Progess report on my 98 VFR

I had been asked by several members to post pics and info as the “rebuild” of my 98 VFR progressed so here it is, it is now mostly complete. I bought my VFR a few months ago in late Nov, with a little over 46k on it; it’s now at 47.5k.

Here’s what I’ve done so far; I’ve drained the oil and replaced with Honda synthetic oil and a new filter, drained and replaced radiator fluid, checked valve adjustment it was still within factory specs, no shims were needed, put in some new plugs, cleaned and re-oiled the K&N filter, drained and replaced brake fluids, (speed bleeders are going on next time!!) and checked the brake pads, pads were good didn’t need replacement, changed the fluid and seals on the front forks, replaced the steering head bearings with AllBallz taperd bearings and I also put on the tank protector that came with the bike but wasn’t on it.

The new mods I’ve done so far is to add a Two Brothers stainless exhaust, Osram Silver lights + shims, added a battery monitor and wired it for my Gerbings. What I’ve got left to do is add the Helibar risers and do some “prettying” up stuff. I got the Helibars used but they are in pretty bad shape cosmetically so I’m getting them powder coated black along with the upper triple tree clamp. Once those are done it should be pretty much complete.

And now the bucks info, I bought the bike for $3800.00, it came with Givi rack, trunk, and sidecases, a shift kit, tank protector and Corbin seat most of which I had planned on selling when I bought the bike. The side cases I’m using on my V-Strom, so that saved me about $250.00, I had to buy a rack for $150.00, but I had planned on adding them to it this spring anyway.
I sold the shift kit for $170.00, the rack, trunk, and seat are still for sale. I put about $150.00 into the fluids/seals/bearings/plugs, paid $80.00 for the Helibars, $30.00 for the battery monitor and $350.00 for the exhaust, so total purchase price so far is $4240, powder coating the parts is going to be about $60.00, when I sell the rack, trunk and seat, I hope to knock another $600.00 off, to bring it down to around $3800.00. Not too bad!!!

Buying a used bike is a crap shoot, but I’ve been really happy with the way things have turned out money wise. Hopefully this info can help others with the buying/budgeting when they go to buy a used bike.

Right now the bike is handling and running about as good as you could want, it literally feels like a new bike. Of course if you took they bike to a dealer and had them perform the same maintenance that I did, it would probably add another 1 to 2k to the price. I do all my own maint, so that cuts the cost waaaay down! The pic of it with the luggage on it was what it looked like when I bought it, the rest are what it looks like now. Quite the change!!

 

Hi SteveF; Looks like you have been pretty busy,some of the maint. items that you have already performed are pretty time costly. Since you have changed out the exhaust,have you thought about getting a power commander? With your good exhaust system,you may be able to take advantage of increasing your mid range torque and horespower with
a PC. Also you didnt mention if you put new tires on your scoot, in my book thats something that I always do, if for nothing else just to improve my self confidence.I agree
buying a used bike is a crap shoot,probably you raised your odds by purchasing a VFR
due to its adult like image and also because its a Honda. Keep up the good work, as
requested in previous thread,did you document, with photos, your valve adjustment?
EDDIE

 

You have been busy! Looks good, are you planning any other mods? I'll ditto the request for step by step pics of a valve check.

 

Wow, with all the requests for the pics on the valve job, I wish I had, it never crossed my mind to do it. It's really not too hard, mostly just follow the book and take your time. VTEC engines are a whole nother kettle of worms which is one of the main reasons I wanted a 5th gen. Frankly if I had to do it over again, I probably wouldn't have bothered. I've been talking with some mechanics at the local dealership and in a nutshell they pretty much agree that if it aint ticking it really doesn't need one.

Yes a power commander is on the list, but it's a loooong list Likely in the the early summer, I've kind of mentally penciled in a PC and running it on the dyno to get that maps set. I've also got another bike that needs attention too and a wife that gets testy when I spend too much money on them, so I kind of have to space the purchases out over time. My Strom is my daily rider and touring bike, so I'm going to replace the rear shock with an Ohlin and it's going to need new chains and sprockets with the next few months, sigh... A friend of mine is getting transferred overseas and will be selling his track bike a SV650 that is dialed in soooo sweet, I just have to convince my wife that it's an "investment" <gr>

The tires were fairly new when I bought it, Bridgestone Battleaxes, the PO also replaced the chain and sprockets within 3k of my purchase so the drive train is pretty much good to go. There's really not a whole lot left other than installing the Helibars, which frankly intimidate me more than the valve job, I've never pulled grips off a bike before. I am mulling over a steering damper, but that's down the list, along with a full racetech setup on the forks, I am really a fanatic on suspension work, it's amazing at what a difference quality components and tweaking can produce in the way the bike handles.