Buying a used VFR!

Hello everybody!

I was lately thinking of buying a used VFR 800, and I saw one just the other day, exactly in my price range.

It is a 2003 with 106k kilometers(about 65k miles) on it. The bike has a Power Commander.

The price is $3500 CAD.


I also saw a 1999 with 69k kilometers(about 40k miles) on it. It has an aftermarket exhaust and a Power Commander.

The price is $2400 CAD

I am wondering...

What should I look for during my inspection and what should I ask to the previous owner, in order to make sure I get a good bike?

 

The 2003 seems kind of high for that many miles. It's not that it's not a good bike but around here anything over 40K will drop the price significantly. Of course I am partial the the 5th Gen bikes. The mileage and the price are better. As for the inspection look for wiring upgrades like the VFRness and an upgraded R/R. As always check for play in the steering head, check brake pad and rotor wear. Also check for oil and coolant leaks. Start the bike and see how quickly it warms up and make sure the fan cycles on and off. I am sure other, more knowledgeable people will have more to add.

 

Also , chain & sprokets, date on tires, maintenance records....also since I was out of riding for a very long 10 years....I found it very worth while to bring a motorcyclist buddy with me when checking out my bike..
Two sets of eyes always helps, he even noticed that my bike had two different brands of tires...hope this helps

 

I say spend another $1000 and get a 6th gen with a fraction of the km. Not sure where you're located, but I'm in Toronto and you can definitely get a 6th gen for $4000-4500 with 35,000 km or less.

I bought mine 4 years ago with 33,000 km for $4500. The seller also wrote me a up a bill of sale listing the sale price as $1000 too, which had me paying the ministry $113 tax, instead of $585

 

Drude, exactly what my seller did...totally forgot about that...saved some greenbacks when registering

 

Yep, of course, chain & sprockets, tires also check forks for weeping seals. I think a bike with maintenance records is just fantastic. My VTR (the one with the hosed rod and main bearing) actually came with all the records including the new bike dealer packet.

 

Thanks for your many replies.

Unfortunately, I'm a bit on a budget right now since i'll be in college for the next 7 years, so I can't afford a 4.5k one.

I am really hesitating between the 97-01 or the 02- ++. Does anyone know the main differences?

 

Probably the biggest difference is the engine. The 5th gen has gear driven cams and no variable valve timing (VTEC). It is a sweet engine! The newer bike with VTEC has more modern styling and I personally like the ergonomics better as well as the under tail exhaust but it would be a better machine with the old engine IMHO. They both have linked brakes and are solid all rounders that sound awesome with an aftermarket exhaust. The 2002 -2005 bikes suffered with EFI issues that leaned the mixture and made the bike snatchy at low throttle inputs but that can be fixed with the power commander and PAIR valve delete. There are loads of other small differences but those are the big ones.

Personally, I would save the cash and buy a 99.

 

I'm with Jethro. Save the cash and kilometers. The 5th Gen is a great bike and was bike of the year many times. I honestly love my 2000. Ask if the rr has been upgraded. They were very poor on VFR's.
Good Luck on your decision.
Laker

 

Personally, I would go for the cheaper lower-mileage one.



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Don't get hung up on the miles , these v4 s are bullet proof and good for 150,000 + miles.
Get the 5 th gen way better than the 6 th.
Gear driven cams and no heavy v~Tec nonsense and way better looking .Awesome bikes

 

I know of several 5th gen owners on here with north of 100k!!! Gear drive baby otstir:

 

The regulator rectifier is not all that expensive. If it hasn't been done (unlikely) budget for one. There are many threads and its dead easy to replace.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

I'll add another vote for the gear driven 5th generation bike. I bought mine at 70,000km, now at 90,000 and no significant issues. I have replaced the thermostat, everything else I have done was usual maintenance (new chain, sprockets, tyres, brake pads, head bearings) or upgrades (new shock, new fork springs and dampers). The 5th gen is very well engineered and when I did a valve inspection the cam faces and bearings are like new. I haven't had any electrical issues but they seem to be common across lots of Honda's not just the VFRs.

 

The OP probably lost interest and bought a Harley . . .




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Get the 5th gen. Woot!

Jose