New Interceptor, new member

Thank you one and all for your interesting and informative website. It, and the FZ1 ownwers site, has made my choice of my first NEW motorcycle (14 used ones in 36 years of riding) relatively easy. I was kind of torn about getting a '98-'01 (GDC) but I was tired of having used bikes, so new it is.

I have decided to get the 2006 Pearl Black VFR; the gold metalflake in the paint is sweet, and the brushed aluminum muffler covers are cool, as are the clear signal lenses. The local dealer (Lompoc, CA) has an '05 Red VFR for 9981 OTD and he wants 11k OTD for the '06 (ouch). I could get it for 10,400 in LA but it would be a hassle, so I'll try to talk him down a few hundred. Besides, I want to change the oil after 20 miles, and that is just right from Lompoc to Orcutt (south of Santa Maria) where I live.

I read about the VFR's 7000-6400 RPM VTEC actuation change and I figured that even though I don't usually have those kind of RPMs into corners (close though) and for me it would be more likely to activate in a turn at the lower RPM, it would be less noticeable since the difference in effect would be less at the lower RPM. Sound logical?

I caught a hint of some possible cam chain tensioner problems @ 20k miles but lost it. The dealer says he hasn't heard of any, and there never were any in the Gen I-IV. If anyone knows of this type of problem PLEASE let me know ASAP! I had an '84 VT500 (Ascot) that ate tensioners every 5k miles, and I definitely do not want a repeat of that fiasco.

I've been riding with some guys at work (Boeing @ Vandenberg AFB). We just lost an '84 VFR yesterday when the newbie owner, riding solo, came into a turn too hot, downshifted and simultaneoulsy hit the brakes in the turn, broke the rear tire loose then recovered only to high side it and fly off as he passed under a foot thick oak branch that scraped the vents off the top of his helmet ! He then flew into a wood fence post hitting his lower back/butt, while the bike hit the fence nearby:frown: . He is fine (and lucky!!) except for wounded pride and very deep bruising in the areas mentioned. The bike is still to be evaluated, but it's probably scrap. He only paid 750 for it.

Anyway, I see that reg71, the moderator, lives near me (Atascadero). Hey Reg, I look forward to meeting you sometime at a local ride (Hwy 1 North, Hwy 33 SLO to AG, Cuesta Ridge, Hwy 58 around Santa Margarita, Hwy 26 Cambria to Paso Robles). The Central Coast is great riding country!

Working way too much OT (but pays for things like the VFR), so it may be awhile before I get my profile up to speed. Great site, and I'd appreciate any advice. BTW I know this is verbose, but it's an intro/bio so OK I guess.

 

Welcome to the group and congrats on your first new bike. Sorry to hear about your riding buddy and glad to hear he is not seriously injured.

 

Thanks for the welcome guys.

Hit a snag on the bike though. The dealer didn't want to deal anymore on the 06 that I want. He offered to take another $500 of the red 05, so I'm thinking about that, but since this is my first new bike and probably my last bike, I want to be sure to get the one that I really want. I may end up making the trip to LA after all.

Hey Reg, what's PM mean? I'm pretty computer literate for work related stuff (MS Office & Internet) but there are a lot of programs and applets out there, as well as acronyms.

 

Hi, and welcome.
PM= Personal/Private Message, you can send these to other members of the site. Left click on the members name and you will see as part of the drop down menu an option to 'send private message to xxxxx'.:smile: