Decisions and Dilemmas...

Discussion in '5th Generation 1998-2001' started by RGonVFR, Oct 9, 2017.

  1. RGonVFR

    RGonVFR New Member

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    Ladies and gentlemen of VFRWorld, I present to you a request for help/advice.

    I am , and have been for 10 years now, the owner of a beautiful, bright yellow 2000 VFR. I love this bike. The sound that comes out of its Wolf underseat exhaust stirs the soul, not just mine, but many people who have heard it as I roar past them (work friends have told me the next day). Roadtrips are a pleasure. It handles predictably and confidently. I even just added a PC III to get a little more power out of it (more responsive, little more sensitive to the cold in the morning though).

    The dilemma I am facing is that my wonderful VFR now has 59K miles and is starting to have some issues. In particular, I'm losing coolant somewhere. I can occasionally smell it, but haven't seen a leak or any puddles. I tightened as many clamps as I could see without completely tearing the bike apart (as I am not very mechanically inclined (anyone know a good mechanic in the SF East Bay area?)), but the loss has only slowed. There are a couple of other minor issues as well.

    The decisions I am considering are:
    1. spend lots of money replacing coolant system parts only to find other possible issues (nickel and dime to death?)
    2. try to find a newer VFR (don't really like the 6th gen, can't afford an 8th), or one with lower mileage
    3. get a used Sprint ST (I've seen many articles and posts comparing them)
    4. look into another possible replacement bike that would be comfy and fast (is there anything else?)

    I test drove an '06 CBR and think it might have been great 10 years ago, but I'm finding that as I age, things that I didn't know existed before hurt. This revelation is making the comfy part more important.

    As always, any helpful suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated.
     
  2. vegaquark

    vegaquark New Member

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    Try a sprint if you can, or invest some cash on new silicone tubing that will last forever.
    Maybe the rads are loosing pressure over some place, there should be places nearby where you live that test and repair radiators. And i've seen some ebay brand new rads that can work perfectly as a replacement
     
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  3. vegaquark

    vegaquark New Member

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  4. loosenoose

    loosenoose New Member

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    the sv650 is a freaking sweet bike. not as powerful as our vfr's, but a big time charmer and some of the best fun i've had on 2 wheels
     
  5. thtanner

    thtanner New Member

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    On the other hand, I did not like like the SV650S when I rode it. I'm 6'3 so maybe it was just an issue with ergos, but it felt kinda cheaply made like most Suzuki's do...
     
  6. loosenoose

    loosenoose New Member

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    I have owned 3 SV650's, and will say my least favorite has been my girlfriend's SVS. Like you said, it felt cheap. Those bikes are far better as nakeds. If i was a rich man, and could do whatever i wanted with bikes, i'd transplant the vfr800's engine and swingarm to the 2nd gen sv650's body. I love the ergos on the sv, and really miss them on the longer rides on my vfr.

    it's all subjective to personal taste in the end.
     
  7. Darth Vader

    Darth Vader New Member

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    60k is nothing really, I'd find out where the leak is, fix it and keep on enjoying the 5th gen. Get the system pressure tested and go from there.
     
  8. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    Dude come on that's your baby, don't give up on her just because she needs upgrading--- goin on 18 years-- get a set of hoses replace your rad cap---
    easy peezy
    Even though I have an 02 with know issues seriously thinkin of doin the same-- already replaced the cap just because.
    Don't wait till it really becomes an issue just ask Lint what happens with coolant and traction.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
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  9. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    The 07 onwards CBR6 is a million times better than the 06...
    It was a revolutionary update.

    But to the issue at hand.

    Are you losing coolant ???
     
  10. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    Park it over night on a clean sheet of paper - that may help !
    Also can you smell it before the ride or after?
    Have you removed any fairings?
    when was it last serviced?
    When was the cap last changed?
    how does it run?
     
  11. RGonVFR

    RGonVFR New Member

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    Thanks for all the tips so far. To answer some of the questions:
    I've removed all fairings, no positive evidence of the leak.
    I can smell coolant after a ride once the bike is warmed up.
    What do you mean by change the cap? Just get a new radiator cap?
    As for servicing, what exactly do you mean by that? I've changed the coolant, oil, oil filter and brake fluid. Haven't taken it to a shop in a while though.
    To test the radiators, do I have to remove them from the bike and take them somewhere, or is that something that can be done on the bike?
    It runs perfectly otherwise. I may need a new blinker switch though and the front brakes might be rubbing a little.
    60,ooo miles is nothing to worry about on these bikes?
    I'm going to look into the silicon hoses for the bike. Any tips on changing them? Do the radiators themselves often have problems?
    Thanks again everyone.
     
  12. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    Yes radiator cap is what I was referring to.
    Is it having any overheating problems?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2017
  13. GreginDenver

    GreginDenver New Member

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    Have you ever replaced the thermostat (and the o-rings and short hoses that go with it)?

    Here's what I found when I dug into my '99 5th Gen...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Thermostat O-rings that are in really poor condition will weep/ooze coolant onto the top of the engine deep down there in the "V" under the throttle body assembly. You can't see it, but you can smell it.
     
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  14. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    Wow that an eye opener


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  15. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    To add to that, the hose clips are worth checking for tightness - don't kill them....
    I do say if you can smell it then you have a leak. It's probably so light that you aren't loosing much fluid &it then sits getting burnt on the engine.
    It could come from anywhere.
    The rad cap is easy & cheap - replace with HONDA ITEM. NOT a really cheap crappy one from Walmart..
    60,000m is just broken in...
     
  16. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    Oh a doing a really quick mental note - the reason for changing the cap.
    If you can smell coolant after the ride then this is once the system has pressurised. If the cap doesn't hold pressure then it will vent it into the overflow and back into the bottle - there will be no coolant loss but you will also smell it.

    They do go soft over time & no-one ever changes them - lol. Not even me.......
     
  17. vegaquark

    vegaquark New Member

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    Some time ago i was worried about this things... Oil leaks (because of cheap oil filter), coolant leaks (because of whatever loose bolts or something), radiators full of dirt (because of road dirt), bike behaving like shit steering wise (because of cheap front bearings and non-propper steering bearing torque)
    But then i started to follow the workshop manual and buying oem parts and with that and daily usage all of them tend to disappear.
     
  18. Big_Jim59

    Big_Jim59 Member

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    Like you I was losing coolant on my 2000 VFR. To make a long story short it was the seal in the water pump. The leak was masked by the lower fairing that was catching the drip and the leak only happened under pressure so the bike had to be running and up to operating temperature. The pump is not rebuidable. I bought a replacement, swapped it out and the problem went away. Easy squeeze.
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2017
  19. Big_Jim59

    Big_Jim59 Member

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    Lint likes this.
  20. GreginDenver

    GreginDenver New Member

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    I like this. You're right about the long term weeping/leaking from the water pump, my '99 is doing it to. I checked and the water pump is about $130. I can deal with that for a fix to take the bike another 18 or so years into the future.
     
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