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  2. I've had the switch that says 85C on it on my 6th gen. First off, the coolant temp sensor that is read on the dashboard sits inside the V, in the front head. It will always read higher than the temp that's read by the fan switch located in the radiator. The switch that says 85C comes on at around 90-95C on the dashboard, if I remember correctly. Problem is, once it turns on it never turns off. It only turns off when the coolant temp on the dash drops to like 70C or lower even. I don't remember exactly because I removed it a long time ago. Numerous times I shut off the bike, it cooled down a bit as I left it for a short while. I come back to it, turn the key, the fan starts. The coolant temp reads like 70C or so. WTF Also, when riding at higher speeds I had issues with cooling. As we all know, these bikes don't like traffic in front. High speed, high load on the engine but there's a vehicle in front. The vehicle in front creates a slip stream which reduces the airflow through the radiators. The temp slowly creeps up from the usual 80-85C to 90-95C when the fan starts. The vehicle in front is gone now, probably overtaken. Clean airflow should cool the bike down now to the usual 80-85C, but no, the running fan actually poses a restriction at highway speeds. The bike can't cool down effectively and it keeps running at 90-95C, sometimes even creeping up higher if I increase the speed. Even if I manage to reduce the coolant temps by reducing the speed and load on the engine, the fan won't turn off because its shut off temp is 70ish. The load on the electrical system is unnecessarily increased. Not very convenient on my 2002 that has the undersized stator that doesn't produce a lot of current at idle and low RPM. I'd like to have a fan switch that starts the fan at 100C on the dash, instead of the stock 105-107C, and turns off at the like the stock switch at 95C on the dash. Can't seem to find that anywhere. Try it out, I doubt it will do you any good.
  3. Today
  4. some photos from in the wild because why not even with the e-pump and beefier fan it still runs hot on warm days, going to try a lower temp fan switch next. what's neat though is if temps start to climb at a red light or whatever, i can now shut down the engine but keep the pump and fan running to cool it down nice and quick (as well as shut off the headlight to save battery thanks to my new switch blocks). powerbronze screen is also great, i get clean air right at my chin which is basically exactly what i wanted.
  5. Those are all perfect examples of what makes me stare at some bikes. The lines, proportions, stance... everything.
  6. Lately it seems all the manufacturers are having an ugly contest.
  7. As much as I love the 5th Gen overall, sportbike aesthetic peaked with the FZR in Red/White Genesis livery, RC30 or first year Fireblade.
  8. Yep. You nailed it. The 4th Gen is its equal IMO. The 5th Gen is a worthy contender. The fidgety fairing construction and the fact every time I remove said fairing I find a new brake line I did not know existed or was necessary are its only knocks. Its still a keeper by a wide margin over what I see in the showrooms though.
  9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMnjF1O4eH0&pp=ygUQZmF0IGJvdHRvbSBnaXJscw%3D%3D Does my ass look big in this?
  10. Of course I grew up in this era... ewwwww
  11. I'm a big fan of those bikes, and the VF/VFR's in general, but to me it's visually heavy from the tank on back, lot's of plastic. Of course, once you get on one...
  12. Yesterday
  13. Yep, I looked. Nice piece of kit for sure. Its neither as cheap as I hoped. Nor as expensive as I feared. Approx. cost is about 2 sets of tires.
  14. I am not a big fan of the current "weight forward" design trend and think bike design peaked at the 1990 VFR750F... I have had a ride on one of the Suzuki GSX-8Rs and found it to be a very nice package; certainly light and easy to manage, ample power and tidy handling.
  15. That is a feature, not a flaw. Just add one of these. Problem solved. .
  16. You have brought dishonor! Today is a good day for you to die.
  17. The PO put a fender eliminator on my MT-10. This was the result of a wet ride and some road works. I put it back to stock after this.
  18. First off, that Suzuki looks like it was assembled from parts that fell off a Klingon Starship. Geography and climate are compelling reasons why I am not to bothered with the rear of my bike. I've always left the rear fenders alone because they have function. I live in northern New England, there is rain, mud, occasional snow during our riding season. That said, i would agree that most tail tidy kits do improve the looks of a bike, some times considerably so. I certainly get it that one of the joys of riding is making your ride, your own.
  19. I'm good. Had some reassembly issues but I figured it out.
  20. Hola, estoy buscando para descargar el manual de taller de honda vfr1200x crosstourer cambio manual año 2014 volumen 2. Por si alguien puede facilitar algun link de descarga . Muchas gracias. Un saludo Oscar.
  21. Oh I agree. But maybe that design element of a super short tail has gone a bit too far. It would probably be nice for many riders that it could be ridden in the rain when needed, be legal AND not look like ass. The rooster tail from the rear tire would probably contribute to the spray on your helmet visor at some speeds. Imagine if the road had any mud on it too. Your whole back would be a mess. It's like they got done designing it and then went, "Oh shit. The license plate, light, winkers and reflectors. Fuck."
  22. I agree your point about a consistent bite point. Not convinced about a 'caliper detent' position though. That would imply some serious corrosion issues for the front calipers and I'm sure you would have noticed that. It's going to be air bubbles I'm convinced. I'd try a quick bleed at the high point you've identified. After that try manipulating the lines and leaving the brake lever tie wrapped overnight with the bars fully left. I used a strap to hold a high point in the flexible lines down so any air could rise ( this was in the headstock area).
  23. I'm not sure what a manufacturer is supposed to do. Laws say have plate behind rear wheel. Either design bike with a potentially long dumpy tail section, or design it how people really want and leave it on the customer to pull it at their own risk. At least the latter leaves an easy option. Big tail section, not so much. 🤷‍♂️ I think the 8TT looks sharp with tidy tail and a rear hugger. Suzuki made it painless to remove that "stinger"
  24. I took another look . the hard brake line on the way to the abs unit does go up and down over the frame rail - I’ll need to take the tank off to look at this and try and bleed somehow . if this also doesn’t work, I’m going to isolate parts of the circuit to narrow it down . It may be that the calipers spring back into a detent? … i will Get to the bottom of this because a consistent bite point on the front brake is critical when riding- especially when you’re riding in a spirited manner ..
  25. Thanks Presson i Lifted the lhs caliper and bled the system again . There was indeed a very small bubble that came through but sadly this didn’t fix the issue. I then tried pushing fluid back up to the master cylinder with a syringe and still there’s air in there. Ive been on a gravel track and activated the abs a few times but this didn’t do the job. The Bike has the original lines and I thought that one may be ballooning but I cant feel or see evidence of this .( having said that , some are covered with loose sleeve so it’s difficult to see ….. ”I soldier on”
  26. You're right. That one is also just plain stupid.
  27. Think that Aprilias bad... go look at Suzuki's 8T, 8TT etc.. most in need of a tidy tail bike I've seen. Such a demand, Yoshimura sells a tidy tail for it..
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  • Blogs

    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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