5th Gen --> ZX-14--> VF 1000 R (yay me!!!)

VFR --> ZX-14--> VF1000 R (yay me!!!)

Howdy, Gents,

Stupidly sold my VFR 800 for a ZX-14 and was immediately longing for a Honda V4.

Realized the 14 wasn't doing it for me, it's gone and I'm in love with my pristine VF1000R

Can anyone lead me in the right direction to a set of good, period-style slip-ons?

Great to be back!!!

 

Congratulations on picking up the R. I love mine too. What are the details? Miles, history, updates?

Your common sources are your best bet for finding the exhaust - this forum, eBay, Craigslist, etc. Good luck in your search because they will be hard to find!

 

Thanks, Stewart, as I said, great to be "home".

I'm third owner now, just over 24 K on the odo. Originally a US bike that had a full and meticulous restoration done by the first owner. The restoration included the '86 dual headlight conversion and engine/carb tweaks to European spec.

Bike was purchased locally by a Honda lover and remained in his ownership for 3 years until he bought and restored a most incredible CB1100F, then he decided that the VF had to go - This year the R had a new stator and Deka battery (zero maintenance and cranks like a mofo).

One tasteful mod the last owner did was to swap out the wobbly old, over-sized original turn indicators with new units from a Honda 959 (amazingly the oblique stem diameter is a perfect size for the factory original bracket to which it attaches - Let me know if you'd like a pic).

I just couldn't resist the bike. (photo taken by my son minutes after arrival).

 

Vortex sell good quality and adjustable clips for a decent price. Go to there website and give them a try.

 

Much appreciated, Matt. I'll let you know what I find!
Edit: I didn't even read the "clip" instead of "slip"-on part so Googled Vortex Slip-on's and ended up at Dale Walkers Holeshot Performance site.
It looks to be a great resource, ironically.

 

No its my fault search for vortex clip ons you should find them then.

 

Hey, man, it worked out perfectly!
If you see my initial post, I'm actually looking for slip-on's (cans) not new bars (the old VF has fully adjustable units which is handy)!
Thanks again.

 

I just did a quick search and found these if you decide to change them

https://www.vortexracing.com/shop/product/18674/711/17/83/

 

Cool, thanks again.

 

No problem keep us posted with that sexy R

 

LOL attention to details while posting is essential.

 

Is the thing...

 

Looks really nice. Good find!

Some day I'll put mine back to stock but not any time soon. :biggrin:

 

Please don't! I love your bike.......... gimme gimme gimme

 

Just curious,

I've often eye'd off the ZX14 as a possible future replacement for my VFR800 '99 what did you miss about the VFR or not like about the Kawasaki ?

 

Well, when I went about selling my '99 VFR, I figured that it was time for me to step up to a 14.

For all intensive purposes, ergonomically, it felt a lot like the VFR so that was great.

But, it didn't give me "that thing"....y'know? That seemingly intangible feeling of overall pride and satisfaction of ownership - I never had an emotional connection to the bike for some reason.

My final justification for letting the ZX-14 go came in the fact that I often found myself instantly ripping over 240-250 kph when on what should normally have been leisurely weekend rides...I simply found it hard to avoid ultra illegal speeds on it. Enjoyable, yes, but as a happily married father of 4, I knew better.

I especially missed the sound of gear driven cams and exhaust note of a V4 Honda (please, someone, help me source slip-ons...I'm having no luck at all finding ones that will be the proper style for my "26 year old"!).

I missed the ability to ring the bike out fully and corner aggressively without fear that the motorcycle is going to spank me.

Combine the fact that I didnt "love" the 14, for whatever reason, with the fact that I was likely to loose my licence or die, it seemed a logical choice to move on.

 

Ha! OK, putting stock wheels back in the attic as we speak. What was I thinking?:wink:

 

Your reasons for changing to the zx14 are the same as mine and your reasons for changing back to a V4 mirror my doubts, guess I'll just have to hold on to my '99 for another 36000 grin filled miles. :smile:

 

I think you need both for a while, then decide!

 

Is that even possible? Your bike looks so modified, that it looks like it would be a lot of work to return it to stock form. Besides, what you have is a work of art and truly unique. My stock R gets a ton of attention, but I can only imagine the draw that your bike gets. Maybe you should leave it as it is and find a nice stock R to go with it???