New VFR Owner...and of course i need help!

Hello Folks;
I'm the new guy in town and need some advise and help. Just bought a 1998 VFR 800 interceptor with 19000. Bike runs great but previous owner in my humble opinion did not give the bike the attention it deserves. Ok what I have done. Ordered new stainless exhaust from Delkevic. Changing both front and rear sprockets as well as chain. Bought all the OEM clips bolts and washers missing on the bike.
Question 1/ I have been told to order the Honda front drive gear because of its quality. 17teeth...is this true.
" 2/ A mechanic friend told me to use a steel rear gear in lieu of what I want to order,... Renthal annodized aluminum gold...which is better?
43 teeth
I would like to order a D.I.D. 530 gold O-ring chain as well...thoughts?
Finally EBC brake pads and stainless steel braded lines, out of fear that current ones could be dry rot from inside. Which type of pads and lines should I order...there appears to be many types.

****Note*** guys I'm a 57 retired Vet...I have no intention on going to any race tracks so please way that into your decisions.

At a later date...I would like to change front lights to LED, I have told they are more energy effecient and are brighter...?
Furthermore I was infromed that I should change the MOSFET regulator/rectifier ...any thoughts.

Now my problem is that I have checking on line and I am having trouble finding what I need. I have tried motorcycle superstore and RonAyes...

Any help would be apprecated. Thank You All in advance.

 

Stay with Steel sprockets! its not a race bike and you dont need that weight reduction. Your gona trade off durablility and mileage for nothing. Regina makes a nice kit for our bikes as my foggy memory serves me. Get a quality stainless brake line kit for the front from Galifer, Spielgler, I have Fast-Lines :rip: maybe some other ones out there too, far as brake pads, you could pop for EBC or Galfer semi-metallic, kinda forget what colours, I have some black organics in my tool box but have yet to install them. HH comes to mind for the more aggressive stops. I have after-market iron rotors so I go with the more aggressive pad, and have yet to see any wear...

Stay away from dicking around with your electrics as the majority that I have seen have been hacked terribly and just create prolems. I hate bikes that have compromized/finger fucked electrical harnesses...

 

On the OEM front sprocket, it has a rubber center built in to dampen some of the driveline shock. I've never noticed a difference but it's been 10 years since I had OEM...

Going to a 45 tooth rear sprocket can give you a little extra oomph, it will run a few hundred rpm more on the highway and the already off speedo will be even more off. But a "Speedohealer" can fix that. I'd stick with steel, they'll last longer. I've been using the EBC HH for 10 years or so, no complaints.

Online: www.denniskirk.com, Motorcycle Gear, Parts and Accessories at Motorcycle Superstore, PowerSportsPro.com, BikeBandit.com, JakeWilson.com

Welcome, at 19K the bike should barely be broken in, I'll hit 85K on the way to work tomorrow, '99. Hope you have many good years on it.

 

1 stay OEM I believe is 17/43 check out sprocketcenter.com
2 steel sprocket is last longer seen you not plan to be a racer
3 EBC HH work great
4 DID x ring
5 HID (High intensity discharge) is what you need........I don't think you can find LED head light any where.
Good luck and ride safe and thanks for your service :thumb:

 

85,000 clams! Far oot :hippie:

braided clutch cable is nice on older units. My gen 3 bike has 78,000 miles and looks and rides great. I was dicking around at a dealer in Orlando FL and saw a high mileage Kawi Concours with 87,000 miles, blown fork seals and usual rust. My old bike has none of that...anY-WhooOoo...

 

Wire My Bike will set you up with a new regulator/rectifier if you're concerned about yours. I bought my '98 with just over 12k on the clock in 2011, and the R/R was already going out, though it took me a while to realize it. That's the only change or upgrade I've made thus far, and it's run perfectly since. I would recommend changing the fork fluid in addition to the other updates you're doing, as it's likely full of dirt and not helping your suspension any. Mine's sitting at just over 20k right now, and I plan on putting a lot more on it this year.

 

Welcome tothe club! Nice choice on bikes as well. Sounds like you have some nice plans and are taking care of things. For mine I just have a slip on exhaust and am currently working on a R/R upgrade. Mine was going and I didn't want to risk riding this year and getting stranded or screwing up my new battery. My old R/R would get very hot to the touch, like burn your hand hot.

 

Thanks guys...a lot of good advice and ideas.

 

^ Whats wrong with being "agreeable" usually, I am Mr. Subjective. EK and RK make a1 stuff, my chain kit is from EK though, for the life of me, I dont know how the hell the trade mark laws let these two companies exist since it violates the "confusingly similar application, and also being in the same business tenet."

AnywhOOoo, I aint gona high-jack any of this hear thread :madgrin: The stock sprokets usuallly have rubber dampeners, which the aftermarket ones which dont have, I can not notice a difference, I think the stock stuff is cheapo sometimes...My viffer is all sorted out with suspension that I did about 19 years ago, re-built rear shock around 3 times so far in its life span. Front end, has remained the same with the gold valves and after market fork springs. Did fork seals at 75,000 miles. Bike doesnt see the mileage like it used to get as I like to conserve it. I do take it out at least once a week and go thru the gears and get her up to 130 mph and ride 25 miles. I am using non-ethonal petrol now and am a believer as the bike doesnt stink as much as it used to with the other shite stuff.

Good luck with ur bikie...shiny side up, rubber side down, :vtr2: