I like good writing. Maybe I just envy good writing. I don't have a clue what it is that gave Mark Twain, for example, the ability to compress a hundred words into a short but memorable, piercing phrase. Talent, hard work, just being a really smart guy? I don't have a clue. I had to do a lot of analyzing of writers and speakers during my time at the University of Wisconsin, but that was academics, not necessarily real people talking about real stuff that interests me. And doing it with flair. A few of my favorites...

When Peter Egan writes, I listen. At least for guys of a certain age, he's our voice. We relate — he's like an old buddy we've shared years with and remembers all the good times. He and I (and many others) have owned many of the same motorbikes and lived similar stories. I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon in Peter's garage and share a dinner out, and he was gracious enough to come across like an old riding buddy. It didn't hurt that we grew up on the same Wisconsin alphabet roads.

I guess I'm the weirdo who likes technical writing as much as any other genre. I like to know how things go together and why. I also like the history of tech, especially the oily kind of tech. There's three guys who rise to the top of this specialized writing form, at least to me. Gordon Jennings was an editor of both Cycle and Car & Driver, but I most enjoyed his technical columns while at Motorcyclist. He passed away in 2000.

My former passion involved things with wings, and the guy who explains that difficult subject with style, ease and big words I have to look up is Peter Garrison of Flying.

Think you know how that winglet on the tip of the Boeing Dreamliner's wing you're sitting in works? Not like Peter does. Wondering why the early rotary engines in WWI "fighters" had a stationary crankshaft while the cylinders rotated? Peter's your guy.

One of my favorite scribes, technical or otherwise, is Cycle World's Kevin Cameron. This guy has either the finest technical mind ever or a personal library the size of Cowboys...err...AT&T Stadium. Kevin has some 50 years (!) in the business with both Cycle and Cycle World. This guy knows the intricacies of mechanical objects along with their history, and is able to put the two together in a relevant, readable and entertaining way, at least to me. I'll read anything he writes, often twice.

My most recent "discovery" is Zach Bowman, an editor at Road & Track. He's a young gun in the biz and does both cars and bikes equally well. He's armed with knowledge, wit and a wordsmith's talent. Sometimes his words border on poetry. A sampling:

"A good bike exists in the blissful realm of the purposeless, shoulder to shoulder with the goldfinch and the sundress, the purple iris and the poem—all pointless and necessary in a world consumed with meaning. It stokes a fire in your chest you didn't know existed or forgot somehow, comfortable and exciting. It's a feeling spurred by all precious and secret things."

"It's a rare thing. With the world in your pocket, you're never alone. But there's value in being forced to contend with your own mind, to drown a bit in the world with nothing to shape or hammer your opinions but your own eyes. To be bored, to pull your gaze off your lap and let it wander. A motorcycle refuses to let your universe fit in your hand."

"A bike demands an ante. The wager is the rest of your life. All of it. Every dreary Monday, every willowy summer dusk. Every word you might utter, the whispers of unknown lovers, smiles and tears, and chest-bursting pride. The crunch of snow under your boot and the first saltwater kiss of the sea. You put it all up every time you twist the throttle and go reaching for some crooked stitch of unknown asphalt."

Good stuff.

There's others. I like Cycle World's Paul D'Orleans for his insight and style. John Burns of Motorcyclist is a fun guy to read, whether he's ranting about some pet peeve or giving a unique take on whatever bike is between his knees. I know these guys are not in the business for fame or money — there's not much of either in the business. They're obviously passionate about what they love and what they do, and want the rest of us to share it with them. We're lucky to have 'em around.

What: 2014 VFR800
Where: Shawnee, Oklahoma
Why: Crazy low price, new bike
Price: $5999

The sluggish sales continue for the latest generation Honda Interceptor, and here's the proof. Near Oklahoma City, at Shawnee Honda they're offering this new 2014 VFR800 for only $6000 (original MSRP $12,500). It's a standard model and presumably includes a factory warranty. The listing notes that they "cannot ship, must come to the dealership." Not sure why that is but if you're willing to make the trip there's a deal waiting in the heartland.

This same dealer has some other leftover deals on the floor, including a 2014 Deluxe model VFR800 for $8999 (original MSRP $13,500), and a 2014 CTX 1300 for only $10,999. Hurry on down, these V4 deals won't last....

Fellow VFR-isti, Gamble, from Austin TX, turned me on to this practical and very effective gasket removal tool.

It's the Bahco 625 Premium Ergonomic Carbide Scraper in the 1-inch size. The gasket on my '90 VFR's clutch cover was applied at some point with gasket cement and would have been a real challenge without this little gem. It fits your hand perfectly ("ergonomic") and will scrape the surface easily and completely, moving forward or back.

The blade has three surfaces and is replaceable — shaped blades are also available. Unlike most scrapers and even razor blades, this tool doesn't want to dig into the soft aluminum surfaces. My first thought was that $17 is a lot of dinero for a gasket scraper, but when a tool works this well, it's money well spent. Recommended.

My personal VFR, a 1990 model, has had an issue with a dragging clutch. The clutch engagement is fine and there's never been any slippage, but it just doesn't want to fully disengage. I know this bike led a hard life at the hands of its previous owners so I suspected the clutch did also.

Yesterday I removed the discs and, sure enough, the friction discs are severely worn. Here we can see by the shallow grooves that the disc is about half worn.....

......and here's the flip side of the same disc, which is completely smooth. Someone's been doing some hole-shots with this clutch.

The discs are not warped and there's no indications of excessive heat, so the steel discs could be reused if needed.

But I'm replacing the discs with a new Barnett clutch set — friction and steel discs (this photo shows the Barnett friction disc with the OEM steel plate).

Clutch swaps are straightforward mechanics and everything went together smoothly — and my clutch is back to normal.

GRYPMAT

New ideas to make my garage time flow better are always welcome. This bright idea is called the GRYPMAT and is designed to safely hold tools by some sort of polymer-silicone magic. It's non-magnetic, has anti-static properties, is resistant to chemicals and won't scratch painted surfaces. It will hold tools in place at angles as sharp as 70 degrees!

I suspect the idea was born from a need in the aircraft industry where sloped and slippery surfaces give mechanics no place to put tools and where a misplaced tool could pose potential problems in flight. My thinking is that it will also protect the surface from tool dings and scratches — like a motorcycle fuel tank. And it's a great place to put tiny parts like screws and cotter keys. The mat measures 12 x 22 inches. A great idea. Find it here at Amazon for $60.

What: 2007 VFR800 Anniversary Edition
Where: Grand Junction, Colorado
Why: 320 miles!
Price: Auction with $5500 buy-it-now

The trouble with collectable vehicles is that one never knows for certain which vehicles will actually end up being collectable. Some are more obvious  candidates simply by nature of low production numbers or astronomical price (or both) but it's often a crap shoot with more pedestrian cars and bikes. Honda's Anniversary Edition VFR800 is a perfect example.

Manufacturers these days are keen to produce so-called special editions; tribute or final-year bikes which are usually cosmetic exercises with no additional substance — the Ducati Neiman Marcus bikes are possibly the most blatant example. The VFR Anniversary Edition was marketed for 2007 as a tribute to 25 years of Honda's V4s with eye-catching red/white/blue paintwork and....well, that's about it. The "non special" model for 2007 offered a dark red, almost maroon color.

Our exceptionally low mileage example today shows only 320 miles and the seller claims "perfect showroom condition." I spoke with the seller about this bike's history and he explains that it was purchased new in 2011 with an eye toward collect-ability but sold a year later, with our seller as the third owner.

Purchased new in '11? Yes, when these bikes were offered in '07 they didn't sell well and left-overs languished for the next few years. At some point Honda offered to help out the dealers and allowed the bikes' MSRP to be "readjusted" to $7600, if memory serves. This one is the standard model without ABS brakes. It does, however, have some other nice farkles — Leo Vince exhaust, bar risers, Power Commander and more. All stock parts except the exhaust are included. The auction has an unknown reserve in place and a buy-it-now of $5500 which is at the high end of the sixth-generation VFR values, though this particular example would presumably justify it with the condition, extras and, of course, the low miles.

If machines had feelings, this Interceptor would surely feel unloved. Maybe yours could be its forever home?

Update: SOLD for $5500.

What: 2012 ST1300 ABS
Where: Gaylord, Michigan
Why: No miles, 40% off, with warranty
Price: $10,500

Way up yonder in north-central Michigan is a dealer by the name of Extreme Power Sports who sell just about everything short of Milwaukee twins. They've got a bunch of leftover bikes, wheelers, watercraft and snow machines...including this 5-year old ST1300.

This bike is equipped with Honda's excellent linked ABS brake system and at the heart of the beast is a 1261cc 90-degree V4 rated at 117 hp and 86 lbs of torque, pulling about 700 pounds of bike filled with 7.7 gallons of fuel — premium, please. Tuned for mid-range power, this sport-tourer will drone two-up through Nevada's open spaces or take on the Tail of the Dragon. I know, I've done both. With the right tires the ST will entertain in the twisties with no fuss and no down shifting required, thank you. Relaxed, easy-going, with lots of power at the ready; a true Gentleman's Express. No matter how I ride mine I get about 40 mpg, whether stripped of bags and solo or loaded up and peacefully cruising the Natchez Trace.

Other goodies include an electric windscreen, shaft drive, fuel injection, comfortable ergos, quiet mufflers, smooth engine, excellent lighting, high-output alternator, adjustable rider's seat...and I'm probably forgetting a few more.

In gleaming Graphite Black, this bike is listed on the dealer's site at $12,500 and on eBay for a buy-it-now of $10,500. At 65,000 miles, my ST isn't ready for retirement anytime soon, but I do like that black....

Well, here's something you don't see everyday. Found on VFRworld.com, a seller in Texas has a 30-year old NOS engine — and it's for sale. $600 will get you a wooden crate with a 1987 Honda VFR700 V4 bolted inside. In actuality, I do believe this is an '86 engine, judging by the tan side covers — by '87 all the U.S. VFRs were 700 F2s with black engine covers. But I've been wrong before...

If, back in the day, you somehow managed to destroy your VFR's engine, this is what Honda would have shipped out as a replacement. From the photos, we have a complete package including the carburetors — ready to bolt in, connect the coolant hoses, wires and fuel lines, and motor away. Well, prudence would dictate a few more steps to gently wake up the old beast.

The seller is open to an offer and buyer pays shipping. What a deal. I may be a hoarder of VFR parts (according to Patti) but I'm just not sure if I'd ever have a use for this little jewel. Here's a link to the post (registration required).
(click on an image to enlarge)

Sold! $731
Value can be defined as "the importance, worth or usefulness of something." I've always defined it as whatever two people agree upon on any given day.

And today as I watched the auction wind down on this 1986 red/white/blue VFR fuel tank it had a value to me of about $200. But to its buyer that value was $731. That's impressive — I've bought entire Interceptors for less. But something about its importance, or its worth, or its usefulness (or all of the above) meant that at least two VFR guys were willing to fight it out...and it ended at the number 731.

For his or her money, there's a lot to like here: no hardware but nice original finish, very clean interior and the big one — no dents. The tank sure looks good in the Colorado sunshine. Congratulations to buyer and seller.

What: 2010 VFR1200F DCT
Where: O'Fallon, Missouri
Why: A DCT for under $6000
Price: Auction with $5750 reserve

Here we have a low-mileage first-year 1200F Interceptor featuring the Dual Clutch Transmission. This bike is also fitted with a few nice farkles — bar risers, rear stand, smoked screen and hugger rear fender. The seller is the original owner and has put on just shy of 10,000 miles. New Michelins and battery are installed. The bike is described as "beautiful and like new condition" but notes a small crack in the seat vinyl. It's a little disheartening to see the values of the very capable VFR1200s so low, but it does represent an opportunity for the smart buyer. Hurry, auction ends Tuesday afternoon (March 7).

Update: No sale. With 16 bids on the books, the high bid of $5999 came up short of the reserve by only $151.