Winter Storage? PFFFT!

Greets everyone, I acquired an '03 in early June of 2015.

Mileage was just over 21K, and I had no idea how much saddle time it would provide.

6 months later, and I managed to pile on 8K more miles, the odo is quickly headed for 30K!

It's been a most unusual winter so far here in the NE, I put around 1000 miles on it, IN DECEMBER!

And yesterday, 1-9-16 I had my first ride of 2016, another 120 miles

A number of mods were done, first was a Delkevic full system, centerstand delete, Sargent seat, and a Puig smoked windscreen.

Then custom stainless bar ends, with throttle lock, triple USB taps for GPS and Camera plugins, and aftermarket filler cap.

Most recently I have stripped the factory black from the rear wheel, and 50/50 stripped the front.

Also removed the amber '03 lenses, and all clear with LEDs now. Fan switch changed to 185F on, no more temp issues!

Oh and the bike was clean about 90 minutes before the pics were taken

 

Please don't mind the extra salinity

 

Redwing, welcome. Look forward to seeing your ride, particularly what the exhaust looks like.

When generating a post you can click "insert image" the third icon from the right. Then select the files from your hard drive. Then choose upload. There will be certain formats that it allows, just read the box on the screen to see the allowed formats.

 

Thanks Knight, got it!

Here's a pic from a few days after the Delkevic was installed

 

That is definitely pretty!

So does it have a Power Commander or other device to adjust the fuel for the new exhaust?

 

Haven't been compelled to do a PC yet, and the Delkevic does have bungs for both factory O2 sensors.

Admittedly done more for cosmetic reasons than performance, I noticed no real power increase or decrease.

Throttle response and smoothness was definitely improved, it has a nice tone, reasonable dBs and looks soooo much better.

Here's the link: http://www.delkevic.us/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=5302&search=vfr800&page=2

My one warning, this is NOT an easy install, took about 4 days after hours (probably around 16-18 hours total) and the sequence needs to be right the first time. But for the price (~$600 USD) it was well worth the time.

PS the full system can be had with either carbon, or stainless cans, same price. I went with the carbon because they run cool (under 120F external temps) and the black offset the silver for better contrast

 

Great that you accomplished this yourself!

I see this exhaust does not require fuel changes. I wonder what the difference is between the full exhausts that require changes and the ones that do not.

 

Well the one real sticky part, was figuring out when to apply the sealant on the collector. Because you have multiple junctions and you don't want the sealant setting up before getting that final pipe order in place. Other than that it is pretty basic, and prior to this I had hand fabricated a full SS system for my 79 Supersport. So comparatively, the Delkevic install was a walk in the park!

As to the need for a PC or other, seems to me most aftermarket systems have similar flowrates, and I'm not enough of a tuner to know why that varies model to model so much. From what I've seen so far concerning gen 6 VFRs, people have said it's not worthwhile. But I will not rule out getting one in the future

 

Welcome, RedWing!

You're not the only one ... even us Canucks get oot fer a rip with da snow on da ground, eh!

 

Yes and as anyone who has white winters will probably agree- Any chance to ride in January is NOT to be forfeited...

Salt or other consequences be damned!

The snow hath returned today, makes it even better when you know you fit one in a tight window

Thanks for the welcome!

 

Welcome aboard, I used to ride all year up in North Jersey. I really should have had a dedicated winter bike. Its crazy to me now to think of all the miles and places I went with my bike up there. Now, it sees less miles and never gets caught in the rain (heaven-forbid.) I had the clear coating on one of my nighthawks get hazy from the salty winters. Have to wash it off with hot water from the laundry room :loco: eace:

 

Yeah NJ/NYC area is a little milder clime usually, upstate gets whacked with lake-effect a lot.

But this season has been a lamb compared to last year, the November from Hell.

I had to roll out on the CB and survey some of the carnage immediately after- still shot from video on 11-24-2014:

 

Welcome. Where did you buy a temp switch that low?

 

Here- http://www.ebay.com/itm/17121564973...l?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=171215649733&_rdc=1

Really wish I had found it back in the summer, in traffic the temp had hit 230 more than once. I considered doing the manual switch, but did not want the task of knowing when to turn it on or off constantly.

So I had a chance to test it out, even in January on a ~45F day, the old viffer wanted to overheat in traffic.

4 occasions, the temp gauge was quickly rising as it loves to do when stopped. But 190 was the peak on the gauge before the fan kicked on. Immediately the temp bumped back down to about 180-182. BIG smiles, under ten bucks and it is an almost guaranteed solution for temp issues, given your cooling system is in good health.

 

OK I concede, winter you win... FOR NOW

Yesterday and today have brought with them the typical Arctic tantrums...
It is hard to believe I rode three days ago, maybe I could with a nice new Africa Twin!