Going shopping...

So got a pleasant surprise yesterday from work. Got a $500 visa card for some work i did. Got another surprise when my wife was like, you earned it you should be able to spend it on whatever.

On my list now to get.
pants: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07LGWHWRG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=A3HLY9IU286Z5X&psc=1
phone mount (maybe): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087LSZZTK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A817GWAQM15Z8&psc=1
tender: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DJ5KEEA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=AC0UA62Z9ZBMG&psc=1
plugs: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038NZ5TW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A2F5NN4BGKFD8K&psc=1
I am also going to get: a R/R from roadster, but that might not be until december.

on the maybe now list.
http://www.highperformancebulbs.com/h4-cree-led-bulb-headlight-bulb-super-bright-motorcycle-kit.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32681630471.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.PdIfVV
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Turn-Indic...var=471595970864&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

i suppose if i go the LED route i should do it on the back as well so will into that as well. figure visibility (seeing and being seen is always good)

I was also looking at boots wow I had no idea just how expensive motorcycle boots can be. I have several pairs of military jump boots, and a pair of redwings (not summer use) boots. But at some point I definitely want boots with specific motorcycle protection in mind. I have a jacket, helmet, gloves. I'm a you wear jacket/helmet/gloves, boots always kind of rider.

There's just so much I want to buy My riding season at most is 1 more month of intermittent riding (I'm in central PA). I will ride when it gets somewhat cold I don't really ride once it's in the lower 40's, and once the first salt/cinders come out on the road I'm done until spring regardless. The R/R will get purchased before spring and installed, just probably not right now.

My not fully fleshed out plan is that during the winter I will do some disassembly and cleaning of the bike and if I have parts for projects I can work on those over the winter. I dunno if I have it in me to take the bike apart to the level that @GreginDenver did, which is damn impressive. But I might take the headers off, clean them up and paint them with some high heat paint. They do have some rust on them. The stainless headers do look nice, but wanting to spend my whole nut on that. ($320 over on ebay). Also plan on taking the calipers off and rebuilding them, my front brake the one pin sticks every now and then. To that end I thought about a high lift, but i really like what @GreginDenver did with furniture dollies and a wood frame. So any other thoughts from folks here?

Oh sorry for another long post from me, but it is what it is

So are there some other thing(s) I should really look at?

 

The riding gear is definitely a must-have, as anyone will tell you -- especially those of us that have taken some hard spills.

What's the saying? ... All The Gear, All The Time

If you are going to do any kind of "upgrades" to the electrical system on the VFR , you should start with the SH847 kit from Roadstercycle FIRST.

None of the other stuff will matter, if you're stranded on the side of the road.

And it's not a question of IF the R/R will go out, it's WHEN it will go out.

Adding in LEDs will only ADD to the stress of the OEM R/R -- not lessen it.

The first modification I did was install a new R/R from Roadstercycle.

The installation is pretty straightforward, if you have basic mechanical skills -- and you know how to solder.

If you have any questions about that stuff, there are plenty of people here to help -- and Jack from Roadstercycle will answer any questions you throw at him, as well.

 

yes i will definitely do the R/R before installing the LED's (I do have the VFR'ness installed already from PO) I thought the LED's had less of a draw and thus should be easier on the electrical system?

 

complex.technician is correct in telling you that the LED's will use less power, and by doing so will make the job of the R/R much more difficult. The R/R takes the ~60 volt AC output of the stator and changes it to ~14 volt DC that is sent to the battery ect. In the process, in order to protect the battery from overcharging, the R//R "dumps" the surplus energy in heat. The more amperage that is being used by the various electrical items (lights, heated grips, GPS,.....) the less work the R/R needs to do resulting in less heat. By installing LED lights you are using less amperage and making life harder for your R/R.

 

a phone mount ?? i'm old and believe a phone should be in a backpack or pocket, not mounted within a rider's field of view.

 

@RllwJoe wow you are are correct i was thinking of that wrong with the R/R regardless I will upgrade it before doing led's.

@squirrelman yea, it's kinda a i was thinking of it as a google map thing, also i could use it as a cheap way to video a ride as well, if i tilt it up the right way. I have bluetooth earbuds and can google voice control the phone as well, though for calls that works just as well inside a jacket pocket. Haven't tested this but, fairly sure the earbuds would work within the helmet. They are also noise isolating and on a longer trip might alleviate some of the wind noise as well. I do get you on the being distracted thing and it is a good bit of why i listed it as a maybe,

anyhoo i'm still looking at boots. I'm continually amazed how supporting my wife has been through this. When I mentioned my sticker shock on boots she didn't bat an eye and said she figured they were that much. I am looking pretty hard at some tourmasters i found on sale. Daytona's look great but then I saw the price...

 

Don't skimp on helmet, gloves, and boots. Head, hands and feet are the most difficult parts of our body for a doctor/surgeon to repair in case of injury. Talk to anyone who has went down with inferior gear (or no gear) and they will tell you they would have, should have, could have bought/used better gear...but paid the price triple, quadruple, even 10 times in hospital bills.

The Daytona's will last for years with proper care and can even be sent back to them for repair if needed. If the boots last you 10 years...and they will last that and more...they are well worth the money spent. Say you spent $500 on boots. That is just $50/year or less over the time you own them. Same thing with gloves...get the best you can afford.

Guys will drop $1000+ on a full exhaust system without thinking twice, but scoff at $200 gloves, $300 riding jeans, $400 boots. I know not everyone cannot just drop that kind of money on gear, but you are investing in yourself. Spend the money on yourself. Bikes and parts can be replaced...not so much you.

Your wife is a keeper! Let her read this and then I'm sure she will have no problems with you getting better gear.

Good luck!

 

Ditto with most of the guys, great gear is your friend after you R/R. Gear is replaceable, your not and I'm sure your wife will agree. You said you ride till the salt trucks come out so I would invest in heated grips as well. I have a set of Oxford Touring heated grips and they're indispensable in winter riding. Also have a heated vest from Oxford too ( built-in rechargeable battery). I rock primarily Dainese gear, my favorite is my Goretex touring boots. They're worth every penny and I've ridden them them through the worst weather and my feet were bone dry and warm. If you can find a sale, get a set of Sena helmet comm system. Way better than wearing ear buds for long rides and you get to keep your hearing Happy shopping and ride safe brother!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

thx! yea guess i'll keep her around

so my gloves are actually fairly cheap but they are some pretty darn protective gloves. I wasn't worried about insulation as much as protection, i do have heated grips. but I won't ride in freezing temps anyway.
helmet is a middle of the road bell helmet (bell just fits my head best).
pants are coming soon, and seem pretty decent for the price and have good reviews.
I got a new jacket as well.
Boots, for the right now I have military issue boots from my younger years, I found a pair in a closet that were still brand new, they are very thick leather and come up well past my ankles. But I'm looking to replace those as they are a little tight across the ball of my foot and I want something more motorcycle specific.

Just saying I hear ya on the gear and will spend what I can in this regard. the boots i'm just shopping around a little to get the best bang for the buck.

 

R/R is cheap used, I got one off a wrecked FZ-09 or something. Harness connectors are cheap on Ebay.
I'm also running LED headlight bulbs off ebay, the type with a copper braid heatsink. I have them on my Tiger as well. The stock bulbs on the VFR were fine but I saw them dimming with the fans kicked on, and I want heated grips, so I wanted to recover some current.

On the Tiger the key switch can burn up so less current pulled through it the better. The bulbs are way cheaper than the switch and easier to install.

 

OP, not trying to hijack your thread, I just want more info on the heated grips that pnoyryder mentioned.

I just ordered the Oxford Heaterz Premium Sport, while I see you mentioned you got the Touring. Do the Touring grips fit better. These are the ones I ordered.

https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/oxford-heaterz-premium-sport-heated-grips?sku_id=1289415

 

No worries. The Touring version is just a bit more thicker and different grip design I believe, making it more comfortable on longer rides.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

You know where you have been, others want to know where they are going . I wouldn’t mount a phone cause I live on them for work . I’d not go riding, if I didn’t k ow the destination, is prepare my phone prior on google maps then only bring it out when needed.

 

Just one question Gen 5 people, what’s an R/R ? Regulated Relay ? Or similar . Don’t like electronics, each to their own field . I have not got the patience for wires . But curios to know what will pack it in so I’m prepared . Thanks all

 

regulator/rectifier......the 'lecktyrickal bit that charges ur battry when it's working right.

 

Just bought a pack of 20 of these bad boys for connecting the three yellows from the stator
Rated at 30 or 45 amps, they clip together to make a modular plug

20 was only 14$




https://www.andersonpower.com/us/en/resources/PowerPoleResourcesPage.html


VF1000F2F, in bits

 

Aanderson connectors are great for high current situations, however, in a stator wire situation, soldering is still the best. If you're going to use individual Andersons, I'd give them a little coating of contact paste like OxGard or similar. Homey Depot has it here.

https://www.gardnerbender.com/en/p/OX-100B/Ox-Gard-Anti-Oxidant-Compound

 

It says it’s for alloy connectors not Copper or Tin

Dielectric grease would be the same sort of stuff I guess


VF1000F2F, in bits

 

Dielectric grease is an insulator, if you want maximum contact you want contact paste/carbon based paste. Ox-Gard works, I've used it for years. It technically is designed for aluminum wiring to promote contact and prevent oxidation.
Another brand available in the US is Noalox.
If you want the best contact, solder them and heatshrink/tape.