jeremy556

Until a month ago, I hadn't ridden since, I think, TMAC 2012. Moved to Colorado in 2012, had problems getting the bike plated, put it on the back burner, got into other hobbies. A couple months ago, my co-workers egged me back into riding, however my VFR has developed lots of wiring problems in those years of down time. I picked up a 2018 Tuono on 9/8 and put 3000 miles on it since.

I just logged in to VFRD for the first time in a long time as well, since I had a new PM notification from 2013. Good to see a lot of old friends in this thread.

Here are the Q2's after 1730 miles (rear) and 2670 miles (front) and one day at TMAC:

The front actually had some life left at the edge and the middle but the sides are treadless. The rear looks like it has tread on the sides but the leading edged of the tread was to the cord. The tires gripped with absolutely no slip right up to the last turn into the garage. Way better than any Dunlop product I had ever used. These would be my first choice if I was taking the VFR to the track.

I put the Power/Road 2 combo on Thursday night and ran them like they were the Q2s over the foothills and the dragon and I slid the rear on 3 different occasions, one a sloppy downshift going into a corner, and twice gassing it out of tight turns. I suspect the Q2s let me be very sloppy and the Michelins needed some break in.

As the week wore on the Michelins worked great, steered perfect and never gave a hint of grip loss. I suspect I adapted to the tires and they finished wearing in but I am very pleased with their grip. I would say the Q2s have more overall grip but I already have 900+ miles on the Michelins and they look much better than the Dunlops looked at 800 miles.

I like the P/R2 combo and they steer great. Have them on the girl's Versys as well and they work fantastic on that bike. I will probably try the new Bridgestone S20s next just because they are new and I like trying new tires.

Pilot Powers (original) front and rear. I don't think you can get any better than that on the street, and they are relatively economical these days.

I have never been anything but disappointed with a Dunlop street tire.

OK kids, we have 43 people registered, but 57 rooms reserved! The math doesn't work here, wtf????

I'm registered, but haven't had a chance to reserve a room yet, so I'm skewing the numbers even more...

I was in Franklin last weekend, and the Franklin Motel is indeed closed, something about bank owned/repo'd on the sign.

Do you all typically bring your own tools (just in case), or is there a resident tool bringer. I am already thinking about what to pack! How about bobbles and trinkets for a swap meet or bargin table of sorts? I have some stuff I could bring if it is the norm...

Thx, t-Mac noob.

I usually have us pretty well covered - from basic hand tools, chain breakers, tire changers, spare tires, batteries, chains, stators, R/Rs, air tools/compressor, etc.

Hi Guys,

Need some help - I got a pair of used R&G Frame Sliders (very mint) from a buddy of mine. I want to install these on my bike but he lost the bolts for them.

Just wondering if anybody can tell me what size bolts I need to use so that I can install these. I have the modified water bottle - THANKS!!!!

I would contact R&G.

It uses a replacement stainless bolt that goes through the engine and frame and is threaded on both sides.

What happened to the old bolt? There is no way you could use the bolt without the sliders.

I don't have that particular one, but I can tell you that it doesn't work anything like a baxley. The Baxleys clamp the tire and will actually hold the bike well enough that it won't tip over without the whole chock tipping over, that one, won't.

I don't think there are ANY left-hand threads on any VFR. I certainly can't think of any (though I have never fully stripped any VFR engines)...

The only one I know of is on the center stand.

Which VFR and where, exactly, is it? This I have to see...

Ciao,

At least 6th gen. I think 5th gen too. I know it has been brought up here before and I had to drill one out for House when he snapped his off. It's been a while though so I can't remember exactly where it was. Maybe into a bracket for the center stand that mounts to the frame or engine case?? I remember he was getting the swingarm and a bracket powdercoated, so it had to be in one of those pieces.

I can confirm this. I also snapped mine. IIRC, it is the right side bolt where the center stand hinges from.

well have been soaking in wd40 since yesterday.

what exactly is PB Blast is it a brand of lube spray type thing?

WD40 isn't going to help you much, it is not designed to be a lubricant.

Search your locale for penetrating oil, that's the stuff you want.

WD stands for "Water Displacer," IIRC. From my experience and what I have read from people who know a lot more than I do, it is a terrible lubricant.

PB Blaster is a spray penetrating oil, kinda like WD40, but a lot better.

Whenever working on exhaust, or any other corroded parts, a few doses of PB blaster, a torch, and an impact wrench make the job much easier.

That really is a sweet wheel-chock-on-a-dolly, though. I have seen a lot of bikes pulled on to a rollback on their side.

ABS model?

Run a wire from the battery and splice it into the small gauge black wire at the R/R connector. You can search this site for "monitor wire" and probably come up with the old threads and detailed how to guides.

2. Jeremy is an angry drunk! (J/K dear..)

Only when they piss me off

Note to self: Keep one eye on Jeremy at all times during TMAC... he should not be trusted.

Fixed

So if I go next year, will there be any slow-azzz old farts to run with or do I just lack the requisite skill-set to do the dragon??

Plenty, just join up with Bailey's group.

Very nice that even the hotel management knows what kind of class act this bunch is. =)

It is Franklin, NC. They would beg us to come back as long as we didn't burn the place down

I learned that the VFR owners love to clean their bikes as soon as they get back to the motel.

what?

Okay, some people like to clean their bikes as soon as they get back to the motel.

Who?

My real question with these has allways been how much force can they take before punching a hole in that nice purdy spensive radiator they're in rather close proximity to...........

I would think, not much. HPS brand were of a similar style - no cut needed, but had a bracket that was at least supported on two sides.

Let me get this straight.

You had the head gaskets changed: why?

The bike NOW stalls, AFTER the head gaskets change, but it didn't stall before this. Right?

Are there any FI error codes?

Basically +1 to this.

I would suspect it is something simple like a twisted fuel hose, or a vacuum line in the way of the throttle linkage.

The "auto enricher" on the VFR consists of a cylinder filled with wax, connected to the coolant lines, which pushes open the throttle butterflies. It is completely mechanical, and I am sure has nothing to do with your current issues. This makes me suspect of your mechanic's knowledge and experience when it comes to VFRs.

When you say stalling, do you mean no power, and the engine won't rev any higher, or does the engine stop?

Good write up but I have never seen set of these help on a low side. I wish somebody would post pix's and show me how they help .

This was tossed down the track at about 100mph, and slid to a stop on tarmac. No damage to radiator, fuel tank, or frame.

A year prior to this crash, a 25mph low side without frame sliders resulted in a damaged radiator, tank, upper fairing, and scratched frame = bike totaled.

I sit corrected. Damn, is that an R&G????

It was

Good write up but I have never seen set of these help on a low side. I wish somebody would post pix's and show me how they help .

This was tossed down the track at about 100mph, and slid to a stop on tarmac. No damage to radiator, fuel tank, or frame.

A year prior to this crash, a 25mph low side without frame sliders resulted in a damaged radiator, tank, upper fairing, and scratched frame = bike totaled.

Hi Jeremy.......have not seen you here for a while.

You may be right. The original Qualifier was a pretty lousy tire compared to the competition at the time and they got a bad name.

The Q2 however is getting great reviews. Hard to believe it's from the same company.

Went and picked up a new Power front at cycle gear today and looked at the Q2. Feels like they quit making them out of steel; might have to try them out sometime.

Hole saw works just fine

I am surprised that the Q2 from Dunlop has not caught on among the members of VFR-D. If you are going to run a performance tire you should really try them.

The Michelins are a very good tire. But after having used the Q2 on my other bike, they will be on the VFR once the current set of Powers is done.

I would say they have a bad reputation to overcome. I ran a few sets of Qualifiers, and was always completely disappointed with their performance. Pretty much the opposite of their 208GPs.

I'm in.

Haven't ridden since the last TMAC...

so I'll sweep the scenic group.

Nice work.

Did you use the inside the bar heating elements that come with that kit, or the regular ones that mount on the outside of the bar, under the grip? I think I can see the wire on the outside, and don't think the inside version would work with the internal bar weights.

Make sure to replace the hubs/bearings, and check those leafs, hangers, and axle for rust perforation. I would grind the rust off and prime/paint that and the frame as well.

Get a cheap folding front trailer jack with a wheel, makes moving it around a breeze, even loaded.