Jim's 1988 VTR250 Interceptor

Yeah I have looked at that guy's bike several times. It really looks good.

I wish I was not such an OEM snob sometimes. But If I cannot find the colors I need then I would likely go black on the seat and tank.

Thanks for the advice on the seat Cap'n I appreciate it! Beer time!

 

I have done several, you need a solid quality heavy duty stapler. I have also looked into an electric one as they do a much better job getting staples where you need them. Patience is your best friend when doing a seat cover job.

By the way, that NT650 HAWK was a BITCH. so many hard to get places with the stapler. it came out OK on mine on the outside but it looks terrible under the seat.

 

cover fitting looks like a good winter project. ive had duct tape on my seat for 2 years or more.

 

Most sellers recommend a quality electric stapler. A pneumatic one not adjusted properly can crack the seat pan. I personally use a nice manual stapler, but I probably can't recommend it though. I've been doing covers for years now, and I have a good technique with mine. Occasionally I have to pull some mis-hits, but I really like it.

One thing I found out with any stapler (that took me YEARS)... don't use Arrow pointed staples. The "point" is a one sided bevel "|\" and makes it kick to one side very often. If you find staples that are a true point, cool. I actually found that the cheap Harbor Freight staples with no point work the best. The seat pan is actually pretty "soft", weird plastic.

 

The HAWK was one of the hardest covers I have ever done, with the 1986 VFR right there.

 

Harbor Freight, Eh? I did not know that. I have Arrow staples and you are right, they don;t shoot straight. I did not know there was a difference.

 

FYI, I have mostly all Ryobi cordless tools. Have purchased many over the years as I need them. Their stapler was no different. Works great and a good investment.

 

Yes, I have a sizable number of Ryobi myself. I did not know they had a stapler,...Thanks

 

Started work on the from end. The Inboard front brake is actually pretty interesting.

I found this story on line...I had always wondered about these brakes.

Fashion Over Function
In an effort to avoid showcasing ugly rust often encountered on disc brake rotors after exposure to rain, Honda built the 1982 and 1983 VF400F with inboard brakes. Mission accomplished in that regard since no one could see the rotors while covered with the aluminum housings.

These inboard brakes also took root in the CBX550F with similar disappointment. The experiment was over and inboard brakes went out with a whimper by 1990.

Too Hot to Handle
These brakes worked well enough. At least as well as any other disc brake system did, but cooling them was very difficult because they are enclosed. Once they got warm from aggressive braking it wouldn’t likely happen in time before the rotor would warp from heat exposure.

In my day job as a Heavy Duty Mechanic, I see plenty of inboard brake systems on large construction equipment that provides better braking than an exposed disc system could. The difference is that heavy equipment braking system discs are bathed in cooling oil pumped through the housing instead of trying to use airflow. The oil keeps the brakes at a more constant temperature to stop warping from happening.

It Might Have Worked…
If Honda could have engineered how to manage an oil bath for this braking system perhaps more bikes would have inboard brakes today. I think the oil bath system would have added too much weight to the bike though, even if they could have figured it out in reality.

It was a great concept, but not practical on a motorcycle, because there’s just not enough metal surrounding the brakes to absorb the heat and allow it to disperse naturally.

 

I had the 1990 with the regular front brakes...but that bike had the best rear brake of anything I've ever owned...so there's that!

 

I rode the bike before I overhauled the front end, and indeed they work fine. Perfectly normal feel.

 

Excellent pics Jim … THANKS!


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A really bizarre set up. Once you have the wheel off the bike, you pry the entire rotor and caliper off as a unit.

Caliper mount and speedo drive are one unit also.

Look at that ugly rusted caliper. OMG what will the neighbors think!

 

The actual disk is a nice casting. Looks like the front disk of the 81-2 CBX. Well ventilated and it probably needed it.

 

Very interesting… look pretty bad but looks like it will clean up nicely.


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dont have time for a reasoned responce, but i tend to disagree. rotor may circulate cooling air, and cover is scooping forward. been riding my '89 for 30 years, never had a front brake complaint so far. rotor is designed to shed heat, same as any other bike. m aybe if u rode downhill for 12 m iles.

i feel your revulsion, but get the brake all clean and resurfaced and workin right and u might have no complaint. servicing the brake was the first thing to do after road tests.

 

Yeah I am sure they are fine, it was just one of those "answers to a question nobody asked" kind of deals.

Peak Japanese 80's engineering and I love it!

 

Hell yeah! Awesome Job, JM!

 

its a floating rotor, nice

 

Yep