what did you do to your vfr today?

Well that is one school of thought...

Sadly nowadays there is a well rehearsed "rent-a-protest" structure visible across the planet. Choose pretty much any "cause", round up a few mates to make some banners, choose a location bound to cause maximum chaos and contact the media, then just hire a mini van and recruit a couple of dozen volunteers for two hours on minimum wage terms to hold up said placards and chant the scripted message, and you are pretty much guaranteed to get 5 minutes free prime time TV coverage for their campaign to "save the lesser spotted green cabbage"... etc.

Broadcasters and news agencies all over the world are far too willing to give air-time to these rent-a-protest exploits, and inevitably this simply encourages more and more of these "rent-a-protest" demonstrations to happen. Suffice to say in all probability 10 minutes after the TV crew got bored and packed away their gear - all said "demonstrators" would be swiftly back in the van and off down the pub - so much for honest protest! As for anyone "arrested" the police have better things to spend time on so away from the cameras they would be let off and told don't do it again. Time and again the media is simply having its chain pulled, and if we allow this sort of crap to influence anything, then we get what we deserve.

.. As for just running them over ... I think Big Jim may be on to something..

hehe

 

Rode it. 100 miles of all twisties in a little over two hours including topping off the tank with 2.4 gallons (8th gen.). Try that with a Hardley.

 

Installed HIDs, longer process than it has taken on any other vehicle, and this makes about 15 sets installed total. While removing the front fairing was easier than expected, since it was the first removal for me I took my time. HIDs look great on the bike, as usual I went with 6,000k, just bright white. I'll admit, about 2.5 hours total. Maybe if it cools down this evening I can test them out.

 

Low beams Mav?


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Yes sir. I'm kicking myself for not ordering the highs while I had it apart. But I since I rarely run the hi's I don't feel too bad. Big difference, it's not about just the looks of it to me, I can see much further down the road. Getting older I'll take every advantage I can.

 

Thats the main reason I got them, to much shit on the frwys out here in LA and riding home at night I like ta see alligators or ladders before I'm on top of them.
Now your hi beams will look yellow and weak.
Enjoy


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New EBC HH pads in the rear, then just had to go out for a short ride to test them!

 

Tell me about it! You can melt lead around here. It must be unbearably hot in Houston. At least it's not humid here.

 

Last night I finished up fitting the CBR600F4 forks to 6th gen triples into my 5th gen. I re-used the springs, valves and shims from the 5th gen fork (which actually was a modified VTR1000F fork). I realise that I probably need to change the compression valve body as this has a fixed drilled bypass hole, no longer needed as the 600F4 fork has an adjustable bypass circuit, but I will test ride the thing first.

One thing I found which I did not expect was that the steering lock would not work, caused by the ignition mount on the 6th gen triple being higher than the 5th so the locking pin didn't meet the hole in the frame. I had to shim the lock down by 3mm (2 x 1.5mm washers between the lock and triple) to get it to align.




I have re-used my 5th gen mudguard, and riveted a small piece of alloy strip to the guard behind the fork leg, which I drilled and tapped. The front lower mount lines up like it was made for it, and the top hole is just filled with the bolt and a nyloc nut.



I measured the complete 600F4 forks at 10mm shorter than the 5th gen, so I have deliberately set the forks down a little lower in the triples to keep the geometry similar.



Haven't yet taken it for a ride but it all feels fine in the garage aside from too much spring preload (shorter spacer needed). I'll be watching out for any pulling to the side as I measured the fork-wheel offset and it looks like the wheel is 0.8mm off-centre (to the left). The inside spacing of the 600F4 and VFR forks is identical (I checked), and my VFR has always had a small tendency to pull to the right, so I may look at filing down the right side axle spacer to get perfect alignment.

 

Ordered some stuff! Always fun to wait. I bought some Oury grips that I remembered from my mountain biking days back when $11 was a lot of money to me... Then I rode west on the highway across the city to the Art Museum where Rocky climbed the stairs, then took the boulevard home. It's wonderful to live here.

 

Took the 01 for a spin up to GMR/Crystal Lake. It's been a while since I have ridden it. Between the Duc and 09 needing a stretch in the twisties, it was nice to be back on the 5 Gen.

 

I think you will definitely need to block it off, or replace it.
I have a 1.3mm bleed with mine, and found that too big using cSt17@40 oil.
It's fine using cSt24@40 oil, as I like the fork action with that weight better.
With the F4i forks and slow speed compression damping adjustment, you are doubling the size of the bleed ports.
Have you also replaced the original rebound pistons?
I found doing this made a huge difference to compression damping in a good way, mainly because the rebound piston refill ports are so restrictive.

 

The compression pistons are from DMr, with a pre-drilled bleed hole (probably 1.3mm but I've never checked). I think I lean more towards the side of wanting less low speed compression damping than more anyway, so I can always leave the adjusters closed off to maximise what I have, or open them up more. I am running Gold Valves in the rebound side, and have the forks filled to 120mm with 15 cSt oil.

If I wanted to block the port, how do you reckon that should be done? Epoxy?

 

When I was going to plug mine to try a smaller bleed hole, I thought of a tight aluminium dowel with epoxy, but changed to heavier oil instead to adress a bit too much bypass on the cartdridge bush.
Now with the high flow rebound piston, it all works as I was hoping it would and I'm happy with it.
It would be a shame to have slow speed compression adjustment and not be able to use it.
I've just finished the whole VTR bottom and adjuster with delinked 954 brakes and was very happy, now you've just raised the bar and you have me thinking.
I'll be keen to hear how the stiffer forks feel, I'm guessing it should have a lot more feeling at the bars, better response to input and better stability on mid corner bumps.

 

Managed a short, dark and cold (4C/39F) test ride. Stability is excellent, turn in rapid (but I've been riding my ST1100 whale lately) and aside from a slightly tight steering head bearing, the front end is AWESOME. Biggest issue was visibility with fogging glasses and visor, but the heated grips were lovely!


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Looking very good there

 

Nice to read Cadbury, Oz your input is nice too know as well. I all most did thisF4i to the 5th but while looking for 6th gen tripes, I found a clean set of VTR lowers instead Now for winter to arrive, Shh....not to soon though, I still need to figure out the hose thing.

 

Had a punture yesterday on a ride out (RVF) - but was only close & so managed to get home & fix it before the tyre died.. :smug:

But then found I dont have a 36mm socket (or anything close) to use to tighten the wheel nut up !!!

So a lovely day today & the bike is on the stand....

 

this could be an interesting bike.....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252491926103?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2661&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

Same happened today. Was midway home from a 300 mile trip couple states over, passing motorist waved and indicated my rear tire looked low. Pulled over on the shoulder, sure enough found a nail dead center. Busted out the little 12v air compressor and plug kit, and was back on the road in 5 mins.