NAME: Harv Arnold
AGE: 65
HOME: Nederland, CO
OCCUPATION: Retired photographer
PHOTO: Michael Chilcoat
"This bike started out as a 2000 Honda VFR800 Interceptor in the rare yellow color. That was the last year with gear-driven cams and none of that VTEC variable-valve stuff that didn't amount to much on the later bikes.
"The work started with a custom paint job and rear seat cowl to make it even more distinctive from a distance, along with a Dynamo Humm billet-aluminum chain guard with the name and model of the bike cut into it and a Targa license plate/signal mount and underseat fender. The standard rear lights were replaced with LEDs that look like they are spinning while riding and pulse when braking-got to get the attention of those cars behind me!
"Then I installed a Dynojet Power Commander and a full Two Brothers Racing high-mount exhaust system with a carbon-fiber muffler. This makes 97 horsepower at the rear wheel and smoothed out the low-speed stumbling. To stop the bike, I installed Galfer wave brake rotors with braided stainless-steel brake lines. For better handling, I installed a Race Tech Gold Valve kit and 95 kg/mm springs in the fork and an Öhlins shock with remote reservoir.
"For comfort, I replaced the windscreen with a Zero Gravity Double Bubble unit, and installed a Sargent seat along with risers for the handlebars. The cockpit sports a BMW plug for a heated vest, a Valentine 1 radar detector with a flashing LED module to get my attention, a Digitech module that displays what gear I'm in and a Scorpio remote theft device. The final item was a set of Moko frame sliders.
"With a set of Oxford soft luggage, this bike has allowed thousands of miles of comfortable sport-touring with performance in the canyons. Colorado is the place to be during the warmer months, as we have almost 30 paved passes."