TimC

I'm sad to hear VFR will soon be gone, but I completely understand the reasons.

Huge thanks to Miguel for all his hard work on this forum for the last couple decades.  It's been the best resource possible for all things VFR -- organizing rides, maintenance and repairs, and a great community of like-minded people who love these fantastic machines.

But it's been so much more than that to me.  For several years this was my favorite spot on the web.  I spent way too much time here, and was a real post-ho for a few years.  I made some great friends, attended a few T-macs/Spring Memorial Rides, and learned how to work on my bike some, at least to the best of my meager abilities.  (A good friend and occasional riding buddy I met through VFRD has helped me countless times with maintenance and a few mods, too.)  I would even hang out here on a Friday or Saturday night, just cruising the threads for whatever interesting stuff I could find.

I owned my 6th gen. a little over 14 years, and put over 97k miles on it.  And though I sold my VFR about three years ago, I still visit here often.  I can't offer much in the way of technical and mechanical knowledge, but I still enjoy the forum.  And I have to say my VFR ownership would not have been nearly the same without this forum and the people I've met, ridden with, and hung out with over the years.  VFRD has been a truly special place for me.

And for all that, I will say it again:  Thanks, HS.  And to the Mods and to the community in general.  🙂 

I'd love to attend, but I'm already booked for a wedding gig that Saturday.  😞

On 3/26/2023 at 8:12 AM, bmart said:

On the 5th gens, my R6 track bikes I primarily have been using Mobil 1 M1MC-134 for many years. I've also enjoyed the Bosch 3300 on the VFRs. They used to recommend the Mobil M1-108. Even my cars have similar filter recommended for them: Mobil M1-110 & Bosch 3310. I'm not sure if you can reach folks from where you are, but I've called and talked to the oil filter engineers more than once with detailed questions. 

The last few years I had my 6th gen. I favored the Mobil M1-108, but I also used the Bosch 3300 a few times.  Another cheaper but decent option for me was the Purolator PL14612.

That is both a scary and impressive amount of work for a bike I'm sure you didn't think you'd have to put that much into before you get another Africa Twin.  Kudos to you for all that work and finding parts as cheaply as possible!  👍

Just amazing work, Seb, and an amazing story and photographic documentation of your whole project.  Congrats on a wonderful build, and I'm so glad I got to see it in person!  🙂

That's a great update!!  👍

But jeez, what a hassle to get your driver's license reinstated.  Considering that all the morons we see who make idiotic and dangerous moves on a daily basis get to keep their licenses, it's incredible it will take months to get your license back.  I guess safety first, but I'd worry more about the average boneheaded cager than you on the road!

Anyway, onward and upward!  🙂 

Hi TimC,

Thank you for your donation of --. We look forward to improving the forums with your donation.

Thanks VFRDiscussion

Must...resist...posting in...an oil thread...  😐

Ugh.  I can't help it.  Here we go.

A little context first:  I bought a like-new, bone-stock 2004 VFR in August 2006 with just 4,200 miles on it.  I rode it.  A lot.  I sold it two years ago with just over 101,000 miles on the clock.  I changed the oil regularly, every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, depending on what oil I'd last put in it.  Shorter intervals for regular or semi-synthetic, and longer intervals for full synthetic.  The engine was still funning as smoothly and strongly as ever when I sold the bike.

When the local Honda dealer shop changed the oil (which they did a few times in the early years of my VFR ownership), they probably used whatever they were supposed to, hopefully the Honda oil, but I never asked.  I did a bit of research a few times over the years as to what oil I should use when I changed it myself.  Opinions varied, as did the data people posted, just as we've seen forever.

When I changed the oil myself, I believe I started with regular automotive 10W-40 oil.  Valvoline or something decent.  Then as the bike got a little older and the mileage increased, I switched to "high mileage" semi-synthetic 10W-40.  I tried a different viscosity when my CCT started clacking, hoping the oil would help.  (If I remember correctly it didn't make a big difference.)  In the last several years I had the VFR I went back and forth between the Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 and regular automotive full synthetic Mobil 1 10W-40, usually opting for the later because it was cheap at Walmart, who usually had it in stock.

By the way, I think in the early years I used a couple cheaper oil filters, but soon started buying better ones.  K&N, Mobil, etc.  Motorcyclists talk about oil a lot, but not as much about oil filters, and we probably should.

So here's my point.  I'm no scientist or expert, but judging from my experience and the bit of reading I did along the way, as long as you use good oil in the right viscosity, your VFR will probably be fine.  I put 97,000 miles on a 6th gen. VFR over 14 years, using a variety of oils (and filters), and never once had any kind of issue with the engine (not including the failure-prone CCT).  If you are racing or doing track days on your VFR, subjecting it to extreme use often, I can see the value in pinpointing the exact best oil to prevent mechanical failure.  You can do the same to help ensure engine longevity for decades to come.  But for average use - like mine was - choose what you like within reason, and you'll probably be okay.  That's just my opinion, take it or leave it.

If we're talking cars, my 2018 Miata I bought new just over four years ago has over 55,000 miles on it now.  I know that isn't impressive for the average car or truck, but a Miata?  Hardly anyone daily drives a Miata year-round, especially in NE Ohio.  So yeah, I kind of proud of it.  😄 

Fantastic!  I think many people have dreamed of a 5th gen mill in a 6th gen chassis.  I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing the final results!  🙂 

And the Ducati looks amazing.  As sleek and sexy as their newer sportbikes are, the older ones just have more character.  Maybe call it panache.

Very sorry to hear about the crash and the damage to your 5th gen, but glad you were generally okay.  And yeah, medical bills suck.  I have excellent health insurance, but even with that a 3-day hospital stay and minor surgery last November has been expensive.

36 minutes ago, thestumper said:

Put the "spud" (DbKiller) back into my Delkevic exhaust.  As much as I liked the sound, it was just too loud.  It still sounds good, but it's lost that "punch you in the gut" immediacy it had.  Definitely better than stock, but not as compelling as the full-on brutality of an uncorked system.   

 

At least now I don't have to roll down hill with the clutch full in to avoid too much attention at 7:00 AM.   

I have a db killer in the SC-Project exhaust on my BMW.  It sounds good as-is, but I'm tempted to pull it out to hear how much louder it is without the baffle.  I'm not a fan of loud exhausts, but I am curious so I'll probably give it a try soon.

4 hours ago, Marooncobra said:

I fitted the R&G sliders which require you to cut the fairings but does come with a replacement coolant bottle that is shaped around the steel rod.

I installed the R&G sliders on my 6th gen, too.  One bonus of the sliders is if and when you drop your VFR, it will lay at a bit of an angle instead of flat on its side.  That angle helps you get a better grip on things to lift the bike back upright.

BTW, drilling my fairings was one of the most nerve-racking things I ever did to my VFR.  It worked out just fine, but my pulse was racing at first.

16 minutes ago, Philois1984 said:

I did a similar thing to my panniers, love the gold coloured Honda Wing decal.

I was going to add DOT reflective tape to my old 6th gen's OEM hard bags years ago, but never got around to it.  I still have the tape in my tool chest.  😕 

Hi TimC,

Thank you for your donation of 50.00 USD. We look forward to improving the forums with your donation.

Thanks VFRDiscussion

3 hours ago, DaveC said:

Bit sad to see all those bikes rotting away, I wonder how many will ever be saved ?

Those photos make me want to go to the garage and give my motorcycle a big hug. 

3 hours ago, Cogswell said:

Seems in very good condition for 553,xxx km - 343,xxx or so miles.  Maybe they slipped a decimal point in the ad.  If accurate,  that's the highest mileage 6th gen I've  seen. 

I was curious, so I looked it up.  One of the photos in the ad shows the odometer to be 53,348 km.  The seller made a typo, simply putting an extra "5" on the front.  😉

I sold my 6th gen. two weeks ago.  Ending odometer reading was 101,012.  🙂

Hit this a couple weeks ago on my '04.  Bought the bike from its first owner with 4,225 miles on it in August 2006.  My goal for 2020 was to see this number on my VFR. 

On 9/14/2020 at 4:24 PM, RC79NC001 said:

Sept 14, Just back from the shop. 60163 Mi.

I think that's impressive mileage on a VFR for just six years.  Well done!  🙂 

5 hours ago, MaxSwell said:

Bought in 2014 with 10,700 miles on her. Empty trailered to Virgina, bought from a pole barn, hauled to T-Mac where we found a rodent nest in the air box. (A pic was taken but I cannot find it). Too many upgrades to list but simply love this machine. 

That's impressive mileage for six years!  I used to ride that much, and hope to again someday.  🙂 

On 6/20/2020 at 9:15 AM, Budgie said:

Gents I am just about to make a decision on a new vfr, i had one in the late 90,s and loved the build quality. so after numerous other bikes Blackbird,Cbr,Harley,Gs,s i have decided i want an all weather bike  as i am fed up polishing and not riding the bike so to speak. Clearly you guys do a lot of miles is my choice the right choice as i thought abou the kawasaki s1000sx but the v4 sound wins as i can still remember enjoying the sound over the blackbird,blade and cbr.  your views are welcome this bike will be used in the rain and shine most of the year round what do you guys and girls reckon.

 

budgie

I can't speak for all generations of the VFR, but my 6th gen offers decent weather protection, even with the stock windshield.  I can duck down and put my knees in tight to the tank and avoid some rain, at least for a short burst.  But riding through a steady rain you're going to get wet.  This obviously isn't a full-blown tourer, but it's decent.  Same goes for colder weather.  I only wish I had heated grips, but I never got around to adding them.

On 6/20/2020 at 3:06 PM, RC79NC001 said:

I think the VFR is the whole package. Put an aftermarket slip on exhaust ( I'm using a Delkevic ) ,tweak the suspension ( Jamie Daugherty to name one option), tweak the OEM seat ( Sargent rebuilt mine ) and you have a unique motorcycle that can do it all. Plus you won't see yourself coming and going everyday.

Agree.  I don't have an aftermarket exhaust, but Jamie rebuilt a rear shock with a stiffer spring for my weight, and one of the best mods on my bike is the Sargent seat.  It has lasted years, but probably needs to be redone at this point.  But one of the best things about the VFR in my opinion is that you don't see them everyday.  I like having a bike that's a little rare where I live.  Plus, anytime you go into a shop and start talking to people, when you say you ride a VFR they'll invariably nod and say, "Nice bike."  That's pretty cool.

As for mileage, it's great to see so many 8th gens with some decent miles already.  I don't have a photo, but my 2004 is nearing 96,000 miles.  I'm seriously hoping to see 100k on it before the end of the year.  I didn't ride much from 2016 to 2018, averaging just 1,500 miles per year, otherwise I'd have hit six figures already.  But I'm fairly certain this will be my last season with my VFR, which has been my only bike since August 2006.

Replaced all the front pads on my 6th gen this morning.  I had a new front tire installed on Sunday, so it was a good time to easily replace the worn pads while the front wheel was already off the bike.

Two notes:

1. The left caliper pads were more worn than the right.  I don't remember if that's been the case before, but I don't think it's highly unusual for one side to wear a bit faster than the other.  Neither side was bad, but the left were clearly more worn.  As I'm hoping to do more long rides and hopefully a tour this summer - and since I already had a couple sets of new pads on hand - I thought I'd just replacement them now.  Also, the last couple rides I noticed I had more front brake lever travel than usual.  Hopefully that was due to the worn left side pads.

2. While reinstalling the front wheel, I had a tough time positioning the left brake rotor between the new pads on the left caliper.  While trying to move then wheel into place, I knocked the inner side pad out of place twice.  It popped out of the retainer spring and rotated down, just dangling from the pad pin.  Has anyone else ever had this happen while reinstalling their front wheel?  I don't recall it ever happening to me before, so I worried maybe I didn't get the pad installed exactly correct.  But I checked it each time and it looked seated in the retainer spring to me.  Maybe the edge of the brake rotor hitting it was just enough to knock it out of place.  Now that the front wheel is back on, I'm sure it's fine, but it still makes me a little nervous.  I'll check it during and after my next few rides while I'm bedding in the new pads and scrubbing in the new front tire.

I think one of the hardest parts about wrenching (for me anyway) is I'm not as confident in my skills as other folks.  I second-guess myself often, and probably unnecessarily.  But that self-doubt makes for some anxious moments while working on my VFR.  😞 

Hi TimC,

Thank you for your donation of 25.00 USD. We look forward to improving the forums with your donation.

Thanks VFRDiscussion

And it looks even better in person!

I bought a used ZG double bubble from another VFRD member several years ago and tried it for a short time. The fitment wasn't perfect and I couldn't tell that much difference from the stock screen, so I went back to the stocker. I'm tempted to try another screen, but I know I'll always be OK with the stock windshield.