Finally, a new member from Western Colorado

Hey everyone,
I'm new to Honda VFRs, but I've been riding since I was 12 years old, now 67. I sold a 2020 KTM SDR that was just too much for the road, and I lacked the discipline to ride at quarter throttle all the time. with no tracks near me, I decided in order to keep my license I'd better let the Super Duke go.

So, I bought myself a 2004 H-D Road King to ride with my wife as she like cruisers for their low seat height and torquey, non threatening motors. She rides a 2014 H-D Heritage softail. The RK's a great bike and very comfortable. Ridden properly, they can scoot around fairly well. But I missed that sporty feel of other bikes. I saw a '98 Honda VFR800FI for sell near me (and there's not many in western Colorado, lots of BMW GS, though) and even though it needed some TLC, I purchased the bike. It's a rider, not a show piece. Chinese fairings, butchered tail section, etc. I finally got to take it for a ride on 4/2, just four days ago. I rode the West Elk Loop and back, about 150 miles. The bike is superb to ride!

It appears it has a coolant leak, so off come the fairings, again. While I was going through things over the winter, I had flushed the brake and clutch fluids, oil change and filter, air filter, new rad cap, new plugs, new brake pads, new windscreen, checked stator and R/R, etc. But I didn't change out the thermostat. I have one now and will probably change all the o-rings and hoses while I'm in there. When on my ride on a 50-54 degree F day, the engine temp was 168-174 degrees over the 150 miles, so it didn't appear to be having cooling problems, but...

Sorry, this has gotten a bit long-winded. I said "Finally" in the title because it took forever for my confirmation email to go through, but I've still enjoyed reading existing posts and learning more about "Scarlett".

 

Welcome!! (Finally)

 

Welcome to VFRW!
Would love to see a photo or two of "scarlett".

 

I'm going to have to learn how to add a photo.

 

I converted the Honda cooling system o-ring part #s into much cheaper Viton/FKM o-rings available from a supplier. The details are listed in my 92 VFR thread.

https://vfrworld.com/threads/1992-vfr750f-ended-up-on-my-trailer.60160/page-2

Hingley was doing his '99 at the same time. It saves quite a bit of money.

Re photo: In the lower right is "Upload a File" button. Click, navigate to the photo on your computer, and Choose "Full Image" if you want it in your post, not as a Thumbnail attachment. It will put it where your cursor is.

 

Wow! Thanks for the lesson, Captain. This is Scarlett, my '98 VFR800FI. Photo was taken 4/7/23 on CO133 in Western Colorado between Redstone and Marble, looking south-ish. This coming week I hope to take her to the San Juan mountains through Ouray and onto Silverton, plus a ride over my backyard mountain, Grand Mesa. I'm really enjoying the bike, she handles so sweetly.

 

Hey there! I am in Golden just piked up a VF500 that has been parked for 8 years, with gas in the tank! . I am 68 been riding for many years also ride a KLR 650 Gen 1.