TimC

Yikes. If you find out what brand those pads were can you please let us know so we can avoid them? I replaced the original elbow and shoulder pads in my textile jacket about four years ago. They had hardened and started to crack and split apart. I'm not sure how old they were, but it was probably 10+ years. I replaced them with Icon D30 LP2 armor, which had great reviews online. I like that the pads have a vented design, which should keep me a little cooler on hot days. It took a little work to put them into my jacket's pockets, but they fit just fine.

Welcome to the forum from Ohio, USA! 🙂

Welcome to the forum! I hope it works out for you to get that VFR. If it does, please post a photo or two here so we can celebrate with you! 🙂

Congrats on that sweet VFR and welcome to the forum! 🙂 I can't help with the mirror, etc., but wanted to say welcome and good luck getting the bike to where you want it.

Welcome to the forum! 🙂

Welcome to the forum from Ohio, USA! 🙂 Sorry to hear about the damaged bike, but hopefully the repairs, the re-paint, and your maintenance all go very well!

Nice write-up. Thanks for posting it here! I've considered buying an older RT or K bike for touring use, but definitely not a 1600. I only ride alone, and the extra power (and size, weight, and expense) of the 1600 would just be wasted on me. Not to say it would be a bad choice; it's just overkill for my needs. FWIW, I'm on my first BMW - an R nineT Pure - after long-term ownership of a 6th gen. VFR. It's different. It's been mostly great. Being a naked boxer twin, some of the maintenance is easier. But some is harder, too. Replacing the battery, for example, which I'll be doing soon is a pain. Also, any BMW dealer service is very expensive. Still, I don't miss pulling the left fairing off my VFR for a simple oil and filter change.

Congrats on your 5th gen. and welcome to the forum from Ohio, USA! 🙂 There is tons of terrific information, maintenance guides, and tips on this forum. And yes, the search function is your friend!

Welcome to the forum! 🙂

Congratulations on that great looking 5th gen. VFR and welcome to the forum! 🙂

That happened to me with my 6th gen. several years ago during a trip to the Skyline Drive in Virginia. My rear tire looked fine when I was leaving home. When got to my hotel in Front Royal, VA, I was alarmed at how thin it looked. I think the tire wore much faster than usual due to a combination of abrasive road surfaces, a loaded bike, and hot weather. I looked online for any local motorcycle shops where I might be able to get the rear tire changed the next day, but there was nothing close. I had planned to ride a little of the Blue Ridge Parkway that trip, but that tire was already getting thin, and when I got to the BRP a warning side said 'Loose stone' (chip seal) for the first 12 miles. No way I was risking that, so I turned back toward home. By the time I got home I was showing cords in a couple spots.

I used Sea Foam for years in my 6th gen, adding the prescribed amount to a full tank of fuel after most oil changes, which was usually a couple times per year. I don't know how much good it really did, but I never had any fueling issues during my ownership with the bike.

Welcome to the forum from across the pond! It would be great if you'd post a photo or two of your VFR. We never tire of seeing them! 🙂

Welcome to the forum! I hope you'll share a couple photos of your VFR here. 🙂 I'm actually a former owner, but stayed on the forum because of the great people here. Plus, you never know, another VFR might appear in my garage someday.

I sometimes think about buying another 6th gen. But when I browse sale listings online I mostly look for bikes with the OEM saddlebags. I don't think I'd want to go through the exercise of having to find a set now, especially if I wanted them color-matched to the bike.

Congrats on the 7th gen, but sorry to hear about the issues. Hopefully you can either get it sorted properly, or just enjoy the bike for what it is. Either way, good luck and ride safe! 🙂

Nice score on that great looking 6th gen. Congrats!! 🙂

Congrats on your VFR and welcome to the forum! 🙂

Congratulations on your 8th gen. VFR and welcome to the forum from Ohio, USA! 🙂

That's an amazing car. Congrats! 🙂 In the last week or so, I test drove a couple used Cadillacs - a CT5 Sport and a CT4 Premium Luxury. Both were with the base 4-cylinder engine. I liked both, but love the looks of the CT5.

Welcome to the forum from Ohio, USA! I hope you'll post a photo or two of your new machine!

Same here. By the 2nd or 3rd day of a trip, the bike feels like an extension of my own body. Sadly, it doesn't usually last upon returning home, but it's very cool with when you feel you're one with the bike.

Congratulations on your 8th gen. and welcome to the forum from Ohio! 🙂

Congratulations on your VFR and welcome to the forum from Ohio, USA!

Congrats on that sweet 5th gen!! 🙂