Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git

[mangocrazy]

I forgot to mention - the best thing was that I got them (secondhand but unmarked) for £45 delivered - a real eBay bargain. List price is 4 times that amount.

[Rockburner]

Please tell me you're going to scrape off all the rust first...

[mangocrazy]

Please tell me you're going to scrape off all the rust first...

New bolts have been ordered. The old ones wll either go in the 'assorted M10 bolts' bin or the actual bin. The new ones will be ACF50'd...

[mangocrazy]

The first set of replacement bolts arrived, only for me to realise that they were a different thread pitch than the nuts that came with the previous MT09/Tracer risers. This was a problem as these nuts were a reduced head size (14mm as opposed to the more normal 17mm head/spanner size) and that reduction was crucial in them fitting between the ribs on the underside of the top yoke. So I then had to source some high tensile 10.9 M10 x 1.25 part threaded bolts with standard 17mm head size to work with the T-slot in the new Gilles risers.

Anyway, these arrived very promptly (shout out to Westfield Fasteners) and it was time to fit the risers to the top yoke and see how they fitted. First fitting was close, but not quite a cigar. The risers were just fouling the tank harness on full lock. So off they came again, and the risers were moved forward one adjustment notch (corresponds to 3.5mm of movement per notch) and the assembly was offered up again. This turned out to be spot on, there's clearance (Clarence) between riser and tank harness and brake/clutch levers and screen/fairing on full lock. That'll do nicely.

The real test will come when I can take it for a spin and see how the ergonomics have changed with the new risers. The bars are an inch (26mm) lower and slightly further forward, so not sure how much of a change I'll notice. Anyway, here's some photos of a Falco top yoke and Gilles bar risers on a stainless steel sink drainer.

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[A_morti]

I forget - did we already cover why you can't use tuono yokes or some other OEM part with risers attached other than by one piece of thin cast metal glued to another piece?
My mate was telling me about a street fighter where he'd done that and ripped the metal of the yoke at the mounting point. Sounds like a fun way to go out.

[weeksy]

I forget - did we already cover why you can't use tuono yokes or some other OEM part with risers attached other than by one piece of thin cast metal glued to another piece?
My mate was telling me about a street fighter where he'd done that and ripped the metal of the yoke at the mounting point. Sounds like a fun way to go out.

He doesn’t actually ride it

[mangocrazy]

I forget - did we already cover why you can't use tuono yokes or some other OEM part with risers attached other than by one piece of thin cast metal glued to another piece?
My mate was telling me about a street fighter where he'd done that and ripped the metal of the yoke at the mounting point. Sounds like a fun way to go out.

That was covered earlier in this thread in quite excruciating detail. With the benefit of hindsight a Tuono yoke would have been the way to go, but all I've done is essentially to replicate a Tuono yoke. What 'my' yoke has that a Tuono yoke doesn't are steel inserts to strengthen the top yoke. The depth of the mounting points of my top yoke are the same as a Tuono.

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Strangely enough, I do have a reasonable amount of the self-preservation gene in my DNA and if I honestly thought I was endangering life and limb I wouldn't be doing this. I've also put nearly a thousand miles on the Falco, here and in France, since doing this conversion and, shock horror, I'm still here to talk about it.

But your concern is appreciated...

[Skub]

Setting down a wheelie nice and softly is a skill.

[mangocrazy]

Well, you won't be subjected to any more VFR-bothering in this thread, as the old girl is up for sale (see classifieds). It will be the first time since 1989 that I'll have been VFR-less, but it's just getting too heavy for my ageing muscles and bones. I will be genuinely sad to see it go, but it has to be done. (sniff, sniff...)

[mangocrazy]

VFR is now sold and with its new owner. It was definitely a mixture of sadness and relief when I watched it go. Adieu, Big Red.

[Skub]

I hate selling bikes,especially if I've had them for yonks. It's nearly always a wrench and I doubt I'm doing the right thing.

[mangocrazy]

I hate selling bikes,especially if I've had them for yonks. It's nearly always a wrench and I doubt I'm doing the right thing.

That's exactly it. It was still a supremely capable bike, but just getting too heavy and unwieldy for me. I've done more miles on VFRs (I've had three) than on all my other bikes combined. It's been a trusty companion and I know I'll miss it.

[Buckaroo]

I'm with you on your sentiment about the mighty VFR. I too had a red viffer 800. Cracking bike but sold for the same reason. Ironically, as I road it back home, having secured a great part exchange deal, but then questioning my decision, I almost dropped it when stopping at a seriously cambered junction. That essentially confirmed it for me. I have a book about the history of Honda v fours. If I read it, I'm often back on AutoTrader looking at vfrs.

[A_morti]

Dad_morti had a red 1998 vfr800 for years. He always claimed to never really love it, but for that claim it hung around chéz Morti for a surprisingly long time.

[mangocrazy]

Dad_morti had a red 1998 vfr800 for years. He always claimed to never really love it, but for that claim it hung around chéz Morti for a surprisingly long time.

Yes, they're as much of a 'head' as a 'heart' purchase, but their plain old goddamned reliability, dependability and competence just wins you over. They are also surprisingly able to keep up with supposedly much quicker bikes.

[Druid]

I've had 2 VFR750s, a 95 and a 96. They are really capable bikes - not outstanding in any one area but good all rounders. Sunday morning rides, commuting, two up touring even trackdays. Not very good off road and they are heavy lumps though

[Skub]

The Viffer is about the same poundage as the ZH2. Manufacturers seemed to struggle now getting anything below 200kgs.

[mangocrazy]

The Viffer is about the same poundage as the ZH2. Manufacturers seemed to struggle now getting anything below 200kgs.

Yes, I find that really annoying, but I suspect that all the excess emissions poundage they're forced to featoon the bikes with doesn't help. Something like a KTM Duke 990 R is in the ballpark - 190kg fully fueled and 126 hp sounds a reasonable compromise. That weight would probably come down a fair bit when you junked the cat and the fugly exhaust...

[Skub]

I took about 13 kilos off the Zed just from junking the cat and emissions gubbins. Once I got past that stage the further losses were small and hard to pay for. Like wheels at £3k plus. I bowed out at that.

[mangocrazy]

Yeah, the standard exhausts on the Falco weighed a ton and were pretty ugly. Replacing them with a pair of Titanium Akras shed a load of weight. And acquiring a pair of Oz forged ali wheels to replace the standard Brembo cast items saved at least another 3kg of unsprung weight. At £500 for the pair, they were a bit of a bargain.