In a previous article, I illuminated the benefits of a motorcycle cover. Essentially, motorcycle covers protect your bike from the elements when parked outside but they also keep your bike from standing out for would-be thieves. I must admit, I decided to carry no motorcycle insurance. I don’t use my motorcycle for regular transportation, just as a recreational vehicle. As such, I don’t leave my bike parked for hours at a time unattended in the public while I’m at work or at the mall. I usually ride just to ride. I may stop somewhere to get a bite to eat, but I don’t leave it unattended for more than an hour at a time. Yep, it’s plenty of time still for someone to rip my bike off – there’s nothing stopping some miscreant and a partner from lifting my motorcycle up and into the bed of a truck if they’re not inclined to break my Kryptonite disc lock in situ. But that is a risk I’m willing to take instead of paying $75 a month for motorcycle insurance with theft protection. I believe risk of theft in my case is relatively low. Knock on wood.

However, I do leave my house for hours at a time, and I do not live in a house with a secured garage, just an open carport. And I would really like for my bike to remain out of the field of vision of thieves. And a great way of doing that is to cover it up. Don’t buy a motorcycle cover with a make or model emblazoned on the outside – you’re still advertising what you have underneath the cover, right? Keep that shit secret. You have a great bike, you know it, there’s no reason for douchebags to know it.

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Find a great, affordable, fitted motorcycle cover for your motorcycle:

Honda motorcycle covers, Kawasaki motorcycle covers,

Harley Davidson motorcycle covers,

Suzuki motorcycle covers, Yamaha motorcycle covers

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I got a cover for my 2002 Interceptor from the seller CoverCentral. It was $36.49 and that included free US Postal Service Priority Shipping. It’s mostly black but dark blue is also available. It has a stylish silver band of fabric on the bottom. Yeah, it’s made in China. What isn’t nowadays?

It also has grommets at the base of it so you can run a lockable cable for an additional layer of work for them to surmount. But remember, a locked covered bike doesn’t advertise itself. Thieves have no idea what you have under there. Heck, it could be a stupid auto parts store 50cc kids pocketbike. By running a cable and lock through the grommets and cinching it up, a thief has to expend more effort and time.

And, these motorcycles are somewhat fitted/sized to your bike. Their VFR800 cover fit mine perfectly. It’s easy to put on, and it covers my bike in a shapely manner, it even fits my hard luggage bags attached. Pay attention to the FRONT tag on the cover: If you put it on the wrong way, it just won’t look right or provide the best sight deterrence.

At the time of writing, Cover Central carries 375 different, fitting motorcycle covers. Chances are they’ll have one for your bike! Click here for Honda motorcycle covers, Kawasaki motorcycle covers, Harley Davidson motorcycle covers, Suzuki motorcycle covers, Yamaha motorcycle covers. Got a Buell, Ducati, Indian, BMW, KTM, Triumph, Aprilia, Hyosung, Moto Guzzi, there’s a cover to fit your motorcycle model.
Though CoverCentral isn’t the only seller of motorcycle covers (I’ve not purchased from any of these sellers)

If you are lucky enough to have an attached garage with room to park your ride in, I would say that a motorcycle cover may not be a terribly necessary piece of equipment.

Motorcycle covers protect both bike and rider in two ways: They protect the motorcycle from damage, dings, dust, when the bike’s not being used. Hell, we know that sometimes idiot passers-by can sometimes throw garbage, beverages, or whatever at things when they walk by – and motorcycles make fine targets for undeserved vitriol.

I do not have comprehensive motorcycle insurance. So when I read the American Motorcycle Association article online “Lock It or Lose It” recommending that a cover is a good theft deterrent, I looked into getting a cover for the upcoming winter (non riding) season.

Pretend you’re a no-good, waste-of-DNA thief, amblin’ your worthless self down a street, checkin’ out what’s what.

Which looks like the juicier target?

This late-model Honda Interceptor…

Or whatever the hell this is?

Now, if a thief wants what you got, he or she is gonna do their darndest to get it, no doubt nor argument. But, as the AMA article author points out:

“…plenty of motorcycles are stolen by opportunistic miscreants.”

Don’t give the slugs the opportunity. Which bike is going to get more attention, the absolute known quantity (a shiny red sportbike with aftermarket sideluggage) or… whatever is under that plain old cover?

(And, for the record, this motorcycle usually is parked far in the carport. The bike was taken out for photographic, illustrative purposes. Which brings up another reason you need to read AMA’s article:

“Some people are so proud of their bikes that they park them in the front yard for everyone to admire. That just makes it easier for thieves to case your ride.”

Now, I was taken by the logic of the article. Heck, I’d want to put something over my bike to keep my cats and all the neighbors’ cats from gettin’ their muddy little paw prints on my bike. As much as they’d like to think, my Interceptor is not their park bench. How much is a good motorcycle cover? You may be surprised…

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On my most recent ride around the north end of Lake Washington, I’ve noticed a little lag in power. I’ve also noticed that the chain on my 2002 Honda VFR800 seems to carry a little extra slack. The Honda owner’s manual suggests that there be about 1.3″ of slack in the chain, not to exceed 1.75″ of slack. Well, my unscientific experiment (pushing the chain up next to an adjacent ruler) indicates that I’m right up against that maximum 1.75″ limit.

Additionally, I note that, according to my chain gauge, that the rear wheel cannot be adjusted rearward any more, and I believe it’s time for a chain replacement. Not a horribly expensive proposition (good O-ring chains are about a hundred bucks) but since the drivechain is a very integral component of the forward movement of my motorcycle and thus my motorcyling experience and therefore my fun and well being, it’s a task I’d not care to accomplish myself, in my carport, with my own meager assortment of tools, for the very first time, on a $5,000 motorcycle that I want to keep and enjoy for years to come. Translation: I’m gonna take it to the shop to have done.

However, I wanted to read up on the science of motorcycle drive chains. An excellent website, Canyon Chasers has such a reliable primer.

First of all, why is motorcycle chain maintenance important?

A chain that is ignored will eventually fail, typically by breaking. A broken chain will many times ball-up around the countershaft and front sprocket. When this happens, your chain will rip and tear its way through your soft aluminum motor and will always result in engine damage.

Proper chain slack is crucial. Too tight of a chain can do $expensive$ damage to the countershaft. We also know that keeping a well lubricated chain is important to proper operation. However, there’s a flip side to good lubrication, and that is dirt will build up on the chain. The solution? Regular chain cleaning.

If you do this regularly, your chain will keep a high level of lubrication but will also draw a lot of dirt and you’ll end up with a really dirty-looking chain. Dirt, as I’m sure you can imagine, is very bad for a chain. A good idea is, every 3000 miles or whenever you change your oil, to clean your chain. The easiest way to clean your chain is with a rag, a toothbrush, and kerosene.

Without using a fancy factory placard on the motorcycle swingarm to determine if your chain is nearing its servicable life, Canyon Chasers offers this elementary check:

But how do you know when your chain needs to be replaced? If you go to your rear sprocket and pull straight back on the chain, you’ll be heading in the right direction. If your chain pulls away from the sprockets by much, it is probably stretched out. If the chain does not pull away and stays right on the sprocket, then the chain is not stretched out yet. Also, if your sprockets no longer look like points but a bunch of little hooks you need to replace it all.

Honda HRC Repsol replica

Textile motorcycle protective jacket BLOWOUT $99

(click image for all details)

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AR600 level abrasion protection for under $100	CE-approved protective pads are removable
Very well vented for warm weather	Lots of sizes even for us big boys

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Being a newly-returning motorcyclist, I needed a good protective riding jacket. Since I don’t have $350 just taking up space, a full leather jacket was out of the question. MotorcyleSuperStore has this Honda Collection Repsol Jacket, and in all sizes too. I’ve found that their sizing is quite generous. I ordered a 3XL size when I think a 2XL could have sufficed – but pay attention to the sizing chart on the product page. Fieldsheer in comparison makes some great jackets, but their sizing is pretty limited – this Repsol-replica jacket in 3XL would be a 5XL to Fieldsheer, according to their size chart.

I like that this Repsol replica jacket is relatively brightly colored; I was actually looking for a day-glo yellow color (I’ve seen cagers drive and I am all about being seen now) but I liked the racing style of this one. Also, this jacket is vented quite well. The two zippers underneath the Repsol patches on the shoulders unzip, and there are two similar zippers on the back that reveal a mesh for air circulation. Also, there are zippered vents on the sleeves, in the bicep area, and the sleeve cuffs can be unzipped yet secured with a snap button, giving even more air flow there. This jacket provides abrasion and protection as well as air circulation. And come on… a hundred bucks? Normal list price was $229.
I bought a Joe Rocket textile jacket ten years ago for one hundred bucks, on the closeout rack at Cycle Barn in Lynnwood. Ten years ago. continued below…

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Support Seattle-Motorcycles by buying this or any of thousands of motorcycle items

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This Repsol replica jacket also comes with a zip-out vest liner (sleeves are not lined). I don’t plan to ride in cold weather meself – I’ve been there, done that, got the t-shirt, thank you – so I’m not sure the liner is necessary for me. The jacket has elbow pads, shoulder pads, and back pad. All CE-approved protective pads are removable. There’s an adjustment around the sleeves at about the elbow, so you can constrict the sleeve from wind flap, if you prefer.

There’s also a zipper at the bottom of the backside, inside the jacket. It took me a little researching to find out that zipper is for attaching riding pants.

Folks, your riding gear should absorb all the impact of an accident. If and when you go down, if your gear suffers any sort of contact with terra firma, that piece of equipment is now done and should be retired. Bonk your head on the ground? Your helmet is now a trophy. Get a new one. Same with a jacket. The protective integrity approaches zero when a jacket absorbs impact. Scrape it up in a slide? Get a new one. Today.

There’s reflective piping stitched along the sleeve, extending down the back. continued below…

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Download a free 4 page report on choosing motorcycle protective gear

at GearUpProject.org

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I wish there was an interior pocket for cell phone and wallet. Alas, there’s no pocket, save the two zippered exterior pockets. And since the outer shell is AR600 (abrasion resistance construction rating), I wouldn’t wear this to the track. As I understand it, 600-level abrasion rating is only good for sub-highway speeds, so if you’re going to do some really fast work on the sweeping turns in Texas hill country, you should opt for a higher level of protection.

Additionally, this Repsol-replica HRC jacket does not have a CE-approved back armor plate; it’s just a (very firm) foam pad. I’d recommend simply getting a CE-approved back armor plate and install that in its place of the factory-installed foam pad. Hey, it’s more protection than wearing a regular jean jacket by Dockers. But if you’re reading this, I suspect you’ve moved past that.

It is advised that your protective jacket should fit you snugly. Take out a tape measure and measure your chest at the armpit level to get the widest measurement for a good fit. Don’t go by the “I’m an XL, and I’m buying an XL jacket” crap. An XL by one maker might be a 2XL to another maker.

It’s a lovely sunny day here in the Seattle area. I knew that I was going to hop on the viffer and go for a little ride. I decided upon a somewhat familiar little jaunt, up highway 522.

Originally I planned to maybe get to Snohomish but I liked the vibe of 522 so I just continued on to Monroe.

I stopped at the quaint Country Village in Bothell. This is where I saw the biggest cock I’ve seen in a long time.

The ride up 522 was nice. This is my first time being in the saddle at speeds over 45 miles an hour for more than 5 minutes at one whack in about 3 years. The Interceptor was truly a terrific travel provider, but my arms/hands/back aren’t conditioned to it yet, so I kept my range close to home.

The lovely Monroe Correctional Facility is a large tenant in the town of Monroe, Washington. I checked in its online archives and found this interesting picture of an inmate. Okay, if you saw a guy dressed like this today, you’d feel compelled to call him “sir.” I stopped at a mega gasoline/convenience store establishment and bought a nice cold bottled water, a Lite Starbucks Frappaccino, and a pack of peanuts. Snacked whilst enjoying the sun at the curb. Then gazed at my red viffer and wondered if I could keep it for the rest of my life. Maybe in 20 years my 2002 VFR will be considered a quaint classic vintage ride.

I'm sorry, sir, but the window of the best prison cell we have for you this evening faces north. Dessert and coffee served at 8. Don't drop your soap.

If you’re riding your cycle about and you wave to a red Interceptor and its rider (which could be me) doesn’t wave back, please don’t take it personally. Must I remove my hand from the handle grips to wave to another cyclist as we pass going different directions? I’d prefer to stay vertical and in the forward-moving direction and keep my hands on my handlebars. Just a crazy safety thing I like to follow. Maybe it’s just me.

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It’s been 7 days since I brought my 2002 VFR home. I’ve added a mere 60 miles to the odometer reading. I know, I’m a lightweight. I have a full time job, give me a break.
I’ve ridden it to work a few times the past week, and I indeed take the long way home. I’ve found the Interceptor to be a very amenable ride; the hydraulic clutch pull is perfect, the brakes are very strong, there’s practically zero vibration for a nice comfortable ride, and the riding position is very good. The engine temperature gets up to and past 200 degrees F, but the fan comes on and it doesn’t rise above 220 that I’ve seen.

I don’t know if I’m a huge fan of the Hot Grips that were added. I am thankful that I don’t plan on riding when it’s below 40 degrees so having heated hand grips isn’t really going to be a necessity. Therefore, I may just remove them and replace them with a regular set of grips.

Oh, and uh… I had a little boo boo in the parking lot on Friday. I don’t want to take up a full parking space in the company car lot, so I wedged my VFR between two parked cars in the corner of the lot. I saw that my back end was kinda blocking the silver Prius’ driver side door, so I backed out to park elsewhere… and didn’t exactly realize how wide my rear end was, what with the hard luggage. I kinda scraped up against the silver Prius’ rear quarter panel.The sharp edge of the reflector on the hard luggage bit into it…and left a mark…

Have I mentioned that one of the company VP’s owns said silver Prius?

So I immediately told her what I did. She seemed not too concerned about it and didn’t even inspect the scrape until after she left Friday evening. As of this very writing I don’t know if she and her husband have decided that the scrape mark will need to be professionally fixed. If so, of course, I’ll pay for it. But this may be the first time a motorcycle damaged a car while its engine wasn’t even on, as I was walking it backwards between two cars.

Next time? I’m taking a fucking whole space. I’m actually listening to AC/DC’s First Blood from Fly On The Wall as I write this.

What’s ironic is just the day before this, I was talking with a colleague and said that motorcycles in Washington state are not required to carry any sort of insurance. I’ve checked into motorcycle insurance and am on the fence about its necessity. If my Interceptor were stolen, I’d want protection, even with a $1,000 deductible. But collision insurance? That tacks on a significant amount of dough to a motorcycle policy. So I’ll think about it.

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Honda Interceptor (VF or VFR models) have a dedicated web community, VFRDiscussion.com. One of the first questions I had about my 2002 (aka “6th Generation VFR”) was regarding its engine temperature. Running at over 200 degrees F threw up a red flag for me. I’ve never ridden a bike that gives a precise digital readout of the engine temperature, and seeing temperatures above the boiling point of water freaked me out. I found the VFRD board and posed this very question to the uber-experienced membership; the reply was, to paraphrase, that the bike normally gets up to 220 especially in stop-and-go surface street traffic, and it’s normal. As long as the fan comes on at about 220, no worries.

Currently, there’s a discussion about the next iteration of Interceptor… and if pictures are in circulation…

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Yes! Finally! A deal was struck, and I am riding an awesome motorcycle.

I began looking through craigslist ads of private motorcycles for sale. My first spark of interest was a 1982 Kawsaki GPz 550 that was selling for $900… that was sold before I could see it. I checked out a 1986 Yamaha FJ1200, and a 1984 Honda V65 Sabre.

Then, I moved up the price bracket and found a very nice 2000 Kawasaki ZRX 1100.But, get this: I completed a credit application, and was notified that I was approved for credit. (I was putting $1,000 down and the bike cost $4,000 so I wasn’t financing too much, really.) I took most of Friday off from work to drive 35 miles to a dealership… I presented my pay stub… and was told there was a problem. The financing guys assumed that, given the monthly gross I make from my job, I’d have X dollars year-to-date. Well, I had earned about about one thousand bucks less than that amount, and they said that I would have to have my wife come in and cosign for the loan and have her income figured in.

1) one hour and forty five minutes in driving time round trip to and from the dealership

2) Took most of Friday off of work to go down there and fiddle around.

I therefore decided I’d stick within a 8 mile radius of dealerships from  my house. Luckily for me, RideWest BMW had a couple of good candidate bikes to check out.

I went in on Saturday morning expecting to make a deal on the 2005 Ducati Monster Dark 2SR, a lovely 800cc hooligan naked bike. Thing is, its seating position was way more aggressive and sporty than I liked.

Right next to it was a lovely blood red 2002 Honda Interceptor VFR800Fi. It was just $500 more than the Ducati. A set of hard luggage installed, just over 18k miles on the odometer.

Now, I’ve not kept up with Interceptors since 1987, when the Interceptors of that vintage were the motorcycle on the streets. Interceptors have changed since then to become more sport tourers than canyon carving sportbike kings.

Which was fine with me.

I made a little walk-around video and it can be seen here:

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Found a very good price on a 1986 Yamaha FJ1200, with just about 46k miles on the odometer.  A very nice young guy (who originally hails from New York State) is selling it. I’m not in love with it now, but I think it has potential. And I love those damn bikes. Have since 1984 when they came out.

The FJ pictured to the left is a 1985 FJ1100, but the ‘86 FJ1200 is very similar in color scheme and appearance. The current owner uses it as a daily rider, so that says something to me regarding his trust of his machine (when I drove out to his place to check ‘er out, I actually trailed him home the last mile or so, it turns out).

It’s not terribly clean, it will need some shop time, and it will need some cosmetic attention. But the asking price of fifteen hundred bucks seems pretty fair to me. I could see spending another grand at the shop to really bring it up to nice shape, do some aesthetic improvements…

I’ll sleep on it…

I cannot deny the call any longer! I’m going to go check out some 80’s-era motorcycles tomorrow in the Seattle area.

There’s a V65 Magna in Bothell, two different V65 Sabres, maybe a Suzuki GS 750 E, and if none of those turn my crank my yanks, then the seller of a 1986 FJ1200 comes back on Monday and I’ll check that out.

A fellow had a lovely 1982 Kawasaki KZ550 H1 (GPz) and he took $900 for it. Didn’t think that would last long. Another seller is probably going to sell their 1985 Honda Nighthawk 650 tomorrow at 8am, they only want $1100 for that which is a steal.

So maybe this time tomorrow I’ll have a new ride in the stable!