5th gen changes

What, if any, changes have occured by Honda to the 5th Gen VFR's from 1998 to 2001? In other words, is there a difference b/w a 1999 VFR vs. a 2001, etc?
Thanks.

 

The 98 & 99 are identical.

For 2000:
new mirrors
auto-enrichment/no more "choke" lever
catalytic converter with O2 sensors
upgraded injectors

That's all I know for sure. From what people tell me, the 98's & 99's run slightly rougher than a 00 & 01. I've never run them back to back so I can't confirm this.

KC-10 FE out...
lane:

 

Yep, that's the catalytic converter w/O2 sensors. The actual headers themselves are identical up to the point where they pipe in the O2 sensors & after those is the catalytic. Supposedly, the 99 will hit 60 a touch faster than the 00 but I doubt it.

KC-10 FE out...
lane:

 

The dash on my 01 has what looks like triangular covers or fillers over blank cutouts right next to the turnsignal indicators, and pictures I've seen of 98 and 99 models don't appear to have those. There is one to the right of the right indicator, and one to the left of the left indicator. Anyone know what's up with that?

 

I checked mine & I don't see anything like what you're describing. Perhaps a pic or two is in order?

KC-10 FE out...
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Hopefully you can see what I am talking about here.

 

Nope, there is definitely nothing like that on my bike. I haven't the slightest clue what purpose they might serve.

KC-10 FE out...
lane:

 

Besides being catless the collectors are supposed to be a larger diameter but have never measured them so not sure.

Honda installed them on the Gen 5 Mk2 '00 - '01 to stop dash warp, haven't heard of dash warp on a Gen 5 Mk1 but some early '97>'98 Blackbirds suffered dash warping due to sun exposure so perhaps Honda were just being cautious.

 

It would be interesting to learn for certain what they are for - if they aren't for preventing warping. If I ever go into the dash for some reason I'll have to see if there is an obvious purpose for them.

At first I was thinking maybe they were spaces for seperate hazard indicators that the US didn't get. However it seems like the normal signal indicators would be used for that so probably not.

Surely my VFR isn't the only one on this forum with these! :smile:

 

I just re-read your post, and it sounds like you have the answer John. Do you know exactly how they prevent warp? Thanks!

 

It was some years ago in an article that referred to the early Blackbirds dash warping, assume it allows for some kind of give for heat expansion.

Interestingly went through the VFR800 '00 press release and it dosn't show them so maybe they only appeared in the late naughty's & '01's ?

VFR800 Gen 5 Mk 1 Press Release:
http://www.hoc.org.uk/gallery/press/1998/1998_VFR800.pdf

VFR800 Gen 5 Mk 2 Press Release:
http://www.hoc.org.uk/gallery/press/2000/2000_VFR800.pdf

 

My facia is peeling from the corner of the crease in. Both sides.
I heard it was from concentrate heat from the windshield. Some hot spot.
The picture also shows 2 other changes... VFR logo on tach and HISS key system.

 

Always thought the G5 Mk2 VFR Tach logo looks cool, nearly worth changing bikes to get one.

 

That little logo is the lone thing that sold me on my 01! That pair of little dash triangle thingies were just a bonus....

 

or just get a tach off of ebay... that is what I did...