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  2. I've not had a bike wheel straightened but have had a car wheel done. What I was told is that they have to use heat to straighten them so it will have to be refinished. That is why they had a minimum charge of $275. That was like four years ago. There is no "cheap" fix that I was able to find. I had it done because the used wheels that I could find would have no way for me to be sure they were straight.
  3. Today
  4. Please tell me you didn't use a Phillips head bit? First rule of wrenching on any Honda (or Japanese motorcycle for that matter) is to remove all Phillips head screwdrivers from your toolbox and toss them in the trash. I've done a handful of throttle cable replacements on 5th gens. Much easier to get that little bracket off first and install last. -stuff a rag or paper tower wad below that area in the V of the engine just in case you drop a screw. It will be less likely to vanish if you prevent it's path from falling into the void below the throttle bodies. -ratcheting offset 1/4" drive screwdriver fit with a JIS bit is your best friend for this job. Bonus points if you get one with a swivel head. This little fella stays in a tool roll next to an ammo clip of JIS bits. I also keep a standard 1/4" bit driver (traditional screwdriver profile). https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08DQ9ND52
  5. I faced this little challenge when I borrowed the throttle tube from my 99 to use on my 1200. I couldn't get a straight shot at those screws so I opted to back off the adjusters fully, which gave just enough slack at the throttle housing.
  6. Removing the throttle cable adjustment bracket makes getting the cables off much simpler. Unfortunately, yes, the little screws need to come off. Do you have a JIS screwdriver set? And maybe a hand impact wrench?
  7. Hoping some of our Croatian members chime in. Looking for recommendations. Specifically in Zagreb, Split or Rijeka. I worked in Croatia for 4 summers, I am familiar with all 3 cities. Not looking for anything in particular, just never know what suddenly can't live without.🙂 I'll be there on Feb.11th. Fly back Feb 28th. Thanks.
  8. The handlebar switches on my 5th gen are pretty shot, so I bought replacements, but the throttle cables are giving me grief. Is there any way to get the throttle cables loose *without* involving the screws down by the throttle drum? I can't find my ratcheting 90 degree screwdriver and I'm afraid I might have already mucked up the head on the smaller screw. I can buy a new tool, but if I'm missing something clever, I'd sure like to find out.
  9. Yesterday
  10. A twisted fork is usually temporary and can be untwisted by slackening the top nut and fork clamps on the triple clamp, and tweaking the wheel to the side required. A quick and dirty check for fork tube straightness is to loosen the top and bottom clamps on one side and seeing if the tube can be rotated in the clamps without too much effort. Otherwise you will need to diassemble the fork and place each tube on v-blocks with a dial gauge.
  11. Looks like the left handle bar is bent in as well. Might have to just get a pipe on it and bend it back, until the fiscal environment improves! lol Does anyone else have any opinions on the second hand, slightly biffed rim I'm thinking of going for? Also, should I move this thread to one that's more mechanical/repair orientated, or is it OK here?
  12. So there's a little bit of damage to the right hand fork lower. I know there's a bit of rust, but this picture was taken a couple of days post-incident. The scuff definitely wasn't there previously, as I only change the front pads a few months ago and would have seen it then. Does anyone know how best to check if the forks are bent/twisted?
  13. The 2 wheel centre, Harpenden. I can't recommend them highly enough. Family business run by brother and sister Nick and Sophie. Honest and reliable. Caters for all makes. https://www.the2wc.co.uk/
  14. Hi all, I need a service for my 2010 6th gen VFR800. I'm based in London and looking for a motorcycle tech that specializes in these sorts of bikes. Does anyone have any recommendations.?
  15. A draggy back calliper can be caused by a partial seize of the secondary master cylinder on the left fork leg. Make sure that is moving freely (should be just a couple of mm) and applying and releasing the brake when you push the calliper forward then let it go. Generally draggy pads can be caused by gunk building up in the piston seal groove; if you have that, the callipers need to be fully diassembled. the grooves need to be gently scraped clean, the pistons polished (or replaced if they are corroded) and then the whole lot reassembled with silicone grease or similar.
  16. Yes, bought a pair and yes, the batteries can stay in the pocket. Albeit a bit more "fiddly" than the Klan-e's. But there the (outside) cable desintigrated after a couple of years intensive use. My local dealer got a new set under warranty for me.
  17. Not yet, mate. Will ring around tomorrow.
  18. Have you spoken to the company that's going to straighten it?
  19. Sadly these 2 still want in the back room Slow progress on other stuff as other things has turned up, also at moment really cold outside so colder in garage also even not badly
  20. So, here's a couple of pics and vids of the wheel from the guy in the US. He wants about $280 shipped. What do y'all reckon? obviously I'll have to get it straightened, but I don't know much about that sort of thing. Does it look like something easily achievable by a repair firm? I'm leaning toward going this route if possible, as it turns out a bar is also bent, so the cost is adding up.... VFR WHEELRUNOUT 2.mp4 VFR WHEEL RUNOUT 1.mp4
  21. keny

    Anything goes!

  22. You Sir, are a gentlemaan and a scholar! Thanks for the link, the price isn't actually too horrendous. I just need to weigh up whether it's worth trying to save a bit by going used....
  23. Ha ha, yeah the flip at the end was her way of saying exactly that! Sorry to hear about your shoulder, but glad you were also able to walk away from your London adventure. I could live with mismatched wheels, but I'd bet a pound to a pinch of shit something somewhere won't fit. There are more potential dimensions than I first considered, so I think I'll have to bite the bullet and get an 8th gen one. Thank you for the offer, though.
  24. Cheers mate, may as well take away from it what I can! Thanks for having a look on David Silver, I appreciate it. The commute'll be a drag as it's an hour-ish on the bike or up to 3 hours by car!
  25. Just realised... Your "household inventory" apllies being exempt to the luxury goods tax (BPM) on motorvehicles.
  26. What you describe is definitely not right. I would take the rear caliper off and have a good look. Is the pad on one side much more worn than the other? If so that might give you a clue to which bit is sticking. I'm assuming it's only the rear you are concerned about. As Dutchy says, burning hot after a short ride where you don't use the rear brake is not good Check the disc runs true. Does the drag go on/ off as you move the bike or is it constant? Given you've had this problem, I would check the disc thickness to see that it's still within wear limits. Check the caliper slider moves freely ( so the caliper can float) and the rubber boot that covers it is in good condition. If not, clean up with fine emery or wire wool, regrease and re-assemble. Get a new rubber boot if needed. Wemoto are great for parts like that. Place a piece of wood between the pads and operate the pedal. Pads should grip and then release slightly. If the pedal stays floppy or the pads don't retract, it needs a complete overhaul. Possibly new seals and wiper seals. Possibly new pistons if they are badly pitted. You probably should change the fluid as well as your final step.
  27. There should always be light drag, you wouldn't stop in time if there weren't. The bike shouldn't be hard to push around though.
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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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