WaveyDavey Enters the World of VF500F

Good to know about the springs. I like the idea of not spending the extra 45 pounds. Cogent Dynamics wants $152 dollars for a spring! Plus labor.

 

The service the eBay vendor offers is a decent deal in my opinion if really needed, but doubt you need to spend the money.

Then you can buy us lunch and beers.

 

Done! When are you riding to New Mexico?

 

Right after I sell all of my bikes except the ST1100.

 

Putting a Happy New Year Post in this thread! Happy New Year. My 500 seems to be running stronger every ride. I have about 200 miles on it now, enough for all of the goo to burn out of the collector, and quit smoking. Front end after the new seals, and Race Tech Springs, and 15wt oil upgrade feels really good. It is a little bit harsh on some of New Mexico "Paved" backroads, but the bike just feels super solid. I hope to have the cash to get the YSS shock for the back as soon as possible. Thanks all who have contributed the comments and help to this project so far.

Regards

WaveyDavey

 

Working a couple of cosmetic issues while I squirrel some money for a shock. My right side muffler has a full length grind from a previous owners getoff, as well as a slightly dipped bar on the throttle side.. I have ordered a replacement bar from Ebay, but don't see a silencer in any better shape than mine for that side. ( People are attempting to sell real crap for $$$$$) So my curiosity is if there is any experience with a high temp paint that can be used that won't be too obvious. I have found some HT gloss but doubt it will be too close to matching black chrome? I am not going to be super picky but she deserves the effort! I will mask all but the exactly line of scrape. Then assess.

WaveyDavey

 

That black chrome will very hard to hide any touch up or rework. If you find something that isn't flat or matte, I suppose it will look better than a scrape if masked.

You might try masking an area on the inside, like around the bracket, and see how it looks first next to the original finish.

Good luck.

 

Sounds like a good plan. I would much rather have no road rash but priorities!

Stay Tuned.

 

So this is what I am working on.

I did a little test patch of masking as close as I could to the rash with some VHT Gloss Black. There is no way that I will make it look excellent, but the result will be better than knowing this is visible. There may be a time when I pull both pipes and try to make them look the same by stripping and coating both with some Ceramic (VHT like I have). The left side pipe is pristine so there is my reluctance. While on the subject of exhaust and performance I see that concensus is that modifying the OEM 500 exhaust is a non-benefit even degradation of performance over OEM. This must be weighed against the benefit of getting a noise boner from the louder pipe. I wish I could say I didn't care for the big noise. I am not going to track day with this bike and I don't really want to (at this time anyway) spend the $$ or take the time to make the change. At least not now, rear suspension will definitely come first. I think a suspension boner is more meaningful at this juncture.

Wavey

 

I will take it for now. Some what better than looking at the rash.

 

I have some thoughts... just need to get "noise boner" and "suspension boner" out of them before I respond.

 

Oh good Sorry for the diatribe! No more of that! I really want to hear your thoughts when you have time. I sure have been benefiting from your depth of knowledge, along with a few others on the forum. I wouldn't have the 500 running without being able to hunt for knowledge here! It was an adventure for sure. The bike was brought to me shortly after Chemo, so didn't really know how I was going to move forward. Then big life change of retiring and relocation to a new state. I intend to keep working on and riding the bike, It just kind of showed up in my life so I didn't really have a plan. I am super happy to have her in the shop I look forward to ideas an opinions.

WaveyDavey

 

haha! I was joking, I thought they were funny.

A quality set of slip-ons, made for the bike by a known company will not automatically cause "degradation of performance over OEM". The main part of the stock exhaust system that delivers good mid-range with decent packaging for a V4 is still intact, the collector. I don't install slip-ons under an illusion of any power gains though, cuz there aren't any, really. Usually it is a situation where the original mufflers are toast or missing and the most available course of action is some aftermarket mufflers. Some "racier" looks, a nicer growl while not being obnoxious and some modest weight reductions are all pluses for me too. Sometimes I do it just to put some perfect stock mufflers in safe storage, as they can be quite valuable.

It's when you start talking about full systems is where it gets more complicated. How the cylinders are paired. How has the bike been adjusted to take advantage of them. Is the WAIL of a full system worth it? Does ground clearance actually get worse? Some systems from "the day" paired the left cylinders together and the rights together. While the packaging and manufacturing of this configuration is nicer (cheaper), the firing order doesn't really like it. Often results in a very flat mid range. Pairing the front cylinders together separately from the rear is ideal on the 500, but the cost of manufacturing goes up.

Like this. Very light, increased top end power without a giant hole in the midrange (when properly tuned), just plain cool looking too. But... LOUD AS FUCK.



But these little gems of slip-ons made by a now defunct CA company, Spec II, work great. Nice sound and looks (to me). Nice even, building power delivery, like stock. Ticks a lot of boxes.

 

Ah good information. I would definitely stay close to home when it comes to the collector, I would just go for some looks and weight reduction. The OEM silencers are brutally heavy.

Man both bikes are gorgeous! I have been scoping requirements for "F2 ing " the appearance my bike. Hopefully the manufacturer of he Aftermarket cowl sections I have seen will still be in business by the time I am ready to pull the trigger.

Thanks again.

 

I've always been so jealous of the FII cowls... Like a little 1000R.

 

The exhaust collector weighs as much as a Honda Grom.
Not really. But I started laughing the first time I lifted a stock one.

*Edit--my Vance and Hines pairs lefts and rights together. I don't know that I'd be able to tell the difference in a good vs. economy vs. stock exhaust system. I think for a street bike it's down to looks, sound, and availability at this point.

 

They still used a collector on the Gen 3 (on the left). Now that sucker is (was) heavy. Replacement Gen 4 headers on the right.

 

Super good to see the difference between the two collectors. I recently replaced OEM KLR 650 "Bird Call" with an FMF Slip on, the KLR OEM hardware was 14 ish lps to the FMF 4lb! I am thinking the 500's two OEM silencers together are in the 14 lb range or more?

 

I think I noted the difference in those two VFR systems was 5 lbs. 14lbs down to 9.

 

Yup. Center stand will have to go if I put slipons on. The stand would stick out like a big ugly piece of iron. Probably another couple pounds?