VFRDiscussion

Talking about an achilles: here is its related PC fan mod made April 2007:

Installed a rear hugger from Pyramid Plastics around April 2007 (which was damaged within a week of use by picking up some wiring with the tire which scrapped on the outside rim of the hugger... what were the odds):
Still, a must have to keep the backside / shock much cleaner.

Another valve clearance check around August 2008:

Around October 2009 I developed a device that would enable safety lights (at the time, I was surprised it wasn't standard):
I offered the module to the Dutch VFR Owners Club (forum) members. There was one Gremlin, namely this blue dipswitch array, which had the feature to get faulty when putting a bit of force perpendicular to the direction of sliding the switch. Bit of a bummer, but shit happens and the buyers were very forgiving seeing the effort done and knowing how to keep it alive.

Using the dipswitch, you can select how you want to enable the safety lights (either by a pattern using the brake light or by a pattern using the both turn signals). The device also offers the option to 'flash' both turn lights a couple a times during a certain time of braking.

Around August 2010, I was lucky to score a 2nd hand Öhlins rear shock from Belgium and acquired a set of fork tube springs (since, I wasn't happy at all with the in my opinion soft / too comfortable suspension):
(original spring on top and Öhlins on bottom of picture) It was also an ideal time to refurb the battered front lower legs, which was powder coated and got a layer of varnish (obviously, before on the left).

I have the very same Pyramid Plastic hugger. I ended up trimming it and then shimming it from the bracket so it doesnt rub the tire.

Good tip! At some point time the hugger got a crack and I needed to replace it. I again bought one from Pyramid Plastics, but I seem to remember it was bought over stock from another company.

I probably went a bit overboard on trimming, but it works since its job is to keep crap off the shock area...
You can see the nut on the rear fastener to raise up the hugger a bit to guarantee it doesnt hit the tire.

Now with the suspension sorted (it was an big improvement, especially the rear), in September 2010 I travelled to Brissago in Switzerland and rode the mountain passes Furka, Nufenen and Sussen. A highlight in my motorcycle career.
As the pictures also show, at some point in time I got myself a Laser Hotcam carbon fiber sleeve exhaust / muffler. Pretty expensive part to my taste, but it was very nice to have two removable db-killers with it. Giving you three options, no db-killer, 'straight pipe' db-killer and the db-killer allowing an EC-approved exhaust/muffler.

mello dude wrote: Sat Aug 01, 2026 3:06 pm I probably went a bit overboard on trimming, but it works since its job is to keep crap off the shock area...
You can see the nut on the rear fastener to raise up the hugger a bit to guarantee it doesnt hit the tire.

Guaranteed to have it free from touching the tire, that is for sure.