Long time rider; First VFR

I found this forum several weeks ago from a web search.
Y'all seem like a good source for knowledge about my latest steed.

I already have several questions in mind that I will post soon, so I thought it only polite to introduce myself before I start asking questions.
I may even be able to occasionally drop a pearl of hard-earned wisdom.

A brief Moto-Resume:
1st bike was a Rupp (IIRC) minibike when I was about 9 yrs old.
I was instantly hooked.
I've had about 19-20 legitimate (full scale) road bikes since then (one of the first was an '85 500 Interceptor - LOVED that bike!), and have accumulated something well over 250,000 miles (perhaps as much as 400,000 - I've always just wanted to ride rather than keep close odo records, just need to know when the oil change and valve adjustment are due!), in all conceivable road, weather and traffic conditions, including Alps, Autobahns, Nurburgring, Spa Francorchamps, Assen, most major metropoli in Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg & Holland, in conditions including snow, hail, extreme cross-winds, 3+ ft floods (once had to stand on the top of a guardrail post and hold the bike's grip so it wouldn't be washed away), wet grass downhill ski slope in spring (with a group of crazy German bikers that spoke almost no English [& I little Deutsch at the time], but promised a great party when we got there [It was, all night!]), much sheep dung (slipperiest substance I've ever encountered), deep sand, deep gravel, fresh hot tarmac, and just about any other condition you could imagine.
((that was one heck of a long sentence!))

All of it as fast as conditions and local Law Enforcement presence dictated (very little common sense until fairly recently).
I've also done a solo X-USA 2 week ride just to appreciate being on home soil again.

My first fiance' once said, in the days approaching the Magic Day: "I do hope you realize you'll have to give up those motorcycles".
Notice I said "first"...
When I met the girl who became my wife, we were too poor at the time to own a car (I had sold my car on the East coast to ride my FJ1200 on the aforementioned x-country journey), so we lived on the bike for about 4 years, including shopping, laundry, commuting, etc. (Northern California).
Priorities!
Later, when she was pregnant with our first born, she told me to go out and buy a new R1 to celebrate. Nice! "OK, twist my arm...". ;-)

Now my daughter is 4 1/2, and we are shopping for helmets and gear so she can ride with daddy next spring, with mama's complete blessing.
If/when finances allow, we'll be shopping for mini quads and a micro-bike of her own - Start 'em young!
My wife is a keeper for sure!

We now live near Portland, Oregon, which allows easy access to some of the finest moto-roads and jaw-dropping scenery west of the Alps.

My latest addition is a 1994 VFR 750.
I had been sans moto for a couple years due to some financial misfortune, but had been jonesing for a new ride ever since.
I had my heart set on a semi-exotic little 400cc or 250cc 2-stroker, but had a very limited budget.

I found this forlorn and neglected VFR for sale for a reasonable price, and took it for a ride.
The previous owner is the inventor of the "Green Light Trigger" (fancy name for a magnet), who had recently come down with Parkinson's Disease (think Michael J. Fox).
It seems that until last year he could still ride well enough, but had lost strength and coordination to hold the bike up when stopped.
You guessed it - This resulted in apparently a number of no-speed drops, on both sides...
The bike's scars are evidence to "no-speed".
Quite a bit of essentially cosmetic damage, but still rides like new & tracks true.
Another potential buyer had offered more $$ than I could come up with, so I backed out of the picture and kept looking.
A few days later the owner called me and said he liked me and wanted me to have the bike (I had done a couple of minor maintenance bits and adjustments prior to either of us test-riding it).
I had felt a bond with the bike instantly, like rescuing an abused dog or horse or something - I sensed the bike needed me.

The Bad News: The other potential Buyer had discovered it had a Salvage Title, no doubt due to all the cosmetic damage.

The Good News: I didn't care. I felt like I was obligated to rescue and restore the poor thing, and frankly I just wanted any kind of sporty bike, cheap...
The Owner said it was mine for the paltry sum of $300-. Yes, Three Hundred.

He had said he wanted a "mature, experienced" rider to have his cherished mount, presumably to give it a loving home and not crash it.
Me.

Since then I've been restoring it slowly, as my budget allows, and have really come to appreciate it's virtues for my aging chassis.

I'll write more about the bike and project later.

"Rat" just seemed an appropriate moniker...

 

Thanx!

"What a long strange trip it's been..."!
Yeah, I've certainly seen and done a lot on two wheels.

I hope I can contribute, but it seems like there are a lot of knowledgeable folks around here.
I'll probably mostly lurk around and keep a fairly low profile unless I think i can really offer some value or a different point of view.
On other forums, I feel like an Elder Statesman of sorts.

Here's my Moto History, to the best of my recollection:
(I just know I'm forgetting a couple bikes)

1974 Rupp(?) minibike
1976 Honda Z50
1978 Yamaha YZ-80
1982 GPz 550. Classic good looks. First big crash. Taught me to seek the MSF...
1985 500 Interceptor. Taught me how to really ride. I'd buy another!
1986 XL-250. Taught me how to fix flats...
1987 HD 1100. Sportster Modded & Tuned. Became 1200cc courtesy of Wiseco. Taught me to stick to sportbikes! Sold it in Germany for a profit, and promptly bought one of the first GSXR's. The rest is (fast) history!
1987 GSXR 750. My one true Beloved. My Mistress. We toured Europe in love. The bike I never should have let get away, sniff... Perfect in every way.
1985 RZ 350's (2 racebikes) Taught me how to replace cylinders, head gaskets & plugs in minutes!
1982 Honda CB 900F SuperSport. Handsome. Wanted something like my older brother's CB 750F racebike.
1986 Honda CB700SC Nighthawk S. I'd buy another, just wish they'd made an 1100 version.
1990 ZX-10. Perfect FAST Sport-Tourer, even now.
1990 Ducati 750 Sport. Moody but beautiful!
1990 Honda GB-500. Heart of gold and classic good looks. I want another.
1986 FJ 1200. My "Millenium Falcon", a fast old dinosaur! HUGE Torque - Downshifting entirely optional, even 2-up!
2001 R1. EDR Tuned, 'nuff said! I still just wanted 20 more HP or 40 less lbs, or both!
1994 VFR 750. Current Project - Repli-racer riders beware! I'll pass you in comfort! Seems 'Just Right' for this stage of my moto-life. Sporty, capable & comfortable.

 

$300 that's a steal I thought I was doing good with only $800 into my 500.

Welcome to the group.

 

I like your comment on the RZ 350's. I got into bikes way after the two strokes began to disappear, so I never had the pleasure. Everyone I talked to who owned one has said the same thing as you! "They taught me how to work on bikes" LOL!

BZ

 

Hey - welcome to the forum from another 4G rider! The VFR is by far the best bike I've ever ridden, but my list is not nearly as extensive as yours.

BTW - I bought mine in April with 15k miles for 12.66x what you paid (but mine was near perfect, almost showroom). Lucky dude - but I can understand the connection to a "Rat".

Oh, yeah - let's see some rat pics!