Looking at a 1992 VFR750

Hey guys, great forum!

I am new to it, and new to the motorcycling world in general. Only rode dirt bikes as a kid.

Today I stopped and looked at a 1992 VFR750 at a used dealer. It has 18,000 on it, but apparently sat for 6 years.

It fired up with some work, didn't idle great out the gate and had some backfires at first while revving it. Then it smoothed out. It is supposed to be all original but the exhaust looks aftermarket. She has been laid down on each side. it is missing a tail light lens, and the tires and dry rotted. The brake lines also look old and stiff. He said he'd put a good used tire on it for me. Asking $1850, said out the $1500 with the tire.

What do you guys think? Worth it? Mostly a commuter but I want to learn and get out on it some. Good idea for a first bike? I don't want a money pit, but I don't mind putting in some wrench time either.

Thanks for your input and suggestions in advance.

 

The price seems very good, so goferit. :smile:

Take it as-is, and plan to buy 2 new tires b4 you do much riding. Yes, muffler is aftermarket. Be aware that replacement bodywork for that model is nearly impossible to find. :dread:

 

New tires are going to cost you around 300 pesos. The fairings look fixable. A shop paint job after the repairs is going to go for at least another 300+.

The fairing parts for the 1990-1993s are available for many more pesos. They are made in Germany, France and here in the US in fiberglass.

Brake lines are available. It is likely the clutch and brake hydraulics need overhauled. Get a flashlight and look at the upper fork stanchions up under the front nacelle. If they are pitted they will need to be replaced or overhauled. The pits will cut they fork seals.

This in the sense of riding safely and further negotiation leverage on the price.

Some other factors come into play here too. Is the bike at a dealership or a private party sale. Get a look if any of the paperwork, invoices and receipts on the bike. Another is where the bike has lived. Sitting in a nice dry garage in SoCal or Arizona is one thing and sitting in a cold damp shed in the middle of one of those places that are famous for making American Motorcycles is another

Offer the guy a grand cash. One tip..That rear wheel alone is selling for as much as 400 pesos on some sites. This is one you don't want to discuss with the seller..

SQman is right on about the exhaust. It also looks like the windscreen is aftermarket too.

 

If it sat up for a while then the carbs may need to be pulled and cleaned, Cleaning carbs

 

Nice find. FWIW if, just so I happens I have a set of turn lenses too I like what Billy had to say here, as noted the rear wheel alone is almost half the cost. I agree to the $1000 bit, but these are getting hard to come by. tires, brakes, tune, chain & sprockets could easily go $1000, so now it's up to you to decide. Good luck.

 

Thanks! It is at a dealer, why he sat on it that long I have no idea. I figure the carbs will need a good cleaning regardless. And I plan on doing the fuel lines when I clean it. At this point I think I am gonna risk it but I have until Monday to decide.

He already turned down the $1000 cash offer.

 

Having until Monday sounds like something the dealer cranked in as a deadline. If that's the case back to your question of why the bike sat for so long even if the dealers didn't have possession.

I'd just not show up a deadline time and see where that goes. I assume the dealer has your phone # and Email addy. Is the dealer a Honda franchise or dealer? The offer of a grand will bring tears to the dealers eyes and he will whine that you are a lowballer. Cue the violins and stick to your guns. If you really want the bike, go in and tell him you have 1100 pesos cash in your wallet, listen for the waver in his voice and slumping shoulders and of course more tears. This routine has been well rehearsed so be prepared to walk. Don't say anything but thanks and head for the door.

Kind of like playing Texas Holdem..

 

Well I walked as it was. And I was going to wait until Tuesday or Wednesday anyway.

Any tips on other things I should look at on it?

 

He just emailed me, $1300 final offer

 

Any engine stuttering can be attributed to needing to go through the carbs or new plugs are needed. If the original regulator/ rectifier or an OEM replacement is on the bike it will fail and will need replacing at some time. This is no matter what some dude says about having a VFR that old and "his" bike has 300,000 miles on it.

Other things might include mice in the air cleaner or chewed wiring from other varmints, rust in the tank and some rubber parts that need replacing.

This guy probably got the bike for next to nothing see if you can get him down another hundred bucks by flashing cash.. and a sad story about your dog needing an operation or what a SOB that property tax guy is..

If the fairing is toast even though it looks like it's repairable there's always the streetfighter route.

BTW my VFR is a 1991..

 

I bought a 93 off cL for 500, all i knew was it cranked over. I commute on it now a few times a week. You can mitigate your risk as BB by selling the rear wheel if it blows up on yah. I needed a new gas tank and popped for an umolested aet of carbs. never looked back. Gona get a fender painted for my 91 which has your colours on it with some carbon fibre and purple pin stripes. The doode who originally painted the bike is gona go on a sailing excursion, wana catch him before he deaparts. Least your vody work is all "hangable" stuff.

 

The 1992 is on hold. Going to look at a 95 tomorrow...

"For sale is a 1995 Honda VFR750 with 54,000 miles. Nice condition for a 20 year old bike. A couple cracks in the fairings. All fairings are there and intact. Chain needs replaced as it will not stay adjusted. Comes with under seat tool kit, has tinted wind screen, and carbon fiber looking mirrors. Has a micron slip on exhaust that sounds great! I have owned the bike since 2012 and have only been able to put on about 6k miles. Oil changed before every season. Only about 1500 miles on new tires that were installed at the beginning of this season. Also new rear pads, new front wheel bearings, and new Lithium Ion battery. Extremely dependable and comfortable bike with fantastic reviews on the 94 to 97 VFR. If you have any question feel free to call text or email. If emailing me be sure make it obvious it is not a scam, include name and contact info if possible. Thank you

Price dropped to 1900. looking to buy another bike and would like to sell this one first."



Sounds like a better deal. I'm told the chain and sprocket kit is around $100

 

I lost out on a 95 because my wife had my car with the trailor hitch on it. Good bike, body panels are imho more hared to find than a gen3 bike. 54,000 clams is not un-daunting, just make sure that there are service records to prove some of the more important stuff. Bikes of this age can benefit from full carburetor overhauls as well as brakes. Btw, cooling system should have the t-stat replaced just on priniciples. Chain kit is more like 200 + I just did the chain and sprockets on my EX500 and got the DID kit for a steal at 106 dollars. eace: keep us in the loop.

 

Just by the looks of it, a bike like that '92 would need a new chain and sprockets too, so add about $190. :wink:

Go for the newer bike if it sounds and rides right.

 

I bet since you are "on hold" the dealer will come down some. Dealers generally do not like to have bikes on the floor that are not in good shape cosmetically especially if the are franchise holders. Car agencies work the same way. Some have blow out lots adjacent to the main premises or they wholesale out the beaters to get rid of them.

My gut says, the dealer with the 92 took the bike in on trade and lowballed the shit out of the owner probably gave him or her maybe 5-600 pesos for the bike.

If both bikes are from the same dealer, maybe do a swap of rear wheels before the dealer catches on to what they are worth.

The trick when dealing with dealers on bikes or cars that are difficult to sell is never get pissed or believe for one second that the dealer is going to lose money. Bottom line? A mod of the old saying by I think some old Chinese guy way back "Be all you can be" instead with dealers, its "Get all you can get", that's what they do.