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Just an FYI, should anyone find this topic in the distant future, but I recently confirmed a few things about the 5th gen headlight unit. 1. The headlight unit is made in two pieces, the clear plastic lens and the black plastic housing. The lens is 5th-gen VFR-specific, but the housing is the exact same as the SC33 CBR900RRW-X (just pre-929). I have baked both types apart in an oven--you can swap the clear lenses if you want to. FWIW, the VFR lens is much deeper, so it can accommodate a xenon projector retrofit easily, whereas the 900RR lens is flatter, and may not have enough room for that. (Of course, the top fairing is designed to work with one or the other, so you can't swap lenses and use the headlight on the same bike...) 2. All the lenses appear to have the same markings on them: both references to "DOT" and to EU "E" standards are included. So there is no easy way to tell from the front which headlight unit has been installed. (I'm talking to you, Mr. EU DMV Motorcycle Inspector...) The region-specific marking is on the back, in white paint. A is for USA, E is for England, G is for Germany, F for France, U for Australia... 3. There are differences internally, specifically the reflectors, for LHD and RHD. There are also differences for US, Canadian (and Australian?) models relating to the bulbs the reflectors are designed to hold. ROW-spec bikes used regular 55/60w H4 halogens, but the US and Canada got special 45/45w H4 halogen bulbs (which are not directly interchangeable). 4. That said, the CBR900RRW-X headlight unit uses reflectors which do not appear to incorporate a "kick-up" to one side or another on low beam. Honda specifies the same part number for US and Australian bikes, so they can't be "handed" for use on one side of the road or the other. However, the bulb difference makes these headlight units technically incompatible with European bikes (although, with the correct bulbs, they'd work). 5. The part numbers for the VFR don't allow me to say the same as above for sure. I looked into different spec headlights 10-15 years ago, and I recall thinking that there was an obvious difference in bulb orientation on the UK-spec headlight unit. Or maybe that was the ST1300 I was also working on at the time? In any case, the reflectors can be swapped around, even from side-to-side, so with enough components you can build any spec headlight you might want. (The same reflectors are used in the ST1300 headlight, btw!) I will be getting my US-spec 5th gen ready to pass RDW inspection in the Netherlands within the next few months, so I will have more to say about this topic later. That is why I purchased a (broken) 900RR headlight and baked it apart. The plan was to swap the reflectors from the German-spec 900RR headlight into my US-spec VFR800FiY. I still think that will work, but I got distracted by the 900RR's use of an extra glass fresnel lens on the LHS side: I think it has to do with the wiring, and it may have only been a difference between the W and X models, but one of those years may have had a single bulb illuminated on low beam, but both on high. Strange. I'm not sure if I will duplicate that on my new "EU-spec" 5th gen headlight or not. I doubt the test centre will test for that, and I don't think the EU-spec 5th gen had the same set-up. It definitely didn't have the fresnel lens... Ciao, JZH
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This is about cleaning crud off chrome during a fork seal job? I use wet sanding sponges found in the paint aisle of AutoZone. They come in over 1000 grit. Think I used a 1200 or 1500 last time. Gently push to the tube and the sponge conforms to the shape. Worked out everytime I've done it.
- Today
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LOL. That gave me a chuckle, had many a similar experience working in dealerships too, there's a lot of asshole customers for sure, doesn't help the workshop tho when brain dead sales staff blow smoke up a customer arse cos they've no balls to stand up to a no it all moron, satisfying when you prove em wrong & send em away with their tale between their legs tho innit. Yeah agree 400grit wet n dry is a bit harsh, that's why I used to keep a stash of used 400/600/800/1000 in a box, start with 1000 with some oil & go at it that way to knock back any crap build up, 9 times outta 10 that's all a stanchion needs, obviously you'd think twice about this process on a coated stanchion & break out some metal polish first. We have some stuff over here called "Duraglit" think "Brasso" make it? it's like some kinda cotton wadding stuff in a tin soaked in some strong solution, stinks horrible, ya don't wanna get it on ya hands, honks to high heaven, but it's good for scrubbing off stubborn crap on chrome, gentle too, thinks its for polishing silver/gold. Yeah that bloke in these trolling vids is a proper wanker.
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Yeah, thought you'd doing some cooling system mods. Have you considered 6th Gen rads (more capacity) loads on Ebay cheapish. I know it gets a bit chilly willy in winter where you're located, as Honda recommends a 50% glycol content which is good to -30C ish. Wondering if you could get away with a 25% Glycol ratio instead & still get enough anti-freeze protection, or leave a 50% mix over winter, come spring, drop coolant & just add 10% Glycol to keep W/pump & internals happy from corrosion. In theory it should make the system more thermally efficient? by how much I dunno, something to think about eh? You're pretty much screwed for any other choice on thermostats, spent a ton of time on this, no joy at all, seems these 800's have a custom designed Stat that no other motor uses, found a couple close but no cigar. You could fit lower max rated rad sender so fan kicks on earlier or add a manual override switch to flick on when is slow traffic or both? VTR1000 Firestorm or Superhawk as you guys call em, stock fan runs on right hand rad, blades become a pusher fan when fitted onto a 5th/6th Gen fan motor, supposed to more efficient at shifting heat from a VFR's rad & is a drop in fit (supposedly). Got my eye on a cheap one on Ebay, new fan is about £65GBP from Honda, dunno how prices are over in US? 👍
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I avoid Greedletube whenever possible.
- Yesterday
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Correct. I am going to give my cooling system a refresh this winter, thermostat out and tested. Radiators flushed and externally cleaned. If budget allows, some fancy Mello Dude coolant hoses 😁, more powerful fan, etc. It's always bugged me that the fan waits to turn until 219F (104 C), then struggle or fail to keep the temps down when the ambient temp is +90 F and the temp on the tarmac is comfortably in 3 digit Farenheit. So I think a slightly lower temp sending unit in the 95-100 C would be benificial. This is not a problem where I live, in late Spring the temps are 2C to maybe 15C, the bike rarely gets above 85C if that. In the sumner, its 90-95 C. It's when I head south, and ambient temps climb markedly, that the bike will occasionally turn onto a Red, two wheeled frying pan. Yes, Honda says anything over 252 F (122 C) is considered overheating, but...........I think I can do without the bike hitting 232 F (112 C) as it did last year. Any suggestions, observations, or critiques are welcome and encouraged! This is my first 5th Gen, and first bike with side mounted radiators, I am far from being an expert, no matter what I think.......
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I’m one of those Dave Moss happy customers, helped me set up my RC51 at Thunderhill a few years ago. He can be gruff and abrasive, but he knows what he’s doing.
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Thanks for the heads up. I take a little pride in not giving garbage of this sort a click. Still haven't watched a YammieNoob video. 😇
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While I personally wouldn't start with 400 anything on my tubes, as long as they aren't the coated variety of high end tubes, some knocking down of artifacts is perfectly acceptable on hardened chrome. In the real world where debris hits your chrome tubes, without addressing trouble spots your options would be to change your seals every month (or sooner) or replace your tubes for any anomaly that could take out a seal. The commentator sure seems like a wanker. I think in the video he states that they are coated tubes, which they are not. That being said, it seems like Moss immediately went for a harsh option for some "dark spots"? "Slide" story: When I worked for a Honda/Yamaha dealership, this know-it-all ASS-HAT came in with his R!'s Gold Titanium Nitride coated fork tubes. He had his forks completely disassembled by another shop and wanted his tubes "warrantied" because the coating was "failing". In my mind I was like, "Here we fucking go. this oughta be fun." The Salesman is standing at the counter with him assuring him everything will be fine, shouldn't be a problem, blah blah blah. His bike was pretty new (we sold it to him) and I was VERY skeptical. I hadn't heard of anything similar. And if it was happening so soon, I probably would have by then. I'm looking at the tubes and I didn't see failing anything. You could feel something with your fingernail, but it sure seemed to be built up rubber or something. "Give me a couple minutes to look into something." I took the tubes back into the shop (WITHOUT HIM), got a brand new diaper and some Mothers Polish. It started coming right off. I knew if there was even the slightest imperfection anywhere he was going to squawk. I cleaned up the tubes, they looked BRAND FUCKING NEW. The gold coating was still exactly the same, not lighter looking at all. I came out with a straight face, said they weren't failing, if he just would have looked closely it was just what seemed to be some seal rubber build up and he can go away and have his forks reassembled by whatever suspension "expert" took them apart. He went over them like a fucking NASA mirror inspector and found NOTHING. It was FUCKING GLORIOUS watching him squirm and slink away. ASS-HAT.
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"The Workshop" guy, Matt, I think he's called is a complete moron, my advice is take no notice of his trolling garbage, he gets off on trolling others on Youtube, he's been getting away with it for yrs, dunno why Youtube aren't banning his vile crap. Dave's using 400/800 wet & dry paper which is used to sand when prepping paintwork, it's perfectly ok to use on "Hard chromed" stanchions, it's not emery paper, which something very different, it's a similar process to honing an engine cylinder bore so it holds a film of oil, which actually reduced stanchion & slide bush wear. I've done this hundreds of times, all suspension service centres do it, they spin stanchion in a lathe chuck, similar end result doing it by hand. Dave Moss is no Guru, but he's very knowledgeable about suspension setup & tyre wear, he's made a living out of it for yrs, if he was rubbish, he'd have been out of business yrs ago. Dave has many satisfied track day customers, you can't please everyone, from what I've seen over the yrs, many of Dave's track customers haven't a Scooby Doo how to ride let alone setup a bikes suspension, yet they go posting complaints about stuff they've no clue about, it's human nature to complain, we all do it, but there's complaining when you have some technical know how & there's complaining when you know fuck all like this clown on "The Workshop".
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I'm not expressing any opinion on Dave Moss because I consider myself to have an 'L' plate when it comes to motorcycle maintenance. Having said that, I am quite familiar with 400 grit emery paper and said 'Yikes!' when I watched this. Posting this because he has done a very good job marketing himself as a suspension guru, and this gives one food for thought about whom to trust or not trust when you are in the learning stage. Thought I should share it with the community. 'The workshop' channel owner is often crude with his language, but he does have some decent technical knowledge. I know this because I have watched many of his Suzuki SV1000 videos. Reading some of the Comments below the video is also interesting
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Hi Gaz. Yes i made it using stainless steel tubes pre-formed in straight, 45° and 90° pieces pre-assembled by me with spot welding, for final welding i asked to a pro. But i made a mistake: as you can see the tubes passing under oil pan are not parallel to, but divergent. Anyway most of exhaust system will be modified 'cause i will change the rear fork with a two-arms for weight reason; so i have no space enough on left side. Final solution will be a 4 in 2 system with exit at two sides of bike. (as the VTR twin). Anyway, an homemade system for a road bike is possible to build, following the stock path. Is not an easy work, but it's not so complicate as appear. Ciao, Luigi.
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Curious as to why you need thread size? Dya need a sender with a different min/max range?
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Hey Luigi. Can I ask the brand of headers you've fitted? or Is it a homemade system?
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Anyway, the HRC solution for the RC45 are the best result. Also for aestetical look. Do you agree?
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Thank you. Installing Intercooler are not difficult and it needs only two alloy joint on main circuit to let flow water to cooler and return. At moment i'm thinking to use two flat radiator mounted in the usual position with the help of the airscoop discussed above, keeping the small one (in pic posted when i started the topic) instead the oil rad that will moved in the fairing. Another solution can be keeping the oil radiator in stock position, adding a small, triangular water rad placed in low position. With small dimension maybe i could fix the problem of position too close to exhaust, without the risk of contact with front wheel when the fork are bottomed down. Obviuosly all modifications are made for track use. On open road, except in a city traffic, the cooling system works well enough. I'll keep you update, i just ask for patience 'cause are not the only bike that i'm workin on. Ciao! Luigi.
- Last week
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Stock rads work fine & if a track bike they will work better as no antifreeze required. I run 25/75 (antifreeze/distilled water) & can cane my 118hp/175Kg VFR800 all day in up to 33C ambient temps with no issues. I replaced the water pump with an electric one that works at one speed, this cools the system quicker when you are on slowdown or idling, plus it runs with the ignition on so you can avoid heat soak if you have to stop quickly.
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featured -
As the title states, I am looking to buy a power commander 5, or a rapid bike race for my 06 VFR800 abs. I would prefer the RB Race over a PC V, but beggars can't be choosers since the Rapid is no longer being manufactured. As much as i dislike having to do it, To weed out the likely spam about to come my way, send a picture of what you have that has a paper with your username, and the current date and time hand written on it otherwise i will assume it to be spam. -
Yeah & SS rear wheel with external disc in some views, but still pretty interesting. I'm sure AI had a hand in it.
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awesome suggestion, thank you sir.
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Wow... you've done such an incredible job! You're giving me endless inspiration for my big and first project, also an '89 (big by my standards at least!) Mine aren't nearly as in need of resurrection as yours were, but between some notable cracks around the mounts and general extensive wear/weathering (plus a rather questionable DIY spray job that saw even the rims attacked) I'd like to give them some life back. Would I be hurling myself too far into the deep end attempting to repair and work with what I've got, considering this is my first shot at anything of this nature? I've seen some alternative 'new' fairings available on ebay etc. but naturally there's always risks of making sure things fit and having it survive shipping to Aus. The tail box looks awesome, I can see why you're exceptionally proud of it. I think that much is definitely out of my depths... at least for this first project... Regardless of age, you're never too old to keep doing the things you love. I'd say they're surprised you're still doing it all yourself just because you're doing it better then they could 😉
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European face-off. Geez. I'm pretty sure I can find a John Cleese Monty Python meme that sums this up.
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Thanks Gaz, 10mm seemed small to me. Guess I'll can the reference I got that from.
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All 5th Gens use same part numbers: Rad temp sender = M16 x 1.5mm. Engine temp sender = M12 x 1.5mm. 👍
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The Last Day Of Good Riding Weather
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.
Lookout Mountain - Golden Colorado
Zoomed in
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
Tommy-knockers Brewpub Idaho Springs
Idaho Springs Colorado
Mashtuns and fermenters
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
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
Echo Lake at Mount Evans showing off my new plate
Elephant Butte Park and Denver
Close up
Veefalo on Squaw Pass
Juniper Pass
Juniper Pass
Mount Evans
My route A is home B is Tommy-knockers
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I Am Back !
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
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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For owners of the Honda Interceptor and related Honda V4 motorcycles, for the purpose of mutual help concerning safe riding, maintenance, and performance of their motorcycles.
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By vfrpilot28 · Posted
I enjoyed reading this and seeing your story. For the love of motorcycling! -
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By interceptor69 · Posted
Oops. I do believe I know how to post YT videos or they wouldn't be on YT. However I may have screwed up copying the link to the playlist. Thanks for the helpful comment. -
I think that you might not know how to post videos. You're in your YT studio in these links. You need the link to the actual video.
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