Bent

Due to back pain, and discomfort on VFR's, I found a buyer for my 8th gen. and turned it loose. After about 6 months of being bike-less, I have the urge again. I just am not able to ride all day on a VFR (have had three of them) any longer like I could in several TMAC's. Back in the day I could make them go in Western NC at a pretty good clip. Pain is the reason I haven't been attending TMAC for a long time. The only cure for that is a new (don't like other people's problems) Goldwing without the rear seat (I don't do two up). Due to a friend raving about it, I want the DCT tranny. That tells you what a pussy I've become. I really do want to just be able to jump on something and ride all day like I used to, have a beer, eat, and hit the bed, rinse and repeat. A few of you might remember me from TMAC rides several years ago when we stayed at the Franklin Motel (gone but not forgotten). That was when we reserved and filled the entire place before it was literally bulldozed and hauled off. Anyway, question......yes, Goldwings are hard to find and dealers don't want to deal. Question: Where to go? Anyone have any suggestions as I shop? Thanks, Bent

Roadsmarts will be my next tire. Dunlop seems to be less costly than my fav. Angel GT's that I can never find discounted. They sure do wear great though.

Angel GT's. They're expensive but last a long time and the edges, after yesterday, gripped superbly. Got a Cycle Gear flyer in the mail this weekend with rear Bridgestone T30's for $99 and I'll pass on them. Bridgestones beat me up too badly. Hard sidewalls. Never will one be on my wheels again.

I use OEM oil filters, Honda uses them, they are easy to find, including, non Honda service and repair shops and I know what I am getting. Once again, the only serious issue I've ever heard of was from many K&N oil filters that have very suddenly "dumped" oil all over the road that the rear tire rolls right over with potential catastrophic results for the rider. If not catastrophic results, then wherever it happens, there you are. The sudden dumping is due to the faulty welded nut on the end of the filter. VFRWORLD has good pictures of it with results on the road. Seeing is believing.

If you haven't read about the many near death experiences caused directly from K&N filters, you need to look it up. Not kidding on that. Hell with the oil issue. I have yet to hear of an oil related engine failure in over 20 years of reading VFR forums. Just use oil in them and change it when you feel like it. DO NOT use K&N filters. Look it up.

Apparently, I am lucky on the EO. It sure makes a power difference in the 8th gen., just as it did on my 5th and 6th gens., when I had them. Ethanol is a scam in many ways. It isn't saving any whales and it takes more BTU's of energy to make a gallon of it than there are BTU's in the gallon. Government helping us out again.......

Apparently, I am lucky on the EO. It sure makes a power difference in the 8th gen., just as it did on my 5th and 6th gens., when I had them. Ethanol is a scam in many ways. It isn't saving any whales and it takes more BTU's of energy to make a gallon of it than there are BTU's in the gallon. Government helping us out again.......

Apparently, I am lucky on the EO. It sure makes a power difference in the 8th gen., just as it did on my 5th and 6th gens., when I had them. Ethanol is a scam in many ways. It isn't saving any whales and it takes more BTU's of energy to make a gallon of it than there are BTU's in the gallon. Government helping us out again.......

Rode is after several weeks of just sitting. It ran good but it was a little cold so it was a quick ride. Machinery isn't meant to sit idle. Letting that happen bugs me. Put some fresh gas in it. Non-ethanol gas. If you haven't tried it, get some 87 octane E0 and see how much different it runs.

Anyone ever heard of an oil filter causing a problem besides K&N? I just use OEM's and forget about it. I hope everyone knows not to use a K&N oil filter due to the nut on the end having weld failures and spreading oil under the rear wheel while underway. That could be deadly. Just say no on K&N oil filters.

I know how you do it. No criticism meant. I have slowed down condiserably though.

That's still very good mileage. Don't know how people get over 3K on any kind of rear tire.

Rubbed it down with Honda Cleaner/Polish and let it dry. Nobody has come along to wipe it off so I guess I'll have to do it.....

Just got back from 4 days to and from The Great Smoky Mountains riding some of the most technical curves in the country while there. Total: 962 curvy miles the entire way from my driveway. The 8th gen. took almost all of it at high throttle and heavy engine braking with no ill results. Tough bike in the garage. Rode The Dragon too much. It's a dangerous place to be on...don't advise riding it any more. Too many incompetent Hog riders. It is what it is.

Bled the clutch and brake fluid. First time for that job for me. Don't need the Motion Pro bleeder I bought. It just gets in the way. The new fluid does make a very distinct difference. Much crisper braking and shifting. Brake fluid looked so so but the clutch fluid was very dirty with crap in the reservoir. Moral to the story: change your fluid on time.

"Better" is anecdotal. Apparently, the war on poverty was lost.

Ordered a new rear Angel GT last night because I did a perfect job of running over a screw of a type I've never seen. It inserted itself in the middle of the tread. Not going to repair the half worn Angel GT due to how and where I ride. fattireshire mentioned 8000 miles of aggressive riding on his Angel GT. I'm lucky to get 3300 miles from an Angel GT so aggressive riding is a relative term. I have never gotten 8K miles from any kind of tire on any kind of bike. A lot of it is where I live and ride along with a heavy throttle hand and hard cornering. If it wasn't for very technical twisties where I live, I wouldn't own a bike other than my TREK. Some things are relative.

And if so, what to they attach to on the bike?

Nothing today. "might" ride it tomorrow, likely aggressively in the twistie parts. It's my "mind-flush" machine.

Yes, that was a good day of riding for sure with you Katherine and others. When we can remember one ride for that many years, it was good. I'll give you an update later today. Told my wife that today I quit hurting from all the riding this weekend, LOL!

Agree. My 8th gen. is my third and by far, best VFR. Have had a 1999, a 2006, and now standard 2014. I've run them all hard with 10W-40 synthetic (I don't care what Honda recommends on the 2014) and none used any oil. The way the 8th gen. has been ridden the last three weekends, it's a wonder it doesn't use some oil but none is used. Shoulder finally seems to be healed from rotator cuff surgery and I've come back with a vengeance in the Smoky Mtns. Age doesn't help though. I don't see how VFR's don't use oil but have no idea on the BMW.

Is it a problem? These are two completely different machines?

Cleaned and lubed the chain. After over 15 years of VFR ownership, I still don't know of a quick easy way to clean a motorcycle chain and get it really clean. Just a real PIA job. Oh well, it's done now.

Going to ride the thing after coffee, breakfast, tire pressure check and getting all the ATGATT stuff on. Washed the jacket last night. It was a filthy, dried sweat, ugly abomination. It really didn't really didn't bother me though. It was getting to where it would stand up on its own. We'll see how it feels. A real motorcyclist gets dirty when riding. I noticed people were avoiding me when I had it on. Not a bad thing really but kind of contrary with my magnet personality, LOL! I must be hallucinating already today.

Going to put a new rear tire on it then ride it this weekend. Weather is supposed to be perfect for doing anything outside.