impressions of first rides on my 2000 vfr

[eddie cap]

I purchased my bike this Jan. as a crash victim,so the best I could do was look at it and hear the engine run, the bike was far from riding condition.Over the last few months I have been gathering parts and working on it in my spare time. While putting it back together I added a power commander USB and A K&N air filter and gutted the cat. Through this forum I knew one of the bikes strong points was good torque. So during the first shake down run I really went easy on the bike.As the rides progressed I began to get into the throttle more and more,what great torque this bike has, Its an easy bike to ride ,comfortable with good seating position.I could go on with it's praise but I will stop here. My only compliant is the rear brake is VERY ineffective. Is this just the nature of the beast or do I need to get to work on it. I would appreciate any feedback from you 5th gen guys. eddie

[reg71]

Well, I haven't noticed it to be ineffective, but I generally don't use it as there is so much more stopping power up front. I do most of my slowing down by dropping gears then use the brakes just a tad. On the plus side, my pads seem to last forever. The VFR is pretty heavy to slow down with that rear brake alone, though, so I'd have to agree at least a little with your assessment of it. Definitely agree with the attributes you listed also.

[cat0020]

Another crashed revival in K of P area?

My 2000 yellow VFR800 is also from salvage, I'm local, right near the Limerick Power Plant.

[Davidvfr]

Originally Posted by reg71

Well, I haven't noticed it to be ineffective, but I generally don't use it as there is so much more stopping power up front. I do most of my slowing down by dropping gears then use the brakes just a tad. On the plus side, my pads seem to last forever. The VFR is pretty heavy to slow down with that rear brake alone, though, so I'd have to agree at least a little with your assessment of it. Definitely agree with the attributes you listed also.

Ditto.

[Jake]

Have you tried bleeding the brakes? If the pads are still within spec, that's where I'd start.

However, keep in mind that bleeding the brakes on a linked-brake system is pretty involved. You'll need to consult the service manual to have any prayer of getting the order right. Also, if you're going to the trouble of bleeding make sure you change the fluid.


HTH,
Jake

[Deathwysh]

Originally Posted by Davidvfr

Ditto.

Sure, why bother wearing out cheap, easy to replace brake pads, when you can wear out expensive, hard to replace engine and transmission parts instead?

[chesthing]

Originally Posted by Deathwysh

Sure, why bother wearing out cheap, easy to replace brake pads, when you can wear out expensive, hard to replace engine and transmission parts instead?

I've always slowed by dropping one gear at a time and letting the clutch out and believe this has absolutely no effect on the engine or transmission parts. To be perfectly blunt, I'd feel like a total retard pulling in the clutch, dropping the gears one after another and braking totally with the brakes.

[Deathwysh]

Originally Posted by chesthing

I've always slowed by dropping one gear at a time and letting the clutch out and believe this has absolutely no effect on the engine or transmission parts. To be perfectly blunt, I'd feel like a total retard pulling in the clutch, dropping the gears one after another and braking totally with the brakes.

And you're not alone in doing that, or feeling that. The remark about wearing out expensive parts vs. cheap brake pads didn't originate with me. I'm trying to recall who it was that said it... I'm leaning towards Kevin Cameron, but I could be wrong. After thinking about it though, it made a great deal of common sense.

I don't just pull in the clutch and downshift all the way to first when I'm coming to a stop either. The engine does provide plenty of braking power, but it should be used judiciously, and not the way I see so many squids doing it, by simply dropping through the gears, without using the brakes at all, and driving the engine to extreme revs.

Typically I let the clutch out after each downshift, but I usually blip the throttle to match the engine revs to the transmission. As some other famous motorcyle guy whose name escapes me once said, "Engines is for going, brakes is for stopping".

[chesthing]

For me downshifting is more to match the gear to my speed at all times -I'm anal like that. Slowing the bike's a nice benefit.

[cat0020]

Rarely do I use the rear brake along on the VFR. Come to think of if, I rarely use the brakes at all. If brake is required in a corner, you've gone into the turn too fast, usually engine brake without downshift offer enough braking force prior to turns for me.

For fulfilling the need of stopping from high speed in short distance, the linked brakes on the VFR require the use of both front and rear brake to activate all brake pistons on the calipers.

Using the front or rear brake alone only activates partial pistons of the front and rear brake caliper/s, which doesn't offer the full braking capacity of either front or rear brake caliper.

I'd like to see/hear the gutted cat someday, let get together got a ride..

[eddievalleytrailer]

Make sure your rear rotor is clean. You might have some chain lube on it.

[ZonaMan]

Originally Posted by Jake

Have you tried bleeding the brakes? If the pads are still within spec, that's where I'd start.

However, keep in mind that bleeding the brakes on a linked-brake system is pretty involved. You'll need to consult the service manual to have any prayer of getting the order right. Also, if you're going to the trouble of bleeding make sure you change the fluid.


HTH,
Jake

I'm going to second this response. My back brake was quite hard to push down and after bleeding with new fluid, it is working the way it should. I was surprised at how much of a difference it made, but the old fluid was pretty dirty.

[eddie cap]

Yo Cat;I would be glad to go for a ride with you, the bike is rideable however I need tags and inspection to be legal. Hopefully I will have it complete soon
so keep in touch. eddie