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Henk's first ride Date: 5th March 2000
First I've put the registration papers on my name. The insurance is valid since Tuesday. So nothing stands in my way to ride - I thought. Except for the weather. It was terrible today. We had 1035 hPa on the barometer. In summer this means sunshine and in winter frost. Today we had it both within 30 minutes. Sunshine and snow. And not just once. So I decided to stay in my garage together with my VX800. So she wouldn't be so lonely and cold. :-}) While being there I decided to inspect my VX. She looks very well. I doubt a bit about the brakes. Her blocks may be worn but I'm not sure. I've looked in the manual but it's difficult for me to see. I raised her mirrors with 2 vibrations dampers as I found the mirrors a bit low during the test ride. It works very well. I don't see my arms any more. A word of warning to you all. The thread of her mirrors were quite rusted. I took a lot of penetrating oil and care to loosening the nuts. After cleaning it thoroughly from rust I greased it well. Especially the nuts on the handlebar were very rusted as water runs in easily. Put a lot of grease there! Oil also the joint on the back of the mirrors and repeat it regularly. Don't forget the two nuts close the mirrors. Grease them! I did also on my 1980 GSX750 and never had any problem with adjusting the mirrors anymore. I greased the 2 joints of the gear axel as Brian suggested some days ago. (Sorry I forgot the correct words) I mounted the Plexstar 2 windscreen. It was a bit of a puzzle as the bike is new to me. But it's ok now. It's lower than my 1980 GSX750 but so is the handlebar. Now the worst problem. I tried to start the engine. The starter motor turns happily but the engine won't start. I had the gear in it's idle position (I hope the correct word). I tried to measure the sidestand switch but I couldn't follow the wiring. The engine switch on the right handlebar might also be the problem. I had this on my 1980 GSX750 but then the starter relays didn't work and thus the starter motor wouldn't run. But on the VX it turns without any problem. So I'm puzzled now. I will read the service manual tomorrow and check it all. H E L P !
I finally got my bike running. It appeared to be dirty sparkplugs. I assume during maintenance the bike was started several times but did not run very long. The sparkplugs were covered with carbon. Together with the wet petrol no spark was possible. After I cleaned the sparkplugs the engine started quickly. The plugs look new to me. No wear was detectable just dirt. At 13h15 I put on my gear and went for a ride. After 7 km I got cold hands so I returned home to get my winter gloves. My legs also became cold. I think it's because of the fact that my legs are in free airflow on the VX800. Normally my legs were protected by the wide 1980 GSX750 engine and also got the heat of it. The VX is water-cooled , I should call it liquid cooled, so it doesn't dissipate much heat and the engine is narrow that doesn't help much either. Or perhaps it was just cold today. Approx one hour later I put on my rain trousers. That made a difference. My legs did warm up. I made a tour around our national park "the Veluwe". First I went east to Apeldoorn then turned north. I saw the sky getting dark so I went west. Drove along all kind of small roads. I started to get used to the VX800. My speed went up. The curves started to enjoy me. It had been snowing during the night so all roads were covered with mud and salt. The sun made all snow melt. Except for the small roads between the trees. The roads were still wet of melted snow. I had to stay careful not to wreck the VX on my first ride. Going West I turned on the highway. The speed went up to 120km/h. I was driving between cars. I wanted to test the VX so I opened the throttle wide. From 120 to 160km/h was several seconds. The cars seemed to stand still. The vx really pulls. I don't understand that though I have only 60HP in stead of 80 Hp on my 1980 GSX750 it performs better than my old bike. I know the torque is better but the power is less and yet it performs better. I can't help getting amazed by this all. I only stayed 5 to 10 minutes on the highway and went off again. I prefer the small roads better. I went to Nijkerk were my eldest daughter and her friend live. I showed them my , now dirty, bike. Then I went on to Amersfoort further east to my mother in law to show her my bike. After that I went back home over a lot of small roads getting more and more used to the bike. Coming home I filled the gas tank up. It was 9.34 litres for 151 km's which equals approx 6 litres per 100 kilometres . Not bad. But I kept the speed low. I noticed several things. - The position on the bike is leaning forwards. Which is ok for naked riding. But I mounted a Plexstar 2 windscreen and thus the wind does not push you up. I was hanging on my hands and shoulders. My thumbs started aching probably from the pressure. I felt my shoulders also a bit later on. I need to mount a higher handlebar to sit more upright. - The engine does not protect you from the wind and does not warm your legs and feet. A fairing to keep the wind (and rain) from your legs and feet are also very useful. - My wife thought she had more space to sit on and for her feet. But unfortunately the footrests were mine and not hers. She has less space for here legs as the footrests are a bit higher than on the 1980 GSX750. The exhaust pipes are swept up a bit. On my 1980 GSX750 they stay flat giving more length for the legs. - The 2 cylinder engine vibrates a bit more than a 4 cylinder. But it is not much noticeable on the handlebar and doesn't bother me. For the rest not noticeable at all. - The strength needed for the the clutch and front brake are more than my 1980 GSX750. I have to get used to it. Most likely the front brake can be adjusted better and perhaps the clutch too.
Henk 95 VX800, Red. From: Henk Warnitz
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