New VFR...

On balance, this is pretty much a winner, I'd say.  The exhaust is a little, er, unconventional but on the whole, I like it.

Looks too much oriented at the Sports end of the Sports-Touring market for me to consider replaing the Pan but some of the features they have built in are amazing.

And it looks fantastic, too.  Well done Honda.

New VFR site

Found this site on my web travels.  Looks like Thursday is the day...

New ST on the way?

I may be way behind the times but...

Old news first:

It's well know that the VFR as we know it is being completely done away with and replace with an all-new 1200cc bike which seems to be a technological marvel.  Clutchless transmission (well, OK, automatic double clutch with push-button changes and a full auto mode to be exact), new super efficient V4 plant (capable of dynamically changin to 2, 3 or 4 cylinder operation) and a whole bunch of other goodies.

The Honda promo site is here. Some of the video interviews with the design and test team are interesting and new stuff is added every week or two.

Now the "new" news:

The rumour is that the reason Honda has not announced anything for next years ST model is that it, too, is to be replaced.  The replacement will be in the same classic ST style but based on the new VFR platform.  If that is true, there will be some interesting choices to be made...

More waiting.

I've had to set back picking up the bike by a week.  Humph.

Admitting defeat...

Insufficient free time means I have had to give up on resolving the problems myself.  Dropped the bike off at a local workshop this weekend and left it in their (hopefully capable) hands.

On the bright side, I talked through the various issues with the engineer there and he seemed familiar with the Honda DCBS systems.  There was  also a decent number of large bikes in the workshop out back including a few larger bikes. 

I'll be back to pick it up in a couple of weeks...

Found out at last.

My wife told me she'd found this site at the weekend.  Now I have to be VERY careful what I say, I guess...

I wonder if I need to go back through the archives and edit out any Bad Stuff. 

Nah, I'll tough it out.  After all, how bad can it be? 

Update on Pan Gathering 2010

Well, the boys and girls at Pan Clan are losing no time...  The link I published last week is already out of date.

The new one will take you here.  Bookings are being taken already and I'll be signing up in October at a guess...

Considering a repair strategy.

Having thought on it for a few days, I can only assume that there has been (and still is) some water or other impurity in the brake lines.  It's the only thing I've ever seen cause this binding over time as the brakes (and therefore the fluid) warm up.

I've changed the fluid twice now so it's time to completely strip the system, check all the pipes/joints and clean with some denatured alcohol or similar.  Then get it back together without letting so much as a sniff of condensation back in.

Guess that as a precaution, I should change the seals, too.

Those long winter evenings will just fly past...

Going nowhere. Quite slowly.

Oh dear.  Foiled again.

Removed the rear brake stripped it down and cleaned it out and it wasn't as bad as I had expected.  Popped it all back together and...  no improvement.  Another hastily booked ticket back to Belgium and that's the bike-mending budget gone until after xmas. 

Same symptom, very light contact between pads and disks but the wheel turns freely.  Just like it has since the day I picked it up more than seven years ago.  Just like it does on the front.  15-20 miles of hard riding and it binds.  I'm a bit stumped, honestly.  Mechanically, it all seems fine.  I have changed the fluid twice, second time with brand new fluid from a sealed bottle.  Deeper investigation to follow when I have the time.  Say in January...

Off we go...

Heading off to the Land of Beer and Chocolate now.  Wish me luck...  :)

Brake update

There was nothing much wrong with it, as it happens.  Sure enough, a clean was in order and the slight dragging has pretty much gone away.  But the rear has always made a gentle contact.  Always.

I reckon the brake fluid I had was old/contaminated so I have flushed it again and replaced with brand new stuff.

Tomorrow, the acid test...

Seconds away, round two...

Back to base today and I'll be having a good look at that brake and then try the ride up to Belgium again on Sunday.

Hopefully, it's nothing more than a strip'n'clean on the rear brake and (another) fluid replacement job.

Wish me luck...

Pan Gathering 2010

I had hoped to go to Pan Gathering this year (in Germany) but my brakes problem meant I couldn't get there.

Next year, the venue is Lancashire in the UK. Which is where I grew up.

I'll be signing up for this one as soon as I can. It's being organised by the UK owners group Pan-Clan (website here) and promises to be a fun weekend. Even if they will be riding through the Lake District. In September... ;)

The year after is due to be hosted in Belgium and, asssuming I am still working there, I'll be along to that one also.

Failure to launch

Well, in spite of all my preparations, I didn't make it up to Belgium. Well, not with the Pan, anyway. (The TGV really is an amazing train.)

After about 20 miles, the brakes siezed on at the back. Looks like dust (wet by the dew) has clogged up the pistons so I need to strip 'em down and clean 'em out.

Next time, I'll get further...

Back on the road.

Big smiles all round... After working abroad for a few years, I am now back in action.

The Pan has been stored in our garage with little attention beyond a start every few months and attachment to an Optimate charger so the battery doesn't get drained.

On the list for checking before riding again:

• A thorough cleaning
• Checking the tyres for signs of perishing
• Check/replace brake, clutch fluids
• Check the brakes/disks
  
• Replenish coolant
  
• Regreasing bits and bobs

Upgraded the insurance from "laid up" to active today and I'll be getting everything sorted over the next few days before a trip to Belgium at the weekend.

Looking forwards to that, I can tell you...