Lorne

Another pic of my VFR taken definitely shows an aircraft carrier. This pic from the Library of Congress shows the Hornet, CVS-12 beside a battleship. Sure looks like it could be the one in my photo. Definitely impressive vessels when you are that close to them.

Bremerton, you say. In March '93 I took my new-to-me '91 VFR750 on its maiden voyage and stopped by the Navy yard in Bremerton. Seems like a million years ago...

Lots of great replies & photos. The map below shows the routes I use, with Vancouver and Seattle also highlighted to get your bearings. Terry: at 31,000 sq km, Vancouver Island is about one quarter the area BC Ferries have wooden blocks to prop your bike - but no tie-downs, at least on the routes I use. Black Ball Ferry's MV Coho offers rope to tie your bike up - weird, I know. Both routes are around 25 mi/44 km and 90 minute voyages, though only the Coho is an international trip. They both cost about the same: US$38 / Cdn$49. The Coho sails for 2 to 4 round trips per day, while BC Ferries run 2 vessels totalling 16 round trips per day.

To take my mind of the gloom of late fall, how about a show & tell about ferry travel? Living on a (largish) island necessitates a ferry trip anytime I head off for a trip. Mostly I take the MV Coho from Victoria, BC to Port Angeles, Washington. That route is more convenient when I head to America, but the journey via BC Ferries to mainland BC at Tsawassen is more scenic. The Coho is the smallest of the ferries I travel on; 340 feet long and carries 110 cars & 1,000 passengers & crew. BC Ferries' Spirit & Coastal class vessels are over 500 feet in length, and carry up to 350 cars and 1,600-2,000 passengers & crew. MV Coho leaving Victoria harbour: Looking northwest to Vancouver from the retired Queen of Saanich: nearing Tsawassen ferry terminal aboard Spirit of BC, with the Coastal Celebration and Queen of New Westminster (sister to Queen of Saanich) docked in the background: looking back towards Vancouver as we enter Active Pass between Galiano Island on the left(north) and Mayne Island to the right:

Great shots, St. S, weems like years since I've up the coast near Jenner - 'cause it has. No trip for me since '19. Btw, I remember a good bakery/deli in Tomales, about 25 miles down the road from your photos, that I hope to stop by next summer.

Tarkus, to add to DannXYZ's suggestions you should also inspect and clean every electrical connection in the charging circuit. There's a 3-way connector on the three yellow leads between the alternator and the rec/reg that tends to overheat, it's behind the right side fairing panel. Check the connections on the starter relay, pulling the rubber boot away to verify that everything is a-ok. It is under the seat near the battery. Fyi, power from the rec/reg goes through it en route to the battery. So a bad connection there can easily result in replacing batteries and rectifier/regulators that are perfectly serviceable.

Terrific scenery, Dutchy, thanks for the photos. Sad to hear you've sold your SP2, though.

VFR800s run happily on 89 octane (North America) pump gasoline. There is no more power available from higher octane fuel than Honda recommend - with a stock engine.

I'd not recommend lowering footpegs on a 3rd gen VFR750 as ground clearance isn't generous. The cheapest handlebar option is to raise the existing 'bars higher on the fork tubes. As I recall you can probably go about 18mm / 3/4" . Do ensure that the bars are no higher than flush with the top of the fork, and that the bolts are properly torqued. Also, you'll need to remove the thin circlip just above the bars. Second cheapest is to fit a set of 5th gen VFR800 handlebars. Btw, 6th gen might also fit but require a 1mm shim as they use 43mm fork tubes. They too are about 18mm / 3/4" higher than VFR750 ones. You may need to trim a locating tab. Thankfully, the locating holes for the switchgear & throttle ass'y are in the same position (90% confident of my memory). Do note that 'bar end weights of VFR750 and VFR800 are different. Raising them may affect steering lock. Check that there is still clearance with the fuel tank and upper fairing with the 'bars turned full left & right.

The 5-spoke and 8-spoke rears weigh the same - 12 pounds according to my old bathroom scale. Neither had tires, weights, or valve stems. Dunno about aftermarket, but they'd be unlikely to be less expensive than an old oe 8-spoke. And they do make a 5th gen look its best.

As usual, more awesome goodness from Kel. It's a great storage idea that I'll pass along to my pals.

Some of you guys are way overthinking this in your replies. Redbike notes this has been an ongoing issue for him since buying his VFR. My 2009 VFR800 (89K km) also has a buzzy motor, especially noticeable in the right handlebar and both footpegs. I came close to selling it during my first year but talked myself into believing it would smooth out as time passed. Fwiw, I've owned a two 3rd gen VFR750s (total 145K km) and also a pair of 5th gen VFR800 (total 116K km). All of them had smoother engines, especially the 750s. As Larry says, VFR engines are not the smoothest in existence but something about the 6th gen VTec VFRs makes them the roughest. Then there's the twitchy throttle and the dubious value of the VTec system. Hmm, need to come up with an excuse for keeping mine these last 10 years 🤔