Hello, new to the VFRs. looking for advices.

Hello there, this is my first post so let me introduce myself, my name is William, im wiring from Mexico, i've fallen in love with a beautiful red 2002 vfr800. it looks very nice and clean, it will arrive tomorrow just for my birthday.

This vfr800 i'd like to buy, i dont know maintenance records since it was bought from an importer. the bike has 41k miles, i read that the v-tec is a PITA, and no good mechanics around here to work on it, even the local honda dealer doesn't have a qualified mechanic to work on big bikes, all they sell is pizza delivery 125-150cc bikes, remember im in Mexico.

I dont plan on keeping this bike for a long time, its cheap because the seller needs the money for family issues, and my idea is to buy it and sell it to make profit out of it, in the meantime i want to enjoy it for some time. I wont do long distance trips just ride it around town and every other weekend have short trips with my friends to towns nearby, some 1 hour rides on the highway, i know ill have to get used to the riding position of the vfr coming from a goldwing but i just want to try it.

What has me thinking is the v-tec service (every 16k miles??) that someone told me it was very expensive. next time i contact the seller ill ask if he has done the v-tec service. when i contacted him he said the bike is running good and has been well maintained you know oil changes, new drive chain, tires and that easy stuff..

i was also wondering about protecting the fairing, i dont pretend droping the bike but you never know, i'd like to get some sliders or something to protect the fairing in case it falls down, I no ticed that the radiators are on the sides and there is a reservoir on the left side. what othes do? is there any do it yourself thing??

Thanks.

 

later today i contacted the seller, he says that coming from the US he believes the first two 16k miles checkups are probably done and that the engine sounds really quiet and does not seem to need to have the valves checked or adjusted. he is a principal of a national motorcycle mechanics school so i guess he knows whats he is talking about.

 

Welcome to the site.

Many here will tell you its not necessary to adjust the valves at every 16K. Some will, some won't. If its been done twice in 48,000 miles, I think you are probably worry free for at least another 20,000 miles. It can be expensive to have it done - figure about $600 to $800 USD. That's a lot of dollars, and mucho pesos.

There are 2 things I'd be concerned with.

1. The 2002 to 2006 models had a recall done for a wiring harness. When the recall was completed, the VIN would be noted. The option - once you have the bike - is to call a Honda dealer and they can run the VIN number for you and tell you if it was done.

2. The Regulator/Rectifier (R/R) is known for being a problem. You can get by on bald tires, worn chain, and maybe even let your oil go an extra 100 miles. But when a R/R quits, its for good. There's no fixing it. You need to replace. You can search this site for all sorts of information on R/R.

As the seller if he knows if the recall was done, or if the R/R was replaced.

As for frame sliders: for a VFR, most of them require you drill holes in the fairings to make them function properly. Your call. Or, just be careful and don't drop her!

Other than that, I'd say keep the chain adjusted, tires inflated, change your oil, and ride!

Oh yea - you have to post some pictures when you take delivery.

 

2 more things:

That's a nice birthday present.

If you were riding a Goldwing, that definitely weighs more than the VFR. You should be fine keeping the VFR upright.

 

truely great bike ,if it has been serviced well you have no worries , these bikes have been known to cover 150000 miles without any bother, ss exhaust front to back is a good idea, get on and enjoy ps check tyre pressure before you head off 36psi front 42psi on the back. good luck m8. check out on the webb mcn reviews