Bike choice

Why '98 or '99? . . . uh, how about no VTEC, gears
are better than chains, larger headers,
no catalytic mufflers, etc., etc., "end of refrain"

 

Like Reg said get the bike that calling your name and your heart :love: tell you.
The add for the 5th gen is way too expensive :scared: the guy must be on Crack.
Now that I look at the add #1 would be a better buy......Good luck

 

Let's focus people, I still say #2 and tell him $5000. He has been listing the bike for quite a while and it is winter.......he can choke on a fat one and let it go for 5k. $4500 sounds better.

 

I ended up paying $5200 with shipping for my 06 vfr its got 4800 miles on it, I wouldn't buy a bike just for a bunch of fancy plastic bags, get the lowest mileage bike you can find and then fix it up slow ly:tyrannosaurus::boink:

 

Call your dealer with the VIN# on both bikes and ask aboot the service letters open on it, I will put 18 ice cold beers the 2002 has a laundry list and and the 06 has none. I only know this because I did this with that 2002 I bought a couple of years ago and asked aboot my 2007 while I had them on the phone. Buy the 2006.

 

Just buy the damn bike and post some pictures were you.......ound:
My 2006 is now for sale. $4500 cash
Well care for

 

I'd go for #1, given the $1500-2000 desirable and useful mods on it. This assumes the scratches are not too significant. Plus, if you drop it, you won't feel as bad.

Of course, with either bike you should get it inspected by a mechanic before buying. And you should know what maintenance you will have to do immediately for either (brake fluid, coolant, oil, etc.)

 

Yeah that the one, hey at least she well rest.....ound:

 

I'd think seriously about the 99 5th gen for 3000. That bike is still like new and every bit as good as the 6th gens. (better in the engine department )Tests ride it and you'll fall in love and save yourself thousands. Offer him 2600 and take it home for 2800.

 

I agree with RDMCD. I'm in Sacramento and it took me atleast 10 minutes to close that craigslist ad on my browser when I saw it. Tempting.

 

my vote is for the newer one unless you have a mechanic you trust. I bought a 2003 for a decent price with 43000 miles on it, but I have a honda tech I do powder coating work for, so we traded out work for work. the tech has it right now at going over it for me, and there is a laundry list of stuff he is doing to it. Can't wait to get it back and try it out. He said nothing to major, just maintenance stuff that hasn't been done, and some adjusting stuff. I did have some of the non vtech valves out of adjustment. Now if you have a tech you can trust and wont rape you on labor rate, go the older one with the goodies on it, its got dang near $3000 grand of goodies on it between the exhaust, heli bars, seat, and bags. and he might come down to $3500. it is winter still. I love having the bags and heli bars, the bags were one of the biggest things I wanted when I bought mine.

 

I was completely ready to tell you to go for the 2006 until I read both ads. There were some wrinkles ironed out by '06 that I feel better about. But when I saw that the '02 was the original owner and had all those farkles, well... that just tells me he loved that bike. And someone who loves their bike takes care of it. You don't spend that kind of money for a putzing around bike and you don't buy those specific farkles if your are a squid.

I would see if he took care or the R/R issue with a VFRness or equivalent modification. Also see if there were any suspension work done. Fork oil will need to be changed I'm betting too. I do not own a 6th gen so I can't speak to the Vtec engagement, but on the early 6th gens you can take care of it with a custom mapping if it bothers you. Mileage is pretty much irrelevant on a VFR. Mine had 12K when I bought her, but she looked awful. Definitely not well taken care of like she is now.

As for the 5th gen recommendations, don't worry about it. Unless you are a VFR purist it doesn't really matter. Yes the gear driven cams are cool and unique, but with so many 6th gens over 100K miles and so few cam chain failures it's not an issue. I'd trade my 99 for a 07 RWB in a heartbeat.

 

Thanks for all the information guys!

I am going to wait a bit for the bike I really right, instead of compromising on getting something right now.

I want a 2006 or newer bike with the luggage option and reasonably low miles. Since it is winter, I won't be doing as much riding anyways, and if I get the bike right now it will spend most of its life sitting in the garage.

My last bike was an 2001 Aprilia Falco, so I don't really want another older bike with all the little things that can (and do) go wrong. I even had to replace the gas tank on that bike when it warped and started dumping gas all over the engine and the garage (downside of plastic tanks).

Somun