I'm from the uk iv just got a solid sword silver 2008 vfr with full honda luggage it has done 4500 miles (7242km) from new the bike is 8 years old, it only had 1 service in it life at 500m (804km) in 2010 it works out that the bike has done 562miles a year its had a mot every year and between 2 mot its only done 10 miles between them mot meaning https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOT_test I'm going to italy on it in may for 3 weeks ,its been 2 years planning (getting round to it) then it will be going as iv just moved house and need he cash to do work on the new house wood you get a honda dealer to service it or service it my self ( oil, brake fluid and coolant) or gust leave it???
The oil is a no-brainer. If you're comfortable with any of the rest, do it yourself. I never like to risk something happening at the dealer's/mechanic's if I can avoid it.
This planned trip sounds awesome. I wish you the best time. Will you have a pillion or are you riding with others? I do not know anything about your knowledge so I will brain dump. Take this for the lost cost you got it for! Ride the bike as much as you can before then. Use your sight, hearing, and feel to detect any anomalies so that you may address them proactively. These bikes specify low octane gas. Depending on your local additives you may discover various brands or higher octanes work better. Do you have a factory service manual? It is downloadable on this site. Aside from the basic fluid changes you have some inspection to do. * Does the bike start the first time every time, and when it is cold outside? When cruising at 35 mph at light throttle is the engine perfectly smooth or does shake and not want to be at that RPM ====> Tune the starter valves. (requires a 4-column vacuum gauge or 4 separate gauges.) ** Others who have done it can comment on the brake fluid change. It can be quite an effort and may be easier with a vacuum pump. ** After flushing the brake fluid (note all of the different purge points) then prop up the bike on a stand and spin the front tire. Do you get two spins? If the front brakes are binding the rear is probably binding. This requires pulling apart the calipers, cleaning or replacing seals and pistons. If you're lucky the tests are all successful and the brakes are in stellar condition. Binding brakes will kill your gas mileage and give you less effective braking through the mountains so be proactive on this. * Start the bike cold and put your hand on the radiator or use a laser thermometer on the radiator. It should stay cold until the thermostat kicks in. If it warms up with the engine the thermostat is stuck open. The thermostat replacement is a bit involved. * You should inspect the fuses and the the high power stator & rectifier connections for discoloration or melted plastic. * Test your lights. Since they are the highest power draw you want to make sure the low beams and high beams are working as they should. Re-test them when you have ridden and the bike is hot. * I see those in the other forum mentioned testing the charging system. You can test the stator, rectifier, and battery with a multimeter. * Are you prepared for your trip with a toolkit? There are threads here with suggested tools.
Basic servicing on a low mileage VFR is fairly straightforward. Unless you live in some remote area of UK there are likely other riders who can offer advice or even lend a hand. Do not try as some, to BS experienced riders with regurgitated homilies and pseudo bits of expertise dug up from reading rather than from experience. Experienced riders will spot you for a fake in seconds. The main worry on your particular bike is the failure of the regulator/rectifier. My advice is to remove the OEM and replace it. Short of that map out all the Honda dealers you will pass on your trip and bring lots of money.
