Bought a 2000 VFR yesterday...

I am now the proud new owner of a blue 2000 VFR which I picked up yesterday and rode approximately 100 km to my home in Victoria, B.C. It has 29,000 km on it.

My impressions:

On the plus side, the bike sounds great with the two brothers exhaust, the riding position is good, and the bike is stable under speed. It looks near new. I had only owned it about 5 minutes before some guy approached me and commented on how much he liked my bike.

On the minus side, it felt quite heavy through the turns, was short on power compared to my most recent bike, a 2006 K1200R, and there was a significant amount of wind noise. I was expecting to notice the power reduction compared to the KR, but I wasn't expecting the extra wind noise. It has a double bubble wind screen on it. I'm thinking I should find a stock screen, install it, see how it compares, and then go from there. The KR had a very small wind screen, but it worked well compared to the taller screens on different bikes that seem to direct the wind to the helmet area creating noise. The stock seat is not that comfortable. I owned a 93 VFR with a Corbin seat around 5 years ago. I found that seat to be very comfortable as it was firmer and flatter than the stock seat. Perhaps I should order one of those.

Shortly before I arrived home I noticed my lo beams were not working (I think they were working at the start of the ride). I am going to take a look at the bulbs today, I hope that they are the problem and that there is not an issue with the electrical system. Funny they would both go at the same time.

 

Congrats on the new bike. Hope the issues are minor and easily resolved.

 

Yes, congatulations! Bought my 2000 in '09 and like it very much. Only 2 complaints are is comfort for longer rides based on ergos (i'm 6 feet and bend in my legs is a little too much after about an hour) and wish it was at least 40 lbs lighter.

 

The stock screen is definitely quieter than the larger ones, Corbin used to make a seat for the 5th gen, but doesn't anymore. I can definitely recommend the sargent one though, as i have one on mine and find it exceptional.

 

Have to disagree, Corbin still lists the Gunfighter saddle for 5th gen on their website. I can't tell you which is the best, I've never ridden on a Sargent, but I do really like my Corbin.
I don't want to restart the saddle argument, there are pages of discussion on this already, I'm just sayin' you still have a choice.
Link : Corbin Motorcycle Seats & Accessories | Honda VFR 800 | 800-538-7035

Congrats on your new ride, I love mine.

 

Posted a picture of the bike.

Pulled one of the bulbs, one of the filaments looks fried. Picked up a GE H4 from Canadian Tire but the tabs don't line up. I read somewhere you could bend them but I am leaning towards just buying the Honda 45/45 (like the one that came out).

 

The bulb tab 'mod' is too retardedly simple to go pay the extra bucks for the factory bulb.

Just bend the 2 small tabs all the way back and flat against the plate. The bulb clip holds everything snug and in place.

 

Don't the tabs perform a function?

 

Only bend the lower two tabs back, the top one will align the bulb properly. I just did this on mine last week, works great. Make sure you replace both bulbs, as old bulbs aren't as bright as new ones and it wont look right.

 

Are there any issues with putting a 60/55 bulb in where there used to be a 45/45 in terms of load on the electrical system?

 

I did the calculations before I installed mine, as I had the same concern. The pair of them together draw less than 2 amps more than the stock 45/45watt setup. That made me feel better, also many others have already done this swap. I put the sylvania silverstars in last week and damn they are crazy bright, loads better than the aged stock ones. Don't run your high beam during the day though, it'l just piss people off.

 

OK. Thanks.

 

Called the dealer to get a price on the oem bulb, just out of curiosity. $40 for 1 bulb!

 

Good looking bike. Congrats.

 

Yeah... the silverstars are 40 for the pair and are waaay brighter than the stock ones.

 

I bent the tabs down but they were still getting in the way a bit so I cut them right off. Had a heck of a time getting the clip on the new bulb on one side, just wouldn't catch. A little difficult to do things almost solely on feel...but anyway got them both in, hopefully they will last for awhile.

 

Yeah those clips require several choice words and several attempts to get back on...

 

Zero Gravity SR Series Screen...

I've ordered a zero gravity 'SR series' screen from nicecycle.com. According to them, this screen is the same size as the stock screen. I sure hope I don't find the screen is the same size as the 'double bubble' screen I will be taking off! I'm finding the wind blast and associated noise quite troublesome, even at speeds as low as 40 mph. Perhaps I'll have to cut down the screen, but hopefully not given my cutting skills

Honda Windscreen, CBR Windscreen, Sportbike Windscreens | NiceCycle.com

I've also got a Sargent seat, recon 19 tankbag, and Windjammer helmet skirt on the way. Have not ordered any saddle bags yet and am researching ear plugs. I've been using them for years but I suspect there are better ones out there.

 

There are three tabs, one wider than the other two. They way they work, it's probably mainly to align the bulb so that all the bulbs are oriented the same way. This way bulb manufacturers can aim the bulb light up for hi-beams and lower for low-beams. Removing the two smaller tabs, still gives you the alignment from the one wider tab. In short, as long as you still have the one wider tab, your bulb will be aligned.

PS: did this mod about a week after i got my 98 vfr at the end of July, really helps me feel more comfortable driving at night. Congrats!