Living with a Honda Pan European

New VFR...

2009-10-12T09:55:00.000+02:00

On balance, this is pretty much a winner, I'd say. The exhaust is a little, er, unconventional but on the whole, I like it.

Looks too much oriented at the Sports end of the Sports-Touring market for me to consider replaing the Pan but some of the features they have built in are amazing.

And it looks fantastic, too. Well done Honda.

New VFR site

2009-10-04T17:37:00.000+02:00

Found this site on my web travels. Looks like Thursday is the day...

New ST on the way?

2009-10-02T10:30:00.000+02:00

I may be way behind the times but...

Old news first:

It's well know that the VFR as we know it is being completely done away with and replace with an all-new 1200cc bike which seems to be a technological marvel. Clutchless transmission (well, OK, automatic double clutch with push-button changes and a full auto mode to be exact), new super efficient V4 plant (capable of dynamically changin to 2, 3 or 4 cylinder operation) and a whole bunch of other goodies.

The Honda promo site is here. Some of the video interviews with the design and test team are interesting and new stuff is added every week or two.

Now the "new" news:

The rumour is that the reason Honda has not announced anything for next years ST model is that it, too, is to be replaced. The replacement will be in the same classic ST style but based on the new VFR platform. If that is true, there will be some interesting choices to be made...

More waiting.

2009-09-28T12:56:00.002+02:00

I've had to set back picking up the bike by a week. Humph.

Admitting defeat...

2009-09-23T10:31:00.002+02:00

Insufficient free time means I have had to give up on resolving the problems myself. Dropped the bike off at a local workshop this weekend and left it in their (hopefully capable) hands.

On the bright side, I talked through the various issues with the engineer there and he seemed familiar with the Honda DCBS systems. There was also a decent number of large bikes in the workshop out back including a few larger bikes.

I'll be back to pick it up in a couple of weeks...

Found out at last.

2009-09-21T12:37:00.000+02:00

My wife told me she'd found this site at the weekend. Now I have to be VERY careful what I say, I guess...

I wonder if I need to go back through the archives and edit out any Bad Stuff.

Nah, I'll tough it out. After all, how bad can it be?

Update on Pan Gathering 2010

2009-09-10T10:00:00.000+02:00

Well, the boys and girls at Pan Clan are losing no time... The link I published last week is already out of date.

The new one will take you here. Bookings are being taken already and I'll be signing up in October at a guess...

Considering a repair strategy.

2009-09-08T09:32:00.000+02:00

Having thought on it for a few days, I can only assume that there has been (and still is) some water or other impurity in the brake lines. It's the only thing I've ever seen cause this binding over time as the brakes (and therefore the fluid) warm up.

I've changed the fluid twice now so it's time to completely strip the system, check all the pipes/joints and clean with some denatured alcohol or similar. Then get it back together without letting so much as a sniff of condensation back in.

Guess that as a precaution, I should change the seals, too.

Those long winter evenings will just fly past...

Going nowhere. Quite slowly.

2009-09-07T09:24:00.000+02:00

Oh dear. Foiled again.

Removed the rear brake stripped it down and cleaned it out and it wasn't as bad as I had expected. Popped it all back together and... no improvement. Another hastily booked ticket back to Belgium and that's the bike-mending budget gone until after xmas.

Same symptom, very light contact between pads and disks but the wheel turns freely. Just like it has since the day I picked it up more than seven years ago. Just like it does on the front. 15-20 miles of hard riding and it binds. I'm a bit stumped, honestly. Mechanically, it all seems fine. I have changed the fluid twice, second time with brand new fluid from a sealed bottle. Deeper investigation to follow when I have the time. Say in January...

Off we go...

2009-09-06T13:34:00.000+02:00

Heading off to the Land of Beer and Chocolate now. Wish me luck... :)

Brake update

2009-09-05T19:22:00.001+02:00

There was nothing much wrong with it, as it happens. Sure enough, a clean was in order and the slight dragging has pretty much gone away. But the rear has always made a gentle contact. Always.

I reckon the brake fluid I had was old/contaminated so I have flushed it again and replaced with brand new stuff.

Tomorrow, the acid test...

Seconds away, round two...

2009-09-04T08:28:00.000+02:00

Back to base today and I'll be having a good look at that brake and then try the ride up to Belgium again on Sunday.

Hopefully, it's nothing more than a strip'n'clean on the rear brake and (another) fluid replacement job.

Wish me luck...

Pan Gathering 2010

2009-09-03T10:00:00.001+02:00

I had hoped to go to Pan Gathering this year (in Germany) but my brakes problem meant I couldn't get there.

Next year, the venue is Lancashire in the UK. Which is where I grew up.

I'll be signing up for this one as soon as I can. It's being organised by the UK owners group Pan-Clan (website here) and promises to be a fun weekend. Even if they will be riding through the Lake District. In September... ;)

The year after is due to be hosted in Belgium and, asssuming I am still working there, I'll be along to that one also.

Failure to launch

2009-09-01T11:13:00.003+02:00

Well, in spite of all my preparations, I didn't make it up to Belgium. Well, not with the Pan, anyway. (The TGV really is an amazing train.)

After about 20 miles, the brakes siezed on at the back. Looks like dust (wet by the dew) has clogged up the pistons so I need to strip 'em down and clean 'em out.

Next time, I'll get further...

Back on the road.

2009-08-19T10:17:00.001+02:00

Big smiles all round... After working abroad for a few years, I am now back in action.

The Pan has been stored in our garage with little attention beyond a start every few months and attachment to an Optimate charger so the battery doesn't get drained.

On the list for checking before riding again:

A thorough cleaning
Checking the tyres for signs of perishing
Check/replace brake, clutch fluids
Check the brakes/disks
Replenish coolant
Regreasing bits and bobs

Upgraded the insurance from "laid up" to active today and I'll be getting everything sorted over the next few days before a trip to Belgium at the weekend.

Looking forwards to that, I can tell you...

Another year another post...

2007-12-06T10:36:00.000+01:00

I'm not entirely sure I should continue with this blog but what the heck...

I've just spent another year abroad and the Pan has been mothballed the whole time. I have cleared it out and fallen at the first hurdle as the battery has died a death. Two years from a battery seems a bit poor but this one has been deep-discharged beyond any hope of recovery.
I live out in rural France now and the cost of the replacement has been, er, frightening to say the least.

Also, the low use and storage for the last two years means that the tyres are looking perished so that is also on the replacement list as an urgent priority. I shudder to think what that is going to cost.

First things first, I guess. Let's get the battery in and the oil flushed and see how we go from there...

Getting away from it all.

2006-09-16T10:22:00.000+02:00

A busy year spent mostly (far) abroad means that I've done almost no riding at all. A couple of quick trips down to France and that's pretty much it.

The 48000 mile service was, as predicted, horrendously expensive and there was another factory recall. This time the recall fixed potential issues around the brakes (in a part common to the VFR and the Blackbird apparently) and the extended wiring loom fitted for the heated grips and 12v socket. If anyone wants more detail, let me know.

Due to my current job, the Pan is now garaged pretty much all the time, only seeing daylight for the odd weekend trip. It seems a shame to make so little use of the bike but, in time, this too shall pass.

Thanks for dropping in to my cob-web site. :-)

Another in our occasional series...

2005-10-18T17:52:00.000+02:00

Time for the Autumn update.

Another busy year means that I'm almost up to 48000 miles (77000km) now and the dreaded, expensive 16000 mile service.

The bike has run very well since the last update (12000 miles ago) with few problems.

One of the electric screen motors failed and needed replacing, as did the battery. On a couple of occasions, the tickover has been inconsistent causing a couple of stalls while stationary with the engine cold. This has been quite rare, though.

More persistent has been a slight oil seep (definitely not a leak, if you see what I mean) from the near the rocker cover on the left side. No appreciable amount of oil is lost but if the bike is left for a couple of days, there's enough oil on the engine to give an unpleasant puff of white smoke as the engine warms up. Can't seem to sort this one.

Oh, and I broke the key off in the top box (original Honda fitting). Had to replace the lock but at least this was cheap and very easy to do. Thank goodness it happened when the lock was open!

There was also another factory recall based around the electrics which went without a hitch.

Apart from that everything has been good. The most recent front tyre went 14000 miles before replacement, the rear more like 18000. Pretty good, I thought.

Best of all, no sign of any clutch problems recurring.

Where does the time go?

2005-02-08T20:56:00.000+01:00

In the blinking of an eye, it's February!

I managed to persuade myself I couldn't possible get rid of the Pan and I'm now up to the 36000 mile mark. (That's around 58000km). No major problems though, as expected, the 32000 mile service was hellishly expensive.

One of the motors for the electric screen went just before the warranty ran out (phew!) at around 30000 miles. At the same time, I had to have the clutch replaced again, too. This is the third clutch now as the first one burnt out at around 8000 miles, meaning I got 20000 out of the second one. Hardly dazzling...

Looking at the bike objectively, everything is in pretty good shape. There's a number of scratches that I've put there but apart from a small area where I've rubbed on the paintwork with my shin, nothing is looking at all ratty or worn. I'm impressed with the build quality thus far though I work the bike quite hard and it's certainly not in showroom condition.

Brake pads are doing between 8 and 12 thousand miles and, due to the Honda's Dual Combined Braking System they wear out front and rear at pretty much the same time.

My bad luck with punctures finally broke (though I'll probably regret saying it) and I've had 12000 out of this pair so far.

And one bulb has had to be replaced.

To sell or not to sell?

2004-10-06T22:05:00.000+02:00

I'm almost at the 32000 mile mark now and have had the Pan for over two years. I still love the bike to bits but there's no getting away from the fact that it costs a lot of money to run.

The 16000 mile service cost a fortune and this next one promises to be no different. Added to the fact the clutch needs replacing, it'll be a huge bill.

My preference would be to keep it but with a house requiring major restoration, I may have to make some sacrifices. Now, I still need a bike as I go through the City a lot (free parking and no Congestion Charge) and need to park at airports frequently (again, free on a bike). The question is: Can I justify keeping such an expensive machine indefinitely?

A new shed but not much riding time...

2004-08-22T21:19:00.000+02:00

Hi folks.

Work commitments have taken literally all my spare time for the past month so there hasnt been much riding, or doing anything else for that matter. In fact the most the Pan has moved is from under her cover in the garden, to her new shed in the garden, so at least she is warmer and dry. Incidentally the cover I use is from www.dbcovers.co.uk and it has been fantastic and fits the ST1100 very well, but the new shed is a better arrangement altogether. However I still havent got the polishing cloths out.....

A big hello to Mick and Jill from St Lawrence, who have recently upgraded their 11 to a 13. They bought a second hand 11 after taking mine for a spin a few years ago, and I had heard a rumour that they had upgraded recently. Well, I saw their beasty yesterday and she looks lovely, so I might ask you guys to return the favour and let me take her for a blast next time I see you.

Which fits in quite nicely with Johns comments from the last post. John, I test rode a barely used 1300 from the local dealer last year, it is a great bike and if money is no object then go for it and upgrade. For me however I just couldnt justify spending that sort of money when my 1100 still does the job. Its very difficult to know what a bike is like from a short ride, I have heard great things about the 13, and also heard from 1100 fans who dont think the new bike is a great leap forward. I will almost certainly upgrade mine when the time comes that I can either afford it, or my 1100 is past it, which will probably be a long time whichever way. If Honda UK read this though, I'd be more than willing to have one from you as a long term tester !

Gary, thanks for your comments, however I have the 1100 which is why I commented on the screen buffetting, which I gather it is one of the more common complaints amongst Pan owners. I didnt know that the screen had two mounting positions though, thanks for the info, maybe I can try it if I get that long term test bike !

I'll leave you with the news that the Pan is top of the sales charts for Tourers in the UK at the moment, it will be interesting to see what the RIDE survey says about it this year too.

Safe riding
Craig

Ebay

2004-07-05T14:41:00.000+02:00

Its been a long time since my last update. Whats new then...well, quite a lot has happened in fact. Just returned from the first "away " trip of the year, a 600 mile round trip to Cognac in France. Pretty uneventful but fun to be able to get away on the bike and use it to its full potential, and to ride some decent roads at speeds above 40 mph !

Being just over 6 foot tall means the wind buffeting from the standard screen does get somewhat tiresome on the motorway, but I dont really do the mileage at speed to warrant a taller screen. However I am keeping an eye on Ebay for one, which is where I found the single seat conversion that now sits proudly on the Pan.

It was spotted back in November, a complete kit with the hump, bracket to move the seat lock, and the single seat, and I thought, well, why not, its something different, plus I ride solo most of the time anyway. Having done the business it arrived promptly, but I knew it had to be sprayed to colour match the bike - it was from an ex-AA bike and was bright yellow. Getting the colour matched, even with the colour codes, was quite an ordeal, to the point where it had been forgotten about by both myself and the spray shop. A quick call at the end of May, and a visit to them with the bike to get a match, and it finally went on in June, to my delight. It looks very smart and quite unique, and has turned the heads of a few fellow Pan owners too, mainly as a potential way to stop their other halves from getting on the back ! They appear quite regularly on Ebay, so maybe there is a business opportunity coming my way...he he he

I also spotted on Ebay, but missed out on, a shorter, sports style screen for the Pan. I've never seen anything like this before or since, and havent found it online either, its like a cut down version of the std screen. It looks very smart and might be just the thing for summer riding when you need the breeze to cool you down. If anyone else has seen this please let me know where I can get one from !

The bike was serviced before the trip, about 1000 miles shy of its scheduled 32k mile service, but there was nothing major except for new front wheel bearings. I had heard a rumble from the front end for a while, but had assumed it to be the worn front tyre, which has also been replaced. Is 30k miles from a set of wheel bearing normal ?

I have moved house too, within walking distance of work, so the bike is sadly no longer the weapon of choice for the daily commute. I say sad because it means I dont get to ride daily now, but conversely the fuel bill has dropped, and when we do go for a ride it is for fun now, which is so much more enjoyable than fighting with the rush hour traffic.

This also means I have no excuse for having a bike that looks "used" and will have to get the polishing cloths out......

Anyways, Safe riding as always and enjoy the warm summer nights out

Craig

Archives fixed

2004-05-06T17:47:00.000+02:00

For those who care about such things, I've finally got round to sorting out the Archives dropdown.

Thanks are due to Phil Ringnalda and his marvellous scripting tools and advice.

Happy browsing!

Oh no, no milk!

2004-05-05T19:20:00.000+02:00

When we got to France last Saturday it was closed! All the shops, all the petrol stations and most of the bars closed Saturday lunch time for the whole weekend! When we got to our little house we had to survive on what we had left in the cupboards until Sunday morning when the shop in the village opened for a couple of hours. Not too bad we had plenty of Vodka.

Whilst we managed to solve the milk, bread and butter problem on the Sunday morning we were seriously stuck for petrol as all the petrol stations were shut. It's 393 miles from home to our house in Brittany and I'd planned to fill up for the return trip at the supermarket when we did some shopping. There are 24 hour pumps that you can use bank cards in, but only French bank cards work, that's ok we've got a French bank account and a French card! Problem solved! Well it would have been if I knew the PIN number :-(

Fortunately a fellow Pan rider came to our rescue. As we were planning a ride round to see if we could find a petrol station that was manned. We knew that the services on the Autoroute (Motorway, Freeway) would be open but the nearest services that we knew of was a long journey (100 miles round trip). As we stood in the village square a an English voice asked how we were getting on with the bike. He'd got an 1100 and was curious about the 13'. As it turned out our guess that the motorway services would be manned was correct, but he saved all that riding about by offering to use his card and we could give him the cash. So a 100 mile search turned out to be a short ride with a fellow Pan rider (after he'd watched the World Super Bikes on the tv). An English neighbour in france and a Pan owner to boot.

Petrol problem solved, easy. I must remember the PIN number next time!

Many thanks to Brian? See you again after your visit to America.

Our return journey had a little excitement too. As we left the ferry at Portsmouth it was pouring down with rain. I wasn't happy with a four hour ride in the rain, fortunately the rain eased off after half an hour.

As the rain eased off my speed increased, then the front wheel slipped on a bitumen strip covering a traffic flow sensor. Another reason why speed cameras are a bad idea. This was quite scary, the front wheel kicked violently, we were doing 70(ish) on a curve at the time! Only on a Pan can you be relaxed about this sort of thing (after your heart's stopped racing). When we stopped for a coffee a bit later I turned up the preload on the rear suspension. This helped keep the front wheel more planted. It's a good point, try get a feel for the way the bike handles with different loads and suspension settings and ensure you've set it right before you start your journey. On Sunday's ride we were only lightly loaded so the suspension was a bit too soft as I hadn't set it back harder as we reloaded the bike for the journey home.

On the journey home I refilled the tank at the services about 50 miles short of Caen. When we got home we had an indicated 236 miles since the fill up and not even indicating reserve yet! This mpg was achieved two up and fully loaded at UK motorway speeds (70++ mph). Excellent! This would mean a tank full to empty range of over 270 miles.

Another 700 miles of fun due after we've been to the BMF show and got Katrine a new waterproof suit. Her's was shreaded at the knees by the wind on our way home!

Tyred of life

2004-05-05T12:40:00.000+02:00

Tyre life is always an important factor in running costs, especially given the costs of modern rubber.

I can say for certain that I'm getting just over 12,000 miles out of a front tyre using the standard BT020. This means that I replace them every third service as I'm not fastidious enough to make sure I replace the tyre when it hits the end of its useful life.

Unfortunately, I have no idea how many miles I should be able to get from a rear as I've had four (Yes, four!) punctures. The longest running rear tyre was at 8000 miles when it got a hole in it and, to be honest, it was looking rather worn by then so I'd guess that about 9000 would be about the lot.