Disaster project...need advice

Hello everyone,
I bought myself a used vfr for what I thought was a bargain. Now it's become a major project. The body is so bad I'm leaning towards turning it into a naked bike this season, then building myself a RC30 some winter when time and money allow.
For the near future I'd like to straighten the subframe, remove all the plastic, build an exhaust from the engine back, put a single front light on it, simple markers, an aftermarket instrument cluster and possibly upgrade the front suspension to upside down fork.
Am I being ridiculously ambitious or is most of this possible? Anybody done these things?

 

Hey J

Welcome to the WORLD and good luck with the project. There is a member here named Sebspeed who created an amazing street fighter style VFR750 using a 4th gen. Here is a link to the build thread. Not the same year as your bike, but the thread might give you a few ideas as to what can be done.

http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthread.php/48985-1996-Streetfighter?highlight=

 

Welcome aboard!

Yes, they've been converted to naked bikes. It's a lot of time and money to produce something that looks great though.

rjgti is also from Regina - he might be able to see it in person and offer some advice ... if we were a little closer, I'd rip on out and see you and the bike ... but the 5 hour commute is a bit much.

Got some photos?

 

A more comprehensive term for what you are looking for is "streetfighter." Naked in some places has the meaning of an unfaired bike.

Give this a shot: Google images "Honda vfr streetfighters".

 

Out of curiosity how much did you pay? Any pics of this beast?

 

Keep in mind you canot use side radiators without a fairing.

 

Thank you for the welcome. I looked at Sebspeed's VFR and am blown away. Truly impressive work! That is way beyond me I'm afraid. I am now thinking of building an RC30 or Ducati 748 replica. Haven't decided which but i think i will just have the forks and shock rebuild with top components. and keep the under-tail exhaust as only $$$ part of the build. I'm also scared of the instrument cluster as I think that will be very difficult to make fit, and then wire in properly. I am gonna pick up a cheap old bike as a daily because this project is gonna take far longer than one season.

 

Thanks Jeff, who is rjgti? if this person is in Regina I would love to meet up and talk bikes! I agree on the naked comment, the vfr750f just has so many components to remove or relocate in order to achieve a clean look that is is hardly worth the effort. that said, the guys who have put in the time and ingenuity have somehow pulled it off! I've seen some amazing naked vfrs. I do have photos but not with me currently. I will try to get some posted soon.

 

Thank you, I do understand the difference but haven't settled on a direction for my project yet. it could still go one of many ways.

 

rjgti is from Regina ... yes, and he rides a 4th gen.

 

I bought it for $1600 Canadian. I have invested nearly $1000 getting it roadworthy and safe...ish. however the exhaust rusted apart last fall and the plastics rattled off around the same time. since then I've stripped it right down and then lost motivation, as well as a place to work on the damn thing. safe to say this project is on standby until i find a place to work on it in peace.

 

I don't have side radiators...but thanks?

 

You can use side rads without a fairing, there was a guy down the street from me with a VTR1000 that was converted to street fighter with no fairing, worked fine.