I'm definitely keeping busy as the winter season looms. In the shop are two '86 VFR projects, 13 & 16, along with my new Triumph which is getting suspension updates front & rear. Project 13 is shown below on the rack. This 750 is getting a mechanical makeover and will receive a full set of original red/white/blue body panels. I'm also refurbishing a set of twin SuperTrapp mufflers, but that's a story for another time.

A rebuilt carb rack is mounted along with the detailed radiator. The engine side covers have been powder coated in textured bronze. The front forks have been flushed, Progressive springs fitted, their black paint refurbished, and everything mounted up with a fresh Bridgestone BT45.

At the rear I've also fitted a BT45 along with a new set of chain & sprockets, and a 43-tooth driven sprocket in place of the original 45-tooth size. I do this to lower the RPM and give each gear a bit more time to wind up the scale, making that beautiful V4 music a little more sweet. And I just prefer taller gearing.

The polished swingarm is looking pretty bling, and the wheels on this bike are just shy of perfect. I suspect that they may have been repainted at some point in their life, but the color and quality is so good that it's hard to tell for sure. The chain adjuster end caps have been sanded and polished, but I still need to source some replacement nuts — just for looks. Since these pictures were taken the subframe has been mounted along with the refurbished chain guard. 

At the front, I've been busy with some detailing and the addition of GenMar bar risers. The steering head bearings were also updated with All Balls tapered bearings.

The handlebars and upper triple tree were in pretty rough shape, cosmetically, so they were stripped of clearcoat, sanded, and hand polished. I'd come across the bar risers some time ago on eBay, so I thought I'd give 'em a try on Project 13. A light polishing got the aluminum looking spiff and the mounting is pretty simple — just drop them in place before bolting on the handlebars. The19mm (3/4") rise will make a noticeable difference in forward lean but requires no additional modifications, i.e. brake line length. GenMar provides an aluminum cap and black plastic cover, but they didn't quite fit over the fork nut, so I left them off and just fitted the original little black air valve cover. I'm sure their engineering is sound, but for a little peace of mind, I raised the fork legs in the triple trees an additional 3mm for a little more clamping purchase.

I always replace the small coolant hoses on my projects — the two large radiator hoses are NLA from Honda, and pricey from Samco. But the small one (two for '90-on) under the carbs and the short piece near the kickstand can be sourced from Amazon. Here I'm replacing the lower hose with a section cut from a 1-meter length of 22mm (7/8") straight silicone hose. 
(click on the image for the Amazon link) >>

My new ARES hose tool helped greatly here (see the post below for details). This little guy leads a hard life — heat, oil, road grime and neglect. It's no picnic to get at and remove, but I think it's important, and now it's good for another 30 years.

ARES Hose Removal Tool

Here's a better idea, and for only $7.12. When I come upon a coolant hose that has likely been in place for 20 or 30 years, it's not going to like being disturbed. Fossilized by corrosion, it's a recipe for busted knuckles and involuntary profanity. This tool has just the right curves to work its way under the hose, breaking it loose enough to be pulled off by hand.

In the photo below I'm using it to remove a short section of hose on an '86 VFR which is all but impossible to work off without a tool like this (see the next post).

At our Thanksgiving table we always pause for a quick remembrance of what we're thankful for during the previous year. At the same time I always give a silent thanks for the privilege of living in the amazing time that we do, a period in human history that allows us the technology and freedom to enjoy the many choices of entertainment and sport available to us, including motorcycling.

As societies become more safety and environmentally conscious, the fact that we still have the privilege of owning and riding two-wheeled machines with minimal regulatory interference should be appreciated. That those machines are so varied, plentiful and affordable is equally amazing, at least to me.

And then there's the roads. I'm a roadie — I love roads. I find beauty, adventure and even personality in the incredible web of tarmac that we've built throughout the world. When motorcyclists speak of epic journeys it's often referenced by road names and numbers, as if they're living beings. "Have you done the PCH, the Natchez Trace, the Cherehala, the Twisted Sisters, the Pig Trail, the Beartooth.....?" Personally, my two-wheeled destinations are roads, not places. And I'm thankful for every one of them.

What: 1992 NR
Where: Shepherds Bush, UK
Why: A rare chance to acquire an NR
Price: Buy It Now of $75,600

The NR was produced only for the 1992 model year, and was a bit of exotica built to showcase Honda's engineering and manufacturing prowess...and to retrieve a tiny bit of the ocean of yen it took to develop the oval piston technology, which began years earlier with their ultimately unsuccessful NR500 Gran Prix racing efforts.

With an original MSRP of $50,000 these bikes have always been display queens, and rising values will further serve to keep them off the road (if a road-going bike was ever the intention). The NRs seldom change hands (publicly) so this opportunity will be taken seriously by collectors worldwide. This bike has a little bit of wear and tear to show for its 5000 miles, so the asking price may be a little steep, along with the expense and potential tangled web of importing it. It's available at a dealer in England who's importing it from Japan.
Here's a YouTube video from MCN of an NR being ridden as it hits 262 kph, or 163 mph:

SOLD — $28,180
At the Bonhams Autumn Stafford Sale this UK-spec 1991 VFR750R, better known as the RC30, sold for just over $28,000, including the auction premium.

Showing only 4,000 miles, the seller describes it in "generally excellent condition," with full ownership history documentation.

Collector bike prices are considered soft right now, and this sale seems to reflect that.

What: 1989 VTR250 Interceptor
Where: Allentown, Pennsylvania
Why: Hmmmm...
Price: Auction opens at $2499

The smallest bike to wear the Interceptor brand from Honda is this guy, the VTR250. While it's not V4-powered, the family resemblance to the bigger 'Ceptors is unmistakable, from the 3-spoke wheels to the shape of the seat. So, what is this thing?

The VTR was produced only for the U.S. and Canada markets from 1988 to 1990 (an updated naked model is still available in other markets). The engine is a 90-degree, DOHC, 4-valve V-twin, and is liquid-cooled. We don't often think of V-twins as high-revving engines, but this little guy has a lofty 14,000 RPM red-line. I couldn't find any horsepower figures, but with only 249cc's, there won't be a whole lot. There's no doubt lots of cool Honda tech hidden in that engine, but the most obvious talking point on these bikes is the inboard front disc brake fitted to the 16-inch wheel. Not sure about the thinking here, but it was discontinued for the final model year along with a change to a 17-inch wheel.

Small displacement sportbikes have always had a tough time finding homes in the U.S. and this was no exception. Our seller explains that it was made available to compete in production racing, but me thinks Father Honda would have utilized a more favorable engine configuration if that were the case. In any event these bikes are not common, but do come up on eBay occasionally.

The bike featured here is a very low mileage example, at only 1147, and the seller claims to be the original owner. The bike is stock, right down to the tires. This one could be put back on the road with some tires and maintenance brought up to date. He notes a few small blemishes, so this isn't a museum piece, but could be made so. The colors are hopelessly 80's and definitely period sportbike correct. I'm not sure who our buyer is, but I suspect he or she will expect to pay something less than the opening bid.

What: 2008 VFR800 ABS
Where: Salt Lake City, Utah
Why: ABS, low miles, minty
Price: $5300 or make offer

Hailing from the beautiful State of Utah, this 2008 VFR800 shows only 9000 miles and glows in its understated Sword Silver Metallic. It's offered by a full-service repair shop, Moto Station, who offers the unusual bonus of "free" shipping to the auction winner. Nothing is really free, of course, so expect that expense to be reflected in the selling price.

In any event, this beauty shows very well in the supplied photos and has a few nice, and expensive, add-ons — factory matching saddle bags, throttle lock and a Sargent aftermarket seat with matching solo cover. And are those bar risers I spy? There's also the ABS linked brakes, not a commonly found option on the sixth-gen bikes. The cosmetics look great with maybe some scuffing on the lower fairings, but that could just be a reflection. If you're looking for an 800, this is what you're after. Value? These models, in average condition and miles, go for around $3500-4500. Add in the extras, low miles and shipping, and $5000 would buy you a lot of motorcycle. Some buyer is going to be very happy.

Veterans Day is a good day to remember our vets, both here and gone. But so is any day. When we see a veteran wearing a ball cap or jacket commemorating his or her service, feel free to give a hello or take the time for a short conversation. Their service was important to them...and to all of us.

I once introduced myself to a old vet who was sitting alone in a cafe' booth in Longmont CO. Turns out he was part of the first wave of Marines to hit the beach in the Battle of Okinawa on April 1st, 1945. The fighting lasted more than two months and cost over 20,000 young American lives. I bought him his breakfast; it was the very least I could do. On another occasion I had the pleasure to meet a survivor of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, when, at midnight in July 1945, she took a fatal hit by a Japanese torpedo. Some 300 went down with the ship and of the 900 who went into the sea only 317 survived four days on the water — victims of dehydration, exposure, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks. No, freedom is not free.

As a young marine my story was much less interesting. As the Vietnam war wound down I was fortunate to find myself stationed in Morocco for 18 months. A group of us managed to procure a gaggle of new Hondas, Nortons and Triumphs. We toured the country and a buddy and I even ventured across the Straits of Gibraltar into Spain and France. I learned to ride in Morocco, and we had many adventures in this strange and unfamiliar land. Here's a short story about my time there. The values and ethics I learned in the Military have served me well all my adult life. I'm also grateful for the GI Bill, which helped me financially through college.

So, "thank you" to our vets, today and everyday.

Last week I was visiting my Triumph dealer, Team Power Center in Janesville WI., for my Bonneville's 500-mile service. This is a friendly, family-owned and operated dealership who carry Triumph, Royal Enfield, Massimo and, to my surprise, Motus. Motus is an upstart American manufacturer of the MST sport-tourer. The MST is a brawny, big-block, macho beast of a motorbike, proudly made in Birmingham, Alabama. It's powered by a V4 (of course), often referred to as half a Chevy small-block — a torquey, pushrod, 1650cc (101c.i.) lump of brute force putting out around 165 or 180 hp, depending on how much you're willing to spend. The cost of this kind of moto-exclusivity starts north of $30,000.