Good for you Terry, getting it done in the nick of time on an SOHC4, overcoming obstacles, and having the courage to get back on a CB750 after nearly being tossed off by a locked tranny. Take good care of that leg and have a happy new year.
Thanks Kevin, looking back at 2020, it has been a pretty lousy year in so many ways, but for those of us who've been able to get some rides in, I'm sure it's helped maintain our sanity. Today was my 21st "Bonus" ride, the wife had to go do some things for her 88 year old mother, so it didn't take me long to formulate a plan for how I was gonna spend my day.
I drove over to the self storage place and rolled my VFR750 out of it's new garage and into the daylight for the first time since before the second lockdown in June.
Thursday VFR750 ride 31 Dec 2020 6 by
Terry Prendergast, on Flickr
Thursday VFR750 ride 31 Dec 2020 1 by
Terry Prendergast, on Flickr
I was hoping that the gas tank would be almost empty so I could fill it with fresh fuel, but no, I must have filled it up on my way back from my last ride, and so once it fired up I had to ride the first 70 miles on gas that probably wasn't in it's prime. Oh well, almost as soon as I rode out the gate the rain started, so I rode the first 50 miles in light misty rain, with a couple of heavier falls along the way. No biggie, I'd opted for my wet weather gear knowing that the weather is about to turn to Scheisse for the next few days, and the magnificent little 750 V4 was a delight even at careful speeds, with the mechanical orchestra of the 4 gear driven cams entertaining me whenever I had the opportunity to give it a handful of throttle.
The last 20 miles the sun came back out and dried my riding gear and the road ahead, so the pace quickened, but this brought up another issue that I'd been pondering as I wallowed thru a few fast sweepers, tyre pressures. Hmmnnn........ When was the last time I put air in these tyres? Anyhoo, I continued on to Heathcote and stopped at the first gas station to fill up with 98 RON fuel, and checked the tyre pressures. The recommended pressures for these tyres is 42 psi in the rear and 36 in the front, so it isn't really that surprising that it was handling more like a Goldwing than a VFR with......... 25 in the rear and 19 in the front. Ooops......... Oh well, I picked up a fresh box of Nurofen Zavance, and headed to the bakery for a delightful pie and drink to wash down the anti-inflammatories for the ride home again.
Thursday VFR750 ride 31 Dec 2020 3 by
Terry Prendergast, on Flickr
The ride back was much happier for me, my back, and my little blue rocket. Fresh fuel, properly inflated tyres, a full belly and the pain in my back somewhat dulled, I had a ball. Lots of naughty overtaking moves and the sound of that incredible engine @ 11000 RPM thru the Remus pipe was just intoxicating. Luckily for me there were no mobile speed camera cars between Heathcote and home, because if there was, I'd better hope I'll be working from home for the next year, because that's probably how long I'll lose my license for, after I sell a kidney to pay the fine.......... I stopped at the "Great Dividing Range" marker and took a couple of pics.
Thursday VFR750 ride 31 Dec 2020 9 by
Terry Prendergast, on Flickr
Thursday VFR750 ride 31 Dec 2020 8 by
Terry Prendergast, on Flickr
As much as I love my CB750's, I really believe that the VFR750 is one of Honda's best designs ever, and certainly one of my favourites. I bought this bike from a 71 year old guy who bought it at the same age as I was when I bought it from him, 56. I hope I'm still riding it when I'm 71. Happy New Year to all, and good riding in 2021.
Thursday VFR750 ride 31 Dec 2020 9a by
Terry Prendergast, on Flickr
