New member...just picked up a battered and bruised 96 vfr...Northern CA, USA

Well, title says it all...

I sold my crazy nighthawk cafe/tracker creation, and picked up a 96 vfr.

It has no fairings, and a pinhole in the radiator...
it is also pretty corroded as it has sat outside in san francisco about a mile from the ocean for the last year.
It does however have a high mount two bros slip on, and according to the P.O. it runs great, but wouldnt start for me coincedentally at time of purchase! but for 600 bucks I know that even if I tear into her and find zero compression and a fried motor I can part out and double my money back so I'm not really concerned....

However, I am in love with the VFR and am debating wether to keep it a streetfighter and just tune it nicely or try and restore her....which with the oxidization on the bike would require a full tear down for sure!!!! I'll try and post a couple pics here....

 

goood luck....I vote for a full return to her former beauty...

and welcome to the site

 

Maybe I will do a budget restoration...but for now I just need to get her up and running to make sure I'm not wasting any time or money! If the engine is bad, maybe a used ebay motor, and while the motors out I can handle frame refurbishing etc...or I could do the part out and buy a turnkey 94-97 vfr...who knows!

 

The tough thing is that all the plastic is expensive to replace - even piece by piece on ebay or from salvage yards. If you get it started and the major components are okay, I'd vote for 'street fighter' which could be the trade-up platform!

 

Welcome aboard.
There are many of us here in NorCal and even more in MidCal and SoCal.
Where exactly in NorCal are ya?

 

San Jose CA! thanks for the welcome... maybe the streetfighter idea and get a clean model later is the way to go... I kinda just want to get it going and ride the heck out out of it for a while. there really is alot of oxidization and it may be more than I'm willing to deal with!

 

Or you can buy another one with a bum engine but with good clothes and " wa la" instant cool VFR with LOTS of extra parts.

Anyways , welcome aboard, PS: I am on the Oregon / California boarder

 

worked on it last night. Can't get spark from 1 and 3....going to take it to my buddy Jack before I start buying coils and find out that's not the problem. Didnt check 2 and 4 yet.

 

Well, no progress on the viffer yet....but I went and picked up 2 free frames and motors. one has carbs and a full wiring harness, exhaust(no muffler) centerstand the whole nine!as soon as I get beck home on monday I can dive into it a little more!

 

well this is embarrasing.... I finally got a hold of a manual, and realized the reson there is no spark is that the ignition control module ( or cdi or ignitor box or whatever you wanna call it) is missing, as in not on the bike. I dont know whether the PO knew about it or not...he seemed genuinely surprised it wouldnt start...even tried to bump start it for ten minutes. Well just ordered a replacement from ebay...should find out if she runs in a week or so! I now have two spare motors to build from if I need to. After I get her going I will completely dismantle the other two frames and remaining parts and sell them on ebay/c list.

 

Welcome to the site and you will be amazed at the helpful advise that is available here.
You could fit the CBR600RR 04/05 fairing as done by others here. Check out fotomoto's bike.:smile:

Good luck with the rebuild and wish it was so easy to find parts and wrecked bikes here in Oz.

 

I saw that post about the 2 free frames and motors on cl, wish I was closer to grab them myself.

 

This could make for a good parts bike, maybe he will come down a bit and it is close to you. Good luck!
1995 Honda VFR 750

 

She lives!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

that's good news! keep us posted.

 

took the old broad out for a spin. Love the sound of the two bros can! love the accelleration of the V4... but the PO wasn't lying about the radiator needing replacement! She was spraying water wetter all over me driveway! And I'll be damned if she didnt loft right up with a handful of throttle and pop of the clutch! been a while since I had that feeling!The only other thing is all the "extra" wiring that binds the steering up a bit when shoved behind the dirtbike headlamp...