Freshening up my 2010.

Discussion in '7th Generation 2010-Present' started by Megadan, Mar 10, 2018.

  1. Megadan

    Megadan New Member

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    I think I do this with all of my "new" bikes, which are never new. Ordered 4 quarts of Pro Honda HP4S 10w30 synthetic and a couple of genuine Honda oil filters, some Maxima high temp DOT 4 fluid to flush/bleed the brakes and clutch since the fluid looks a little too dark for my liking., and some Redline "lightweight" Shockproof 80w90 for the rear end.

    I also ordered in some new shoes today to get installed next Friday. I took a while to decide on what tires to get, but decided to go for the Bridgestone T31 Battlax GT. It was one of my 2 top picks, the other being Metzeler Roadtech 01's, and my decision was made because I got a deal on the Bridgestones making them an appealing price, and they are offering half off install as well.

    Why no Michelin Road 5's? It mainly came down to a couple of reviewers noting that they were a bit "soft" feeling on heavier bikes. I am sure they are marvelous tires, and who knows I may still try them if these Bridgestones wear out sooner than I would like. Supposedly they fixed the issues many people had with the T30, such as warm up time, dull handling responsiveness, and especially wet weather capability. We will see. The Bridgestones ended up over 100 bucks cheaper between the discount on the tires and half off on the install. Hopefully my "cheapness" doesn't bite me in the rear.

    I am also thinking about just tossing in an air filter as well since I will be taking the fairings off to setup my new headlights. Low beam is an H7RC HID (designed for reflector housngs) with 35W ballast and a Retrofit Source wiring harness. High beam is a SuperBrightLEDs H7 Fanless HLV5 bulb with an external driver. I have one of these bulbs in my little enduro, and I am extremely satisfied with the brightness of it.

    Anyway, just a ramble.

    Kind of tempted to send off my ECU to get reflashed during the air filter and lighting fun since the fairings will all be off as well. Initially I wanted to send my suspension off to DMr for a full re-work, but I am starting to learn the irritations of the factory ECU tune. I know I have seen a lot of people praising the Guhl reflash, and I will probably go that route too.

    Yes, the suspension leaves a little to be desired, but seeing as I am still learning the bike I would sure like to enjoy it...
     
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  2. Megadan

    Megadan New Member

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    Just out of curiosity, does anybody have their own method for getting the front off the ground to check the head stock bearings? Namely getting the front wheel in the air without using a lift/front stand? On my Goldwing I would be able to use the center stand and then a jack and piece of wood to lift the front of the bike via the lower part of the motor, which I obviously can't do on the VFR.

    I do have the Pitbull rear stand and I know it lifts via the center stand mount on the bike. I am assuming I can do the "Strap some weight to the rear to lift the front" method, but I was wondering if there is a more stable method out there?
     
  3. Comberjohn

    Comberjohn New Member

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    I put a centre stand on mine over the winter. Good thing to have.
    If you can raise it at the centre stand points, it's not difficult to whip off the belly pan and put a jack under the sump.
    Only the four, small, hex bolts on the sides of the pan, and its off. Do not be tempted to use an impact driver on them if they're stiff. The lugs on the engine casing where they attach are not strong. Don't ask how I know this...
    Remember to unhook the belly pan from the fairing panels after you release it. No need to force anything.
     
  4. Megadan

    Megadan New Member

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    Been absent for a little while, but now is a good time for an update.

    I did get the new tires installed... Then immediately took the bike apart and shipped off my suspension after finding the left fork leaking.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    Thank you for the suggestion with lifting the front. I ended up just getting a front head stand from Pitbull to go with my rear stand. This let me put my bike into hover mode so I could take the forks and rear shocks off.

    I sent them in to Daugherty Motorsports for an upgrade. I ended up doing the compression and rebound upgrade and they fitted them with 1.1kg springs and skf fork seals as a free upgrade since they had no OEM seals on hand. The rear shock also got their full rebuild, valve upgrade, and new spring, a monster 1300lb/in unit. I just got them back in the mail yesterday.
    [​IMG]

    I mailed off my ECU to Guhl this morning, and I am waiting for my Coffman's shorty exhaust to arrive in the mail. It has been close to 2 months since I got to ride her, so I am getting antsy! I cannot wait to try this bike out with proper ECU tuning and the suspension properly tuned to my weight.

    Just because I can...
    [​IMG]
     
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  5. Elkwood

    Elkwood New Member

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    Wow u treating her right !! I bet its a new bike with all the changes !!
     
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  6. Megadan

    Megadan New Member

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    It is a completely different bike. I have been riding it for the last week or so with the DMr suspension, Guhl reflash, and my Coffman's shorty installed, and it is everything I had hoped it would be from the start. It was a nice bike before, but now it is a ballistic missile that eagerly attacks corners and never leaves me feeling like I am pushing the bike too hard.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
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  7. DriverDave

    DriverDave New Member

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    Is that the Puig Racing screen in dark smoke?
    Also, is that little Coffman loud as hell?
     
  8. Megadan

    Megadan New Member

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    [​IMG]
    I am not entirely sure what the windscreen is. It has no markings and came with the bike. It definitely resembles the Puig though. I want a different style personally.

    The Coffman's exhaust is loud, but not as loud as you would think. With the silencer in it's more than tolerable and comparable to most aftermarket exhausts. With the silencer out, it is only louder at lower RPM's. At higher revs it is actually not much louder than the Two Brothers system that was on the bike. I can cruise on the highway and it's actually not that bad. You hear it, but it doesn't drone in your helmet. I could ride cross country with it and be fine.
     
  9. som2002

    som2002 New Member

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    I''m digging the Punisher decal.
     
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  10. DriverDave

    DriverDave New Member

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    What was the turnaround time on the ECU? I need to do mine, but don't want to do it in the summer if it's going to take a month.
     
  11. som2002

    som2002 New Member

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    Just sent mine Wednesday after work 5:30pm, they got it Friday morning 10:30am and resent it out that same Friday before they closed at noon. I just received it on my doorstep as I got home from work today 4pm(Tuesday). Florida to PA and back to FL.
     
  12. DriverDave

    DriverDave New Member

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    Less than a week...that'll do!

    Thanks
     
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  13. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    lookin pretty awesome. glad to see someone taking the time with this bike.
     
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  14. Megadan

    Megadan New Member

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    My turn around was - Mailed it off Friday via Priority mail. They received it Monday and I got it back Wednesday. If you don't count the weekend days, then it was a total of 4 business days from when I mailed it off to when I got it back.
     
  15. Megadan

    Megadan New Member

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    Thank you sir. I have a few more little things that I would like to do with it, but mechanically/performance wise the only other thing I would like to do is remove the cat.

    I am thinking of putting a set of Gilles rear sets on it, and possibly a set of their Variobars. I may just save my money and put a set of knight designs pegs and have the factory shifter, brake pedal, and heel plates/brackets all powdercoated satin black and gloss black. That will definitely be a winter project in either case. I am enjoying the bike too much right now.

    Other than that, I may do some lighting upgrades, and definitely doing some crash protection here soon.

    I will say this, I am glad I did the suspension and flash tune first. It is every bit the bike I had hoped it would be and more. I absolutely LOVE this bike, and I just kind of laugh at the haters of it.
     
  16. reg71

    reg71 Poser Staff Member

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    I did a short test ride on it several years ago at a Honda event down in Santa Barbara and I hoped it would find more of a niche than it did.
     
  17. Megadan

    Megadan New Member

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    It's a great bike, but it suffers from a typical Honda issue. As delivered from the factory it was too unfocused. If they would have given it the forks and shocks like found on a CBR1000R, something more hardcore sport oriented, it would have been a better sport bike. OR, if they gave it a little bit more fuel tank and features for it's money and a slightly more relaxed riding position, it would have appealed more to the touring guys with FJR's and ST1300's (you find proof of this with the 1200X). Instead it kind of landed somewhere in the dull grey middle, where it was too sporty for the guys that wanted a touring bike, and too "Touring bike" for the guys wanting something more sporty. Toss on a rather hefty price tag on top of it, and it isn't hard to understand why the VFR1200 was a bit of a dud, even if it is an amazing bike.

    I personally think it strikes the right balance for my tastes. Having ridden a 1975 GL1000 for years, it actually greatly reminds me of it. The 75-77 GL1000 goldwings had more aggressive cams and the largest carburetors ever fitted to a Goldwing - ever. It's got a great linear powerband that really comes alive past 4000rpm. They even weigh close to the same. You could go out for a bit of fun, or toss some bags on it and take a trip. Heck, they even both have the same size fuel tank and range.

    It's a good "all rounder" kind of bike. It is equally at home doing a sporty twisty road/light track day fun as it is doing a trip. It does neither as good as more dedicated bikes, but it gives you the versatility do it all with only one machine. Since I am not a Rossi nor do I find myself doing long distance trips all that often, it kind of suits my needs and desires.

    I think they have finally started to find a bit of a niche/following on the second hand market. You can get a really nice low mile bike for a really good price, and you get a lot of bike for your dollar. Spend another $1100 on a Guhl reflash and DMr suspension makeover and you end up with what the bike should have been from the start. Even my more hardcore riding buddies are believers in the big Viffer now.
     
  18. Megadan

    Megadan New Member

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    Well, I have a few more small parts to install on her this weekend. I decided to replace these cheap round "race" pegs that were installed by the previous owner with a set of Knight Design lowered pegs. I also bought some tech spec snakeskin pads for the side of the tank so I can stop giving myself a thigh master level workout every time I hit the brakes.

    I did already install the OEM Honda tank pad a little while back, mainly because I got tired of polishing the tank every 5 minutes. It works well enough but I wish it went up the tank just a little bit further. [​IMG]

    I did my first strictly highway day tour today as well and suprisingly averaged around 43mpg over a 360+mile round trip at around 70mph most of the time. Far better than I expected.
     
  19. Pbanys1200

    Pbanys1200 New Member

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    Nice Custom color! :Cool:

    I'm too lazy to do any paint work, maybe some vinyl wrap, plasti-dip or reflective decals in a Honda wing pattern like this...


    images (2).jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2018
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  20. Megadan

    Megadan New Member

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    The paint work was actually done by the original owner - who also happened to be a professional painter. If it were me, I would actually do a vinyl wrap as well.
     
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