95 VFR750F Refresh

When I was done painting the house for the night (cuz I couldn't see what I was doing anymore!!), I had a drink and walked into the outer garage where the VFR was parked. V2 really looked good to me too, pretty happy with it. I may go a touch darker metallic like the clipons and fork lowers on all the brackets and pedals.

 

Body work removed for some work, all wrapped and tucked up in the shop attic.



Tapered steering stem bearings (just cuz). 11K on bike but I'll never have to worry about it again.
Stainless front brake line (2 line kit)
Stainless Hyd Clutch line (Just so it matches up at the handlebars)
RT .090 front springs
Carbs are coming out and getting split to replace all orings
Going up on pilot and maybe one on main. Shim needles.
Removing PAIR bullshit and making block off plates from the original fittings
K&N (not for any power fantasies, just for long term maintenance). The stock filter will likely go in the 1990 that will be sold.
Fox TC shock.
When subframe is off, a stock-ish rear fender is going on. Going to trim at the reflector and re-shape the contour to retain proportions.
Install Euro taillight with clear panel for license light.
Might switch to red rear lenses for additional running lights.
Center stand and exhaust is coming off for a paint refresh.

I'll add a USB port, Fuel Cut Relay over-ride switch and Fan switch while the bodywork is off too.

I think that's it for now. Future plans are the 8 spoke rear and F3 front wheel I just picked up. They will get Pearl Black paint to match the inner portion of the Honda Wing and the original perfect wheels will be wrapped and boxed.

But it's back off the lift for now, just wanted to get the bodywork off and safe. 1990 VFR is going on the lift to install the carbs and swap out some parts.

 

Wow. That was pretty fast.



Ordered July 12 from the UK. Arrived today, July 21.

The FOX TC I pulled from the 1990 needs a little more work than I thought. I bought the YSS so I can proceed and have something worth putting the bike all back together with while I decide what path to take with the FOX.

 

Nice. I'm thinking about a YSS shock for my ST1300. Who did you order this one from?

 

I put one on my ST1100 too. Love it.

I get most of my YSS from the ebay store: biketyresuk
They are FIREFOX RACING LTD
Official YSS Research & Development Centre & Supplier

They will change out the spring to your spec for about 40 pounds I think. I've gone with the supplied spring every time and been happy.

 

Thanks Mike. I've had some communication with my local YSS supplier and there is a small saving from the UK ($30) but I feel I should try and support a local. My 1300's stock shock is holding up well (116,000km) and actually much better since I refilled the remote preload oil, but I have been working over the front end with Gold Valves, and I suspect I will find the shock wanting at some point in the future. There's actually not a lot of feedback on YSS among ST1300 owners for some reason, so I appreciate your comments on the 1100.

 

Getting smaller...



Glad I went thru the cooling system, the o-rings on the head fittings were pretty much just goo. Weird.

 

Cooling system components cleaned and re-finished. O-rings came in today.

 

Center stand, side stand and bracket, bar ends and lower triple clamp (and some associated brackets) all done in Honda Nighthawk Black Metallic with 3 coats of clear.



The Metallic isn't as pronounced as a factory applied finish unfortunately, but it looks great. I did a spray out test on a small piece of plastic and it is VERY close to Granite Blue Metallic, which is good cuz I have a couple lower cowl pieces on the 92 VFR that will need some love.

Since the passenger peg delete brackets were painted after modding, I decided to spray the front brackets but masked off the heel guards. 3 coats of clear too.



Pedals got some love too.



I radiused the back edge of the knurled post too for a more finished look. Same on the back end of the shifter.

 

PAIR delete block off plates. Made from the original hard line fittings and some old hex bolts.

 

You got the cool heat resistant gaskets that go under them? I used a mid welder to plug up the holes. My bikes run great, the 93 gets used more than the 91. I may take one of them up to Bama in February to the Barber Museum as I have some time. 650 miles each way, should be an adventure if I decide to do it.

 

Yeah, because of the mileage the gaskets are 100% intact. Even if they weren't, I would have just marked them for their position and put them back in the same spot with some HT Hondabond. Done it before.

I have some friends at Barber right now. So jealous. You should absolutely go.

 

Not much done last night. Friend stopped by the shop and when the wife was done studying, she made a drink and came down. I thought, I can't do nothing, we are in the shop. So I pulled the discs and started cleaning the front wheel. The wife asked what I was doing.

I'm gonna clean, polish and wax the front wheel. She looked at me like, "why?" and then asked, "why?"

Cuz it will look really good and be easier to clean later. She said it looks pretty damn good right now.

I got done while we were all still bullshitting and she said, "Oh. Wow. You're right. That is really shiny."


This pic doesn't do it justice, but yeah, it looks brand new.

 

Front end (mostly) back together



RT .09 Springs
Fork oil level set with new fluid
New tapered steering bearings installed with painted lower triple clamp
(factory paint can be light on them and it showed signs of a little exposure)

Cooling system back together with all new o-rings



Exhaust has been re-finished

 

Dam boy, I don't know where you find the time to do so much great work, but keep it up
That is one clean VFR, Christ look at the carb valley, you could eat off it

 

Hah! Thanks dude. I was actually hoping nobody commented on the couple stains I decided not to worry about. But yeah, pretty sano.

 

I was on my phone otherwise I would have commented on how that valley is almost as clean as my oven. We do cook in it btw, great work. Great information. I think of the gen4 as the red/headed/stepchild of the gen3 btw - almost bought one but missed out - would not rule out buying a clean/low mileage one now though. Peace Captain. You know I work with a co-worker that goes by "CAPATAIN" cause he sailed around the world and is a possible a captain - never really got a real answer on his credentials (lol.) Anyway, the way I say "CAPATATAIN" amuses me and makes me smile. So anyway, stay cool and keep those bikes with ethonal free gas fer gawds sakes. {PEacaeE_

 

Time to install the new YSS. Set it to 330mm (+5mm over stock).



Installed the block off plates before the shock

 

Goddamn... 4th gen carbs literally fall in. Fronts in, went to push down the rears and just thinking about it, they went "pop".



Now of course... there was a little Red Rubber Grease and heat, but that's automatic.

 

Did Honda change the angle of the downdraft into the heads on the later bikes to make it steeper relative to the cylinder? That would make the inlet stubs sit closer to parallel and make it a whole lot easier to fit the carbs. My 5th gen throttle body assembly is pretty easy to refit too, compared to the 2nd gen bike I worked on.

I use silicone grease for anything rubber-related and that also seems to make a shitty job easier. Hang on, that sounds like I was talking about non-bike related stuff, dang.