The old VFR has sold. I only got the minimum bid for it, but that was £700. I should be able to get £200 for the stainless exhaust system. I only paid £1,100 for the new VFR so that more or less pays for it.
I changed the head bearings, spark plugs, chain and sprocket set, and endcan (back to stock) and it feels like a different bike. It’s running so well I’m starting to wonder about the Harley. The VFR750 genuinely is the perfect all rounder. Great handling, bulletproof engine, and a delicious split personality. Rev it up to about 5,000rpm and it’s a great commuter, get over that and it suddenly turns into an eager screamer. It’s a relative thing, it’s no Fireblade or whatever, but it’s quick enough without feeling like it’s pointless overkill.
Now I’m concerned I’ve poured all this money and obsession into the Harley and I’m not going to love it. Once you get past the appeal of the brand it’s still agricultural, under-powered, has no weather protection, with poor handling and barely adequate brakes. It’s already cost a fortune and if I want to finish it (cosmetically) it will cost the same again. We’ll see. I’m about through with spending on it now. Today I undid the clutch side, loosened off the clutch nut and transmission nut and properly tightened them with my new digital torque. That should be a proper job. I’ve rebuilt the clutch side properly now. Once I reconnect the clutch cable to the handle bars (and fill with oil) that side is done.
Tomorrow I’m fitting the fancy new ignition timing thing, then fully rebuilding the the bottom right side of the engine.
That’s wheels, tyres, oil lines, throttle cables and bottom end, all done. It will just be a matter of fitting the barrels/pistons/rings when they arrive, and finishing the rebuild. Then it’s the moment of truth. Will the bloody thing run?
It *should*.
Oh, and I need to wire up the indicators. But yeah, from having a million jobs, after tomorrow it’s down to fitting the the pistons/ rings/ barrels, carb/ air filter, top end, engine mounting brackets, exhaust, battery, tank, seat… and fire her up. Shit. That’s going to be a scary moment.
In other news I’m forcing myself back into running. 3 runs this week. It’s only 3 weeks until Warrington Half and about 8 weeks until Frankfurt marathon. Eek!