Differences between 5th Gen bikes

Could anyone give me a quick overview of the differences between the years in the 5th generation. I know the only difference between 98 and 99 was the choke. What are the others? I had been looking to get a '98, but am now wondering why I'm not widening my search to other 5th gen bikes. Thanks guys!

 

'98 & '99 both had a fast idle lever (choke), '00 & '01 use a wax unit that auto sets the idle speed. The '00-'01 have catalytic converters w/ O2 sensors, a closed feedback loop, and I believe smaller diameter stainless exhaust plus slightly remapped fuel delivery for less abruptness off idle. The '98-'99 have slightly larger pipes w/ no catalytic. The '00 was only available in yellow in the US, the other years were red. There aren't many other significant differences. The '98-'99 CA models do have different ECU's and cams and are down about 5hp on the 49 state models.

 

98 & 99 are identical as are 00 & 01. The major changes for 00 are:

new FI system with air injection & O2 sensors
new headers & added a catalytic converter
auto fast idle fuel enrichment
new mirrors (no rubber boots)
supposedly 10 more HP

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

And to answer the burning question that you are afraid to ask, Shell Rotella is the best oil to use in 5th Gen VFR's :biggrin:

I think the boys above have pretty much answered your question in full. Have we found a possible new toy??

Rollin

 

Thanks guys! So if those are the differences, are they commonly held as "upgrades" or are they as debatable as the change to vtech? Typically, the 1998 sounds less complicated and less electric, ergo better bike. Less abruptness off of the idle? Isn't abruptness off of the idle one the best reasons for getting a bike? I may have found a new toy. There's a 1999 with 20k for 3500, the 2000 on here with GIVIs for $5000, or a 2001 with 10k for $3500. What do you guys think? what should I go for?

 

I had heard that the 00 had more hp, diffrent fuel mapping, cat. on exhaust,
.....they are all good bikes

 

Don't forget the 00-01's had a different voltage regulator (better).

 

+1 to that.

 

+2 to that.... don't get me wrong, the Givis are great (I have V46 topcase and both the E21 (commuting) and E36 (touring) sidecases), but you can buy it all for much less than $1500 on ebay/craigslist, so don't let that be your decision maker.

 

+3 to that

 

And yes these bikes run HOT. don't worry until you see 240+

 

2000 Yellow.

That is all.

 

I do like the yellow.

So many bikes... not enough $$$ or garage space. *sigh*

 

Don't forget the metal dash tabs and HISS on the gen 5 Mk 2's, supposedly the HP is about the same what was lost with CAT was made up by the ECU remapping. The early fast idle thumb lever is more reliable as the fast idle wax unit has (rarely) been known to go faulty leaving folks with a 4000rpm idle. The Gen 5 Mk1 R/Rs do go faulty but Honda has a revised replacment with about twice the fin area and more reliable so it's a good chance its been upgraded.