Pasta Burner

Wow! I’ve been riding for 20 years and I think I just had the most enjoyable 200 miles of my career. My 87VR has spent the last month in the stable going through some carb and grips and other fixes and finally got out today for a real ride. About 40degrees this morning and my new Avon heated grips were nothing short of Amazing! Met up with another couple and to park city we went for lunch. About half way there I remembered that there are side vents to the engine…opened those up and Wow what an amazing rush of warm air to my legs and feet!!!! Yamaha did that one right for sure! Had lunch at an amazing Motörhead inspired Mexican restaurant next to Park City. Went south through Provo canyon then back up I15 to home. Averaged about 85-90mph on 15 without a hitch. The bike rode amazing! For a couple minutes here and there I even forgot I was riding vs driving I was so comfortable. I hadn’t realized before I did the carb fixes that I had been fighting myself and the bike. Big thanks to all of you who helped me get through the albiet easy fixes but so necessary to enjoy the road. @luvmy40 Thanks for recommending getting grips with the throttle boss! I adjusted it a few times throughout the day and think I got it where I want, my hand didn’t go numb and I didn’t even realize I was using it most of the highway miles. @skydoc_17 thanks for the diaphragm/sliders and needle shims. Unlike my previous 80 maybe miles to the tank I did the last 110 miles today 80 of which high speed highway and still have two bars left.

And all this time I thought the name of the game was if it ain’t broke fix it till it is 😜

Thank you all for being patient and helping me along with this. Just put about 20 miles on running errands around town and not a single hiccup. I measured the exhaust heads as it warmed up and all came up to temp evenly with the exception of #2 cyl topping out around 145F while the other three were consistently in the 180F ballpark. every light and start up she idled smooth at 1k. letting go of the throttle it snapped closed and cut power as expected. I've gotta say it was well worth the investment in new parts, I haven’t had this much joy on the bike so far. It was such a pleasure to ride, can’t wait for the next ride.

Ahh. I didn’t know those were them. Thanks. Why did Yamaha make those inaccessible? To make you go to the dealer?

Video from gas station yesterday. It’s not dropping rpm, just slow to pick up. IMG_0409.MOV

Where is this screw to adjust? Do I adjust the actual jet or is there another screw? This is accessible when the air box is removed?

@videoarizona interesting your trunk doesn’t have lights. My 87 has running lights and turn signals on the trunk, I guess there were different options. I like that you have the radiator side cover light working. Mine had the wires cut and I haven’t bothered to hook it back up, but seeing yours I think I want to invest the effort. Do those also blink?

Forgive my ignorance but what’s the idle circuit and how would I intentionally use it? I grew up in the fuel injected generation so I know little about carbs, it’s been fun learning though. would a plugged circuit still allow me to sync the carbs? I have a few options around for E Free gas I think ranging from 87-91. I’m at higher altitude too so higher oct doesn’t do as much in that regard either.

Got out on the roads around town on a beautiful afternoon for a test ride. She fired up and warmed up and idled beautifully! Backed into the street and dropped into gear for a spin around the block and stall. Stall. Stall…maybe four times I stalled in place. Twisting the throttle just bogged her down and any load out from the clutch stalled her out. Of course there is a cop sitting in the church parking lot across the street watching my misfortune. Finally decided to just ease into it and feather the clutch and throttle to hopefully get moving. Down the road I went and she moved like a bat outta hell in upper RPM pulling all the way to redline. First intersection pulling away she wanted to stall out but baby steps I feathered it on its way. Straight to the gas station I went and filled up with 91 ethanol free. Still bogging when twisting the throttle I decided maybe to adjust the cable in the parking lot. No joy it was adjusted as well as it’s going to get. So either back home or just keep testing. Up and down the streets redlining as often as possible just riding like I stole it and really having fun. Back on the neighborhood streets I did maybe two dozen stop and Starts. Either one two or both things happened. I just got used to it not revving up fast, it started revving faster or a combination of both. Put all the plastic back on and praying tomorrow she runs just as well as when I pulled into the stable this afternoon.

Ugh I still can’t get it right. Initially did not have the carbs seated figuring the extra play would help. Gonna replace the cable over the winter anyways cause I frayed it so bad. Hopefully these suggestions will work with the new one.

@saddlebum it only flurried so far, better than they predicted. Picked up a new battery today, so still hope tomorrow to get on the road after a few weeks down.

All parts came in, boots, seals, diaphragm and sliders, and needle shims. Put it all back together (aside from fitting the throttle cable correct, but it works in the half ass position). Correct C/E clips instead of alligator clips. Fired her up and synced the carbs. Carb sync took a little time because at first the carbtune wasn’t even registering and giving throttle stalled her out. WOW! What an improvement to have everything acting and reacting like it should! In the garage that is…hopefully the snow will be gone and roads clear on Friday to get out and do a road test.

Put the carbs back in the bike over new boots and excited to get her running and back on the road. I got the return cable installed simple and easy but the twist grip cable to the carb I just can’t get the barrel on the end to sit into its housing right. Grabbing the cable with some pliers at the tube exit and using some leverage against the carb frame provided some necessary slack to get the cable through the guide but not enough to position the barrel right. After much trying and different pliers I started to fray the cable pretty bad, I’ll replace it this winter. What’s the trick!!?!

I just got my parts yesterday and finished the install. They were Tour Max branded on the box (dealer said K&L when I ordered them, might be related 🤷‍♂️) I was happy to see made in Japan on the box. Exact same logo and other markings on the new boots, letters and numbers differed but for sure leads to mold or batch markings. Everything is running well, first time ever hearing the bike run without a vacuum leak.

Oh man crosswind! I went on a ride the other weekend with some friends and what a workout that was! I joked the right side of my tires are going to wear out faster than the rest. There was the steady crosswind but the subconscious countersteering is invaluable when the gusts come along. I couldn’t get above 60mph because any faster my helmet was lifting off my head only held on by the chinstrap. Not to mention the neck pain.

Slow Look Press Roll was drilled into me when I learned to ride. Press being the counter steering step.

Great write up Earl! I do have one question though and this isn’t me trying to be an ass…don’t you NEED to counter steer to navigate a roadway? I never touched or thought about a motorcycle before taking the MSF course 20some years ago in our native Pennsylvania when a friend asked me to go along. (I bought a bike a few weeks later, he has yet to embrace) I guess my point is how can you ride without counter steering?

Good call. I’m running the 777 and forgot they are made in Korea, I’ve got no issues with them.

Thanks! You have confirmed all of my suspicions. I ended up ordering new boots, that’s why I was asking about South Korean manufacturing. My existing boots are ok in most respects but I figured while I have it apart why not just do it.

I would try cleaning it and make sure it isn’t sticking. Also check to make sure the lever is positioned correctly. I had the same issue with my clutch switch, I think they’re the same. It’s a very simple push button switch, not much to go wrong. Although the housing can crack easily so beware of that.

I’m just going off what I found on their website. The Yama dealer recommended them for aftermarket discontinued OEM parts

Anybody have experience using parts from K&L supply? I know the consensus is run from Chinese made parts and seals. What’s the feeling about Manufacturing in South Korea? https://www.klsupply.com/page.asp?p_key=85323FF9495A45B990672B73CE0C536D

Stopped by the dealer today to compare the screws I took out against what is listed in the parts fiche. The difference in screws is length. 20mm for six and 16mm for the front left and rear right. All mine were 20mm so my guess is the driving force of the longer screws wrongly installed, punctured into oil flow cavities. It is what it is at this point.

Just installed new slides and shim kit from @skydoc_17 I’m sure it was well worth the investment.