Bent

It's two and a half years later, on Christmas day in fact, since my last post here. Thought I would cruise on over to VFRD and take a look at what's going on.  I didn't go to "The Dark Side"  (see my post below), I am completely out of the bike business.  In April of next year (2024) I am scheduled for back surgery at Cleveland Clinic to hopefully get at least part of a truly messed up back fixed.  I'm dreading the surgery but hoping it will do some good.  I have learned more than I want to know about the spine.  One of those things being that most spine doctors aren't qualified, hence, a trip to Cleveland Clinic, allegedly the best.  If your back isn't a mess, be thankful.  Motorcycles don't help back health.  That's what got me out of motorcycles.  In January, I go to get yet another double epidural in my back (four shots with very long needles).  Not as bad as it sounds, for temporary relief. 

In this time since last posting, I think I may have seen one VFR on the roads.  They seem to have faded away.  In fact, I don't see many of any kind of motorcycle on the roads compared to the 2000...single digit years.  Times may have changed and people sure have with me being one of them.  This back issue has been life changing.  

I clearly remember the old gang back in the "glory years" of renting the Franklin Motel and running the roads in Western NC, putting around 400 miles on the bike in a day in the twisties.  Those days have come and gone for me.  The wife and I still drive on over there now and then just to escape the home place.  The Dragon doesn't have the same demographic on it as it once did.  Fewer sport bikes everytime we go.  A lot of people haven't slain The Dragon but did get slain themselves.  It doesn't attract me any longer probably due to enough miles on it. 

Just checking in and wondering who is left on this forum.  No doubt some new members and I'll surf around and see if who from the old gang is still here. 

Merry Christmas 2023....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.      

On 3/30/2020 at 5:56 AM, PaulT68 said:

Hello fellow VFR fans,just for reference,when I bought my 95 FS the previous owner couldn't remember or be specific about which Oil he had previously  used,which gave me an open book really on choices for future changes ( I would have continued to use the same product if I had known what it was).When the inevitable Oil Cooler Feed Pipes ( one of them) started to crack resulting in a leak which luckily was picked up during its MOT,i bought a second hand pair and did an Oil change when I swapped them over.I previously had a Suzuki SV650 and had bought some Amsoil 20w50 fully syth which I had read made for smoother Gear Changes,but had sold the bike before I got to use it.So logically I used this Oil for the VFR,i replaced the Filter (oem I think) with a K&N one,also bought a Magnetic Sump Plug and hey - presto the change was done.The original Sump Plug was tidy,no signs of stripped threads etc and looked like it had seen a lot of Spanner/Socket use ( good sign).Years later everything is still good,doesnt burn any from what I can tell,no Mayonaise traces despite winter lay-ups in the Cold and usually Wet UK climate,colour doesn't look overly black even now.With whats happening at the moment and less riding time available  im determined to change it this season,i will use the same Oil  again.

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.  

On 1/4/2020 at 2:19 AM, RC36B said:

Lucky bastard! In Denmark they raised ethanol content to 10% effective this January 1st. E0 not allowed in the market 😞

 

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.......

On 1/4/2020 at 2:19 AM, RC36B said:

Lucky bastard! In Denmark they raised ethanol content to 10% effective this January 1st. E0 not allowed in the market 😞

 

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.......

On 1/4/2020 at 2:19 AM, RC36B said:

Lucky bastard! In Denmark they raised ethanol content to 10% effective this January 1st. E0 not allowed in the market 😞

 

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. 

16 hours ago, MaxSwell said:

I'm no knee dragger but I routinely get 8,000 - 10,000 miles out of the Pilot Road 2 tires I've used in the last 10 years. The fronts usually have enough tread to keep using but I prefer getting tires in a set.

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

18 hours ago, mountainslide said:

I didn't get 14K out of the tire, that was the mileage on the bike for service, I was late for my 12K. I got a shy of 4K out of the tires which isn't a lot but I love how the handle.

 

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.  

On 11/13/2016 at 11:32 AM, mello dude said:

Because there are better choices than the OEM Honda filter for less money.

Check the - calsci site.

"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.    

50 minutes ago, Thumbs said:

Nice looking bike ...those are DSG frame protectors yes?

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.  

18 hours ago, MaxSwell said:

Hey Bent, V glad to hear about your shoulder and your being back in the saddle With A Vengeance. I still remember vividly our first ride back at T-Mac.

 

 

"To seek greatness is the only righteous vengeance"

Criss Jami

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!

15 hours ago, thepretender said:

Bent, 2 machines the 8th gen is the one that uses a bit of oil.

FJ12Ryder, new 2014 got it earlier this year 3700 miles so 700 sense top off and still up to top line on sight glass filter on tight 10-30 oil next change at 5000 

so just keeping eye on it, changed at 630 with T6 miles no metal flakes at the first change.

 

 

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.  

On 6/30/2019 at 6:08 PM, thepretender said:

Planing a 350 mile ride tomorrow so lubed chain  and checked oil, second time in 2500 miles (3000 total) I had to add oil as was just below the sight glass. My S1000R with 35000 miles never needs to add oil. Don't think this should be a problem. Am I wrong?  

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.