I’ve treated myself to a shiny toy not too long after I started working in IT: a 2004 Honda VTR 1000 SP-2 (branded the RC51 in the US). It’s immense fun to ride and makes all the right noises when you twist your wrist. I’ve spent two summer holidays in the Alps on this bike and another three days on a race track in the south of France. With riding comes maintenance, something I enjoy doing myself. I’ve always had a fascination and curiosity with technology: if it makes a lot of noise, looks pretty and goes fast that’s even better. It’s a chance to get my fingers dirty, learn something new, assure myself it’s done correctly and save some money while I’m at it. A while ago I had to perform a valve clearance adjustment due to hitting the 30k km mark. A job that scares most people right from the start, but actually isn’t that hard if you pay attention. Read on to find out how to do it on a VTR SP-2 / RC51!
