What did you do with your GRiSO today?

Ordered the rest of my parts list from Mario. Due for a major service, so the bits for that as well - well the ones I didn't have - I get Penrite oil by the 30 Litre drum, and a collection of oil filters inthe bottom of my spares cupboard - so 4 x plugs and an air filter, were the only extra bits.

Pat, when you read this, start planning and buying in the bits you need for a top-end rebuild. Mario has it all - PSI will have diddley-squat.

The two ring sets are the killers - approx $250 a side. Well only this cheap until the Pacific Peso takes another dive...

Today I performed the canister-ectomy Whilst performing it, my bride of 46 years entered the garage just as a string of unkind words was reverberating against the walls. She commented that in all my years of wrenching on Hondas, she'd never heard more than a couple discouraging words, but the GRiSO seems to draw them out in great quantity. It's developed into a love/hate relationship....

The source of my angst was the bolt at the rear of the canister. I could only get an open end wrench on it, and only turn 1 flat at a time. To top it off, it hit the brake master cylinder fitting before it could exit the hole. I finally resorted to cutting the rear tab on the canister and yanking it out. I also removed the blue/orange valve and replaced with a splice.

In researching this procedure, it seems I can expect several improvements in the operation of the machine. No more moaning, no more start failure when hot, less popping and farting. Oh, that last one was rider, not machine.

There are few things in this world that really make me feel alive than riding on two wheels through beautiful scenery. I got to do this with one of my sons yesterday. I have passed the love for riding onto them. Went for a ride on the Blue ridge parkway in central Virginia. We have so many curbs here that it is hard to find a straight road, I am blessed! My son was riding a 2000 VFR800 that we resurrected and turned into a street fighter. Yesterday was his first time riding the GRiSO. He was all smiles when we got home, he loved riding it. I'm like that every time I ride it![You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
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washed it. also, I now have all the parts I need to improve the riding position. Rizoma bars (MA009B), lowered pegs, sticky out things to go on the brake and gear levers. All it needs now is some improvement to the seat.

Not bad for a 14 years old bike. Nice day on the racetrack last year.

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Cool picture bro

Thanks mate!

Hi Clowell. Lets see the VFR. They're a great bike

I bought the yellow VFR800 from a friend. It was just sitting in the back of the yard rusting under a tarp. I paid $500. Had to replace some bits and pieces but got it running. Replaced the front fairing with a headlight off of a 2009 KLX 250 and painted it army green. It is a blast to ride. Has 50k on it and running strong.

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Yeah and that is the best model, last of the gear drives.
I had one back in 1998 and they just don't do much wrong. Just one further question, maybe you will only find out in summer, but originally the fairing was designed as to create a venturi affect and draw air through the radiator, so I'm wondering how effective the radiators are without it?

Yeah that's right. I wired up the fan to run all the time. So far it has not been a problem. Well I take that back. I bought an upgraded rectifyer to handle the fan running all the time.

Good move, Honda rectifiers blow regularly. I think mainly because they get too hot in the behind everything and lack ventilation. Cheers

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Not sure about the red, will have to look at it in the light of day.

I think the red's alright, but I just can't warm up to this particular grill design, shows too much of the inner cooling fins for my taste. I actually prefer the stock unit, but then again I'm missing out on an opportunity to add a geegaw!

I put some black gutter guard mesh behind mine, to reduce the “aluminiumness” of the heat exchanger.


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beetle wrote:

I put some black gutter guard mesh behind mine, to reduce the “aluminiumness” of the heat exchanger.

Why not just paint the heat exchanger black?

kiwi dave wrote:

Why not just paint the heat exchanger black?

Why?

Thats what I did. High temp satin black. Had the cover powder coated.
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You guys have the right idea. Looks much better with the mesh, or painted black.

Beetle, how did you get the screen to stay connected to the cooler cover?
I like your fish net stocking look.

The mesh is cut to the same size as the cover. I added cut-outs to the corners of the mesh for the screws. It's simply held firm by the cover.

Thanks Mark. I’m going to borrow your idea instead of painting the cooler. I used some of the same mesh on the back of my air box when I removed the snorkel. I used silicone on the inside. Looks great.

I really love the look of the original cover. Fortunately, I haven't ever experienced any of the warping/sagging that some other have.

My ideal solution would be to sand-cast/replicate the original in aluminium.

Steak,
I was OK with it too but living in Houston when I got the GRiSO and the summer heat there was too much for it.
I’m in Georgia now and it probably wouldn’t survive a summer here either.