Howdy from the Oregon coast! This will likely be a different intro for this site. I don't actually own a VFR but I own a 1998 VFR engine that is destined to be installed in a single seat mini buggy. I had been looking for mid-sized engine for this use and was looking thru vids at youtube and stumbled upon a vid named "VFR Dyno Run". It just happened to be a 2001 VFR 800 with 26K mi. I became So Intoxicated with the sound and performance of that bike on the dyno that it sent me looking for the engine. I found one in San Diego with low miles that had been in a bike that was cosmetically wrecked for $700. Unfortunately, you don't always get what you need to eventually make the engine run. I'm missing the fuel pump system (thats in the tank) and most of the exhaust system. The fuel pump could likely be purchased as a new OEM part, but the exhaust system might be a tough find due to lack of catalitic converter on that model. My fear is that the exhaust system cannot be bought "as new", due to the lack of the converter. I don't really need or want a Cat system, it's just that I know how the world works sometimes when you really need something. I have become so facinated with the VFR 800 motorcylcle thru all this and have been looking at the possiblility of buying a used one in the 1998 to 2000 models. I have been away from motorcycles since the 1980's when I owned a (formerly wrecked)1978 Yamaha XS11 and a used 81 Yamaha 1100 Midniter. The "former" was a serious blast in that day and the "latter" was like it was missing 40hp over the former. Any thoughts or suggestions on finding the above parts would be a great help to me. Thanks! weas
The only exhaust system for VFR's that I have see is Motad. It's a SS system with no cat. The down side is, its kind of expensive. LINK You other option is to keep looking for a salvage bike w/ a good exhaust system. Action
i saw the video of the vfr buggy, that thing is serious. if your looking for an exhaust im sure one will pop up in the classified section b4 to long. once you finish this project you gotta post some pic or a video. Welcome!
Thanks You guy's,, Action, that is a pricey alternative but at least I know now that choice is out there. Madduxca, I'll keep checking in,, I am building a mini with a sled motor in it right now. It's a minimal size frame, a 4x8 sheet of plywood will totally eclipse the whole buggy. The VFR motor in this size of machine would be excessive beyond belief,, I for one wouldn't try it.
weasel, tori did have a used exhaust system that he got on ebay, but I bet it was just the rear part which wouldn't help you... maybe you could find another totalled bike where the header was left on and get it that way... that may be a tough search... buying those parts new would get cost prohibitive pretty quickly.
I do have a fair amount of time before I start the new buggy for the VFR engine. I also have to aquire the instrument cluster along with the fuel pump to make it mostly complete for startup. The thing that makes this search so difficult is that VFR 800 is very popular to those that own one or want one, so the resale appears to be quite high compared to the other models. If I had a "CB" model of whatever, the search would be over quickly from what I've seen. I got time, Thanks for your attention!
Hi ya fellas, After gettin' tired of tryin to find some perticular 98 to 2000 parts for my 2nd buggy, I just bought a 99 VFR on ebay from a guy in San Ramon CA. Its red, in Very good condition with 20,336mi on the OD. I flew down to pay it off ($3,700 total) and rode it back to Otis,OR near the coast. Now I must say that I haven't been on a bike in 17 yrs so being thrown into bay area freeways was startling at best,, man them folks Fly down there! The first hundred miles felt like a thousand, trying to conform a 58 yr old frame into a 10 yr old one required the learning "on the run" method. But over a couple hundred miles I found a couple positions that were tolerable and also learned what rpm to run in all six of those gears. Once I got to the mountain passes north of Redding, CA I was getting the Ol attack machine working in my head and started to become one with this bike. The Cal car drivers were terrific up there, always willing to get in the right lane to let me by, nearly Every One!,, I waved to them all. It was impossible to ignor that Great White god of a mountain up there between 100 to 120mph, I carefully snatched a few mental pictures that I'll never forget. After 11 hours and 658.5mi I was home,, I lived a week in 11 hours,, It was one of the most exciting, scarey things I've ever done. I've done things that were much more grueling,, mostly working outside in the winters up here, but this, was epic in my life. The VFR performed perfectly,, best $3700 I ever spent. weas
Mr Weasel, on two wheels or four wheels I think your going to have a blast with that machine. Please post picks of the finished project weather its wrapped in a buggy frame or your wrapped in motorcycle rideing gear. Either way good luck and ride safe.:thumbsup:
Picture of the donor bike and I also have a 98 engine with 8700mi. I know it may seem near insane to some to take apart a perfectly good MC,, but I like the engine and I'd rather enjoy the engine on four wheels with a roll cage. This bike will be ridden until the new frame is ready for some of its parts. May have a source of good red parts coming soon for some of you.
