Was buzzing down Bryant Parkway in Greensboro this morning at about 60 when my electrical system decided it would be a good time to take an unannounced nap. Rolled to the side of the highway, bike dead as shit. Turned off the key, turned on the key, lights came on. Pushed the button and it was instantly dead again. Figured it must something in the handlebar assembly -- it being sort of beat up -- but after much investigation I found that the positive battery cable insulation had been stripped from rubbing the frame. It's all crammed in there tight as fuck and I suppose the bare cable kissing the frame shorted the system (or something, I don't know, I didn't do so well in my ECE class).

I could move the cable off the frame, but the movement of the solenoid plunger was just enough to bump it out of position and kill the bike the instant I pushed the starter button. Finally got it started by holding the cable in place and rode it home only to have it die five or six more times.

What a hoot.

6/7/2011 1:08:23 PM

Looking at picking up a 2004 VFR 800 in the next week or so. Anyone have experience with the VFR's?

6/11/2011 1:18:29 PM

^^ had that same issue on my gsxr but on a smaller wire. I ended up coating the wire in hot glue

6/11/2011 3:11:12 PM

I remember my 1st motorcycle.

You all talk too much about this walk in the park easy shit.

6/11/2011 8:23:22 PM

^the purple pack! lol I remember that shit. I miss my ole F2.

6/11/2011 9:43:29 PM

Anyone else going on Mike's fun run today?

6/12/2011 4:59:04 AM

That f2 was the best buy ever. My purple gixxer however. What a piece

6/12/2011 9:34:01 AM

Quote :

"Looking at picking up a 2004 VFR 800 in the next week or so. Anyone have experience with the VFR's?"

Helped replace the stator in one this weekend. Working on anything under the tank of that thing is a royal PITMFA. And that bitch is heavy.

6/13/2011 4:19:18 PM

Quote :

"That f2 was the best buy ever. My purple gixxer however. What a piece "

Yeah, couldn't beat 2200 for a mint condition smokin joe 94 f2 with only 12k miles when I picked it up. Too bad that deer fucked it up.

I've given up on the idea that I can own nice bikes.

6/13/2011 4:25:17 PM

Picked up a 2004 Ex500 over the weekend. First bike. Lots of fun

6/13/2011 9:31:02 PM

I want a VFR for my next bike. I would love to have one of them, the sound alone is worth it.

6/13/2011 10:57:41 PM

I bought paerabol's old XV700 Virago last week, and finally got to work on it last night.

I pulled the tank and set up an electrolytic rust removal system. water+soda ash in the tank, steel rod as an anode suspended inside, and then hooked up a battery charger and watched it magically electroplate the rust from the tank onto my steel rod. I just dumped the first batch of solution after running all night, and I was really surprised how much rust came out. It was much worse than it appeared, but the last few hours on the charger really cleaned it up nicely. It's a bit of a mess to get setup, but it works very well for the little effort it takes to get going. Hopefully a couple more hours will knock out the last bits of rust.
]

6/14/2011 6:19:57 AM

I'm actually looking to replace my Honda 919 with a VFR800. I'd really like to test ride one first, but, understandably, no one will let you near one without cash in hand

6/14/2011 2:20:46 PM

^^ damn, nice work! See anything else while you were pullin it apart?

6/14/2011 9:16:53 PM

I think I know why it was running like shit, and my guess was probably correct. The front vac nipple did not have a cap, so the front cylinder was running way lean, hence the need to choke it all the time.

I pulled the carbs yesterday, broke them down, dipped, and cleaned the bodies. The jets were in really good shape, so I didn't need to do much. Got them put back together around 9 last night and they look all nice and clean now.

I also fixed the petcock issue about an hour after I had already ordered a rebuild kit. Turns out that the spring behind the diaphragm was missing, so it just flowed freely. I went ahead and ordered the kit, but managed to find a spring in a ballpoint pen that was the same dimensions. Lucky find, so I may not need the rebuild kit.

I've got a POR-15 kit, plugs, fork seals, carb boots, and intake O-rings coming, so hopefully I can have the "core" parts back up to speed next week. Once it's back together and running, I'll start getting into aesthetics.


Few pics of the process:






Before:


After:


[Edited on June 15, 2011 at 10:37 AM. Reason : pics]

6/15/2011 10:17:19 AM

Well that would be my fault on the petcock
How do the gaskets look inside the carbs? Should be pretty solid, all new set in there a couple years ago. Had a chance to look at that oil drip out of the case?

Glad to hear it's not a lost cause! You're doing her good man :salute:

6/15/2011 11:40:34 AM

Everything in the carbs was tops. All the rubber was good, jets and passages clean, didn't need much to get back to 100%. I guess the only thing that truly needed the TLC was the outside, but at least they look prettier now.

I haven't drained the case yet, but I know it's going to need it. When I got home with it, there was gasoline pouring out of the exhaust pipe, so I know it's been in the cylinder. That said, I'm quite sure it's leaked past the rings and into the crank case. Got some Rotella T to throw in there and swish around once the carbs and tank are back in.

6/15/2011 1:54:57 PM

^use the doodoo $8/gal walmart oil to flush the case and then put your good stuff in. i had the same thing happen before

6/15/2011 2:07:26 PM

yeah even after the carb rebuild I still had the needle stick a couple times and flood the forward cylinder...a PITA to pull the plug and blast the fuel out when it only happens away from home. not a surprise it was sitting like that, probably stuck open the last time I booted it up


on a related note, I'm switching my VTX over to the Rotella T6 synthetic this week when I have a few to swap the oil (same oil in my bike and truck...sweet) but I don't want to booger up the new stuff with residual old oil. Worth it to go ahead and buy another jug ($20+ a gallon) this time to flush it or just roll with it?


[Edited on June 15, 2011 at 3:49 PM. Reason : unless wally world makes an $8 synthetic doodoo haha]

6/15/2011 3:35:45 PM

It's 100% compatible with dino, so just switch it straight out. I've been using it in the SV for a little over 10k without any problems.

6/15/2011 4:07:56 PM

Just run the water hose through it for a few minutes

6/15/2011 5:40:46 PM

where do i plug it in, the gas tank or the tail pipe?

6/15/2011 5:54:02 PM

If you have access to two hoses, do both at the same time.

[Edited on June 15, 2011 at 5:59 PM. Reason : and you can save money on the oil if you mix it 50/50 with water.]

6/15/2011 5:58:58 PM

what do you guys use for taking small scratches and scuffs out of your visor?

6/17/2011 3:46:42 PM

Cant get my ninja 250 to start!!!!!!!!! ran before my valve adjustment. im sure its flooded!!!! help

6/17/2011 6:04:34 PM

^^ buy a new one when it gets annoying
(seriously)
pro tip: the seven zero seven or whatever (cyclegear brand) helmets that are $99 on sale are actually rebranded bell super light helmets. same ones jason disalvo wears. the only difference is bell patented the way the visor clips so you have to buy cycle gear brand visors as well, but they're half the price of shoei.

6/17/2011 7:15:10 PM

Did some more work on the Virago this weekend. I prepped, cleaned, and sealed the tank with a POR-15 kit, which is some pretty interesting stuff.

I learned that duct tape is no good for sealing the pickup hole in the tank, because as soon as you pour the cleaner in, it runs out all over you. I wasted about half of the first step cleaner, but managed to make a little bit work. Turns out that a couple pieces of Gorilla tape works so well that it pulls the paint off when you're done.

I pulled one fork to get started on the seals, only to discover once I had mostly disassembled it that you can't take this model's forks apart like most. The damper rod doesn't have a keyed hole in the top like most do, so you have to use an impact gun to remove the damper rod bolt, no way around it. Needless to say, I'll be hitting the Harbor Freight on lunch to grab one so that I can finish them up.

The tank is done curing on Thursday and if the new intake seals come this week, then I will hopefully have it running again over the weekend.

6/20/2011 9:43:23 AM

I use mastic tape(real foil duct tape) to seal the tanks when I clean them. That gorilla tape is almost too strong. Yeah it's hard to beat a good air rachet for that sort of thing.

6/20/2011 8:04:56 PM

Fixed my bike starting problem. Was lawn gnome related.

6/21/2011 8:47:38 PM

After much frustration, I got one fork leg apart last night and replaced the seal, and it turns out that the damper rod is keyed, just different from all the other models and years of this bike. This model apparently has a 1"/25mm keyed top. All the rest have a 19mm key like most forks.

I've got the caliper rebuild kits and the new carb boots now, so I'm on track to having a perfectly rideable bike by the weekend.

6/22/2011 12:24:55 PM

Never knew these existed

6/23/2011 3:02:00 PM

LOL @ JT3bucky's mini chopper. What a homo.

6/23/2011 9:02:18 PM

^^^ freaking awesome

let me know when you've got it buttoned up, i'll go ride with ya

6/24/2011 12:09:50 AM

6/24/2011 3:57:59 PM

Well, bad news putting the forks back together.

Both upper tubes had some really bad damage toward the bottom, and I can't get them smooth enough to be usable. Looks like someone clamped them in a vice and turned the tubes in it, leaving deep score marks around the tubes right where they touch the seal at full extension. I have a feeling that's what destroyed the seals.

There was a lot of rust in the left fork, and all the internal parts were covered in rusty, oily goop. The little bit of fluid that came out of it was the color of mud and mixed with water. Lots of rust in there. Giving everything a good shot of brake cleaner and wiping down with Acetone cleaned them right up, so the lowers went into the blast cabinet and got cleaned up and smoothed out for painting.

Since the tubes are basically shot, I just bought a set of identical, clean, used forks on eBay for $80 shipped, and I'm going to steal the tubes from those since I've already blasted and painted the fork lowers from the existing set. Until those show up, I'm going to concentrate on getting the motor back to running.

6/24/2011 9:02:32 PM

^^^^I actually got it, fixed it and traded it to a guy for a 4 wheeler which was what I wanted in the first place.

worked out well for me.

6/25/2011 1:26:49 AM

I jsut traded my Sportster for a 2008 DR650 that has a full SuperMotard conversion on it. The plastics are rough (guy cleaned them with a scotchbrite) but opther that that it only has 10000 miles on it. eninge is in great condition and a bunch of nice parts on it.

6/25/2011 9:52:46 AM

^Good trade. Just rattlecan the plastics and ride the shit out of it.

In other news...IT LIVES!

http://s527.photobucket.com/albums/cc353/amorton12/Mobile/?action=view¤t=VID_20110625_153622.mp4

I got it running for the first time a little while ago. It runs really rough in the video since the carbs are way out of synch, but I've since synched them up so it runs much better without the popping. The only problem now is that the front cyl idles way rich even with the air cleaner off. Like, vapor coming out of the pipe rich. Gonna have to tinker with the pilot screws which are oh-so-conveniently placed at the bottom of a tube accessible only from the underside of the carb (read: damn near inaccessible with any normal tool).

[Edited on June 25, 2011 at 4:24 PM. Reason : .]

6/25/2011 4:22:21 PM

I can't remember, is that a D-shaped a/f screw? iirc a spent .22 case flattened on one side stuck out enough to reach while running

Though I'm sure someone makes a permanent-mount remote adjuster

6/26/2011 5:24:48 AM

And chop that rear end off and throw on a springer saddle while you've got it stripped

6/26/2011 5:56:30 AM

I think it may have been fuel in the pipe burning off, because I ran it for a bit longer and it quit billowing smoke. With the airbox back on it and all buttoned up, it runs quite nicely. It idles smoothly at 850-900 rpm's, so there's not much else I plan on messing with until I ride it a bit.

I did consider chopping it and going with a springer, I just need to find a relatively cheap springer seat and borrow a welder.

6/26/2011 5:11:29 PM

on a scale of 1-10 how hard is it to get the title on a bike that has a lost one?

thinking about buying a kawasaki but no title...its cheap...but that could be a problem.

6/27/2011 11:58:37 PM

You track down the last owner(sign a bunch of forms at the new bern ave dmv) and get him to file for a replacement title...assuming he's alive and still living in the state and still at his last known address and is willing to help you out(and not decide to claim that he still owns the bike). If you can't find the last owner you take out an indemnity bond(an insurance policy) for three years and get a bonded title in the meantime. If at any time the original owner claims the bike you turn it over. I'm not sure if you get the money from the bond or not.

I guess another option is to buy a wrecked bike frame with a good title and swap the good parts over, but that's probably illegal.

Either way unless it's a once-in-a-lifetime deal you're probably better off walking away.

6/28/2011 12:39:23 AM

The Virago is complete (well, inspection ready). Much cosmetic work to come, but I just got back from our maiden voyage, which was a quarter mile up the road and back. Everything runs as expected, but the front brakes are virtually nonexistent. Back to the drawing board on those. I have the rebuild kits for the calipers, so I will probably put those in with some fresh fluid.

I did manage to polish the scratches out of the fork tubes, but I still had my pristine set, so I took the sliders and internals from the new ones and put them into my painted lowers, and rebuilt the "new" lowers with the repaired tubes. Now I just have to unload a set of refurbished forks. I rebuilt the black set with 1.5" of lowering, but I'm not sure at this point that it really did much. The look is a little better, I know that much, but functionally I can't tell a difference.

Going from a sportbike to this, it feels like a boat. Riding this will take a lot of getting used to, but I'm sure I can learn to deal. I'm looking forward to getting it inspected and plated next week after I fix the brakes. Once I get out above 50mph, I'm sure I will get a better idea of what needs tweaking.

My only dilemma - drag bars or mini apes?



[Edited on June 30, 2011 at 10:05 PM. Reason : .]

6/30/2011 10:02:11 PM

why did you go from what looks like an sv650 to this?

7/1/2011 9:04:33 AM

Quote :

"If you can't find the last owner you take out an indemnity bond(an insurance policy) for three years and get a bonded title in the meantime. If at any time the original owner claims the bike you turn it over. I'm not sure if you get the money from the bond or not."

I'll add that the amount of the bond will be 150% of the value of the bike. Even if you get the bike dirt cheap and it's a nice bike you'll still be out more money than you would if it had a title.

http://www.ncdot.org/download/dmv/VR_MVR92A.pdf

Quote :

"Either way unless it's a once-in-a-lifetime deal you're probably better off walking away."

7/1/2011 9:46:53 AM

Bc he wanted project

7/1/2011 12:10:21 PM

Hit 43k today during lunch

7/1/2011 1:10:14 PM

just wondering if he wanted a change in riding position, better gas mileage, comfort, a project, something to sell, etc

7/1/2011 5:29:58 PM

because MOTORCYCLE

7/2/2011 11:04:49 AM