Rookie looking for wisdom

Hello all,

I am looking at purchasing a 99 VFR locally and could use some wisdom from the members here. See link below:

1999 honda VFR 800

Miles are high but I understand that if the maintenance has been kept up this is not a major issue. Wisdom? Things to look for?

All help greatly appreciated!

Joe

 

Take your voltmeter along when you go to see the bike.

 

Oil leak...there's not much description about it. Is it a quart a day, or a month? I'm guessing its not just the drain plug or the seller would have mentioned that.

I suspect you're on a budget, and that's why you're looking at a bike for $1,000. Personally, I'd rather find one with less miles and no oil leaks, but maybe some cosmetic damage.

 

Hey Joe,

for what it's worth, keep your hands off it.
I know how tough it can be to be on a budget and desperately wanting ride...
But try to find something in better shape. Why not look into RC36s ?
Great bikes, and they should be much cheaper.

100k miles is A LOT, even for a VFR. Not that they couldn't do double - but it's still a high risk deal. And this ominous oil leak.... No way.

 

Thanks for all the input, steering clear. It isn't so much the budget as the my COMPLETE inabillity to pass on a deal. I recently came off a 97 Suzuki Bandit 1200 that I paid $500 for in ready to ride condition. Had to sell her to get the money to rebuild the engine in my Celica. I have ALWAYS loved that VFR sound, nothing like it, and having spent some time on my friend's Nicky Hayden RC51 I know how much fun the V4 can be. Right now I am babysitting another friend's CBR1100XX while he vacations in Europe so I am gonna miss riding when he takes her home. I do have a dude offering a MUCH nicer VFR in trade for my Celica but I am not sure if I am ready to commit to riding full time regardless of weather. See VFR link below:

Street Bike 1999 VFR HONDA 800

 

Personally, I would not concern myself too much about an oil leak. That can be fixed. And for a fifth Gen, is 100K miles a lot? I don't know. I have a 6th gen. I don't have 100K but I do have 98K so close enough. Other than a recent stator burning up on me, I really have not had any problems other than what would be considered routine maintainance. Does the seller have the service records? That would tell you how well he looked after this bike. I do see one real big problem with it though. It is red! Red bikes are the slowest fuggen things on the road.

Keep us in the loop, especially if you buy it. VFRWorld wants to know.

 

good decision on passing on the $1000 "deal".

I don't know what you traveling radius is but if you're willing to do a little driving or flying, here's some in northern cal. Calculate in a one way plane ticket or gas and there's your total price of the bike.

a 99 with 21000 miles for $2699
Honda VFR800 Interceptor 1999 VFR 800

or a gen 4 with 19000 miles for $2750
Honda VFR 750z

If both are in as good shape as they appear, not too shabby of a deal!

 

totally agree with REEK. I got my '99 for $2000 and took a 6 hour ride to go get it and bring it back home. only 20k miles on the odometer.