you can buy supposedly OEM Honda paint colours, but it's not sold by Honda, and there's no guarantee it will match whatever you've got on there... Ciao, JZH

You can definitely fit the entire exhaust system from early on late, and vice versa, but not just the end can. As the captain notes, the little side fairing may also not fit, but everything else should clear. (Oh, and the early model's center stand bracket will interfere with the late model's exhaust, so you'd have to delete that if you have one.) The engines are pretty much the same, but the frames are not. That is probably the main reason why aftermarket fairings for the other version of RC36 won't fit. You'd not only have to change all the bodywork, but also the tank, seat and probably the entire frame and sub-frame. Other than that, it's bolt-on! Ciao, JZH

There is (or was) a complete gasket set from Honda, actually Kit A and Kit B (top and bottom of engine, I believe), but they may not be available anymore from Honda. Athena seems to be the usual aftermarket replacement brand, but all I see online are kits for VFR400s, RC24s and RC30s... Good luck. Ciao, JZH

My RC36 is an 837cc, and although the pistons were purchased in the UK in the early 2000s, I believe they were sourced via Dynamo Humm (because Brian owned the piston spec used by JE to make them). Unfortunately, I don't know which jets are in the carbs. However, if you're going to get the engine tuned on a dyno (which would be wise, considering the set-up), the tuner should have a gazillion Keihan jets in stock to choose from. I might also have some info on an old Factory Pro Racing jet kit I have/had. But I'd have to dig around for it. ISTR I might have a photo of the instruction sheet (incl. jet sizes, albeit maybe those were Dynojet jets)? [Found the Factory Pro data sheet. It is for the early RC36, which may not be useful to you.] Ciao, JZH VFR750F Factory Jet Kit Setup Sheet (1997).PDF VFR750F Factory Jet Kit Tuning Guidelines (1996).PDF

If it's a Honda sport-ish bike from the '90s to '00s, your fork spacing choices are: 182mm, 192mm, 204mm or 214mm. I have the 5th gen at 204mm. Ciao, JZH

FYI, Toyota has a distribution centre in UAE, which is why online OEM parts places like Partsouq.com exist. They handle OEM parts for Honda, too. I checked Partsouq, but they don't have that heat shield. But I checked some other Honda moto parts, and they do have things like the 5th gen footrest rubber, so they may have more moto parts. Something to keep in mind! Ciao, JZH

Chinese stuff can be cheap as chips, and it can be state of the art. Usually not at the same time! I would feel comfortable using un-tested Chinese parts on my bike is some places, but I would draw the line before the brakes. Ciao, JZH

Lol, since we've only met once! I think I would probably be smothered in my sleep if I came home with another bike. Or poisoned. Yeah, she'd probably go that route... Ciao, JZH

Aka, the "tip-over indicator", when it's missing... Ciao, JZH

Interesting. Is there someplace you can have them made from your drawing? I once used PCBWay to get some LED dome light circuit boards made. Came out well. Ciao, JZH

And an economic migrant... Ciao, JZH

Yes, and it was never offered in North America, so unless it was an import, you won't have HISS. Ciao, JZH