James' 2001 Honda VTR1000 Build
The journey is over... I got everything done this morning, and started the bike up... After figuring out which way was "ON" on the petcock, it started right up 
I still have a few things to work out.
1-I think the new steering head bearings are loose. I may have to track down the castle nut tool and torque it properly
2-I need to tidy up the wiring on the bars
3-I need to make sure i have the HRC coolant bottle plumbed properly... Right now i have the radiator overflow tube routed through the cap and down to the bottom of the bottle. The other hole in the HRC coolant bottle is open to the air.
I think i'll get insurance back on it this Friday and test ride it
James
I still have a few things to work out.
1-I think the new steering head bearings are loose. I may have to track down the castle nut tool and torque it properly
2-I need to tidy up the wiring on the bars
3-I need to make sure i have the HRC coolant bottle plumbed properly... Right now i have the radiator overflow tube routed through the cap and down to the bottom of the bottle. The other hole in the HRC coolant bottle is open to the air.
I think i'll get insurance back on it this Friday and test ride it
James
Just got 2.5 turns out of the steering head nut!!
Also noticed that my coolant overflow bottle is now empty! It was 1/3rd full while the bike was running.... Is this the correct operation?
James
Also noticed that my coolant overflow bottle is now empty! It was 1/3rd full while the bike was running.... Is this the correct operation?
James
You've done a lot of work and it really looks great, James. It must feel great to have gotten to this point with a bike that came from your dad. Very nice.
Hey, are those LP front turn signals? I have a set to mount. They look as good as I thought they would. ; )
Hey, are those LP front turn signals? I have a set to mount. They look as good as I thought they would. ; )
You need to bleed the system completely. Right now, the system is pumping the coolant from the bottle back into the engine. I don't know if you bled it on your stand, or on the bikes own stand. You need to do it on the bikes own stand to get the air out completely.
Lol... My work was apparently so good that Jack thought they were OEM!!!
I bled it on the stand. I kept pumping the hoses because one started getting hot quicker than the other... I was wondering what was up...
Yes they are Lockhart Phillips Flush Mount 3's. I don't really care for how big they are... The trouble is the screws that hold the lenses on are too long, and they dug into the fairing
So, make sure you cut the lense screws down so they do NOT protrude past the mounting plate, or your fairings will be marred 

Thanks for all the kind words! Next stop is a powdercoated flywheel cover, and an F3 front wheel... Gotta start saving up
James
I bled it on the stand. I kept pumping the hoses because one started getting hot quicker than the other... I was wondering what was up...
Yes they are Lockhart Phillips Flush Mount 3's. I don't really care for how big they are... The trouble is the screws that hold the lenses on are too long, and they dug into the fairing
Thanks for all the kind words! Next stop is a powdercoated flywheel cover, and an F3 front wheel... Gotta start saving up
James
That bike does look awesome. Question is, is it so pretty that you are not gonna flog it like the racehorse it is?
I would be reluctant to even rain ride. Guess this is why I have a super nice hawk and my trusty A bike that is life proof.
I would be reluctant to even rain ride. Guess this is why I have a super nice hawk and my trusty A bike that is life proof.
When I fitted my HRC bottle I ran the bike up to where the fan came on.
I only had 4 ozs of coolant in the bottle and it sucked it dry.
I then refilled the bottle and all has been well since.
Make sure that you don't put the overflow hose right to the bottom of the bottle to allow for some expansion.
Mine may behave differently because of no thermo though.
I only had 4 ozs of coolant in the bottle and it sucked it dry.
I then refilled the bottle and all has been well since.
Make sure that you don't put the overflow hose right to the bottom of the bottle to allow for some expansion.
Mine may behave differently because of no thermo though.
Thanks guys!
I ride it hard, not as hard as when i was 21, but hard even to wear the tire evenly all over. I don't rain ride because a) i have a car with windshield wipers, and b) i really don't want to clean it after rain riding. I'm 37 and have been riding since i was 4, so i don't "need" to ride every moment of every day. I ride when i know i'll enjoy it.
I ran the bike until the fan came on. It got up to about 225, then cooled down to 219. Also, i have the hose down to the bottom, but i cut it at a 45 degree angle. Is that what you mean?
I ride it hard, not as hard as when i was 21, but hard even to wear the tire evenly all over. I don't rain ride because a) i have a car with windshield wipers, and b) i really don't want to clean it after rain riding. I'm 37 and have been riding since i was 4, so i don't "need" to ride every moment of every day. I ride when i know i'll enjoy it.
I ran the bike until the fan came on. It got up to about 225, then cooled down to 219. Also, i have the hose down to the bottom, but i cut it at a 45 degree angle. Is that what you mean?
Let it be known that i'm not really happy with this location. Reason: the bottle moves a bit. There is nothing securing it in its position.
I really want to create a bracket for it, but i need to find the best place.
I really feel like my bike looks so "finished" everywhere, i just dont want a clear bottle with green liquid sticking out like a sore thumb... I'm still thinking on this one...
James
I really want to create a bracket for it, but i need to find the best place.
I really feel like my bike looks so "finished" everywhere, i just dont want a clear bottle with green liquid sticking out like a sore thumb... I'm still thinking on this one...
James
Lol... I thought about that 
I'd like a bracket that goes behind the fairing bracket, and has a hole big enough for the bottle's mouth to go through, then the cap can screw on the top to keep the bottle in place...
James
I'd like a bracket that goes behind the fairing bracket, and has a hole big enough for the bottle's mouth to go through, then the cap can screw on the top to keep the bottle in place...
James
James,
Your bike is cool, however I don't like the coolant bottle in that location. Sorry, why don't you mount it in the tail like I did with mine.
Your bike would look so much cleaner without that bottle being seen.
Make sure that the overflow pipe is mounted up high in the bottle or it will siphon the coolant as you ride.
I found out the hard way mate.
I only have 4 ozs of coolant in my bottle.
Looks great, you must be so happy.
Funny thing is that if I ever completely strip my bike I am thinking of painting the frame white with black swinger and forks.
Enjoy!
Your bike is cool, however I don't like the coolant bottle in that location. Sorry, why don't you mount it in the tail like I did with mine.
Your bike would look so much cleaner without that bottle being seen.
Make sure that the overflow pipe is mounted up high in the bottle or it will siphon the coolant as you ride.
I found out the hard way mate.
I only have 4 ozs of coolant in my bottle.
Looks great, you must be so happy.
Funny thing is that if I ever completely strip my bike I am thinking of painting the frame white with black swinger and forks.
Enjoy!
Yeah i don't like it there either... I'm gonna try something different when the mail arrives this friday.
So you just ran you overflow hose into the lid and left it up high? I thought the coolant was supposed to move back and forth between the radiators and the overflow tank, and if the hose was high then it can't move back, right?
I have noticed mine has been siphoning. Empty overflow bottle after every ride. I thought it was because i may have neglected to fill the radiators up all the way... I'll check the coolant level in the radiator tonight.
Mirrors: FZ1
James
So you just ran you overflow hose into the lid and left it up high? I thought the coolant was supposed to move back and forth between the radiators and the overflow tank, and if the hose was high then it can't move back, right?
I have noticed mine has been siphoning. Empty overflow bottle after every ride. I thought it was because i may have neglected to fill the radiators up all the way... I'll check the coolant level in the radiator tonight.
Mirrors: FZ1
James




