Fun times with Viffer

We went to Blake end craft center in Gt Bardfield today to watch a round of the BLMRA that's the British lawn mower racing association. There was only 2 types of machines racing which were a powered drive roller mower with a trailer for the driver and ride on machines that used to be like a little tractor. They were what I wanted to see and I was quite impressed with the speed and handling of these machines. As for Viffer she worked perfectly as you would expect from a 105k mile honda. Have a look at the pics and video here.

Alaska / Yukon Series

Easter Weekend Trip

On Good Friday i went to Derbyshire area to visit a friend and biker buddy i've know for years. I made the trip on Viffer, we were only going for a couple of nights so just a topbox with a few items was all that was needed. I spent a while the evening before trying to learn the new Garmin Base camp software so i could make a custom route to Jamie's house but gave up and just wrote a note to put in my tank bag top with just basic info of where i wanted to go. As is often the case i was eager to go come Friday morning but there was no race as i didn't need to be there till 5pm ish as Jamie was working. So i left home around 10 and stopped for breakfast in Chelmsford and carried on with my trip with a full belly of Jumbo sausage bacon and fried eggs in a french stick. My basic route was lots of the good local roads we use all the time until i got to less familiar territory where i stayed with the main A roads. As i was travelling along the A6 i say a small brown sign for Santa Pod Raceway and decided i would detour and visit there as i've never been there before. After following a very bad small road i found another brown sign sending me left and what seemed further into the no-wheres. I made it to Santa pod to find they had a weekend festival on and decided i didn't want to pay to go in just for a short visit so i just took a few pics of Viffer at the entrance with the flags behind her. It was still only around 2pm and i only had about a hour and a half of trip left so looking on the sat nav found that Donnigton Park Circuit was not to far and was kind of on route so i navigated there to find that Touring Cars were there that weekend. So again just a few pics of Viffer by the sign and we were of again. The rest of the trip to my friends was uneventful apart from a stop at about 4.30 for a McD's milkshake. That breakfast lasted well. I arrived at Jamie's around 5pm and awaited his return from work. We went for a ride on Saturday with Jamie and Dave both on there KTM Duke 690's i cant tell where we travelled but it was a good ride with a stop for a late breakfast in a Weatherspoons pub and then back to Dave's so he could collect his wife and swap to his VFR800 for an afternoon ride. More great roads unfortunately there were plenty of cars around to spoil some of the fun but we finished up at CMC Motorcycles. We parted ways with Dave and Jo there and made the trip back to Jamie's which was only maybe 30-40 mins. Sunday was leaving day for me and Jamie decided he would wash Viffer on Sat evening in the dark in his garage so what greeted me in the morning was a much cleaner VFR ready for my trip home in the miserable rain that had started when i decided to put my riding gear on. We had aranged to go get Dave and go for lunch at Rutland waters as that was about half way down for them to ride. I was wet to the skin by then so decided i would push on  for home and not stop and the rain did stop and i dried out pretty well until i got to Chelmsford area where it was raining very hard and carry on till i got home wet through for the second time that day. Despite the rain i really enjoyed the short time away and am looking forward to a longer trip later in the year hopefully. Well until next time have fun and be safe.  Stuart

New tyres fitted

New pair of Avon Storm 2 ultra tyres fitted today. It's nice to have nice smooth handling again, and they scrubbed in nice and quick, this is the rear after just 20 miles.

Its been a productive morning

I found about 10 days ago that the exhaust can had a big hole in the side of the pipe that links the can to the collector exit. There was a lot of rust so i didn't think it could be welded closed, so i ordered a replacement pipe from Simmi Performance Exhausts on ebay. I chose them because they had quick delivery times and a good feedback and the exhaust can looked kind of like the standard part, and they were cheap. The can arrived within 2 days of order and looks like its pretty well made, only time will tell i guess. Also i found that the offside oil cooler pipe had a leak and was dripping oil on the exhaust manifolds. I have already fitted a new nearside pipe so have learnt that the only place to get the replacement part is from Honda themselves as it has some special fittings that only Honda use. I ordered the new pipe with my local Honda dealer Essex Honda and that arrived in only a week which is pretty good as Honda themselves didn't have the part in stock. I collected the part yesterday evening and have fitted it and the exhaust can this morning, it took about an hour and a half. When i first started the engine to test for exhaust and oil leaks i realized i really should have check with Simmi about how load the can would be. Its not to bad but louder than the blowing standard can, but it does have a great note to it, and on my short test ride seems to have improved performance a tiny bit. Now if only the rain would go away and stay away maybe i can go for a proper ride today. My internal tyre choice debate was settled when i found these extra costs so i went for Avon Storm Ultra 2's, there almost as cheap as the Pilot Powers but last as long as the Pilot Road 3's i have used them before and was quite happy with them i seem to remember. Well until next time have fun and be safe.  Stuart

Well its been a while.

Viffer has been locked away since late Nov 13 awaiting the better weather, now that spring is here it was time to get her out the garage and give here a oil and filter change and get her ready for riding again. After months of not riding and driving a very slow car it was great to ride again and feel the blast of acceleration and adrenalin while leaving cars in the mirrors. I have to reel myself in and remember to take my time re-honing the riding skills so as not to do something stupid and hurt myself or the bike. I just cant decide what new tires to get, the pilot powers are really sticky and fell really well planted but the rear has worn out in less than 3k miles. Or get the pilot road 3's which are very good and last a lot longer but don't have the same planted feel. I have a few hundred miles left on the rear so i guess i don't have to worry to much just yet. Viffer starts this season with 102500 miles on the clock and shes is still a pleasure to ride, lots of people keep asking when im changing to a different bike, my answer to that is when Viffer cant be kept on the road anymore because shes to broke to fix i don't see that time coming soon though as shes a Honda after all. Also i haven't been as comfortable on any other machine as i am on Viffer. So guys and gals i hope you have a good season of riding and that your all safe while doing it. Bye for now Stuart.