should i pull the trigger?

when i texted the guy a few days ago, i saw i had also texted him about this same bike in MAY!
i really think all of the problems are made worse by the bad gas and very rusty tank. the bike didnt look good, visually, either, so that didnt help... ALO the title has some other guy's crap filled out and then scratched off of it. :/ once my gas tank parts come in later this week, i should have a good running viffer!

 

Outstanding!. I am looking for VFR's all over town and hope to have one soon. There is one in Tomball I am looking at tomorrow. Hopefully it is still there.

Keep posting, I am sure that this site will appreciate what you find out regarding the issue!

 

I listened to him when I was young and poor. I did more mechanical stuff back in my teens and 20's. Now I just bitch and wait until I can afford someone else to fix it since I f..k up more now in old age and usually have weird spare parts. P.S still strapped but at least I have a roof over my head for now and not living with my parents!;-)

 

hey jim, what area do you live in?
once you get your el cheapo vfr running, lets take our collective v8 out for a ride

 

No problem, I am going to see it on Thursday, hopefully it will still be available.

 

Oh, I live in the Spring Branch area!

 

oh man, well this bike was real close to you then. i'm about 45 min away in montgomery

 

welp, i just bought the ricks stator and rr, a set of tires, and a windscreen. i think i'm getting really close to having a running bike. by the time i get the tires on, i should have everything else done! woot!
total spent is now $2104. i could have gone the cheap route and gotten a new rr off ebay for like $30 from china, but i'm trying to build this bike to last.

 

What tires did you get? With a buy like that I would put the best parts in. Good call.

 

Congratulations! It prolly mostly needs your labor. The best thing you can buy for it--and you--is a factory shop manual, or a Haynes. Then, I would do the following per the manual. Remember, she's 20 years old, and a very fine piece of machinery, as good as Honda knew how to make a production bike in 1998, so it's worth it:

• Remove chain, soak in cleaner overnight, get it back to life, see what you got. If you have tight spots and stuck links, etc. you'll know to replace it.
• Remove rear hub, disassemble, clean, lube. Clean inside swingarm while you're in there.
• Replace all fluids--oil, coolant, clutch, brake fluid. Once you open the reservoirs, you'll quickly see how the thing was maintained...
• Check brakepad life while wheels are off.
• Replace fork fluid.
• While you have fairings/tank off, unplug and clean all connectors with ProGold / Scotchbrite.
• While you have fairings off, clean the hell out of it with orange-based cleaners and loads of brushes. Nothing like working on a clean bike.
• Fuel filter inside tank--may need lookin' at.
• Spark plugs, air filter, of course.

I'd say about $200 worth of parts and fluids--or less. Ebay's your friend.

 

dunlop sportmax q3's

 

what size socket or wrench do i need for the hub? that thing is huge. bigger than anything i've got.
a good chunk of the items on your list i have on order, or have already done. i'm holding off on the forks until i have the rest of the bike done. they arent leaking right now, but im sure the oil could stand to be replaced

 

Yep, 46mm I think.

 

If you had read up on the forums it would have been very clear to AVOID RICKS at all costs. Cheap crap Chinese stuff that may not even last a season. Their r/r is the same one as the $30 ebay one, but twice as much!

 

Well... shit

 

We all have those days...

 

If you didn't unpack or install them, send'em back, get Roadstercycle stuff.

 

what's the difference between the two brands? why is rick's so bad now? i remember hearing man good things about their products back when i had a 92 vfr

 

Frankly, I have no facts substantiating the idea that Rick's is bad stuff; they're huge, and likely didn't get there because they sold junk to people. Besides, R/Rs and stators are bonehead-simple technology and cheap to make, and Chinese manufacturers make all sorts of high-quality stuff these days. Again, otherwise they wouldn't make everything in the world for Western manufacturers. All our iPhones etc. and made in China...

So, if you're OK with that, keep it, and get on with it. I think you'll be fine. Rick's stuff has a 1-year warranty on it, too.

 

glad to hear it. i like idiot proof electrical stuff, and i dont mind paying extra to get it. i really hate wiring- even simple stuff like turn signals. ugh. i even hate changing a dang lightbulb lol
i have had success in the past with chinese r/r's and had planned on buying one for the vfr until a smartypants vfr owner looked down his nose at me and asked wtf i was doing that for. he pointed me in a direction i thought was safe and good. eh... if ricks works and is expensive, i'm ok with that. i'm funding this bike build with a bike sell, and i dont mind buying quality, because i plan to keep this one.