My new to me 99

I have a 99 VFR now, but it needs work. First up is rear brakes, then a clutch. I guess I'll find out what shape this one is in. When I am at full throttle, especially shifting from first to second, it slips a bunch then finally locks. I think I bought more of a project than I intended...

The good on it, a Delkevic header with a Two Brother's Racing slip on and EBC wave rotors front and rear. Chinese fairings in good shape, aside from a few scratches. I just put new Bridgestone T30 tires on it. The seat is REALLY comfortable. Crazy plush. Oh and between the gear whine and the incredible sound of the open exhaust coming out of this V4, it's an eargasm!

The bad, clutch slipping, taillight lens cracked, mid pipe was made by a shop and the angle is off. Needs new rear pads, front brakes feel like the rotors need turned or the buttons aren't free. The headlights desperately need aimed as the low beam is spotting squirrels and the high beam is where the low beam is. The front fender is loose and the back of it rubs the tire. Clutch fluid really needs flushed. My tire guy said that the right fork is slightly longer than the left, I don't know how... The miles are high at 66.6K. Also, the P.O. replaced the chain, but not the sprockets, so there's that too. I'll have to inquire how much a valve check and or adjustment is on a non-VTEC engine. The tank has a small dent in it and the paint is faded. It needs a coolant flush as well. Tends to heat up and not drop in stop and go traffic on a hot day, of which we have many.

I guess all in all it's not too terrible, except my apartments say no working on vehicles, so I may be doing stuff after hours. I paid $1900 for it, probably should have insisted on $1600 or walked. But, it's mine now and I guess I'll just have to give it lots of love. I surprisingly found the last owner via Craigslist, as the history on the bike is that the actual previous owner of it traded it in on a new Moto Guzzi at Thousand Oaks Aprillia/Moto Guzzi. The sales manager, a friend of mine, sold it to the service manager of a sister company, who owned it for a couple of days then put it up for sale. I then bought it from him. After going on Craigslist here I found a guy selling parts for a 99 VFR. I inquired about what he had for sale and asked if he had traded it in at the Aprillia dealer and he had. Now I have the history of the bike and I'll be meeting the guy soon. He has pictures, receipts, stories, etc. I'm glad I can have some background on the bike and I do like it, but with the plusher seemingly taller seat, I have to learn a different body position than my 05. I guess, I haven't had much time on it especially in the twisties. I took it out tonight, but with the waning sunlight and the out of adjustment headlights, I wasn't going to push it. The bike feels very agile though, in the little bit that I have pushed it.

I guess my long term goals for this bike would be to get the issues handled and then work on the cosmetics of it and get it looking its best. I suppose if the engine goes I can just grab a used one and swap it out. Maybe put a JDM suspension under it too. By this time I'll definitely have more into it than I'd ever get back selling it tho. I suppose at that point I probably wouldn't want to sell it anyway. In the mean time, I would like to put money aside for a new bike with a warranty etc.

I do have a question now. I know that there are various suppliers of clutches, but is there a kit with springs, plates friction etc all for one price?

 

I ordered an EBC set of friction discs (part CK1206) , plus a set of springs (CSK29), from Partzilla. Don't forget the gasket, 11394-MBG-D00.

 

Thanks Cadbury.

 

Maybe I'll buy a case of IPA and head to OOTV's...

 

Come on down! Although a task like this might require the hard stuff...The wife and I prefer Irish Whiskey, 'Paddy' if you want a specific brand to look for :wink:

 

Did I hear IPA at Ootv garage
I am game arty2:

 

I just ordered those right now. I opted for express shipping. I hope to have it all done before the weekend.

 

Just FYI you can take the clutch cover off without draining the oil, a long as you keep the bike on the sidestand. Don't over-torque the clutch spring bolts, apparently they snap very easily. Make sure you get the plates and anti-judder springs back in the right orientation. One of the friction plates has a bigger i.d. than the others, it goes in first. RTFM.

Don't do what I did, which is to drop one of the locating dowels into the open sump. Ooops! Got lucky fishing with a magnet, but that could have been ugly...

 

Now there's some great pointers

 

Hey Herman, if ya need my garage to work on your bike, Lori's always around and I'll pull my truck out before I split for work. Can leave it here if that works to.

 

Hey Lint

How big is the dent on the tank and do you have any photos of where it is located

 

Thanks! I know I already texted a thanks, but this is a huge help, so, thanks!

 

I'll get a pic, just a moment.
Here you go. It's not very big.

 

I was able to fix a dent in the tank of my 2000 in roughly the same spot when I purchased my bike a few years back. Maybe ask around at a few body shops and auto dealers near where you live and see if anyone can recommend a company that does paintless dent repair. I'd offer to do it myself but I'm a bit far away. Give it a try and see what happens.

 

Looks like the paint on the tank is faded. The Honda decals are buried under the clearcoat so removal has to be complete down to bare metal. That one small divot and a couple of other nicks look to be down to bare metal. Not IMO, a candidate for dentless repair especially if oxidation has begun.

Several of those outfits in the Seattle area, The first question for both the first opinion and estimates is, "Do you have experience with MC tanks?"

Bottom line? Dentless repair is great for some things but not everything. Try it on any other ding or dent that has not been coated with paints or coatings (powder) made in the last 20 years and the paint or coating will debond from the substrate in most cases.

Drop into Seattle Cycle Center on Aurora North one of the sales guys at one time was dentless trained.. Fixed a dent in my cage with a ball of his fist.

 

The paint is very faded BB. So, when it finally goes for paint, the dent will get filled etc.

 

That's why God invented Bondo..

 

Exactly! Hides all sorts of transgressions....

 

Bondo and the associated products are handy-dandy and are now from 3M. For that one deepest ding, if that were the only area to be addressed. I'd probably use lead.

If you are doing the filling and prep yourself.. Buy only small cans of the "regular" Bondo. The way it's packaged, the hardner lays on top of the can lid which is then covered by a plastic cap much like the cap on a rattlecan of paint. Small problem.. The smallest amount of the slurry even on the male/female lip of the steel can will affect the plastic tube containing the hardener.

Same deal with the wood fillers that are catalytic from Minwax and others. 2-3 layers of aluminum foil crafted into a bindle works fair for the hardner. Keeping the two away from one another is mucho mejor.

Ya go back to use some a few months later in the original package configuation and what a ^%$$### mess..

 

I had slipping problems with my clutch. Pulled the plates and disks and all were well within spec. The springs... not so much. I bought aftermarket springs (heavier ones), put it all back together and all is well.

Just a thought.