Hello From SW Wyoming

Hello everyone! I must say I am very impressed with the level ingenuity on this forum! Amazing. I see incredible problem solving here and I have come to the right place.

About me: I own a 1986 Pearl White VFR700F that I have been so proud since she lured me away from my beloved RZ350 giant killer in 1994. I also moved out west from Indiana in 1994. I have been riding, building and racing motorcycles since 1969. This is mostly dirt bike riding/racing but I have had a good taste of the street starting in 1972 with a Yamaha R5. In 1984 I owned a RD250 and in 1989 I bought the RZ350. I was a definite hard core motorcyclist. I still ride my dirt bike here in dirt bike mecca WYO occasionally.

In 2000 I had too many close calls with drunk and reckless drivers in Idaho Falls Idaho where I lived at the time and parked the street bikes in 2001. But, for those years this bike was an awesome machine, especially on mountain roads in Idaho and Wyoming. This is the best sounding bike, in my opinion. I installed a 4-1 Yosh pipe early on. When I fired this bike up in 2012 after going through the carbs, my neighbors came running over to see what it was. It sounded like a sprint car to them. My favorite all-time 4 stroke engine. This may be as close to a F1 car engine as we can get!

This bike is mostly stock except for SS brake lines and newer tires. It is mostly original with around 19K on the clock. But, it is time to get the bike out again and on the street. The roads in Wyoming are mostly empty and wide open. Much safer and there are numerous great curvy mountain roads as I discovered with my Corvettes since 2002.

I am currently restoring the RZ350 and have read numerous articles about upgrading the suspension and wheel/tires. This is getting too involve and the frame is the weak point. I decided to leave the RZ mostly stock except for a front brake upgrade and rear shock upgrade for now.

This got me thinking about the VFR sitting there lonely and unused under a Gold Wing cover. The aluminum frame is extremely strong compared to the RZ!! And the swingarm is modern and robust also. It looks like a modern upgrade to 17" wheels/ tires and front forks/brake combo may be easier. The rear shock is first though like the RZ.

So I joined the forum and have had a great time reading up on upgrades and other improvements. These bikes are worth saving, restoring, upgrading and enjoying, but you knew that. I think everyone on this forum is way ahead of me on this. This spring and summer are going to be memorable like they used to be on the VFR again. I am looking forward to reading up on more upgrades members have done. I know I will have many questions that forum members can easily answer. I will post some pix later on when she is clean enough for viewing. No bath in 15 years or so! Would you want your lady to be seen with this much dust on her? OK, no cornfield skiing jokes please! Eddie

 

Welcome to the forum. Post her up, that bike is gonna look good no matter what!

 

Welcome welcome to the insane asylum. Dude you're only a half day ride to probably the best roads short of N.Ca there is. Chief Joseph by-way up through Red lodge, then hwy14 through N' Wy. Very cool.. only thing is, WHERES THE PIC's?

 

Another Wyomingite. Sweet. I'm in Casper.

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That looks like a nice bike Jeremy. Mine just roared to life yesterday. It may need a waterpump before I take it too far from home and the jetting is off. It stumbles past 1/4 throttle.

I may have to invest in a newer bike like your this summer. We sure have some great places to ride around this state. You are in a great place for riding too. I am close to Flaming Gorge. Ed

 

Hey welcome Wyoming! I lived in Green River when I was a kid. Glad to have you onboard!

 

How does California suit you? I lived in Ventura for 1980-1981. There is probably 10 million more people there now. I was working there again and in Bakersfield in 2008. Deja Vu all over again. How does it feel to ride year round on you VFR? Wyoming has a limited riding season as you know. I just got my bike running right again yesterday after 2 months, mostly waiting on parts. Ed