ok im selling my 86 700f2 and my 1976 cb550 ss. i need to get a reliable bike to ride. my 16mpg fun truck is ruining my wallet. now when looking for a newer vfr. a few things i like to know. i want something 04 or newer. it has to take me at least 80 miles a day reliably. when did they start having fuel injection. at what years have valve shims? do some newer ones not have shims? are the intervals of adjusting valves longer with shims. i hate valves. they never have been my strong side when adjusting. wether my trucks, cars or bikes. i guess im getting better but i still hate it. throw shoms in the mix and i might as well shoot myself. but i have never messed with them. also when i go look . is theree anything i should look out for right off the bat. im not looking for a perfect show stopper. but i dont want a run down POS. i allready have 2 , and i would sell them to if some one would buy them. any ways any and all opinions ramblings hatemail what ever is accepted.
Valve jobs on the 6 gens ('02-'09) are a pain the ass and best left to a qualified mechanic IMO. Good news is that the service is only required every 16k miles and many people skip the initial 16k service all togather because the valves never seem to need a shim until 32k; your call as to whether or not you wanna risk it. The '04 will be fuel injected, as will any model post 1998 (I think it's '98). There was an wiring harness recall affecting '02-'05 models, so make sure that it has been completed. If it hasn't, a Honda dealership will take care of it free of charge. Also, '02 and '03 are the same as an '04-'09, except for a lowered VTEC engaement from '06 on, so don't shy away from one of those if the right deal comes you way.
And they do go on forever. Mine just surpassed the 120.000 km mark and is riunning strong as ever. It's an 06
