Lots of stuff to cover today so let’s start.
Firstly, I have now completed an upgrade of sorts to the bike that I have been threatening to do for years. The 4th Gen VFR came with a poxy set of mirrors. Quite why Honda chose to enclose the mirror stalks in a sheath of rubber that eventually perished and came adrift from their mounting points I have no idea. The VFR fraternity call them “condom” mirrors and it’s easy to see why. Apart from anything else, they look pretty dreary. The condom mirrors continued on into the 5th Gen bike until (finally) being replaced by a more modern design in 2000. With the advent of the 6th Gen, the days of the condom was gone.
So, many 4th and 5th Gen owners thought it would be a great idea to replace their ugly mirrors with Y2K ones (they only lasted one year as the 6th Gen came out in late-2001.) But, as Jeremy was wont to say, there was a problem and it had everything to do with a minor change made at Honda. Here I will slip into my anorak if you don’t mind. The bolt spacing for the condom mirrors (94-00) was 50mm. The Y2K mirrors also had this spacing. The spacing for the 6th Gen is 53mm so it wasn’t just a matter of going out and buying a later set of mirrors because they wouldn’t fit.
So the un-condomed mirror became very rare and hard to get. Given that, in almost any accident, the mirrors are damaged, you couldn’t find Y2K items second hand and the OEM price was ferocious.
Every now and then when I am browsing ebay I look for Y2K mirrors only to come away disappointed; except for the other day. Looking again, I saw that a company in Germany was making replica Y2K’s for $98 a set. And it was my birthday coming up too. The rest is pretty obvious. Apart from needing to be attached by Allen head bolts rather than the Honda ones, it was a straight, bolt-up proposition and I think you will agree, the bike looks heaps better with the new ones fitted. On the road the mirrors are rock steady, a fraction wider than those they replaced and they stay in adjustment as well!!
The other weekend, Paul and I and another mate from Wollongong did a Putty run and, while we were bench racing at The Tree, we heard the melodious burble of V8 engines approaching. A small group of 70s model Commodores appeared but the loudest noise was coming from the car in the lead and it shouldn’t have sounded V8’y at all. It was an original model Triumph 2000 and it did sound sweet.
Later that morning we caught up with the group and they turned into Harrigans Pub at Pokolbin. Since Paul and I both have fond memories of Triumph ownership, it was a no-brainer that we would follow the group in and investigate.
Here is the said Triumph. Concours Winner at the Nationals in 2015 (as a standard car) it has now been upgraded with a 3.5l Rover V8 that produces 220rwhp. Genuine Minilite wheels, Datsun 1600 half shafts (don’t ask) and a Toyota Supra 5 speed gearbox. See more pics in the gallery at the bottom of this post. A delightful car with an obliging and justifiably proud owner. Sound engineering indeed.
And, speaking of the Putty, what a joy it is to ride now. Nearly all the rough patches have been fixed and the 10 Mile has brad new hotmix. Add to that some brand new tyres and it’s fair to say that I enjoyed the experience! Must do the Lakes Way ride while they are still new.
I am not watching MotoGp much these days. Silly times zones don’t agree with my sleep patterns (might have something to do with getting older!) The results from America are not really surprising, though. Despite the new Michelins being far from ideal, it seems some riders are adapting well and others aren’t. I find the hoo ha regarding Rossi’s unforced error highly amusing, though. Considering that he crashes far less frequently than his peers, I think he can be allowed the occasional lapse. And, even though the Michelins are not great and the Honda is still a handful compared to 2014, MM93 is adapting best of all to the combination which shows what an intelligent and mature rider he is becoming.
And on the subject of MotoGp, the rumour mill continues to grind with stories of Lorenzo going to Ducati next season. The toxic atmosphere at Yamaha should make his decision pretty easy to make (superbikeplanet is saying this morning that the deal is already SS&D – we shall see). Who will leave Ducati to make way? The reliable and popular Dovi or the fast-but-fragile Iannone? Vinales to Yamaha to replace JL?
I did “The Lap” yesterday. I should have stayed home. Weekdays are usually the best, but the school holidays mean that the roads are crowded with tourists and it was almost impossible to get a good run through the entertaining bits. Good thing I can ride it any day I like, I’ll wait till school goes back.
Lastly, a change of colour may be on the cards. After my tumble in the Maccas driveway at Heathcote a month or so ago, my “repair” job is adequate but ugly and the budget is not there for a “proper job.” The other night at the speedway one of the competitors asked me if I’d had it fixed yet. I explained that a bit of wet and dry and a rattle can had had to suffice. “Bring the panels down to my shop and I’ll spray them for you.” he said. I explained that it is impossible to match the red on the VFR because there is a pearl layer several layers down into the paint so he said not to worry, bring down ALL the panels and he’ll do them ALL in a paint that can closely match the existing red. Now there’s an offer too good to refuse, good price, too. Should I go with the red or reincarnate BBII and have its painted gloss black?