Lorne

6 hours ago, St. Stephen said:

Just buzzed all the way to Olema

 Olema, eh? I was enjoying a solo ride homeward from Monterey in July of '03, and neglected to stop at Olema's one and only stop sign. I was looking for the turn into Point Reyes National Seashore and hadn't noticed a CHiP car right behind. Oops. Got away with a warning, tho.

No photo of that adventure, but here's one from earlier on that trip. Also on a VTR1000, but an F sadly instead of an R. This is a couple miles up Nacimiento-Fergusson road from PCH, near Lucia.

Excellent work as usual, John. But what it has me thinking is just how filthy my 92.5K km '09's swingarm must be.

I don't believe the airbag flapper is the culprit. That rattling was obvious on both my 5th gen VFR800s, but never on my '09 Vtec (93K km).

Mohawk's suggestion of throttle cable fee play seems top of the list to check, and can be done in the garage. Start your bike and once the engine is idling normally, close the throttle then check how much you can rotate it before the engine speeds up. The book calls for 2-6 mm of free play. But if you do need to tighten it double check afterwords that engine speed doesn't change when your turn the handlebars lock to lock.

Do you know if your bike is completely stock and unmolested? In any case, you can also do a basic mechanical check to assess fuelling and electrical systems to affirm that everything's kosher.

Good luck

On 7/4/2024 at 8:01 PM, bruceburner said:

from about 30km/h upward, there will be this noise coming from the front end

Great shot of your Vtec, that gloss black is the diabolical inverse of my white '09 - Vader's tie fighter to my X-Wing.

Anyhow, when the noise appears is it constant? Does it change depending on throttle opening? The same whether accelerating, coasting, or steady speed? Uphill or downhill. What if you add a touch of front brake? Put it on the centre stand, have an assistant hold the back of the VFR down, and shake the forks to check for loose headstock bearings.

Good luck

On 6/19/2024 at 4:53 AM, JimCMA said:

My 2000 needs one spot of touch up. From looking around, it seems that the 2000 yellow is:

- Pearl Shining Yellow

- Color code Y-124P 

I bought my yellow VFR800 new in early '99, and it came with an obvious cosmetic shortcoming. The colour of the side fairings looked distinctly different, less saturated than the upper cowl or fuel tank. At least in bright daylight. So it may take a deft hand to blend in your touch up seemlessly.

You mention metal so I assume it is your fuel tank. A spot is on the top or upper sides will be more noticeable, and if at the back or lower in the sides then a tasty tank cover will help hide the crime.

5 hours ago, ThePFJ said:

Michelin are all out and there's a one month wait.

If available, Road 5 would be a great alternative.

Grum and Presson have it right, just go with the standard Road 6. According to Michelin the GT is for heavier bikes, and not included in their recommended list for your VFR.

   Since 2000, most of the tires I've chosen for my VFR750/VTR1000F/VFR800/VFR800 Vtec have been Michelins. I like how the feel of Michelins better than the equivalent Dunlops or Bridgestones I've used. Only done one track day, most of my mileage has been multi-day trips.  Started with a set of Pilot Sport in 2000, then Pilot Power, PP 2CT, PP 3, Road 4, and currently Road 5.

20 hours ago, auggius said:

I've got a burnt stator connector.

Hmm, that looks more like the reg/rec cable as the stator cable has only three conductors. But in any case you best inspect the stator on your 4th Gen, as well as the starter relay for signs of heat stress as well. Pics of some of my '92's connectors and my '09's stator show the horrors hiding behind closed doors 😱

22 hours ago, St. Stephen said:

I'm still trying to find a spot in norcal that you haven't been to!

...

And, because it's all about the photos, here's the other bike on Tomales Road about two miles away

You can see a lot of a state if you visit often enough 😉

The scenery in that part of California does look like something out of a fairy tale, doesn't it? 

8 hours ago, St. Stephen said:

If you visit, stop at the Route One Bakery and Kitchen.

I love the stretch of PCH and nearby roads between GG and Bodega Bay. Didn't try the bakery but I've had a few nice coffee breaks at Tomales Deli next door. Here're pics from my 1st visit, back in 2007.

For a variety of reasons my '09 VFR800 has been mothballed for the last 18 months. And not, sadly, in a nice cozy garage but in a carport with a bike cover. Today I decided to check the inside of its fuel tank, praying that rust hasn't gotten a toe hold. In my case, seemingly not, if this photo mosaic can be believed. I should not that iPhones aren't the best tool for peering through the gas cap. I think I have the orientation right.

2 hours ago, Dutchy said:

8 years on, time to retire the ARAI HRC....

That is a good looking Arai, Dutchy. My 2013 Arai Aoyama-rep is getting long in the tooth, but I'm bummed that none of their current graphics appeal to me as much as it or my even older Doohan-rep.

Thanks for sharing your repair. Always great when someone comes up with a fix to keep our old bikes 100% functional.

I would only note that 3rd gen fuel gauge and low fuel light are extremely pessimistic. At least they were on my '91 and '92 VFR750s. Their low fuel lamp lit just when the gauge hit E, but the tank was about 1/3 full. Seems that Honda never got the calibration right.

On 2/28/2024 at 10:51 AM, Dutchy said:

What a lovely shot, Dutchy, I must have missed it back in February.

On the topic of hand controls, by coincidence did the same for my 6th gen's clutch & brake levers (similar to the 3rd thru 8th gens). The old grease becomes sticky over time and I've found that spritzing WD40 or similar on them in place doesn't do all that good a job of cleaning.

     When removed the levers can be dismantled, a tricky but not impossible task for those too inclined. That also gives access to clean the master cylinder pivot which ensures the smoothest possible response to input.

16 hours ago, JZH said:

Also not from waaayyyy back, but still pretty far back.

Is that an Aerostich you're wearing?

16 hours ago, JZH said:

The FL was my original 1990, bought new in California.  Retired it after 60,000 mi or so,

I like my other VFRs but my FM is still my favourite, wish I could have kept it. Was going strong at a tic under 90,000 km.

May '93: Cherry blossoms at Beacon Hill park made a good backdrop for this shot of the new-to me '91 VFR750.

45 minutes ago, fabio222 said:

Man that RWB paint scheme is the bomb.

Even better with a coat of pearl white on the wheels 😉

12 hours ago, Skids said:

bike just starting to move and I clearly didn't feed her enough revs and she stalls

Glad to hear it wasn't a more serious injury. Even better that you'll have the Texas MotoGP to distract you.

57 minutes ago, St. Stephen said:

Ok Lorne, you got me sucked into this topic.

Oh darn 😉

Love the photo, really does look like the top o'the world.

And going back another 20 years - long before Soichiro Honda dreamed of his first VFR - here I am with my '72 BSA Rocket Three. 

3 hours ago, fabio222 said:

Life moves fast.

Don't it just? Thanks for sharing a great story.  

1 hour ago, Terry said:

This was the bike

I remember reading the magazine articles about the VF750F and being amazed. They looked like something from the future. Repeat with the '86 VFR750 and RC30. That might explain how I've come to own a series of Honda VFRs over the past 3 decades.

2 hours ago, Captain 80s said:

Because you were trying to act like you were praying?

That's what happens when you go for the pensive George Clooney, but without the looks or talent.

Two days after buying the VFR I got caught out by loose sand on a highway exit and down I went. Skinned knee and separated A-C joint (collarbone) for me and some plastic damage to the VFR. Three weeks later we were both back on the road, definitely nervously on that first ride.

A couple months later I took a longish day trip: ferry to the mainland, Hwy 1 to Hope, north on Hwy 5 over the Coquihalla to Merritt, Hwy 8 to Spences Bridge, then back on Hwy 1 to the ferry terminal at Tsawwassen, and back home. About 750 km/450 miles and 2 90-minute ferry rides.

This photo is on the Coquihalla with Yak Peak in the background. Despite appearances, I am not praying but it's clear why I never had an acting career.

1 hour ago, Denber said:

Nice! Do you still have it? Miles?

Sadly, no, sold it in early '97 after 4 years & 80,000 km. Would love to have been able to keep it, though.