My Dilemma: keep/upgrade 4thgen or save for 5thgen?

Here's my dilemma that I have been mulling over in my head for the last few weeks...over ...and over...and over...u get the idea so i would Really appreciate some bike wisdom over this decision.

Well I bought a 96 VFR the day after my car "blew up" and needed transportation asap for my life to keep functioning..I love the bike, pure and simple. Now I had NO idea I was getting a bike that day...and I Certainly did not know anything about what a VFR was; all I knew at the time was that I saw it and that highschool kid in me saw a red fast bike and thats all she wrote. I rode it home that day for 2500 OTD.

Over the course of these weeks I have been doing alot of research on motorcycles and low and behold I somehow managed to purchase this top-o-line motorcycle and I didnt even know it at the time. I have looked into the mods and havea already ordered the TBR exhaust so cars can hear me on the road. I have alot of little projects that i would want to do on this bike; new paintjob, re-upholster seat etc.

The ONLY thing that bothers me is that I am not 100% in love with the body style. I would have no problem whatsoever having the 5th gen's body style for a long long time though...

So my Dilemma: I cant decide if I should just keep what I already have and invest in it....or do what i have to do to get a 5th gen bike, the body style that makes me take a second look everytime.

Pros/Cons of keeping 4th Gen:
If I keep the 4th gen I'm afraid I will invest about another 1k or 2k or more on the upgrades. I also wouldn't have to deal with picking up extra work to make more money or selling the bike and all that hassle and then taking the bus to work while I wait for a 5th gen deal to pop up on craigslist...

Here's list of things I would do for it:
-Exhaust pipe (already ordered)
-26k miles so tune up etc probably needed.
-Repaint bike (needed due to it being dropped at speed and repainted fairing is bothersome)
-BMC filter
-possible jet kit / installation (was adviced against this by a member..will need more research before i decide.
-chain mod for better torque
-re-order stickers

Pro/Cons of getting a 5th Gen
Well I Love the the body style. I could buy mods and upgrades for the bike and know that I plan on keeping it for a long time because I wouldnt be subconsiously wanting to get something else. I would have to sell my 4th gen bike... which I've never done before but Craigslist will make it pretty easy I bet. I figure I can get 2.5k for It so that means i would need to save another 3k at most to be able to buy a 5th gen should it pop up.

So in essence settle and embrace the bike i have now or go through the hassle of selling my bike and then buying a 5th gen bike...the model i really desire. School starts soon for me so I have a limited window for this... and I'm trying to do the responsible thing..which selling a perfectly good bike for another one might not be at this point in my life.

I need advice.

 

As for the 5th gen...I think you'll find plenty of folks that would say DO IT!

I will not bash the 4th gen because I know way too little about it.

As far as the practicality of the question-use what you have, keep your eyes open for what you really want.

 

yah, those mods I would do to it would cost probably in the end as much as the bike itself. The only thing I have ordered so far is the pipe. I am pretty sure I want to keep it for the bike no matter what my decision regarding the bike will be. These bikes with stock exhaust are just TOO Quiet.... feels like im the invicible man riding down our 3 lane streets. 20% restocking fee to return them at this point also.

The other mods will only get done should I decide to keep the bike for the long haul.

 

You can get a decent 5th gen for $3500 if you want one, check around.

 

If you dont appreciate the best style VFR bike out there with NACA ducts then you might want to think about a Suzuki......

 

Well...I have a 4th Gen and have done SEVERAL mods to it, and I'm not done yet. This year I installed a top of the line, fully adjustable Wilber's rear Shock. Last year I trasnplanted a CBR 954 front end, as well as Stainless Steel Braided lines all the way around, Micron CF High Mount Pipe, new chain and sprockets, wave rotors...everything has definitely improved my VFR, to the point that I don't plan on getting rid of here EVER!!!!! There are still things that I want to do to her, but I like to tinker, and don't mind putting in the time and $$$. If you get another bike, newer or otherwise, you'll still end up changing things on it such as the exhaust, windscreen, seat and stainless lines possibly. It all depends on what you want to use your bike for, and what you want to get out of it. I take mine to track days, so I'm setting it up for more of a sport style VS. touring, I do use it to commute to work as well. By the time I'm done modding my VFR I could have easily bought a new bike, but by the time I mod that one as well, I'm still better off keeping my VFR.

 

Here's what I think...if you love bikes the way it sounds (and as most of us on this forum do)...get the one you want...especially since the one you want is totally reasonable given your budget...if you spend your money wisely and are a bit patient.

If you don't intend to keep the one you have, don't stick any money in it you don't need to, that includes the pipe, etc. You'll not get your money out of it when you sell. Maybe the next guy wants a QUIET motorcycle. Do only what needs to be done to make it a sound ride for the next owner.

It sounds to me like you could sell the one you have as is and get most of your investment back. Use the money you intended to stick into this one to "trade up" a generation.

 

Sounds like a tough choice ahead of you, I will only end up echoing what everyone else has said and as a 5th Gen owner I am bias toward them. As I looked back at you original post and the list of mods that you are at only one seems to be paid for. Yes you will most likely eat that cost if you trade up but it should not sting that bad. As for the 26K service, could be a good selling point when you go to off load if you choose to.

Anyway you slice it you are still riding a damn fine machine and can be quiet proud of that. Good luck.

 

Thank you everyone who took the time to share their opinion on this. Yes, deep down I knew that I wanted to save up and then sell this bike to get a 5th gen...and forgo the investment that adding mods to the bike would cost. But..at the same time I knew that I was biased to this because I am Always wanting to max out things that are mine...that includes the Aesthetics of the VFR (which imo the 5th gen style does), Its just how I am wired. That wiring, so to speak, has, in the past, gotten me in some stupid financial trouble and now the responsible voice (thank god it finally appeared!) in my head told me to get some unbiased input on this decision; which is why I came here.

If I had gotten a majority of responses from you guys stating that I should keep the 4th gen..I honestly would. It seems though that the general vibe I was getting is stating that I should, in this instance, follow my desire and Not to invest into the 4th gen I currently have because the money I put in to it would not be accounted for on my for sale price...and in the end I will just be throwing money away.

My decision is to return the pipes and jet kit when they arrive and to just suck up and take the 20% restocking fee. I will now start the saving process...top ramen here I come (so to speak) again. :hangme:ray: