Back On Two Wheels
La mia moto e giallo...My motorcycle is yellow, well after exhaustive time spent on Google Translate I sure hope that is what it means! Yes, you are looking at a 1998 Honda VTR1000. Personally, the name 'firestorm' was used to describe this model but I find that totally steeped. It is an incredibly well engineered Japanese V twin and I love it. I picked up Giallo (this bike) late in 2015 from a guy who was in the same predicament I was in some years ago. He had young children and his Wife saw the value of the bike in dollars, rather than in sentiment. Fair enough, there was some negotiation and we agreed that I was walking away if his significant other was unhappy. She wasn't!
Now I am not a motorcycle mechanic, but I enjoy performing mechanical work on my bike, that way I know exactly what has been done. It also saves me a lot of money which is perhaps the real reason for this, or maybe it is because at work we do not build or repair anything. When we arrive, things are either damaged beyond repair or we wreck them to gain access or whatever is required.
When I got her home, yes Giallo is a She, the journey began with a thorough clean. By thorough I mean taking my time, using brushes to apply citrus based degreaser, removing the stickers that were strategically placed to hide damage, using warm water and mild detergent to clean the painted surfaces, thereby revealing a gorgeous bike.
Now, it's time to digress just a little. Yes, you will get used to it. I believe that motorcycles and cars have an energy attached to them. By naming these things I am letting them know I am going to take care of them, their guardian if you will. Have you ever decided to sell a car or a bike and discovered that things start to go wrong with it? This happens at the most inconvenient time too, like as the prospective new owner is asking you questions on the phone about the sale and you notice an oil leak that was not there before. Or the battery that has provided faithful power for ages suddenly dies. These events are not merely a coincidence people, they are your car or bike letting you know, they know what's going on! Finding this a little strange? Think I'm losing it? Well, that could be true, but I believe it nonetheless.
After an extensive clean and detail, I made out a list of things requiring my attention. Given the low purchase price, this did not come as a surprise. The first item on the agenda was junking the appalling rubber Giallo had and replacing it with some of Michelin's finest. Honestly, those tyres had no place being fitted to a paddock bike, let alone a 1000cc one. An oil and filter change followed and judging by how dark the oil was, this was exactly what Giallo needed. I had my local bike shop replace the front fork seals, no good having the oil on the outside hey?
The reservoirs holding the front brake and clutch fluid had seen better days and I recently replaced these and bled both systems at the same time. New Dot 4 fluid now runs through both and the change has been dramatic. As brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, it loses it's effectiveness. Giallo now stops and shifts gears better and the fitment of new pads on the front has helped. In the image, you will notice that I have used straps to support the brake calipers, rather than let them just hang down without any support, this reduces the pressure on brake fittings and demonstrates I actually care about the process. If you have ever seen a bike mechanic working on front brakes and not doing this, you know what I mean.
The best part of this process was getting Giallo back on the road and going for a ride. I am very happy to say, She and I are thrilled! The sound of the V twin and the torque this engine produces gives great drive out of corners and the sound...oh that sound! It's tough explaining to someone that doesn't ride just what it is like riding a motorcycle, so I won't try. But trust me when I say that I love it and being back on two wheels again is awesome. I'm sure Giallo thinks so too!