Today I began to fit bodywork to Project 14, a 1987 VFR700 F2. I was anxious to see the effect of the black accents applied to the otherwise stock red/white/blue look. Some of those accents include the wheels, front fender (still in red), mirrors (still in white) and mufflers. The wheels in particular give it a whole 'nother vibe compared to the OEM white. The front is also a larger 17-inch and the fender trimmed to a slimmer profile. The wheels have a single white pinstripe applied. The rear fender area has been cleaned up with a fender eliminator, tucked-in LED signals and the helmet lock tab eliminated along with the original turn signal mounts. The mufflers are shortened originals with one baffle chamber removed. So far I like the look and once the fender is blacked-out it should flow pretty well.

I've been asked about the work stand. I picked this up from AeroStich several years ago when it was on sale for only $100. It utilizes a pair of heavy-duty milk crates (I see the latest version uses a third in the center span) and is rated at 500 pounds. There's a ramp included, it's made of lightweight aluminum and it all breaks down to store against a wall or under a work bench. The bike is raised 11 inches off the ground, which doesn't sound like much but makes a noticeable difference. I don't have the room for a full-size motorcycle lift, so this is the next best thing. I wouldn't be without one.
Here's the Aerostich link.

In the motorcycle world, the name Arai speaks loudly. It says you recognize safety, quality, style...and you don't mind spending the dinero to make it all happen.

If you also happen to ride a red/white/blue Honda — say a 1986 or 2007 Anniversary Edition VFR — Arai has your helmet.

They call this Corsair X model the "Spencer," and it commemorates "Fast Freddie" Spencer's 1985 World Championship season. The colors are perfect and to further make the point, there's a Freddie Spencer anniversary emblem printed on the back.

Get yours now for $882 at RevZilla.

I wasn't aware that this item was even available. Here's a rear suspension lowering kit for the '94-97 VFR from HyperPro. The seller is located in England and the item is listed on eBay with a buy-it-now of ~$96 including shipping to the U.S.

The kit lowers the bike 35mm or about 1 3/8-inch. By raising the forks in the triple clamps a similar amount you could preserve the bike's geometry.

I presume that the purpose of doing this is for short statured folks, as lowing would certainly compromise the bike's lean angle.

Click here for the eBay link.

Winter hump, that is. January 15th marks the mid-point of winter (by my own highly un-scientific temperature-based computations) and so for those of us up nort', that means we can begin to see the light at the end of the snow tunnel. In celebration, let's go for a virtual ride aboard a VFR800, courtesy of YouTube.
(skip to the 1:00 mark to get on the road)

Last week a mutual friend arranged a visit with Barry Willey, President of National Cycle. Barry's company is a manufacturer of windscreens and accessories to the world and does it all from their base in Chicago, right here in the U.S.A.

Founded as Nation's Cycle Center by his father, Gordon, back in 1937, the company produced motorcycle windscreens and accessories for a "new" enthusiast market. Things took off after WWII and the family business has been looking to the future ever since.

National Cycle is an OEM supplier to manufacturers from Harley-Davidson to BMW. The consumer line includes replacement and aftermarket screens featuring innovative quick-release mechanisms for motorcycles, scooters and ATV/UTVs. Their successful ZTechnik brand is a full line of screens and accessories for the BMW rider. Other products include luggage, lighting, trim pieces, even exhaust pipes.

Barry is a businessman, a forward thinker and a rider. He and his wife have ridden the U.S. and Europe — he knows his stuff. He's coined the phrase RIDER*CENTRIK, the company's product design philosophy that states that everything they do is about the Rider.

For a gearhead like myself, a few hours spent talking bikes and touring the factory with Barry was a day well spent. And, I got an up close look at how my ST1300's VStream windscreen was made.

Victory Motorcycle Bites The Dust

Since acquiring the Indian nameplate back in 2011 and successfully developing it as a legitimate player in the American cruiser market, I've often wondered how/why Polaris Industries has been willing or even able to continue their less successful Victory marque.

That question was answered this week when Polaris announced that they're ceasing production of Victory Motorcycles after an 18-year run. It's become a case of competing against yourself so the red-headed stepchild takes the hit. The company says this move will allow it to concentrate on its Indian and Slingshot brands. They will continue to offer warranty and parts supply for ten years. 

In the spirit of the new year, it seems like an opportune time to assess where various projects are and formulate some shop goals for the year, even if my best laid plans don't always work out.

In the photo below, on the right is Project Magna, nearing completion. She still needs a set of lower handlebars installed, the rear turn signals replaced and a paint job. This is a first-year V4, a 1982 VF750C, and deserves to be kept on the road and looking good.

In the center is Project 12, AKA The Blues Project. I actually completed this one in the Fall of '15 but its new owner's priorities shifted after a fall and now it's back for repairs and a facelift. The changes include fresh rubber, stainless brake lines and heated hand grips. I was fortunate to find a workable right side fairing on eBay and so the rare blue/silver '87 will remain true to its colors.

On the left is Project 14, another '87 700F2 which has enjoyed a full spa treatment. All of its systems have been dealt with and it's now at the stage of refitting the bodywork. It will be a red/white/blue model with a few mods: rear fender eliminated, 17-inch front wheel, custom shorty mufflers, jetted carbs with blacked out fender, wheels and mufflers. The rest of the bodywork are original, unrestored pieces. Can't wait to get this one out on the alphabet roads of Wisconsin this Spring. I expect it to look great, sound awesome and run like a cat on fire.

Meanwhile, at the "warehouse," future projects await. The covered one is my personal 1990 VFR750 and the rest are 1986-87 VFRs. To the far left is a parts bike. Of the other four, three are 750s along with one 700.

Project 18 is a 10,000-mile bike which will have a nearly total restoration; repainted body and wheels plus updated suspension.

Good to know that I won't run out of projects anytime soon...and it sure beats going to work.

It's just way too frigid here in the hinterlands to bother heating the shop, so I decided to tackle a little project in the basement workshop.

Project 14 is being fitted with its new clothes and that means preparing a set of infill panels — the plastic covers between the fuel tank and side fairings.

This is what I'll need to deal with =>

At some point these panels have received not one, but two coats of spray-bomb paint; first a khaki tan and then a badly applied thick coat of matte black.

I began by hand sanding but decided chemical stripper would be much more efficient. It was.

Note the electrical switch hole which will need to be patched.

After stripping the left panel here's how it looked. The original blue color of this '87 F2 piece can't be saved after all it's been through, but that's okay because patching the hole in the right side will necessitate painting in any case. Also, Project 14 will be wearing red/white/blue bodywork so these panels need to be black. 

The plan for patching the switch hole involves filling it with either of two types of plastic.

On the left I've plastic-welded a plug of ABS and on the right (another panel repair) I've used a liquid plastic product called Plast-Aid. I wish guys would stop drilling holes in these panels.

Either will work fine and both need basic body work to finish — grind/sand the plug flat and finish with body filler.

This panel is ready for paint. It's too cold for that so it will wait for another day.

Next up, mirrors.

What: Interceptors!
Where: Vegas, Baby
Why: Auctions are fun!
Price: Highest bidder

It's January and that means the Las Vegas auctions are right around the corner. This year's Mecum motorcycle event runs January 25-28.

On the block are several Interceptors mixed in with motorbikes of all description. I count two 1986 R/W/B VFR750s, a '97 VFR750, a VF500...and it wouldn't be a proper auction without a 1990 RC30. I would love to hang around and maybe throw a few bids, but for some inexplicable reason Patti doesn't think a motorcycle auction is the ideal way to celebrate her birthday week. I'll have to catch some of the action on the delayed NBCSN broadcast on January 31.

What: 1989 VFR 750R (RC30)
Where: South Yorkshire, England
Why: A pristine collector example
Price: $34,236 USD

In the increasingly rarefied world of RC30 ownership, this one stands above, both for its 1550 miles and its asking price.

Offered by Bennetts Motorcycles, an exotic bike dealer with an impressive inventory, this is represented as a Japanese model RC30 in original condition. Too bad it's most likely destined for never-ending retirement in some obscure collection.

Click here for RSBFS's take on this beauty.