Hi All, I have just bought a 1999 VFR800Fi-X, my first VFR, but the latest in a few Hondas. I'm over thirty, live in Dublin (that's Ireland ) and have been biking for about 15 years. Due to Ireland's daft laws for getting a bike license I had an old unlimited license that I let lapse during a return to study and had to start all over in a learner class before getting back to unlimitedness. The major rub, is that I just got rid of my ZZR, but my VFR is getting a Micron sytem fitted before I get it and so have to wait a few days. I have had one quick shake down spin, minutes only, and that is it. She is red, with new BT020s and a dark screen. Gorgeous! So I'm patiently eating my own fingers in anticipation of getting the damn thing. I commute to work from the northwest of the city through country roads and then the city centre, Dublin being one of the only European capitals left that stills allows main traffic down medieval streets! There's one that takes the piss even worse than that, Werburgh street was laid down by the Vikings! Still, it is fun and I reckon the VFR should cope well. Occasionally I take the motorway which means a lot of filtering (lane splitting as I beleive our American cousins refer to it). I started my professional life in the aerospace maintenance industry so I like to keep my hand in doing some spannering. I have a Haynes manual on the way and am looking forward to getting hold of the red beast and getting to know it! Cheers, Ascalon
Welcome Ascalon, its good to have you. You are getting a wonderful bike. I've had a 99 and absolutely loved it. Remember to post up some pics when you get her.
Hi Ascalon - welcome to the forum!! Hope you get to have many happy miles with your viffer. I've got a Y2K and reckon the only way I will give it up is when they have to fit me for a pine overcoat - and even then I reckon I will still put up a fight!:tongue: Plenty of stuff here to trawl through with lots of people happy to offer advice. I don't envy you having to ride around in the city on cobbled streets(?) - "challenging" is the word I'm thinking of. Since your gracing this forum with a soon to be delivered '99 model - here's something to drool over and take the pressure off the nail biting! Sadly its not mine but damn if it ain't sweet. Cheers!, Skid
Cheers for the welcome people. Interestingly, I'd seen that bike before. It is nice, I like the detail of the dark darts over the indicators to accentuate the dog tooth styling. Yeah, I've been lurking for a while now since I made the decision to purchase. The running temp is one thing that struck me as oddd, but the info here reassured me it was within spec for type. Sure, I'll post a pic when I get the damn thing! ;-) A
Hi Ascalon, welcome to the group. You have chosen well for your next ride. VFR's typically are next to bullit proof, and I think that fact shows through in the forum. While there are issues from time to time, they are the exception rather than the rule, IMO.
hey congrats. you'll have to get us some pics. that sounds like an awesome commute. and, when I get over that direction, I expect you to show me a great pub!
Thanks to all. I finally got my hands on it yesterday evening.There is a small job to be done on it, in so far as the rear joining bracket from the down pipes to the collector box is fairly knackered. The previous owner who is a mate, has the parts plus a new set of header gaskets for me so it is just a matter of getting the time. One or two foibles though, This morning I turned on the ignition and set the clock on it. It worked fine. Then when I actually started it about 20 minutes later, it reset to 1:00am. Is this a common problem? I also, in trying to adjust the front brake lever angle, discovered the problem with the electrical connectors for the brake light switch fouling the bars. Is there an alternative switch you can fit to alleviate the problem? One maybe, that has a set of connectors at right angles to the normal mount? All suggestions gratefully welcomed. Apart from that, it is an absolutely superb machine. The ride is firm but pliant, the steering is responsive and the BT020s give excellent feel. For a big machine, she tips in easily and responds well to a little knee input which to me is a sign of a well balanced bike. And the power spread is truely amazing. A quick overtake on the motorway this morning produced a surge of acceleration that felt controlled and natural until I looked at the bloody clocks! Naughty boy! A minor niggle is that I think the left handlebar is slightly bent downward, only a minor thing but noticable. I presume with this alloy there's not much point in trying to correct it? I'll have to think about it and maybe visit Fleabay for a spare. Right now I'm too intoxicated by the lovely V-four boom from the Micron end can! All the best, Ascalon
My '00 model was doing the same thing last year. One theory is that the voltage regulator/rectifier (a known weak point) is on the way out. Didn't seem to be the case for me, the reg/rec from that day is still there. I did have a battery die on me earlier this year though. *shrugs*
