Lurker, VFR curious

Been lurking for a couple weeks. Finally signed up to see da pictahs and sub to some threads.

tinkerinWstuff, I've especially enjoyed your project threads. Namely your recent '98 build. Seriously good stuff. I'm also watching Pops' '83 VF thread. Thanks for the entertainment guys.

I live in Southern NH and have about 17-18 years of riding under my belt. I've owned three motorcycles, a '78 Honda CB400, an '01 Suzuki Bandit 1200 'naked', and now a 2011 V-Strom DL650 ABS. I bought the 'strom last year because I was tired of riding a naked bike on the highway and I wanted something EFI and low-fuss.

Oh, and because the 'strom is cheap. I'm a cheapskate. :wave:

Ya'll may look at me cross eyed for this, but I consider my DL a sport-tourer. Emphasis on the 'tourer' part. It also does a fantastic job on our craptastic New England roads. Just last weekend I was up on the White Mountains on some marginally shoddy pavement where the DL really shined.

So wtf am I doing lurking here? Dunno why, probably because I've lost my mind, but I'm interested in a project bike. Couple guys I know turned me onto the VFR 750 and I've now come to the opinion that I could pick up an older one for reasonably short money. Possibly something in semi-sad shape that needs some TLC. I could then apply said TLC, nurse the thing back and have a helluva nice partner to my 'strom. I like sport-tourers and wouldn't mind having something that offers a little more 'sport'.

I should add that I've never even ridden a VFR.. yet am obsessed with them on paper far enough to sign up for this forum. How that makes any damned sense is beyond me, but there it is.

I do have a co-worker that rides a '93 and has volunteered to toss me the keys one of these days. Hopefully it doesn't disappoint.

 

I have two of them.........does that make bi vfr curious?

 

He he, right on.

I've got alerts set on CL and ready to go. Sadly no cash to back it up yet. We've got some monetary obligations this year and quite frankly I'm getting ahead of myself already. I figure I'll be ready to get serious by fall; will ride the ballz off the DL until then. We are curtailing the DL's toy fund though.

But yeah.

Hey, maybe we can BS about budgets. Not that I believe I'd ever to stick to one, but what's the lowest number I can start to tell the missus? Test the waters, see if she'll threaten to leave me or somethin'.

Whaddayah think fair market value for say a gen 3 or 4 in semi sad-panda shape, but not a wreck. Maybe a bike that has sat, boogered carbs and in need of a battery and tires.

Guy at work says one shouldn't pay a dime over $1k. Seems too low. Yeah?

I've seen photos of your handy work with an excavator. Worrying about such things seems to be the least of your problems! :tongue:

Which reminds me, wanna flip through your carb-cleaning thread now that I can see the pix. That looks like a quality read.

 

My big fear is buying a toasted engine. I see you have that T-shirt and wound up with a JY donor engine, no?

I am not qualified to do much more than adjust valves on that front.

Maybe I best be shopping for something that runs, but is cosmetically meh.

 

... and actually Gen 2's ('86-87) might be the least likely to have mechanical issues, and they're lighter too.

 

Intawesting... What makes the 2nd gens less likely to have issues? Gen2 => '88/89 only, no? Wiki says those were not imported to the US.

I am not really interested in anything that does not come with 17" wheels.

Honestly I want a 5th or 6th gen. But the budget will likely not permit.

 

Nice play on words...

:tongue:

 

I don't know,Tink. You're a pretty smart guy from what I can tell. But "sale able" ? Really? lmao

 

By the way, I really have to compliment you VFR guys for your collection of boobies smileys.
:boobies2::boobies1::boobies7::boobies6::boobies5::boobies4::boobies3:

 

This seems just about right in every respect except the price!

It is a dealer, after all. But man that seems like a lot of dough.

 

:hi2: and :welcome: to the nuts house, take your time and choose the one you like.
I am glad you enjoy our forum.....we are a bunch of good :joker: and we do love :boobies7: and :vtr2:
Show us what you got..............:tongue:

 

Ok price, would be nice if you could get it for 2000. Take a meter with you and measure voltage at the battery-ia. Maybe you can get some more off if the charging system is arai (no-helmet.)

New windshield from the UK was around 60 dollars shipped. Hong Kong ones are shite! I got rid of my corbin seat and went back to the stock one/rode the corbin maybe 20,000 miles. Dont really care fer em really, and mike sucks too...:flip:

2500 is alittle high on price...hows dah body work? mint? got a two bros slip on I see...

 

Definitely seems high. Why is it in the condition that its in? Windshield, all plastic, and the seat??? WTF? Every bike has a story - what's this one?

Its got lots of stickers too. Maybe someone thought it was faster than it really was.

 

Straight from the ad: Broken Windshield, Ripped Seat, Damaged Plastic all around

All acceptable to this buyer. Just amazed someone is asking what seems like close to full asking price for something with that much .. wear. $25xx won't even get me to stop by and have a look.

Am I kidding myself?


My local 'recycler' is not much better. $2600 gets me a '95 with "minor right side cosmetic damage" and a salvage title.

...I guess I'll wait for winter.

Also decided that I wouldn't be horribly opposed to an I4 sport-bike like a CBR600. Something like a decent F3, maybe an F4i. Or one of the ubiquitous Kawi 4's. They're no V4, but with a pipe they have their own appeal.

 

I wasn't saying its unacceptable because of thrashed plastics. And I agree with your amazement at his price. But even if he was at $2K, for example, with such a short, brief description from the seller, I'd be wondering what's wrong. Sounds to me like the bike has either been abused, wrecked, or dropped on both sides on more than one occasion.

Patience, grasshopper.

 

What is that? Where can I order it from on the 'net? And can I get it next day?