Question for the new VFR...

Just curious, I have a 6th gen and during spring season there's a local contest to see who can kill the most butterflies during a ride. During this time I usually end up spending between 15-30 minutes removing bug jelly from the front of my bike, including but not limited to...

lower fairings
front fender
brake calipers
lower forks
lower inner fairing
oil filter
forward cylinder bank
nose fairing
headlights
mirrors
windscreen
(plus all the gooey critters that end up inside the "airflow" channel under the windscreen)

Not to mention all my gear turns from blue/black to yellow/grey...

So, with the 7th gen, I can't help but notice how the fairings just to the right and left of the headlight leave a rather LARGE gap in which I figure alot of bugs will collect. HOW EASY IS IT TO REMOVE THE FAIRINGS TO CLEAN SAID BUG JELLY?

sorry, had to ask.

I went on a ride to Winslow, AZ a couple days ago. When all was said and done, my new bike was looking rather abused. On the way back, an hour from home, I ran over a jagged piece of metal that blew my back tire. Side of the road mushroom plug repair jobby and a little prayer, and I was on my way again. Stop by cycle gear for a new tire. Seems the stock 190/55/17 is an order item, went with the 190/50/17 (owners manual ok's it) and had my local Honda guys do the swap. Asked them what they recommend for removing all the bug parts and bought some.
To answer your question, the front fairing hides all the calipers from the bugs..thankfully! Sides held up better well against splatter, except for the 1/2 front lip to the sides. CAKED!! The top fairing was pretty much coated. The gaps in the fairings are rather dark...I went with the See No Evil approach. And since the owners manual doesn't tell you how to remove the side fairings..Whats there is there for now. And for some reason I had about as much bug guts inside my windsceen as on the outside?!?! Even had a bug end its life on my RPM guage...still a mystery on how that happened :blink: Saw some on my seat too..interesting The front of my leathers were clean, but the shoulder areas were hit pretty hard.
Anyhoo, the local Honda shop stocks "Original Bike Spirits...Spray Cleaner & Polish" That's magic in a can!!!! Took about an hour to clean and I swear that stuff gave it a gloss that still stops me in my tracks when seeing the red in the sun.
But I'm concerned about the radiator area. It took a beating!! I can only assume Honda didn't do any mountain riding in there test runs... Not sure how to handle this one. The guys at Honda hadn't run across this either. Was told just to use something like a toothbrush and slowly and carefully pick them out :pissed: Any suggesting from anyone else before I attempt it???
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I'd start looking in to getting a screened frame made to mount in front of the radiator...

You want what's commonly referred to as a "radiator comb", and you can find them at auto parts and autobody supply stores. They are made and meant for straightening the fins, but they work just as well for cleaning. Most have 4-6 sides to them, in a star pattern, with different widths of "teeth" to account for differences in rads.

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 01 May 2010 - 07:35 PM, said:

You want what's commonly referred to as a "radiator comb", and you can find them at auto parts and autobody supply stores. They are made and meant for straightening the fins, but they work just as well for cleaning. Most have 4-6 sides to them, in a star pattern, with different widths of "teeth" to account for differences in rads.


Thanks Seb
Never would of thought of it. Seems its the way I'll go.
Went to Checkers, AutoZone, Pep boys, and Harbor freight here in town. None had them in stock. The common reply was we did carry them but sent them all back cause no one was buying them. Never fear, world wide web is here.
Going to have to look into a mod that will put a screen over the radiator in the near future fo sho!!

You might be able to find a radiator brush, or something similar, at an industrial supply company. Or stop by your favorite bike shop and ask the techs or service mgr what they recommend, and where to get one.

[image: View Post]InlineSk8r, on 02 May 2010 - 12:28 PM, said:

Thanks Seb
Never would of thought of it. Seems its the way I'll go.
Went to Checkers, AutoZone, Pep boys, and Harbor freight here in town. None had them in stock. The common reply was we did carry them but sent them all back cause no one was buying them. Never fear, world wide web is here.
Going to have to look into a mod that will put a screen over the radiator in the near future fo sho!!


We used to have those things laying all over the office in one of our restaurants back in the day when we handled all our own routine refridgeration maintenence.Don't know where they've got to. Anyway, you should be able to get 'em from a refridgeration supply house most anywhere. And yes, Google can be your friend.


http://www.drillspot...in_Comb_Kit?s=1

so awesome...

never thought I could post a topic that went from bug jelly to radiator brushes in less than 10 posts. AWESOME!

actually, glad it's able to help, but don't think anyone who is having a radiator issue will know to look here, and can't change the topic title...

i have found that the best thing to clean your bike .. bugs or anything else.. SHAMPOO!!!!!
get some the $1 store a big bottle cheap..ditto for a soft scrub brush.

Reminds me of the first ride with my brand new Scorpian helmet. Giant grass hopper hits me right above the visor completely filling and plugging up one of the vents with locust guts and grist. Never got it out either. My guess as far as the split fairing cleaning...It's be a bit annoying having to clean out all the nooks and crannies.