Hello Everyone! First Bike! Need Advice!

Hello Everybody! I just wanted to say Hi and introduce myself to the community. This forum is great! There are some absolutely beautiful bikes on this site! Anyway, I picked up an 02 vfr 800 3 days ago. The plastics (what's left of them) and tank are red, its got black wheels and only 7200 miles on her. This is my first bike. I've ridden my friend's dirt bikes for a few years and finished the moto safety course a few weeks ago.

First of all I just wanted to say that everyone seems really nice here and eager to help someone out with a problem or question. I also own a 03 Nissan Maxima 6 speed and things can sometimes get pretty ugly over at maxima.org (too much newbie bashing).

I had some questions too. The bike has been down on both sides, so it needs a lot of TLC. Here's what i think needs to be fixed:
- All the plastics (lots of scratches and road rash, only the front cowl is actually cracked and seperated tho)
- The rear brake pedal (it's broken off and just barely sticking out enough to get ur foot on it)
- New tires
- The handlebars are a little crooked to the right (Can someone explain how i fix this?)
- Theres a small dent in the gas tank

For the plastics on the bike, they're quite expensive from a dealer, right? I've also read how to fix them myself with epoxy, sand paper, etc., but I'm not sure if i want/can devote that much time to fixing pretty much every plastic piece. I saw whole new fairing kits on eBay. Has anybody used these? Are they of good quality? Would I be better off going to a body shop to have all the work done so that they could color match all painting including the gas tank?

For the foot brake pedal, I've seen some on ebay for really cheap, but they've all been for other generation vfr's. I was told they're over $100 new from the dealer, don't know if thats true or not, but I'd like to save money where I can.

The bike has no maintenance records. Theres no plates and registration has been expired for 15 months. I was gonna start with an oil change but what else should i do?

The bike rides really well. I've just been cruising around my neighborhood trying to get a feel for her. That VTEC transition is music to my ears!

Any opinions or advice to any of the areas above is really appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris

 

Welcome! The first thing I would do is make sure the registration is not going to set you back too much. From what i read in your post it doesn't look like you registered it yet. Make sure it wasn't totaled by the insurance company and now has a salvage title. Where did you buy it? Was it from a private owner or dealer? After that gets settled you can start worrying about the maintenance.

As for the plastic, that would be the last thing i looked at repairing. Get the bike mechanically sound first. If the bars are bent that could lead to all sorts of issues or possible headaches. Are you sure the frame is not bent too? I don't want to scare you but it sounds like the plastics are the least of your worries right now.

When you do get around to the plastics, I personally would just go new and not repair it. You can check sites that have the parts catalogs to see the part numbers for the things you need. Bikebandit.com is ok for finding the parts but the prices can be a bit high. Keep the old plastic around and hang it on your garage wall as your own personal "wall of shame". It's a great conversation piece and it shows credibility to other riders who see it. You just have to bend the facts a little and omit the fact you bought the bike that way! :thumb:

Once again welcome and don't be affraid to ask questions. There are a lot of great people on this site (yes even drewl!) Good luck!

 

Congrats, and welcome! Also consider changing the coolant, brake fluid, clutch fluid, lube the throttle cables, and things of that sort. If it is mechanical and moves, it might need cleaning and/or new lube. Check the wrecking yards for a brake pedal.

 

Welcome aboard.

 

You're correct. It's not registered yet. I just got it insured a few days ago and got it inspected yesterday. I bought it from a guy out in the country who bought it from a college student. He was going to fix it up but had other toys to pay for. Anyway, I had two metzler z6's put on but found out the front rim is bent a little bit. The forks aren't bent though, don't think the frame is either. They straightened out the handlebars too. They said I need new front wheel bearings also.

So what are my options for replacement rims? Do i have to go stock replacement or can i find a 17x3.5 rim that is similar, maybe off of another bike? Do other gen vfr rims fit the 6th gen? For example, will this work? - eBay Motors: front wheel rim VFR750 VFR 750 750f 90 91 92 93 (item 180164231177 end time Jun-23-08 21:46:26 PDT) I guess I'll look into fixing the bent rim as well.

I know I'm asking a lot of questions. I'll do some more research tomorrow, it's just hard to find time with work and play to dedicate time to research and fix up this bike. Thanks for all your help guys, I really appreciate it, and if anybody has an extra rim that they're willing to part with, lemme know. I already put up a WTB ad in the marketplace.

P.S. The guy i bought it from threw in a K&N air filter he had bought. I put it on last night. So I opened up the air filter housing box to find 5 dirt dobber nests sitting on the air filter. Lol i guess thats what happens when you leave a bike in a barn for almost a year.

Thanks again,
Chris

 

Thanks I'll look into all of these things. Someone recommended drilling a hole through the end of the brake pedal and attaching a bolt,nut and washer on there for temporary use. I might try this if i get bored. Lol its already fubar anyway...

 

Looks like Maier doesn't make fairings for our 800 viffers :frown:

Those full fairing kits on ebay are looking better by the day.

 

Welcome to the group. Looks like you have a bit of a project. If the front wheel is bent, definately look at the forks too (since you noted the bars appear to be misaligned). As said earlier, worry about plastics last. I take it you are still learning some and if you should drop it at some point, rashing up already rashed plastics is better than rashing up new ones. ;-) However, I don't have the link handy, but I think there is a place that will repair them for you and make them look near new if not new. Let me see if I have the link.....hang on.........Ah, here it is. Contact the Plastic Doctor. The link is below.

Again, welcome and best of luck getting yout new (to you) viffer on the road.

The Plastic Dr.

 

Thanks for the link and encouragement i guess LOL. I paid 3K for the bike knowing it was gonna need some work, so putting (hopefully) only 2k back into it isn't a problem at all. I've only spent $300 on new tires. I'm waiting on a full fairing bolt kit to come in so that I can put the side fairings back on. Right now she's pretty naked :bootyshake2: and has no coolant cap...cows ate it

 

Hey Welcome!
I'm new to this site too and new to VFR's.
Sound like me and you are going through a similar process at the moment....I bought a 2004 VFR800 and my hubby and I are in the process of rebuilding her after a lowside. I have the advantage that most of my main plastics are in good shape, but I'm missing so many little bits! Drives you batty!
She (Charlotte) arrived in rideable condition but in a matter of a week she looks like this:

Looking pretty sad but she will be whole again with all her "bits" and a new paint job to boot!

We ordered our fairing bits from BikeBandit....lots of slection, descent prices, easy to use website, but we will see how shipping and quality goes in a week or so when the parts arrive.

Looking forward to seeing before and after pics of both of our bikes!
Good luck and may things go smoothly!:smile:

Emily

 

^^ Wow! Looks like yall have put a lot of time and hard work into Charlotte! Same to you, good luck with your build! I'll take a few pics and throw em up here soon.

I got the bike registered today so she finally has plates and is legal to ride on the streets. The only plastic piece thats gonna needs some real major work is the front cowl around the head lights. I need to get a hold of the front fender hugger for the front tire and also the two pieces that connect teh front cowl to the side fairings. Looks like yall are doing the build yourselves? I wish i had the experience, tools and knowledge to do that myself, really save in labor bills!

 

It's great to have a husband who likes to take things apart and is pretty darn good at putting it back together too! He's one of those guys that just has to have it right.....great for me and Charlotte!:smile:

 

I just wanted to give an update on the bike and hopefully get some advice as well.

It's registered, insured, has new metzler z6's, new front wheel bearings, and a new (used) front rim. Thanks again flameface! The old one was bent and was causing a lot of vibration.

Mechanically, the bike seems to be running pretty good. However, theres one thing I've noticed. Occassionally, on a cold start, the bike will run somewhat sluggish until it warms up. Is this normal? The throttle doesn't respond well. One time i shifted it into 1st gear and it died. Once the bike warms up, it runs and drives fine though.

Ok now for the fairing pieces.
Here's what I have:
- headlight fairing
- 2 left lower side fairings
- 1 right lower side fairing
- 1 left side panel cover
- tail fairing
- rear seat cowl
Every piece needs some work though.

Here's what i lack:
- front tire hugger piece
- The V shaped piece that connects the main lower side fairings.
- Small right side panel cover

I've decided that I want to paint the bike Black. It seems like a ton of work to get the fairing pieces I have back in good condition so I'm considering these ebay fairing kits from Hong Kong. Does anybody know someone with a VFR who has bought one of these kits from ebay? I've read the feedback comments and it seems kinda iffy whether or not you get a good set. Some are perfect with no problems while some have fitment issues, or the paint melts near the exhaust, or have paint brush marks, etc. I'm thinking you just can't beat an entire fairing set for $700.


Help me out here guys,
Chris