PRE-PURCHASE HelP!!! Bike 1 or Bike 2??? 8hrs to decide...

Hello all, I have been a vfrworld member for a while but really havent used the account as I was into the VFR's but I never ended up making a purchase. I wanted to give a quick rundown, and then give you bike A and B. I'm currenly still the owner of 2 cafe style 2stroke bikes (not going anywhere) and a KTM supermoto. The KTM is up for sale but has not sold. So... I'm left with a very tight budget. $2600 bucks. (thankfully its almost october...) BIKE A: 99VFR800 I went to see bike A, last night. The bike was out in front of the house as the owner had run to the store. I was able to really get a good look on this 1999 VFR800. I love the 99's because of the lack of the emissions/cat converter etc... and upon looking it over, I grew more and more iffy about it. Things to like: Fuel injection, 5~6 years newer than "Bike B", this bike had bar risers, rear seat cowl, and was stock. It started right up, no puff or rich smoke or anything. Sounded extra "whiney" in person. This is the first VFR I've really listened too up close though. I'm sure stock exhaust amplifies the cam gear whine? Things not to like: -Newyork sticker tucked away on the upper fork section. Told me it was originally an eastcoast bike. -A good portion of the bottom side of bike was half metal half rust (exhaust, what looked like a cat/emissions thing). Some of the centerstand had top rust as well. -Front fairing was not shiny. Completely sun faded, almost looked like it wasnt original -Bike had been dropped on its right side. Only scratches are to case cover and barend. Nothing else really. -Blown front left fork seal. -Rear tire bald and tabs needed within 9 days. -37,000 mi Bike B: 1994 VFR750 Before I was just going to go with Bike A, and fix what needed to be fixed and hope it ended up not being a lemon, I called the owner of Bike B. History on Bike B was that it was his dad's and he was a harley guy. So he is selling to put a deposit down on his Harley. Things to like: -clean as a whistle! -22,000 miles -stored indoors -shiny paint, no rust -comes with corbin seats and stock seats, and tinted visor -Cowl cover Things not to like: CARBURATORS, and really, thats about it besides that its 17 years old. Anyway, so its the typical case of same price, Bike A is newer, FI, and has somethings that make you scratch yoru head, bike B is older, clean as a whistle, stored indoors, half the mileage, but its the carb'd model. Please, I've been around bikes and forums most of my life, I know forum folks can be helpful, so I value your opinion. Thanks very much in advanced. BTW, I'm meeting in 8 hours to either give Bike B a deposit and purchase, or to tell him no thanks I'm going to go with the original vfr800. Thank you

 

BikeA VFR800 bellypan area

 

Picture 2. Its obvious that this bike has been not ridden, and stored outdoors for a while. I asked and she admitted it'd sat in the rain the last 1.5yr.

 

I would lean towards bike B.
The lower mileage and cleaner appearance makes me think it is gonna be less of a hassle in the long run.

Good luck.

Yikes, just saw the pics. Pick bike B.

 

Nothing super flashy about bike B, just nice and clean. Anyway I wanted to post a few photos. Thanks.

 

Drewl,

Thanks very much for the "vote." It just seems the longer I stood there, there were more "little things" wrong with Bike A (which is obviously what I wanted. 10 more hp, updated motor, I woudl think easier to maintain) Anyway one weird thing I wanted to also bring up. Bike A had a toggle switch put on the inside of the front fairing (by the tach area) and it was an "always on or always off" switch for the fan. Why would someone do this? Their answer was that the original owner didnt like that the fan came on so late, so he made a toggle so its always on... i thought to myself... wouldnt the fan eventually fry out? Why would you want this on all day if you were doing a 400+ mile day? Thats a lot of strain on the fan??? Weird....

 

if the price of bike A is less than bike B... then get Bike A, you could find a stock exhaust and replace, and a new chain.... but... bike B is much cleaner and it is barely broke it... I would say bike B..

 

Bike B for sure.

 

The fan switch mod is due to the fact that the VFR runs hot. Some folks want to keep it cooler by running the fan before the standard 220 degrees. This is not a bad mod.

 

Hey fellas I guess i shoulda clarified. I can snag both bikes at the exact same price.

 

Is this just on the 98-01 models? Or all VFR's?

 

Viffers are hot. Not like an exotic dancer hot, more like a fat chick on an unairconditioned bus hot.

 

LOL guys. ya gota love this place Ok Darren geez do I need to come with on these? thought I pretty much had you straighten out, what happen to that 01? On this I say the 94. Hard to find em that clean not to mention a very fair price lucky it ain't $3kplus. with that mileage that and by the looks of it it was taken care of. With that I lean towards the 750. Carbs? for petes sake nothing wrong with em all though, and any machine that this age the rubber in the carburetor area does tend to get hard and brittle, but not a reason to shy away from em, IMO the 750 is more sport. the 800 is a good blend. also note; the 750 doesn't have the crazy brake set up, all though there is a fix, but with the 750 coming with a Corbin that's a nice up grade $$$. they'll both have the RR issue so that's a given. My vote goes to the 750, not being Bias now offer em $2500 and see what goes down. Yea stay away from the 99, you can do better my friend

 

Bike B without a doubt. Clean, low mileage and well taken care of.

 

It's a no brainer , dont even think about bike A - what a pile of crap . Bike B has been taken care of with pride . JMO
Listen to your bud RVFR

 

Bike B. Carbs are no problem at all.

 

Bike B, no doubt. If you don't mind playing with a few tools then the carbs are not a problem. That 99 looks like it sat outside for more than 1.5 years. Too many questions and unknowns about the rust bucket bike. You'll probably need to spend another $1000 to get a new chain, sprockets, tires, brakes and change all the fluids. Did you get a chance to look inside the gas tank? I can almost guarantee there's going to be rust in there too since the bike sat for so long. The fairings look old and faded. there are too many positives about Bike B to pass it up.

Lets see pictures of your new bike!! (Bike B)