Motorcycle Rider Blog. Behind the scenes of VRIDETV, Canada's motorcycle touring and travel site.
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Custom carbon fiber Vrod

by Editor on 07/02/22

This bike has gone through a lot of changes and upgrades over the years, click here to see the progression.

custom carbon fiber vrod

Canada's 155th Birthday

by Editor on 07/01/22

I am, have been, and always will be, proud to be Canadian. 
Happy Canada Day everyone.

Canada day

VROD chrome regulator, chrome regulator cover and radiator chin spoiler

by Editor on 06/27/22

Meanwhile back at the asylum...
While replacing the coolant tube I got a little sidetracked & added:
Chrome voltage regulator
Chrome voltage regulator cover
Chin spoiler for a test fit. (Will paint blue to match the radiator side covers.)


vrod radiator chin spoiler

Vrod coolant problems

by Editor on 06/26/22

Still finding things needing to be fixed on this bike...
Right from the day I got this in November I could smell coolant. (I've only ridden the bike for an hour & half that day & it's been parked since)
When I found the broken coolant bottle cap a few weeks ago I thought that was the source of the smell & be any easy fix. Unfortunately it was not the case...
Turns out the the metal tube mating surface for the rad cap is damaged & had to be replaced. My guess is the cap had been put back on carelessly a bunch of times when topping up the rad because of the overflow tube not being hooked up.
Replacing the metal tube is an easy job and luckily I was able to get one.
Oh, before you ask, yes I tried a new cap and yes it still leaked and had the smell. Yes I check all the clamps, yes I checked the drain plug. (Would have been great if that's all it was)
*Yes I taped any possible contact surfaces to protect that unicorn blue paint... standard practice here at the asylum ; )



vrod radiator hose problems

Mahoney Lake British Columbia Canada

by Editor on 06/24/22

I couldn't resist stopping here for a pic, after shutting off the bike I was amazed at how quite it was. Birds singing, water splashes from the ducks & a cool summer breeze...


carbon fiber vrod Mahoney Lake british columbia canada

Green Lake British Columbia Canada

by Editor on 06/23/22

Day two of test riding the the Carbon fiber bike after all the winter upgrades, very happy with the way it rides. 
Green Lake seemed to be a great spot for a photo op.

Carbon fiber vrod 

First day of summer

by Editor on 06/22/22

First day of Summer seemed like the perfect day to take the Carbon Fiber VROD out for it's first ride after Winter upgrades...


Carbon fiber Vrod

Father's Day

by Editor on 06/19/22

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads of the world, enjoy your day & thank you for all that you do!

(photo credit Diane: Rogers Pass, British Columbia, Canada.)

rogers pass fathers day

Objects found in Vrod radiator shroud

by Editor on 06/14/22

It's amazing the stuff I find in the bikes radiator shroud. Luckily this 1 1/4 x 4 1/2 piece was only tree bark and didn't do any damage.

objects in vrod radiator shroud.jpg

VRSCSE CVO VROD chrome

by Editor on 06/13/22

Bringing the chrome back to life have been challenging, lots of elbow grease and expensive due to replacing some parts. However seeing it now makes it all worth it. 

click here for more on this bike

cvo vrod chrome

VROD exhaust alignment issues

by Editor on 06/10/22

Still finding things that make me shake my head on the VRSCSE CVO VROD.
After throughly cleaning the auxiliary volume mating tubes and applying anti seize the lower muffler slid into place with ease. 
The top however is another story...
The large tube slide in easily but when it got to the smaller tube just clunked edges. I tried all possible angles, wiggling and a healthy amount of swearing but to no avail...
Looking inside with a flashlight shows the small tube appears to be bent...
Then it all started to make sense, whoever changed the rear tire last must have tried to force it on and bent the smaller inner tube. Which is the reason there was such a large gap between the clamps and collector & also how and why the front muffler mounting bolt was stripped as it was forced in.
Not sure why people do stuff like this...
I should be able to go get a pice of tubing slide it and bend it back to where it should be easily enough but still makes me shake my head...


vrod exhaust chamber

VRSCSE CVO VROD mirrors

by Editor on 06/08/22

BIG SHOUTOUT to Ned Dixon for sending me these mirrors for my 05 VRSCSE CVO VROD. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and I will be very proud to have your mirrors on my bike. Thank you Sir

click here for more on this bike

VRSCSE CVO VROD mirrors

2005 VRSCSE CVO VROD o ring breather. part number 11391K

by Editor on 06/03/22

The brass looking shell casing goes between the bottom of the air cleaner and the cylinder head and seals with an o ring. Easy to replace but I still like the way HD did it on the 03 where there was a threaded fitting going into the cylinder head and the breather tube line would just slide over it and be held in place with a hose clamp.

2005 VRSCSE CVO VROD o ring breather. part number 11391K


vrod o ring breather

VROD lower muffler restoration

by Editor on 06/02/22

First attempt to clean this neglected lower muffler on the VRSCSE CVO Vrod. There is different progress but another round of polishing is necessary.


vrod lower muffler

Vrod muffler bolt and bracket

by Editor on 06/01/22

Still finding things on the VRSCSE CVO Vrod that make me shake my head.
Not sure who thought it was a good idea to use this bolt on the muffler but it was clearly the wrong one and wrong thread...
Hopefully I'll be able to run a tap through the the hole and threads.


vrod stripped muffler bolt and bracket


VROD front fender restoration

by Editor on 05/31/22

Removed the front fender for a deep OCD cleaning. Ended up having to replace the chrome fender mounting bracket, the four bolts and nuts due to rust. Fender was cleaned the Mothers 3 stage wax system was applied.


vrod front fender restoration

Vrod rear wheel without belt guards

by Editor on 05/28/22

After getting the wheel into the rear fork I realized that
I sure do like the look of not having the belt guards on, but safety first, they're going back on.

custom vrod rear wheel.jpg

The VROD community

by Editor on 05/25/22

I just got off the phone with an incredible gentleman who is 81 years young and still rides his VRSCSE CVO VROD in West Virginia. We talked for 45 minutes but it only seemed like 5, it was like we were old friends catching up. 
I will be proud to have his saddlebags on my bike.

Thank you Sir.

VROD wheel choices

by Editor on 05/24/22

Thought it was time to give the carbon fiber Vrod a little attention and swap out the wheels before I insure it to ride.

Ruthless Designz #930 top
Ruthless Designz #920 bottom

Which do you like better? 


vrod wheel designs

VROD airbox clips

by Editor on 05/23/22

One more to go...
Think I may have gone to far this time, polishing the airbox clips is excessive even for me LOL.


vrod airbox clips

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