VFR Diary

[(RIP) MScotts]

MScotts, this may interest you. It's when I spruced up my last VFR750FV.

http://www.bikersoracle.com/vfr/forum/showthread.php?t=105389

And :

http://www.bikersoracle.com/vfr/forum/showthread.php?t=106405&highlight=vfr750

Brill Davy; I'm working my way through the posts & pics
How comes one or more folks think that if you refurb something it becomes an 'ornament'; and only if it's minging with corrosion here & thwere it's a properly used bike Neither the VFR or the GS are ornaments, but I do want to to keep them in good nick like most of my bikes have been over the decades....

-Andy

 

[(RIP) MScotts]

A good clean...did you take the front sprocket cover off? you possibly did and i missed it.
The last vfr i had [750] when i bought it by luck i collected it with a trailer,it was seriously needing a clean.the whole front sprocket area was full of grit and chain lube-a real grinding paste.

I've resisted the temptation so far, however I did scrub out and lube the areas in & around it I can get to without removing that cover. I'll need to do some research on how it's removed/refitted etc as it appears to have the clutch's slave cylinder attached, which means there'll be a push rod and poss other stuff in the assembly...?

 

[(RIP) MScotts]

An observation rather than a criticism ...

Ideally you should paint the radiator back to black to aid heat dissipation

Duly noted matey; albeit I did consider this well before I did the spray job, and once done the fins only got enough of a dusting to give off the re-colour.

Part of the research done beforehand found that the VFR800 has it's Rad in silver; perhaps being the clincher; notwithstanding the engine running quite low on the gaufge even when up to temp.

(VFR800 Rad)

That all said; I'll simply get a replacement if I think it's had a detremental effect to the engine cooling

 

[Davy F]

How comes one or more folks think that if you refurb something it becomes an 'ornament'; and only if it's minging with corrosion here & thwere it's a properly used bike Neither the VFR or the GS are ornaments, but I do want to to keep them in good nick like most of my bikes have been over the decades....

Totally agree, Andy. Here's pics of my Vtec waiting to be picked up by its new owner. It had 20k on it by then and the pictures should speak for themselves.

Oh, and I sprayed my silver rads on the Vtec black purely for cosmetic reasons.

 

[(RIP) MScotts]

Totally agree, Andy. Here's pics of my Vtec waiting to be picked up by its new owner. It had 20k on it by then and the pictures should speak for themselves.

Oh, and I sprayed my silver rads on the Vtec black purely for cosmetic reasons.

Lovely Vtec Davy. How do you rate the post-carb VFRs against the predecessors in terms of styling, handling and the way the engine was with FI?

 

[(RIP) MScotts]

Today saw quite a lot of jobs completed and ticked off the 'to-do' list...

#1 - First thing I got both out the garage for a quick pic before taking the 650 out for a spin.

Mid-afternoon onwards saw off many of the outstanding 'niff-naff' jobs inc. applying copper-slip or silicone grease or threadlock; to nuts, bolts and fastners as-required. With the side-fairing and rear panels removed (again) I got down to installing some parts that were only temp-installed the other day...

#2 - The silencer got heat-resistant silicone applied to the swivel joint, then torqued up

#3 - The Scottoiler was (finally) reinstalled.....

#4 - ....with the oil pipe being routed alongside the braided brake hose, both inside some cable-wrap to keep them tidy (yes, I know there's some wee touch-ups to do )

#5 - The main wiring harness on the RHS adjacent to the battery tray had been bugging me for a while...

#6 - ...so all the old electrical tape and other wrappings got stripped out and replaced

#7 - The front brake-hose guides on both sides needed a bit of modifying to correctly take the braided hoses; so that got done...

#8 - ...alongside a general brake service and calliper clean-up

Not too much left to do now, which is nice!

 

[(RIP) MScotts]

Oh, and I've just noticed that I won a seat cowl off eBay for the princely sum of £26.01 (delivered)

(eBay piccies)

#1

#2

Once received I'll pop it along to my friendly paint-shoppe for a reasonable colour match in exchange for some beer tokens

 

[Davy F]

Lovely Vtec Davy. How do you rate the post-carb VFRs against the predecessors in terms of styling, handling and the way the engine was with FI?

Personally, I prefered the carbed VFR's against the Fi models. I didn't care for the 800 that replaced the last of the 750's as I thought it looked too 'fat', the linked brakes weren't great although there did seem to be a slight improvement in power. I stupidly traded my first VFR750 in against the Vtec.

The Vtec was and is still a nice machine and has better brakes & handling over the 750, but I missed that gear driven whine of the old model, plus I felt the quality of finish had gone down a tad. Hence buying the second 750 as I think Honda achieved it's high point with the styling of the final 750 model. Unfortunately, things change and medical problems meant I couldn't ride the VFR for more than 10 miles without suffering pain in my right hand (carpal tunnel, since operated on) and I sold the 750 for a Fazer 1000.

 

[(RIP) MScotts]

Personally, I prefered the carbed VFR's against the Fi models. I didn't care for the 800 that replaced the last of the 750's as I thought it looked too 'fat', the linked brakes weren't great although there did seem to be a slight improvement in power. I stupidly traded my first VFR750 in against the Vtec....

Cheers. Having only owned the carburetted VFRs (3x 'pro-arm' versions inc this one) I had no real idea of the owner/experience of the later ones.

RE: the above, what's the exhaust fitted to it? As you can see below, during the rebuild process the other day I panelled it up without the exhaust to see what difference it made to the looks; liked it so have been keeping an eye out for an end can that sweeps up and runs parallel the rear fairing panel...

#1 - a pic from the upcoming 'rebuild time-lapse'...

 

[(RIP) MScotts]

....The Vtec was and is still a nice machine and has better brakes & handling over the 750, but I missed that gear driven whine of the old model, plus I felt the quality of finish had gone down a tad. Hence buying the second 750 as I think Honda achieved it's high point with the styling of the final 750 model. Unfortunately, things change and medical problems meant I couldn't ride the VFR for more than 10 miles without suffering pain in my right hand (carpal tunnel, since operated on) and I sold the 750 for a Fazer 1000.

Is your C-T all fixed now Davy?

Looking at more recent Hondas (and other brands in general) I would tend to agree that; unless you want to match the 'power-ranger' gear then styling has done a bit wayward; I'm sure handling & performance is the opposute though? Regards finish, I can't really comment but all I can say is that the refurb would have been a hell of a lot more trying if the finish under all the grime & cack wasn't rock-solid. Next year I'll attend to the cosmetics fully as there's a few srctaches etc that I'd like to correct to make the plastics perfect...

 

[Davy F]

Yes, the CT op was a big success although I haven't ridden anything with a remotely sportsbike riding position since, so I don't know if I would be pain free on that type of bike again. Good job I prefer an upright position.

The exhaust on my first VFR750 was a Remus (road legal) hi-rise can. Louder than standard, but not so much as to annoy.

 

[Phil-H]

The bikes' looking good up:

Of course the best looking ones are the first pro-arms

Phil

 

[(RIP) MScotts]

The bikes' looking good up:

Of course the best looking ones are the first pro-arms

Phil

You're not entirely wrong Phil; but wil reserve judgement on the FV until I've had a summer out of it...

The pics are of one of my previous pro-arms, albeit not particularly well scanned pics from circa'92/ '93. Back then the FL & FM had white wheels and colour coded belly pan.

Over the space of a year I had them both done in Black (wheels first)... The idea kind of caught on with Honda I'd say.

#1

#2

 

[Flipfly]

The bikes' looking good up:

Of course the best looking ones are the first pro-arms

Phil

Definately the prettiest VFR except for the RC30 and NC30

 

[Phil-H]

Definately the prettiest VFR except for the RC30 and NC30

Oooh, that goes without saying

Can't afford an RC30, so the NC is the next best thing

Although comfort ain't a strong point (especially if you are over 6'!)

Phil

 

[(RIP) MScotts]

Yes, it's a few weeks overdue
...However, here's the third part of the renovation project

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/g3P5kfpGcRA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Davy F]

Andy I replaced the stupid condom mirrors on both my VFR750's with Y2K ones from the VFR800. Each to their own of course, but I always thought that the condom type were awful.

However, good job well done.

 

[(RIP) MScotts]

Andy I replaced the stupid condom mirrors on both my VFR750's with Y2K ones from the VFR800. Each to their own of course, but I always thought that the condom type were awful.....

Cheers Davy...
Totally agree. As it happens I've got my eye on a pair of mirrors (on eBay) but was unsure whether to bid as I didn't know if either/or the vtec or pre-vtec mirrors would be a direct fit. Were they fitted to other Hondas too?

 

[Davy F]

AFAIK, the Vtec mirrors don't fit. I'm not 100% sure what other bikes were fitted with the same, but a phone call to Dave Silvers would more than likely give you the info you need.

 

[(RIP) MScotts]

AFAIK, the Vtec mirrors don't fit. I'm not 100% sure what other bikes were fitted with the same, but a phone call to Dave Silvers would more than likely give you the info you need.

A bit of research via http://www.partzilla.com/parts/detail/honda/ confirms this

VFR800FiY - (LHS) 88120-MBG-D01 and (RHS) 88110-MBG-D01
VFR800 VTEC - (LHS) 88120-MCW-D01P and (RHS) 88110-MCW-D01P

I'll give David Silver a ring tomorrow, cheers