Newbie first post - is this 1992 worth $2000?

Hi folks! I'm a previous original owner of a 2002 VFR ABS and many other bikes, and now have the chance to get back into the VFR scene with a 1992 VFR750F. It is very clean - essentially mint condition and stock except for Two Brothers pipe. Always adult owned and never down. It has 19,000 miles on it, and it is on the 2nd owner who is an older guy - former jet engine mechanic and who has put 15,000 of those miles on. He bought it used from the local Honda dealer in 1995.

The bike has only been ridden occasionally the past three years but always garaged. Most of the miles are highway. The owner just put $1000+ into it for new battery, new Michelin Pilot Power Z rated tires, and a $640 carb tuneup - probably because it sat for a year.

I think I can pick this bike up for $2000 directly from the private seller. I live in Northern California - Sacramento area. It seems like a good price for such a clean bike but I am trying to temper my enthusiasm against the fact that it is nearly 20 years old. It is very clean, looking almost as good as I imagine it did in 1992. The owner claims no known defects.

I will be crawling all over this bike for the pre-purchase & ride inspection, before I test ride. I have already been able to spend 15 minutes or so taking a look without touching it though, and it was enough to convince me to move forward with getting money in hand for the test ride.


I would really appreciate the wisdom of Interceptor pilots here. What should I be considering, especially the hard to see? any bushings to try and get a look at? I already know the R/R is original so will be replacing that straight away. Anything else I should look for, and most important is the price in the range of reality? I need to decide by Saturday morning.

Thanks in advance & here are pics!

 

$2000 seems like a good price if it is in decent shape....especially considering that's a west-coast price. I recently purchased my '87 here in the midwest....most of the early 90s bikes that I saw for sale around here started around $1800 and they were not pristine by any means. If it's in decent shape, I say go for it.

 

Dude is a jet mechanic and a $640.00 carb tuneup? Has the bike been repainted? Maybe get someone to go over this bike and nitpick it.

 

wow, thats a super price for that bike up here, scoop it up fast!

 

It is a good price especially for the described condition. Comparable 3rd Gens in that condtion typically sell somewhere in the $2500 - $2800 range. I have owned a couple of 3rd Gen VFR's and they are great bikes but just note that parts are extremely difficult to find for these older bikes and aftermarket parts are limited. I say grab it up cuz they are very fun bikes and she's got plenty of miles left in her. Just make sure the R/R (regular/rectifier) AND WIRING HARNESS have been upgraded since they are very prone to failure which will eventually leave you stranded. Too many people replace only the R/R and leave the existing wiring harness in place. The harness should be changed too! Ask me and several of my friends how we know this!! There are also some easy cosmetic mods you can make to clean the bike up too. Upgrade the mirrors to a non-condom 5th gen mirror. Below is a link showing the upgraded mirrors on my 1993. You can also easily get rid of those stalk type rear turn signal and integrate into the lenses just to the left and right of the brake light. You should also carefully inspect all the tabs on the back of the fairings since the plastic is very brittle and prone to cracking/breaking. Other than that the bike looks great! Is a seat cowl included?

http://vfrworld.com/forums/3rd-4th-...rors-emgo-replacement-mirrors-my-3rd-gen.html

Here is a link where to buy all your electrical components.

Wire My Bike


Rollin

 

I wish I could tell from a tiny pic and a typed up discription that any bike was good or bad and priced right. If I could, I could be a used car salesmanwomanperson or maybe even a used bike saleswomanpersonman.

 

There is an expression in the used car business, goes something like this, "there is an arse for every seat." Bike looks good and 2000 quid aint that much moo-lah. $640.00 carburetor service that a retired or maybe retarded jet engine meK-anic farmed out makes me kinda scratch my head. I certainly wouldnt wana be flying in any of his serviced airplanes :smile:

My third gen bike is great. I wouldnt pull the R/R unless the plug was burnt. Mine lasted 20 years and 75,000 miles, I did replace my stator prior to the R/R going out about 4 years ago though. Best designed Viffer IMHO/you gota get rid of them fuggly rear stalks though!!!

The colour of the bike is not blue or black as some people think, its called Granite Blue. :smile: Luv mine

 

I paid $1700 for my bike and it wasn't in any clean condition as that bike. Sweep it up man.

 

If you were east coast would sell you mine in MUCH better shape for 2700. That said thus bike is ok and in need of tlc. Would target more like 1750 given the carb issue and this "mechanics" view of it. Would hate for you to buy it to determine the Carbs aren't fixable or worse not the problem. The extra 250 should give you headroom ti get it sorted or a new set of Carbs if required.

 

I would sell him mine for 4k or maybe even 5K or six if I were a used car dude.

 

nobody wants your city bike.

 

LOL! What city? Nearest big one is 50 miles from me and as cities go, it ain't all that big. I guess this means you don't want to buy it. I can get you a smoking deal on an Edsel..

 

No Edsel...I want a deal on a Henry J or an Anglia! :smile: would take an old Willys too maybe...I paid $4500.00 in 1995 for my 1991 with 4000 miles. It had some rashed up body work which I rode with for many years. Funny thing is the bike looks better now than it did back when I bought it. Certain things get better with age I guess.

 

Beta gets first dibs on any Edsel I find. You know how them country boys like thier Edsels..

I had a 39 Willys. It was stock..POS. I sold it to Micky Thompson. He did some minor mods to it..

Plopped down + - six K for mine brand new. The dealer had put a Yoshimura can on it. We had a done deal except for my signature on the check. I told the guy I wanted the stock can. He started to balk and I got up and walked out. I got about two steps past the door and he changed his mind.. I think I messed up his canned scenario and didn't follow the script. Who knows?

Another cool little body for drag machines is the Fiat Topolinos.

 

OK thanks for the info! I like the tip about the plastic fairing tabs. What about valve lash? Does anyone have a feel for how many miles is the average before the adjustment is out of spec and the lifters really have to be re-shimmed? Any other 3rd gen specific tips to look for, if possible without requiring major disaasembly or fibre-optic scope?

Sorry the pics are poor quality - iPhone is not the greatest camera. Paint is original, and I can find no scratches or chips in it. Yes the rear turn-signal stalks are sagging, mirrors are feminine, I love it! I love finding old, stock bikes!

THANKS AGAIN!

 

PS - did these bikes come with a center stand, or was it an option? What about the rear seat cowl - was it standard, optional, aftermarket? Grab bars for passengers? THANKS!

 

Center stand was an option along with a dashboard clock option. Passenger grab rails fold up and hide under the seat. They should be there assuming the great aircraft mechanic didnt lose them. Cowl for the rear was an option too. What else???

You wont need a fibre optic scope unless your gona do rectal exams, Valve lash rarely goes out. My bike had the valve covers off twice in its 76,000 mile existence, at 30,000 and 40,000 miles later with everything being gud. :smile:

 

Thanks everyone! After a complete inspection and test ride, I bought the bike for a song, and he threw in a set of brand new RKA soft saddlebags and RKA tank bag. Also got a bunch of kryptonite locks in various sizes. The guy was real sad to let it go but had to - he almost cried at the end.

I replaced & bled the brake & clutch fluids, adjusted the chain slack and have a little over 100 miles on it over the past three days - so far it runs and feels like a brand new motorcycle when I'm going down the road. Every screw, fastener, wire tie and connector on the bike look to be in place and factory original. Everything but the pipe and tires is stock. All other fluids seem to be recently serviced but I'll be changing them all anyway to be sure. I couldn't be happier with this gem!

 

I would get rid of those stock brake lines and replace them with some nice steel ones, Galfer maybe, Hel? I gots Fastlanes on mine (RIP-out of biz). I did my clutch line not too long ago when I replaced the entire clutch pack. Still has the original rear brake line as I do not use it that much. Could also get rid of those reflectors on the fork legs :smile:

I aint gona do the thang and tell you about that abortion on the rear of the bike regarding them turn signals. Thats why they got 31 flavours at Baskin Robbins ; ) Cheers

 

I like it, and would love to own a 3rd gen.