No measurable progress on the bikes

I've determined that the rear shock on the VFR is a joke. I bought a used stocker off eBay and will be sending it off for a re-spring/re-valve. When I get some cash together that is. Been commuting on the VFR and it's really a great bike. It's just got a shock that was built on price it seems.

Pic from XLForum

I've been poking at the Sportster a bit and making lists, mental and physical. It needs a few important things like a choke cable. Mostly I've been doing research. I'm hesitant to buy anything. My m.o. in the past has been buy a bike cheap, buy a bunch of expensive parts, lose interest, sell at a loss. All I have purchased at this point is oil.

Pic from XLForum

I found a tank in the Old Man's barn that looks like it will work well for test & tune. Nice and clean inside. Sill need to find the right pair of bars. I may have found some other parts for my bike from the P.O.

Grime patrol

I have the chain and sprockets for the VFR and I realized I needed a proper chain tool. The old one is an endless chain and that's what I got to replace it. I had a breaker but no way to rivet a new link. I checked the two people I thought might have one and since they didn't...I'm the new owner of a Motion Pro PBR. The DID chain packaging recommended their tool. Looks like a nice tool. It's crazy expensive however. I almost shit. 150 to 200 bucks for this guy. Anyway, I bought the Motion Pro tool. I used bolt cutters to remove the old chain so I can't say how it works for pressing pins out. I'll let you know about the other functions.
I spent two hours just cleaning. This bike is a hot mess. It's cleaning up nice though. The rear bearing assembly has some scary sideplay so I need to look into that. It does rotate nicely. I had read about some freezing up. I may just have to pull it all apart just to inspect things for my own peace of mind.

I took Friday off so with the four day weekend I should be able to make some real progress. I'm eager to get her back on the road but not at the expense of tearing shit up. This thing ain't a hammer. More like a sewing machine. I need to treat it as such.

Things I'm learning while working on the VFR

1)  There is not enough light in my garage.

2) Bolt cutters work pretty darn well to cut an endless chain. (saw that on the VFR forum)

3) Latex gloves are a wonderful invention.

4) Working on a fully faired, watercooled,  V-4 is a pain in the ass an exercise in patience.

5) Charging the battery on your camera is key to using it to take pictures for the blog.

Since I have no pics watch Joey Dunlop go 'round the Isle of Man. Amazing video. I used to watch this when I was a wee lad (okay, I was eleven). I've seen Dave Roper narrate a lap of the TT circuit riding a Matchless. I've also seen Mike Hailwood do it in a video as well. I wish I could find that video, it had all kinds of cool shit on it. Anyway, enjoy the King of the Mountain in V-4 to Victory. 6 1/2 minutes of it anyway.

Tools and horn

Not a very inspired post title but I'm tired. Got the chain tool today. Looks like a winner. Chain is on it's way.

The little tab on the top gets sawed off...

And welded on the end to double the thickness...

To loosen that there pinch bolt.

Yes, it's filthy. Even I don't let my bikes get that dirty. That's previous owner dirt. I'll get to it. I decided to add that little 17mm box wrench at the end of the new wrench so if I needed to make an adjustment on the road I would have both tools required to do the job. I wouldn't use it as an everyday tool as the spanner is only 304 stainless. Kinda soft. I had them burn it out on the big laser at work. Sorry, I can't make you a wrench but I can supply the CAD file if anyone wants it. Leave a comment with some contact info and I'll see what I can do. 

I also got my horn upgraded tonight. Well, I finished tonight. It's taken me three separate nights to have enough time to get it done. I combined the stock horn with a horn from a Blazer I found in a junkyard. The Blazer had a nice row of weather sealed Bosch relays right there under the hood. So if you're looking for a horn upgrade head to the junkyard. I don't think it's as loud as the Fiamm on the S-Wee but combined with the stock horn it has a decidedly European sound to it. The Japanese beep combined with the Detroit Honk sounds pretty good. Louder and unique. And it cost me almost nothing. Except for some mosquito bites and I cussed at my soldering irons a few times. Oh, I also made a sweet tank prop after the prototype just about went all stigmata on me. More on that later. Must get ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz.......... later. 

My Dad bought a motorcycle

http://shopteacherbob.blogspot.com/2013/04/now-its-spring-for-sure.html

Yeah, you knew that. He dropped off the plate and the weather was nice so I gassed her up and delivered the bike last night. Gonna miss that bike.

I rode the Viffer to work yesterday. I do love this one, too. It needs a chain bad so I'm going to have to park her until I get a little maintenance done. I need a special tool to adjust the chain. The ride seemed a little mushy so I need to see what's going on there as well. It could be that I'm just used to the old bike but if the heavier bike with a 90lb. weakling in the saddle seems mushy...might be time for a fill and drain of the forks.
The shock has a reputation for being lackluster so that's not a surprise.
Nice today, maybe I'll find time to take some proper photos.

Honda VFR800 Interceptor

So Saturday I picked up the bike. It's a damn nice motorcycle. It's not immaculate as it was described but in defense of the guy who told me that, it was third hand info. I'm inclined to dwell on the negative but this is going to be a sweet ride and I'm looking forward to some quality time with this baby.

I don't have the title just yet so no plates or insurance. The previous owner paid it off the morning I picked it up so when he gets the title in the mail I can get it on the road. I'm not sure I've ever ridden anything with 108hp.  I didn't buy it for speed but it's nice to know it's got the uh...cojones to get out of the way when neccesary. Gotta go, more later.

More Viffer news?

File photo representative of motorcycle hypothetically ridden lately

It's quite possible that I've ridden a VFR800 in the past few days. It's also a possibility that a price was agreed upon and a collection date settled. There may be another motorcycle in the garage by the time the weekend is out. Or not. Stay tuned.

Viffer?

I've been whining about a new scoot for a while now. There are many factors involved here and of course money is always a big one. I've always owned smaller displacement bikes but I can certainly see having something a little bigger. Like I've said my bike is fantastic as long as you don't want to be on it for more than an hour. Then the honeymoon is over. There's a local dealership that's had a VFR800 for quite some time and it really looks like it would be up my alley. I know I've been eyeing the V-strom and I still may go that route but quite honestly any of the off road capability that might have will never get used by me. I have a friend who lives on a dirt road. If I went to his house, I'd use it. Other than that it would just be nice to have a taller bike to see over cars in traffic. Hard bags, a taller windscreen, and long(ish) distance comfort is what I'm looking for.

Well, I got a line on a VFR 800 this morning. Who knows how it will pan out and it might take some jewelry or something to talk the wife into it. But after seeing some sport tourers that friends have I can see me in the saddle of one of these. An ST1300 is just too big a motorcycle for me. The FJ's are sweet. I really love the idea of hard bags that I can stick a key in and walk away with them. Makes the commute simple. I can grab groceries on the way home. Who needs a car? Of course, they are complicated and I don't want to have to fix shit. Projects I got. What about the adventure bike? Yeah, maybe one of each.