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  1. Today
  2. Polaris
    Polaris joined the community
  3. Terry
    In my experience wheel balancing doesn't really matter until you hit 80km/hr or more. Up to that point there is not enough centripetal force to cause any obvious vibration, then you hit the "sweet spot" where the tyre bounce frequency coincides with the rotation speed and the shudder starts. So from that perspective, the fact that balance beads are not nicely distributed at low speed shouldn't matter. Having said that, I've never used them.
  4. Stormnorman
    Also @FromMaine lol I literally got back two weekends ago from visiting my gf’s fam in Bangor, ME!
  5. Gen5FIYUK
    Gen5FIYUK joined the community
  6. Stormnorman
    Hi Stormnorman, Thank you for your donation of 10.00 USD. We look forward to improving the forums with your donation. Thanks VFRDiscussion
  7. Stormnorman
    Stormnorman changed their profile photo
  8. Stormnorman
    Sorry to bring back an old thread. I just picked up my first RC24 and need to source some mirrors. Did these work well for your RC24? I think I found the exact ones on eBay https://ebay.us/m/ikgyTK by the way where in Edmonds are you @Captain 80s? I live right by Picnic Point!
  9. mello dude
    I'm still at using for 700 lbs + bikes.... I have none of the slow speed wierdness or wobbles on the Valk, noting but smoooooth...everybodys experience is different... ... Lighter bikes than that... definately go with wheel weights...
  10. Stormnorman
    Stormnorman joined the community
  11. orener
    orener joined the community
  12. HispanicSlammer
    I just turned it off, it seems all the services turned us off in order to force me to go to a cloud based system of checking API keys. With a new fee of course, all of them are charging rediculous fees now. I switched between 3 different captua services in the last few months and they are all now following the same model with some complicated server side code additions you have to include. Cloud keys with prices that rival the rest of my major vfrd purchases. SUCKAMUNDO Google! Turnstyle, and the others started out free then bam - $300 a month fees? Its a shakedown Thanks Slo and others for trying to bring it to my attention, but I was aware just trying to squeeze every bit of free bot protection I could get its just these services keep pulling the rug out from underneath me. I turned it off for now until I can find something more reasonable, I turned on some other security offered by the licence I already paid for. I hate asking for donations for stupid shit like this, as nothing is free but it would be nice to just not have the rug pulled out from under us for new pay for use services that did not exist before now.
  13. Fastdruid
    As reported on reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/VFR/comments/1p6aq2x/can_anyone_notify_the_owner_of_vfrd_forum/
  14. HispanicSlammer
    Idaho Oregon 2024 (1).jpg
    Very strange machinery - featured.
  15. cozmo1589
    cozmo1589 changed their profile photo
  16. jdmzx9
    jdmzx9 changed their profile photo
  17. Sweeper

    until

    Jay confirmed with the hotel that the rate is $89/night. They are holding ten rooms for the group for now.
  18. vfrgiving
    Spending hours on the highway, they're great. However, I use my bikes for commuting, which is a lot of stops and starts and passing through the sub-critical zone.. This rear tire lasted something like 15,000 miles so that's how long I experimented with a balance bead install. A lot of things "work" on bikes in one way or another. These balance beads work great flying across Kansas. Slowing down in corners in the mountains or commuting brings sub-critical wobble zone time. Darksiding "works", which I experimented with for 11,000 miles before this last moto tire set with the beads. Wet traction was amazing. There was no catastrophic bead failure tire auto-dismount.. but the handling feel was atrocious and having to hold counter-steer once leaned in a corner was annoying.
  19. gropula
    I haven't used them but there's science behind it and it works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T47s4L1Wje4 It does need to reach critical speed for the beads to settle in the right spot. Once they're in the right spot they stay there until you stop or slow down significantly. I think it's not a good solution for motorcycles because your tires will be significantly out of balance until you reach the critical speed for them to self balance. What if you stop, accelerate to sub critical speed of 40mph, hit a pothole or something and the unbalanced wheel starts to wobble more than it would if balanced by weights?
  20. vfrgiving
    My understanding of the beads is that even if you get the "exact weight"... the lump of them is going to be sitting randomly at any location around the tire when stopped (which most likely isn't going to be the exact lightest point). At really slow speeds they will just stay pouring to the bottom. Get moving enough and centripetal force will pin them to an area but not where needed (this "wobble" feeling) The wheel needs to get up to speed for them actually to distribute where needed so the tire needs to pass through this "wobble" zone at lower speeds on your way there.
  21. DrErgal
    That's the core of the entire issue: how much weight? With a static balance you can detect the required weight easily and accurately. With the beads... well... it's a sort of gamble
  22. Skids
    Awesome Terry, thanks.
  23. Terry
    I did a complete strip on my 1200's brakes a month back, there was nothing that leapt out aside from the need to keep the multiple different piston/seal diameters separate. If you keep the brake lever/handle pulled in when you have broken the banjo bolts, you will stop gravity emptying the fluid right out of the lines, which reduces the bleeding fun. I reused the old sealing washers but kept them in the places/orientation that they came from. I used air pressure to blow the pistons mostly out; I use the shaft of a wrench as a spacer between the pistons to stop all the pistons from flying right out. If they're sticky, it may pay to work them all in/out a few times with silicone spray on the seals, this may lessen the final job of getting all the pistons out. I used an angled metal pick to pull the seals out of the grooves, and then gently scraped any dirt/corrosion from the grooves. I cleaned the seals using silicone spray and a rag. I cleaned the pistons with a green scotchbrite pad and followed up with metal polish. I scrubbed the calliper bodies in hot soapy water, then rinsed, blow dried and then rinsed again with brake cleaner Getting the seals back in was fiddly work, be patient. I lubed the inner seal with brake fluid and the outer with silicone grease. If the pistons don't slide in with finger pressure, check your work I polished the sliding pins and applied silicone grease to these (check the boots are in good nick) Make sure the pad springs are in good order and sitting correctly before reassembly
  24. Yesterday
  25. Captain 80s
    Yes, the clear coating can get cloudy, stained and discolored. That's another reason I use this. Go right over the top. Even lines that have the thicker sheathing I install over. And you can use a little WD-40 on longer lines like clutch to keep the shrink tubing moving over the banjo fitting, no issues.
  26. davenay67
    Appreciate the suggestion. If this joint was sealed by a flat fiber-type gasket where pressure was applied evenly across the whole sealing surface I would happily use a gasket sealant and think nothing more about the job. However, being an O ring, I am not sure exactly where the O ring fully contacts the surface, and if some some of those pits are in a bad place that the O ring doesn't quite cover well enough for a good long-term seal. JB Weld should pill those pits nicely. I will post pics of the repair when I can get to it.
  27. vfrgiving
    After years of using Hazard Fraught stick on weights and static balance, I tried balance beads for the first time on my 1800 cruiser last tire change before a cross country run. I poured in amount recommended in pamphlet by motorcycle tire size (2oz front and rear), even used one of those tiny Walter White scales to get the measurement. Cruiser has been doing this weird wiggle shimmy on acceleration since. Especially disconcerting leaving a light for a left turn. Around 24-35 mph, but then everything quickly smooths out. Interstate speeds absolutely flying is butter, no problems. I've been looking at this more closely since getting back from my trip a few weeks ago. The wobble definitely felt like a wayward mass that was distributing out at speed (how the beads work) but besides balance beads, looking at other possible causes. Running 65L top trunk, but I was before the beads and this shimmy wasn't there. Front steering bearing preload could use a little snug up. With bike on a stand, font tire falls too easily to the stops and bounces one too many times, but it's not like the steering stem is flopping around in the head. Bike is currently at 122K miles, and I don't think bearing preload has changed significantly just for this last tire set. I'll get some lock washers on order and tackle this winter. 1800 has the nice bearings from the factory that 1300 owners upgrade to. Rear shock bushings are toast, and they have been forever, lol. I have parts on order for this fix, but again no shimmy before beads. Well, rear tire was at wear bars and rear brake pads down, so I replaced all yesterday. No beads this time, just the static balance and stick on weights. While I had the Rabaconda out, I ripped off the front wheel, broke the beads and pulled one side over the wheel. Vacuumed out the beads, reset everything and did static balance.. back on the bike. This morning commute on the cruiser, no shimmy shake on acceleration. Not a hint. Guess it was the beads. Now I'm sure some bead fans are gonna say "2oz?! That's way too much". So what? 1.85 oz for slightly less shimmy, 1.5oz maybe not enough and I get vibration at speed? No thanks, I'll stay with the static balance.
  28. Skids
    I'm just about to start a strip and rebuild of my 2014 VFR1200F brake calipers. Not done it before on this bike so looking for any gotchas, suggestions or good advice. Thanks.
  29. DrErgal
    Theoretically they work. But... dunno... I feel much more comfortable in stick-on weights set with static balancer.
  30. keny
    Thanks for the tip The odd thing I think is the corrosion has started elsewhere but not where the clamp to the brake caliper rod is, then on the clutch line it's more less logic. As I have believe the brained lines are from stainless, could be more logic it's the inside of plastic covers inside that has effected of UV from sun over time?
  31. Crusty1
    The car shift pedal is about 25mm outward from the linkage and more outward than the VFR800 non QS pedal. I believe the VFR800 OEM pedal is in closer.
  32. FromMaine
    +1 for Marine grade heat shrink. We obviously used it extensively on the ships I was on as it protected our wiring long term from corrosion in a salt air environment, and was also effective for short term immersion in, well, the ocean.
  33. MBrane
    That is a good price for that box. I have enough tool boxes I just need to organize stuff better. Still recovering from moving twice in 2023. Gave away some stuff that I wish I had now, but had nowhere to put it then.
  34. Captain 80s
    I use 3:1 ratio, 3/4" heat shrink for marine electrical cables. It has an adhesive that gets activated when you heat it for shrinking and seals the line for protection. It's big enough to get over the banjo fitting but shrinks up for a nice look. You have to use the "HIGH" setting on the heat gun and slowly work your way from the center out to the ends, rotating the line over the gun as you go. Trim it about an 1/8" short and you can pull/stretch it out to where you want it when everything is still warm. If you go long and try to push it shorter, it will wrinkle up a bit. Even if the brake line is in good condition I still do this for rub protection and it looks good to me. Especially if you are trying to maintain a more stock look. I use the 1/2" version on the remote res hose when I have shocks rebuilt too.
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  • Blogs

    1. HispanicSlammer

      A blog by HispanicSlammer in General

      • 122
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      Recent Entries

      HispanicSlammer

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      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's Blog

      A blog by martinkap in General

      • 8
        entries
      • 77
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      • 36498
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      Recent Entries

      martinkap
      Latest Entry

      I Am Back !

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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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