Hey guys, just wanted to say hello. recently purchased a 99 VFR 800. New to the sportbike world.. used to riding older cruisers. Decided it was time for a change... so- here I am. info or advice related to a first time owner of this machine would be greatly appreciate.. Thanks all. ~Andrew
Welcome! Only have one advise .... ride the piss out of it.....But really you should change all fluids every 2 years, change the plugs and air filter as needed, adjust your chain if has too much play and oil every 500 miles..
thanks Hey all, thanks for the welcome and advice! Just brought her home today... stopped by the honda dealer and bought the stuff to get the oil done, that was a different experience, i'm used to that practice being a bit quicker LOL. Either way, was shocked that the honda products weren't all that expensive. I am an AutoZone store manager, so i figured that i'd just go with the Mobile r4 MC 10w40 that we offer and the k&n filter..... but it ended up being alot more cost effiecent to go with the geniune stuff instead. Live and learn! Also picked up a can of silkoline chain lube- tend to ride on some dirt roads now and agian- bet its not a bad idea to keep that around. Happy to note, that today was the first time in my life i've traveled over 110 MPH... what a rush! Anyone have suggestions on accessories that make the owership of this beauty even better... let me know! thanks again ~andrew
After looking at your bike I'd say get rid of the stock seat and get a Sargent, also find a nice aftermarket exhaust pipe to really hear that sweet sounding V4 motor, and maybe some HH+ brake pads if the stock pads are still on. If you plan on touring RKA saddle bags and tank bags are top quality!
I guess appearance is pretty much subjective, however, I think that the Zero Gravity Double Bubble windscreen makes it looks better. If your butt gets sore too fast you figure, try an aftermarket seat from Sargent Saddle. If you tire of the stock exhaust note, (be considerate when it comes to exhaust noise) I personally love the sound of my two brothers slip-on. It looks great, is nice and throaty, and no where near too loud. If you want more storage, Givi makes some nice saddlebags (see the metal racks in my pics).
good ideas Thanks lance and derstuka for the suggestions! I can forsee some uncontrolable spending in the future. just got back from my first real ride, took a run south, through the hills, about 100 miles all togather. I can't believe how comfortable it is, and i am comparing it to a cruiser with a fluffy seat and forward pegs. Had you bet me money a month ago that i'd being saying this, you'd be rich about now! 100% happy with VFR, glad its in my garage ~andrew
The other MC Just for heck of it, figurd i'd post a pic of what the VFR is replacing... and i thought this Yamaha was fast LOL
Andrew, I can see why you're so happy with your new vfr after seeing your old bike! 2 completely different styles of riding, if you keep the vfr for awhile you'll find that it only gets better the longer you own it! cheers.
more speed Yep, absolutely love it. took it out again today- windy as heck though, made it less exciting, but hey- we got to 140 mph in a heavy breeze. Life is better now! ~andrew
Hey, thanks for the concern. Definatly a fleeting moment! It's not the top speed, it's how fast you can get to the limit that counts! Jail isn't my forte. Was looking in JP cycles magazine this afternoon, didn't see alot of stuff available for the VFR.. few odds and ends, noting to exciting. Any websites that tend to offer more products for these bikes? Im already blown away by the performance in its stock condition- so, rather curios to see what results a few add on perf. items might net. Also, I would like to find the rear seat cowl (by the looks of it, it's going to be new OEM honda part) but figured I'd ask if there are any other options before going to the dealer. Thanks for the continuing input everyone, its appreciated ~Andrew
Who did you buy the bike from? Ask them if they still have the rear seat cowl. (And the pillion grab handles if they aren't on the bike) Occasionally seat cowls will appear on ebay.
Andrew... maybe it's not much of a concern where you are, but in the areas I travel locking hard storage on the bike is great. I have top and side cases. I usually run the top case to commute with and it is great to put my computer and stuff in when I stop at the store. When I'm not commuting, I can get the helmet and gear in the case and not have to lug it around the store. Soft/hard storage is a discussion you can read about for a long time. Just another vote on how to spend your bucks. On your high speed runs... be certain to practise hard sudden braking (not breaking ;-) from those speeds. You'll get used to 100++, but you won't be used to the smooth quick braking - and steering - from those speeds unless you work on it. check out the chain lube discussions in the oil & coolant reviews if you want to see how it's done on the VFR :smile:
Thanks again for the great info and suggestions. Found the seat cowl on Ebay- about half the cost of OEM new-- needs to be paint matched, but thats not a big deal. I purchased the bike from a used dealer who buys primarily out of state, didnt have the cowl on it when he got it... so ebay saves the day again! Looks like there is endless reading material here, focused on maintence- very pleased to have access to such a vast world of knowledge! We've had two nasty days in a row- cold and damp, figures the weather would take a turn days after bringning it home LOL. Hoping to get some distance rides in before the end of the month, would be a shame to leave her parked all winter without one good long trip. Just a for a smile, i've realized the bike offers more comfort animities than my car- what a deal! ~andrew
