1986 VFR700FII

These weren't cheap, but ultimately that doesn't really mean anything. The stays and joints seem very solid and well made. To make an adjustment you have to be very deliberate. For my stance on the bike, the view is about the same. Time will tell I suppose.

If I wanted / needed a 100% unobstructed view behind me, I would ride a different style of bike with stupid mirrors. No thanks. And mirror extenders are about as sexy as blocks on trike pedals to me.

Exception: The ST1100. Some of the best mirrors ever put on a bike with fairings, with a great view and look great.

 

Goddamit. I meant to stop by a park in the setting sun on the way home, but here are some same 'ol boring pics in front.









Man, I love this bike. Runs and rides great, and looks and sounds amazing doing it.

New brake lines (and front tire) feel great.

 

She's a beauty! How do you like the new mirrors? They look really great!

 

She is a beauty. The mirrors are nice. They do not bounce or vibrate into a blur at all. In actual use, they require a little more elbow tuck to get a view right behind me. But as described before, I really don't care. Going down a proper road, I can see everything I need to.

 

Just ole boring perfection..dangit. She looks good dude! White guage cluster, did I miss something? Not sure I have ever seen that.

 

The bike was an Eastern Washington bike. Meaning it had sat in the sun and the blue inner panels were very faded. My friend, the second owner, decided to change to white and did the gauge surround as well. Krylon job, but actually is pretty good. While I certainly don't hate it, I am going to restore another set in black (or maybe a charcoal metallic) and am contemplating changing them out.

 

The white looks so much better than the black! Keep it!

 

If I can find a pearl white in Duplicolor that is close enough I may try that out. I have a fender I need to find for some 41mm 88/89 forks I have that would need some paint too.

 

I need a good seat cowl for Big Red. I kinda like the white gauges. They oddly cool.

 

Had a nice package waiting for me when I got home...



Rebuilt Ohlins with a custom extended res hose so I don't have to mount it to the frame above the clutch slave. Part of a suspension upgrade package with .90 RT Springs and YSS PD Emulator Valves up front.

 

Nice, Capt!

 

Yeah man... the fleet is getting nicely finished. One of the last current "riders" that was still rocking some stock suspension. It worked just fine. More than just fine actually. But I have long term plans that eventually the pieces come together for.

 

Top Secret plans...shhh I look forward to the plans.

 

The box was on the counter. Wife said, "where is that from?".

"Shock rebuilder"

"Oh... Thor. I thought I recognized it."

Ooof. Dangerous when your wife starts recognizing the return address name on shock packages. Time to update my shipping address to our new work address.

 

Nice upgrade. Pardon my ignorance, but how do the .90 RT springs differ from factory? I'm not familiar with them. Do they help stiffen up the front forks compression?

 

Hondas, especially from the 80's and 90's, are WOEFULLY under-sprung and over-damped. Wallowy and harsh.

Stock fork springs for the 86 is... 0.49 kg/mm. Yikes.

As an example, I have the 86 VFR700FII in the RaceTech spring rate calculator. Intermediate, street use. Rider weight at 10 (TEN !) pounds.



Recommended spring rate... 0.78



Technically I could use stiffer than .90, but I found a really good deal on these and they will def be in an easily acceptable range for this bike and how it is ridden.