Considering a 93 VFR, need help from the experts.

Hello VFR Forum!

So today I went and saw a 1993 VFR750F, it's just under 17k miles, has spent most it's time sitting for the past 4 years, the owner would start it up and run it once or twice a month just to keep things moving.

Bike was originally from California, followed the current owner to New York where it began being a garage queen.

The goods: It has had the valves checked and maintenance done when it needed it, owner has cared for it and not abused it like a lot of bikes this age. It had a replacement chain about 4k miles ago, but the sprockets appear to be original.

The Bad/not so great: Previous previous owner cut off the under tail fender section for a tail tidy kit, not a huge deal to me but it makes it unoriginal.

It has a replacement fuel tank that has a dent in it, apparently the original tank was rusting and clogging the carbs, so he got it cleaned and coated, but it was still causing issues after that. So he got a new correct year and paint tank, but it has a little dent on the right side.

It needs new grips, not a huge deal

The fairings are complete, but they have a few smaller marks, and some cracking around the mounting points, I imagine any kind of impact would cause them to shatter, but the paint is in great shape all around and matches across all surfaces.

He does not have the original grab handles, but does have the cowling for the seat.

So my question to the forum, how much is this bike really worth? he is asking 4200 but said he could be flexible. I am thinking of throwing 3500 out there and seeing how close we can come to 3800, is that reasonable or should I try and dig a bit harder? I really want a VFR, and this is the best condition one I have found in 8 months of looking.

Thank you all so much!

 

Seems a bit pricey....but I do not really know. Sounds like a nice bike though... Keep us posted!

 

Seems like you could get a lot more bang for the buck for $3,500. I see 5th gens for $2500 +/- fairly consistently in the CT/MA/NY area. Got mine on the cheap last winter for $600. '95 with 17K miles, bit of rash on 1 side. Hadn't been run in 3 years so I couldn't even hear it run - took a gamble that paid off for me. I basically needed to clean/seal the tank, pull and clean carbs, new R/R , battery and tires. Very solid bike. I feel like I got an incredible deal, but even so, I think you could do better for $3,500 if you check craigslist, etc. every single day, are willing to drive a few hours, and have cash in hand.

 

I use that "zoom the list" craigslist search engine where I can quickly search entire states.

 

I paid $500 for a 93 bike that did not run, turned over, so I knew the motor was'nt seized. Worse came to worse, I could have sold the rear wheel and still would not have been majoraly upside down. The bike had 15,000 miles on and had screwed up carbs as well as a nasty gas tank. Had to spend a good day cleaning the calipers out and installing new brake pads all around. I am gona overhaul the clutch master cylinder as well as install a new slave cylinder. Bike came with fairly new tyres and chain and sprocket. Had to deal with a new R/R and bought a battery - did OEM clutch plates and springs and I am still into the bike for around $2000 give or take a few hundred bucks. This bike will run 140mph and goes to work 120 miles a week or so its reliable and sharp looking. Had to go for a seat cover too, as the original seat had a tear. I bought it as a labour of love and really don't give a rats arse about spending money. I know what I got. This is my second gen3 bike, my 91 I know well, btw it does 150 on the top end still if I feel so inclinded.

I think the price your asking us about is too high for a 21 year old bike. There are gona be things that your gona have to replace and its just gona inflate the price further. Sometimes your heart can fuk you, don't go with it, economics 101 APPLIES yah know...:loco: Keep us posted

 

Yeah I know, I have crawled CL and Ebay for 8 months looking for good condition VFR's though, and this one is the only one that has come up close to me, and in running shape. All the others have been hulks needing a lot of work. This one is at least complete, running, and maintained. He has receipts from two dealerships for services to the carbs, the tank replacement, and valve work.

The nada guide says Excellent condition would be at $4400, This bike I would not qualify as excellent, more like great condition. Would $3k still be a bit much for the bike?

 

The cosmetics have to be really really nice!!! I am talking about a bike that might have fallen off its side stand in the driveway or did a ZERO speed tip over at a T-light. You have to ride it and that chit should be silky smooth, by this I mean 1st gear 1000 rpm around the neighborhood with no hick-ups. Its a lot of scratch for that bike. Its all about condition condition condition. I love mine, but I am a sick shallow bastard.

 

I looked at CL for three to for years before I found this 93 btw :loco:

 

Seems a bit high up front when considering any work you'll be putting into it.

As stated above, there are deals to be had out there.

For me, I did quite a bit of research on these bikes before I began actively searching for one. I wanted a bike that did a bit of everything on the road while looking great while doing it. When you read about their history, model differences, high points as well as low points (rectifiers, rear shock, etc), only then can you begin to hone in on which model (or bike) might fit you best. Of course, then there is also the factor of looks - which model looks best to you.

Once you've zeroed in on the points that important to you, you can reject and weed out a lot of bikes right off the bat. In time, while looking around (think searchtempest), the right bike will find you. It's a curious thing, but that's exactly what happened to me. Have standards of what you want out of your purchase, and don't settle for less. Nowadays we have Apps now let you create alerts with min and max price points and certain criteria. Call up the owners, chat on the phone a bit with them - sometimes you'll get all the information you need just by speaking with the them. I've weeded out a lot of options by just having a few minutes' worth of conversation with owners who simply seemed unmotivated to sell, or reluctant to answer some normal questions about a used bike. Let them talk. You will find clues as to how they've treated their machines.

Is the bike you've found expensive? I think it might be, yes. But patience here is key, as these bikes are now gems and those who know about them tend to hold on to them. I spent about 6 months searching for mine and I finally had one jump out at me when my search began to wane a bit. This bike was owned by an older gentleman who babied it, had all service records dating back to first owner and was bone stock. Yes, there were some things that i would need to sort out, like re-creating some missing tabs on my cowl for it to seat right, but things like that weren't deal breakers. This was a bike that needed nothing in order to be ridden - just a pilot. Back in March 2012, I paid $2500 for it. They're out there.

 

I bought my 91 in 95 for $4500, it had 4000 miles and was no stranger to the tarmac. It was painted in 06 and looks great now. Before it was a "Frankenstein Bike." Just some food for thought.

 

Holy crap I just bought a 1993 VFR today.....in NY with about the same mileage as the one you are looking at. My .02, that bike is worth about half of what he's asking. I know a guy in NJ that's selling a near mint 100% original 1990 VFR that might be about to be had for $2200 and it looks like it came off the showroom floor. The you described seems it was ridden hard and put up wet.

 

Wow...now that would be a good deal. Cycle trader has some as well...also shipping is not that bad!

 

I bought my absolutely mint 91 VFR this summer, in N.Y., for $1400. 34k miles. Runs like a top. So I think that is wayyyyy overpriced

 

Way too high! Around here you could get a nice running 5th gen for $3400 and the Dallas/Ft Worth market tends to run on the high side. Sitting is the worst thing you can do to a bike. Listen to ridervfr. The brakes will have to be gone through as well as the carbs and to top it all of the tank has a dent! I would insult his dignity and offer him $1400 and tell him why. He is the one that let the bike turn to crap.

 

^^^^This...that's funny too. I could picture the jaw dropped moment when explaining it like that. Lol...I would be like "you're right...$1400 it is"..."forgive me for my ignorance"