VFR Restoration

The basic story is I bought a 1992 VFR750F, road it for two years, it broke. I bought a new bike, but kept the VFR, then when I had more time, fixed the VFR. I moved to AZ with the new bike (2002 CBR954) but left the VFR in Ohio with family. It hasn't been ridden more than 2 weeks in the last 2 years(when I came home to visit). I missed it and wanted a touring bike with me in AZ, so I'm shipping it to myself.

Well, its going to need work. Its got 77,000 miles, but runs great. Its going to need plastic repair work (cracks, dents, scratches), a new seat, and general maintenance work.

Well, one of the first things I wanted to fix is the front brakes. They work, but feel really stiff and seem to need a lot of convincing when I need to stop quick. The rotors are thin, and have a lot of grooves, so thought I'd just replace them. Well, I cant find them anywhere. I cant find them on any third party motorcycle parts site except for expensive aftermarket ones. I went to honda's site, and they have them for about $350 a peice, and I'd need two!

Does anyone know a place that sells these rotors cheaper, or used? Is this going to be a constant problem I run into while trying to get this bike into good working order? I'm only expecting the engine to keep going for another couple of years, so I'd hate to invest thousands of dollars. Also, does anyone have the corbin seat for the older VFR? I've heard they are about the most comfortable you can get.

 

Welcome to the group, if I haven't said so before. As for your rotors, well, rotors ain't cheap, OEM or aftermarket. just a quick search turned this up: http://store.azmusa.com/ebcprfrbrrov.html $170 a piece for EBC rotors. For my own personal curiosity why do you think the motor won't last much longer? There are a couple on here (I think) who have 100k or more. I think Corbin still makes a seat for the 3rd gen VFR. For plastic repair (both replacement and repair are not inexpensive either) you can try a couple of places. http://www.empiregp.com/index.cfm?page=100 , e-mail them, include pics also if you can, describing what work you want done and they will send you a quote. You can also try http://www.theplasticdr.net/index.html

 

cool. Yeah, the VFR was my first bike. When I got the CBR everybody tried to convince me to sell the other(I wasn't well off when it came to money), but I couldn't bare to get rid of it. Now my financial situation is better, and Im shipping the bike to be with me in AZ. Im going to fix it up, and then start touring the country in it. I'll get pics when it arrives first of May. Until then Im just scouting parts I think I might need. The rotors probably will last, but they just don't look healthy. I know one of the front calipers need rebuilt, so maybe thats the reason for the tough breaking. Yeah, new corbin is like $450 from their website, but might find a used.

 

Another seat option would be to send your into to Sargent for a reconstruction/recovering they will customize it to your liking but will still cost you some $$. I can tell you from experience on Ebay even used Corbins for older bikes sell for $250 plus in marginal condition.

www.sargentcycle.com

 

check out Ebay for the corbin, i think there's one up for auction right now...search term "VFR750"...

 

...its a corbin for a 94 - 97 ending Apr-10-07 13:57:17 PDT...current bid is 200 bucks...

 

I saw one on craigs list for $100, but that was a week ago. Pictures shows seat looking in decent condition. Might look back into that.

 

one just posted on Ebay...here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1990-1993-Honda-Vfr-750-Vfr750-Corbin-Seat-w-

 

Yeah, I just checked ebay, looks like there is three for sale. I've heard different things about corbin. Some say they're hard, others love them. What I may end up doing is reupolstering the original seat myself(or have the GF do it, lol). Might try to find some gel inserts or some other padding to make it more comfortable. Then I'll just put the money I saved towards more important fixes. I can't wait to get the bike. 25 more days.

Oh, that reminds me. That little analog clock on the left side faring, does anybody know if they make an aftermarket digital insert for that? The stock one on mine is busted, has been sense the day I bought it. I definitely need a clock on this bike.

 

...heard great things about corbin...i have only the stock one on mine though, just something i haven't gotten 'roud to...regarding the clock, i don't have one on my 1990...so i just velcro - ed an old watch to the top triple tree next to the ignition...

 

I was considering doing that, but the '92 actually has a analog round clock mounted into the faring under your left arm. The one there now is cracked and not even hooked up to the electrical system(previous owner must have disconnected it, but probably for good reason). So if I could find a clock that would fit into that hole in the faring, I wouldn't have to worry about running power, and could have the backlight tied in with the dash lights.

 

Parts

Have you found a set of rotors? I have a good used set of OEM.

 

I've put off the rotor search for now. Figure when I get the bike I'll do a really good inspection and decide if I really need new rotors, or if I'm just being paranoid. But if I found a set for a good price, I still might pick them up.

 

Is the OEM clock not available any longer from Honda? Or is it not a seperate item and part of the cluster? I haven't gone to look at the fiche. I know my 93 does not have a clock on it.

 

...is that what that round punchout on top of the upper left front cowl is for?

 

Yeah, I didn't know other models didn't have a clock. My '92 has a round clock on the left front cowl. I haven't checked honda for it yet. I was not wanting to replace it with the original analog OEM one, but rather a new and improved easy to read digital one. I guess sense nobody even knows there's supposed to be a clock there, its probably going to be hard to find one, huh. Looks like maybe it was just my model year or something.

 

1992 analog clock on top of left cowl

...check the VFR750 parts list posted on the site here (1990 - at least 1997, maybe even more current)...its a giant adobe 7.0 file...it should be there...i might look for one myself now that i know just what the heck that round punchout is for...

 

The clock for a 93, according to the fiche, goes in the cluster right below the tach in the center. It's an odd place to put it IMO. But then I did not design the cluster. It's my understanding that the punchout is for some kind of switch. I forget what kind and I forget where I saw that posted. Why did I forget? Cause I am brain dead. lol