Some of you may have spotted my 2008 Ducati Hypermotard for sale thread. Well, she's gone and spent only a few weeks in my life...but while she had good looks and performance, my heart was never stolen by her and I continued to mourn by 2004 that had met too early an end back in October.
So...I put the Hyper for sale, reluctantly, more to acknowledge the lack of a "click" with her than anything. Then...I saw her. Was at work, going to a meeting at the main building that I rarely visit. There, under a heavy layer of dust was an Asphalt Gunmetal 2004 VFR. Could it be? I got up close and sure enough she was....a sister bike to mine, but with ABS and factory side bags. That wasn't the best part...it seemed clear that the chain had factory wax on it. The bolts the factory paint dots.
My quest began to find the owner. Our security folks could not (and frankly I didn't expect them to) disclose any info. A note left on the bike likewise went unanswered. A posting to the internal company list however bought a single reply mentioning a "might be" owner. Sure enough it was...a great guy that had bought and briefly ridden the VFR then had some health issues and parked her. Three years ago. :ohmy:
Since then she had only been started and ridden for short distances by his brother, to keep her functioning. The owner had moved on to an easier to manage RV 350 from Japan and had not really decided what to do until I contacted him. We quickly came to an entirely fair deal...he wanted her to be appreciated and I was QUITE happy to return to my VFR roots. She's a beaut - cleaned her up a bunch last night with more TLC to come. The sidebags (never had them before) are fantastic...even held my helmet and boots, so handy. And just being back on a V4 that feels like a favorite pair of jeans is a treat.
Oh yeah....351 miles on her. No, not 3,501 - 351. Not even broken in yet. :bliss:
[image: View Post]PorradaVFR, on 04 February 2011 - 05:55 PM, said:
Also, I need a tip - how to safely remove the warning stickers from the gas tank? I'm thinking heat gun but I do NOT want to damage the paint. Thanks!
CAREFULLY!
hehe. :biggrin:
I've never had a new bike to do this on, but I wouldn't use a heat gun, since those are used to remove paint. Have you tried just using your fingernail?
A hairdryer is all ya need, after styling up for the ride :biggrin: just mosey on out with it to the sticker, way too easy. Goo gone is great to remove any residue.
Congrats, welcome back...after what, a week.. :goofy:
[image: View Post]PorradaVFR, on 04 February 2011 - 05:55 PM, said:
Also, I need a tip - how to safely remove the warning stickers from the gas tank? I'm thinking heat gun but I do NOT want to damage the paint. Thanks!
Great find! and great leg work! Congradulations! Welcome back to the controls of pretty much a brand new VFR.
I put mine in a shed got the ambient temp to about 80 degrees f for 24 hours.
Grabbed the wifes hairdryer and warmed the sticker up for a minute.
Wife peeled corner of label and I pulled it off.
When it started to leave legs and stick again, I warmed it with the hairdryer holding constant pressure, they peeled right off.
First sticker left some glue slag, so I warmed it up and used the sticky side of the sticker to pull that off.
Paint was clean and no chemicals were used.
I wish we didn't have to remind you. :dry: ...but,
If there are no pics.....it didn't happen!!
Pics Pics Pics! :cheerleader:
Betcha it's so new that the asphalt paint on the tank hasn't even shined up yet! :fing02:
Enjoy the new bike!
[image: View Post]AussieinUSA, on 04 February 2011 - 06:49 PM, said:
A hairdryer is all ya need, after styling up for the ride :biggrin: just mosey on out with it to the sticker, way too easy. Goo gone is great to remove any residue.
Congrats, welcome back...after what, a week.. :goofy:
Thats all I do. Wd-40 will remove reidue, if not polish will usually do it. I think you will have no problem. Mine were 2.5 years old, fresh out of the crate and the wifes hiar dryer took them right off.
Excellent story mate - I sooo want a hypermotard and a 6th Gen 04 with ABS. Why can't we all have what we want in life - not so much what we need? :dry:
Anyway, I can easily understand the "VFR - old pair o' jeans" analogy but why didn't you 'click' with the Duc? - just interested to know, that's all :mellow:
[image: View Post]TexOz, on 05 February 2011 - 04:23 AM, said:
Excellent story mate - I sooo want a hypermotard and a 6th Gen 04 with ABS. Why can't we all have what we want in life - not so much what we need? :dry:
Anyway, I can easily understand the "VFR - old pair o' jeans" analogy but why didn't you 'click' with the Duc? - just interested to know, that's all :mellow:
By my avatar I'm sure you know I'll have a strong issue with you selling your Duc. Perhaps if you had bought the 4 valve testastretta like on the 07 - 08 S4R.?. Anyway, congrats on moving back to your true love, the V4 Interceptor! :fing02:
I bought my 07 VFR in search of a more ergonomic ride than the Duc due to multiple recent surgeries. I've since added Heli bars, Rizoma grips, and the fender eliminator, plus removed the passenger pegs and grab rails all in attempt to "make it mine." So far I'm just not hooked on it. I like it and all, but it's a lot different than the Duc and just hasn't "clicked" for me yet. I'm considering a move to the new Interceptor DCT just to try something different. Perhaps that or maybe a move back to Ducati with the Multistrada 1200S. Considering costs, I should keep the 07 VFR and learn to love it for what it is. Sorry to digress from your thread though, let me get off that soap box. :blush:
I cannot believe your luck to find a bike that had been parked, yet cared for, for over 3 years. That sounds like it was just meant to be for you. And to find one with ABS and the side bags... WOW! I'm very happy for you and hope you enjoy racking up thousands of miles on her. Enjoy and post some pics! :lurk:
[image: View Post]jeff137, on 05 February 2011 - 08:48 AM, said:
[image: View Post]TexOz, on 05 February 2011 - 04:23 AM, said:
Excellent story mate - I sooo want a hypermotard and a 6th Gen 04 with ABS. Why can't we all have what we want in life - not so much what we need? :dry:
Anyway, I can easily understand the "VFR - old pair o' jeans" analogy but why didn't you 'click' with the Duc? - just interested to know, that's all :mellow:
By my avatar I'm sure you know I'll have a strong issue with you selling your Duc. Perhaps if you had bought the 4 valve testastretta like on the 07 - 08 S4R.?. Anyway, congrats on moving back to your true love, the V4 Interceptor! :fing02:
I bought my 07 VFR in search of a more ergonomic ride than the Duc due to multiple recent surgeries. I've since added Heli bars, Rizoma grips, and the fender eliminator, plus removed the passenger pegs and grab rails all in attempt to "make it mine." So far I'm just not hooked on it. I like it and all, but it's a lot different than the Duc and just hasn't "clicked" for me yet. I'm considering a move to the new Interceptor DCT just to try something different. Perhaps that or maybe a move back to Ducati with the Multistrada 1200S. Considering costs, I should keep the 07 VFR and learn to love it for what it is. Sorry to digress from your thread though, let me get off that soap box. :blush:
I cannot believe your luck to find a bike that had been parked, yet cared for, for over 3 years. That sounds like it was just meant to be for you. And to find one with ABS and the side bags... WOW! I'm very happy for you and hope you enjoy racking up thousands of miles on her. Enjoy and post some pics! :lurk:
Sorry to hear you're not hooked on your 07. I'll be happy to keep her in good shape fer ya while you're out ridin Duc's..... :comp13: :lobby:
I'm sure some people can't fathom the idea that a VFR can be more appreciated than a sexy Italian twin. I test rode a 998 I could have bought for a song but aside from the powerplant and the curb appeal I couldn't get beyond how it rode. Felt like it belonged on the track or in the canyons on the trailor or in the garage. Not my kind of bike at all. I was suprised that I didn't really like to ride it. The opposite is true of the 6th gen VFR. I own a 5th gen and felt convinced I wanted to buy a 6th gen after riding a friends. Best of luck with the new bike. Someday I may decide to upgrade or buy a second bike. This is why test rides are so important to purchasing a bike IMO.
So...BT020's off, Pilot Power 2CTs on, new oil and all of 375 miles on her. Taking her for an actual ride tomorrow, who knows I may be ticking that 500-mile mark by the end of the ride! :biggrin:
I have so-so pics on my iPhone but I don't know how to post directly from it to here. Doesn't much matter, planning to pop the Nikon into a sidebag for the ride. :comp13: Will post pics ASAP.
BTW thanks for the Goo Gone tip - stickers off...still have a wee bit of residue to clean off but wanted to avoid getting too enthusiastic with the rubbing on that nice matte paint.
Hey Buddy,
This spot reminds me of the first place we stopped when we reached the oceanside the day I got to ride with you. I will never forget the temperature drop! So, what happened to the original 6th gen you had? Track day or city traffic? Since you have a "bagger" now you need to plan an eastern swing trip and I can show you some good roads here in my neighborhood and maybe pay you back for the time you spent with me. Take care, these deals get harder and harder to find!
[image: View Post]vfrurknee, on 07 February 2011 - 12:41 AM, said:
Hey Buddy,
This spot reminds me of the first place we stopped when we reached the oceanside the day I got to ride with you. I will never forget the temperature drop! So, what happened to the original 6th gen you had? Track day or city traffic? Since you have a "bagger" now you need to plan an eastern swing trip and I can show you some good roads here in my neighborhood and maybe pay you back for the time you spent with me. Take care, these deals get harder and harder to find!
Ernie
Ernie,
If it's not the same spot it's darn close. My old 6th gen was totaled by State Farm after a gravel-induced lowside in October. Damn shame seeing her at that wrecking yard. I had resigned myself to never having another Asphalt VFR and then I found "Dusty" :cheerleader: to think that my first ride on her added nearly 30% to her total mileage...man, talk about good luck and fate smiling on me :)
Not sure when I'll get more than a few hours of kitchen pass, but there are plenty of miles ahead of me. :fing02:
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