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  1. Past hour
  2. Oei, I just realized I have a Shoei. 🤭
  3. Apparently I have a Shoei head and a Corbin ass...
  4. A lot depends on your head shape. I have a Shoei head. Arai makes nice lids, they just don't fit me. I recently got a new Neotec. 1/3 more $ than my last one like most things these days. That said I'm pretty happy with it.
  5. This is why I opted for the spendy Penske 8987 shocks for my 5th gens. Being able to tweak the high, and low speed damping with a simple turn of the adjusters is worth it. Once you have it dialed in for the road it's fine on the track.
  6. Just for info: some similarity with the bearing issue found here.
  7. The quest for front suspension rightness continued. The setup as supplid by DMr was good when the speeds were up but not great below that, where ripples, bumps and other jolts were passed more or less straight through the chassis which was a little fatiguing. there was also an unhappy bar-shaking sensation around low speed bends. I engaged with Jamie and he doubled down on having no low speed bleed, and sugegsting reducing the shim stack further; in this instance I have decided not to follow the expert and to go my own way. After much thinking and a bit of reasearch, I have come to a better understanding of the interaction of the compression damping, notably the low-speed and high-speed aspects. Low shaft speed is controlled by the bleed port and high shaft speed by the shim sstacks. As supplied, the compression valve had no low speed bleed, so any compression flow had to push open the shims to allow oil flow, which accounted for the low speed harshness. The shims are there to act as a controlled "blow-off" valve so when those bigger, faster jolts arise that can't pass through the bleed you don't end up with hydraulic lock. I looked again at the stock compression pistons and these have a fixed low speed bleed of about 0.7mm. They also have quite restrictive oil ports feeding the shim stack, these are what causes the harshness on bigger hits as the oil can't easily flow through these even when the shims open. I modified the DMr pistons by drilling a 0.8mm bleed port through the port wall, taking a stab at the drill size. My old Gold Valve pistons had 1.3mm bypass bleeds, and while that is only 0.6mm bigger diameter, the area is what counts and these are 3 x the area of 0.8mm. Saturday was test riding day; I think the mark of correct suspension setup is whether you notice it at all. With the original DMr setup I spent a lot of riding time thinking "this can't be right". Now I wasn't thinking about the suspension at all, which is some improvement. Ride comfort was greatly improved, bump compliance was great and brake dive control was decent. Next up is a new back tyre, have a GT-spec Road 6 on order, and still waiting on the Nitron shock to be built in the UK.
  8. VID_20260510_185134.mp4
  9. Today
  10. The needle bearing is intact, it's not him
  11. What about this thingie:
  12. I haven't checked my 1200's oil chain but when I looked at the chain in my VTR1000F and VFR800, the chain is quite slack on those. Given the depth of rebuild you are facing, adding a new oil pump drive chain isn't really going to add much for some peace of mind.
  13. Yes, I've already completely sorted out all the details. The bearings are really worn out, but I can't determine what kind of spare part was ground. Maybe some kind of oil screen?
  14. That doesn't look to promising. I could not match it with parts visible in CMSNL. Did you already remove the sump and/or cylinder head covers? Have a look here.
  15. If budget allows, Arai also offers 'Custom Fit', which allows for a higher degree of customization / chance of success.
  16. Hi everyone! I’ve become the happy owner of a Honda VFR motorcycle. 1200, 2010 model year. But I bought it with an engine defect – there was knocking. It sounded like connecting rod bearings. After opening the engine, my fears were confirmed. The bearings do need to be replaced and the crankshaft repaired. But in the oil pan and in the oil pump strainer, I found black aluminum shavings and some black chunks. I want to know what part this is? It's ground up. Also, I'd like to ask, uh, about the oil pump chain tension. It seems to me that it's very… uh, loosely tensioned – there is basically no tensioner on the oil pump at all.
  17. I always struggle with gear fitting and tryed on looking hard at the Arai Signet... came close to pulling the trigger, just for grins in the store I tryed on a Shoei X-15... whoa it fits! Got that one. One of each probably would be the solution, but thats a bit crazy.. who knows? Worje....A Mandelorian fan I see...
  18. Hi. Im at the point where I've removed the top connectors in front of the ECU and can now lift the ECU up so far. Do l need to remove the metal cage from around the ECU in order to gain access to the ECU connectors?
  19. Well here a comparison From this To this Quit a change 😎 Now dream of blue fork boots as gold rims 🤩 But for this season it will stay as this, and probably suspension upgrade is higher on list of modifications than gold rims through would love a wider rear rim so could run more common 130/80-17 rubber that are mostly pitched on the slim 2,5" OEM rims. But we have to see. Have to think about what's sensible to do to it as not. But for now I will enjoy it after fixing the small electric gremlins it has whit light's.
  20. The carbs had a clean and a rebuild got a bit further on pics to follow
  21. Hi and sorry for my absence. @Av8r I went here: https://www.ulezbiketest.co.uk. They are very friendly and I see no reason why a gen 3 shouldn't have a decent shot. Give them a call to discuss before you go, explain it's a carb bike and see what they say. Edit: Sorry - to answer your question I booked, took it there, went to the waiting room... passed - all good! They update TFL and the next working day you're good to go.
  22. A few pictures from today's ride A few issues to sort, some lights not working as throttle grip slipping.
  23. keny

    Anything goes!

  24. Has anyone replaced a 6th gen interrmittant indicator switch ( regularly dismantled and cleaned) with a very reliable 4th gen one? I have 2 spare 4th gen switches in perfect order and never had any issues with them. I relise the mating plugs will be different but not frightened to altering wiring.
  25. Yes, I have found Motul 10W fork oil the right viscosity for good damping characteristics as well on a 2017 8th Gen. Both 'factory line' and the 'expert' varieties are the same viscosity (35-36 iirc) which suggests the labelling is just marketing. I made the mistake once of using Silkolene RSF 10W oil without checking the viscosity. The forks felt almost locked solid and then I saw the viscosity was 47 Cst - no wonder.
  26. I also installed a SH847 on my VTR For the installation I opted for something more radical I couldn't be any happier of this layout. Of course I sacrified the undertail piece; in fact, I bought a 2nd hand 25€ undertail on ebay to be chopped; the OEM is upon a shelf in my garage
  27. Before buying fork oil I researched the weights and motul 10w oil was pretty close to Honda 10w fork oil in absolute viscosity.
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    1. med_gallery_491_3463_298783.jpg

      Juniper Pass

      I took a day off from work and also from my bicycle training to take out the Veefalo one last time before the weather turns ugly, supposed to snow the rest of the week and possibly start sticking to the ground along the Colorado Front Range. I took a leisurely pace up hwy 105 toward Morrison and got reacquainted with the bike since its been over a month since I took any sort of twisties on it at all, hwy 105 is a scenic ride along the front range between Denver and Colorado Springs, its mostly easy fast sweepers and lite traffic so its a favorite road of mine when going north. Then I have to negotiate a bit of traffic near Highlands ranch and up hwy 470 into the mountains. I decided to take the Morrison Exit and try either Lookout Mountain or head up Golden Gate Canyon - this time it was Lookout Mountain, I was sort of making it up on the fly as I went along. Lookout Mountain is my old bicycling haunt from my days while I was working at Coors, its a killer ride and all uphill - I don't think I could do it today If I had to, not quite there yet! I saw a whole bunch of riders doing it though and wished I was in shape enough to be there doing it as well. 30 more lbs and I will be able to do it! On this day I would do it on the Veefalo instead.

       

       

       

       

      I took a video from the gateway to the top at the Lookout Mountain State Park, getting past riders, the guy in the green jacket actually pretty much astounded me with how far he had gotten in the short time it took me to set up my camera, some 3 miles at least and up to the gateway from the turn off at hwy 6! Amazing I thought. I took the first two turns slow then got more comfortable as I went up further, till I was doing well, I made some gearing mistakes and took the tight 15mph marked hairpins in the wrong gear so I lugged it a bit on one or two. Still enjoyed it though and then got off at the top and hiked over a rock outcropping for an overview of the road for the pictures below.

       

       

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      Lookout Mountain - Golden Colorado

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      Zoomed in

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      Lookout Mountain Park top of the mountain

      From there I headed up interstate 70 to Idaho Springs for a beer at the Tommy-knockers brewery, I was the only customer in the joint - slow day for them so they treated me like a king! I got a nice tour of the place sort of impromptu, they made me a nice Pastrami sandwich on rye and with the brown ale it was fantastic. I must say the beer is much better there than in the bottles - its always good at the brewery. I am glad I stopped

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      Tommy-knockers Brewpub Idaho Springs

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      Idaho Springs Colorado

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      Mashtuns and fermenters

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      Rows of fermenters

      I finished my lunch and since the road to Mount Evans is right there I headed up Squaw pass hoping to get in some nice pictures I wasn't expecting what I found, ICE IN ALL THE SHADY PARTS

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      Icy patches on Squaw Pass definitely taking it easy on that road

      There were some section where the ice covered the whole road for 300 yards or so I had to roll through it with my legs out to help keep the bike from sliding and falling over, I took it real slow. A Ford pickup was right behind me so I pulled over to let him pass but the guy was going slower then even I was so I pressed on - in places where I could see I just cut over to the oncoming lane and out of the ice where the sun was shining on the road more, but some places there was not alternative so I just had to go slow, good thing it wasn't slick but rather they tossed some gravel over the worst parts so I had some traction!

      I did stop for pictures in all the best spots

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      Echo Lake at Mount Evans showing off my new plate

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      Elephant Butte Park and Denver

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      Close up

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      Veefalo on Squaw Pass

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      Juniper Pass

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      Juniper Pass

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      Mount Evans

      My route A is home B is Tommy-knockers

       

    2. martinkap
      Latest Entry

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      Not that it matters and not that I expect anyone had noticed, but to those who sent me "where are you?" I would like to say I am back. Not only that I am officially returning to VFRD after nearly 2 months break but I have also ridden my Hawk last weekend and had FUN! Let me restate that; I had major fun riding! Something I have almost given up on.

      Most of you have been riding your whole adult lives and riding is not only a hobby to you, it is part of you. But I started riding three years ago and even though I have encounter some setbacks, till this spring I loved riding with whole my heart. However, I have always considered riding as my hobby. As a hobby which suppose to make my life better, more fun and more rich. Life is too short to do something which we don't fully love.

      My love of riding received a first major scar this spring: I lost a friend on the racetrack. He was a total stranger who offered me his help after I lowsided at CMP track last year. I still remember hearing his "Hi, my name is Todd, do you need help?" while I was duct-taping my roadrash from ripped jacket. He helped me straighten up the shifter and we kept in touch. The next time we saw each other was the day he died.

      With 9 months delay, I can say that Todd's death shook me more than I have realized. It rooted fear in me which was fueled by seeing and hearing about others getting hurt over and over again. If I was to summarize this year - it would be one big accident report. I became sensitive to every broken bone, every roadrash, every lowside. And even though I did 10 track days this year, I became slower and slower and slower. Suddenly, I have acquired this 'grandma' riding style on the road, frozen with fear that behind every corner there is car standing in my lane, or major sand trap or deer staring at me ... I was crippled with fear not only for me about also for my fellow rider.

      So, at the end of this year, I rode more and more by myself. I could not bear the feelings of responsibility for others on the road and my lines were crippled by my own fears. It all culminated this fall at WDGAH. In a freaky accident Love2rideh82crash was taken down by a truck crossing into our lane. I was done. I finished the weekend, locked the VFR into a garage and took a break.

      Until the last weekend, I pretended that motorcycles do not exists. As a last instance after 2 months break from riding, I decided to go to CMP track to see if I can still have fun. I also felt like I should go for the memory of Todd. I went and I had fun! I had much more fun than I expected and the most fun on track I can remember. Suddenly the whole track connected into an uninterupted line of turns and I felt one with the bike riding around! I was giggling like a little girl in my helmet and keep on giggling ever since smile.gif

      Granted I was not the fastest one and through out the weekend, I have never exceeded about 60% of my riding abilities, but I had no "oh-shit" nor 'blond' moments. I could have maybe go faster, I could have brake later for the turns and I could have lean further, but I am no Rossi nor Stoner. I decided to ride for fun and I had amazing blast riding well within my comfort zone.

      I was proud of myself when, after bandaging Ricks arm, I was able to distance myself and go back to riding without the year-long fear. I did feel bad for him but the feelings were not crippling my lines nor my mind. And when a total stranger came to me and said "Hi, my name is Todd", my heart stopped for a minute though but I suddenly knew that my life went a full circle. I probably will never win MotoGP :idea3: , but I am back! :wheel:

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