New but old

Hi there, just bought this yellow 1999 FiX. Thing is its the second time I've owned this bike having bought it as a 2 year old in 2001 and then sold it to a work colleague after I'd had it about 5 years. I sold it with about 35000 miles on the clock and it was immaculate, and AFAIK it's only done about 5K miles or less since 2005.

I'm expecting to have to replace a few parts, but it had new chain, sprockets, rear shock and rectum-frier so all that's left is the possibility of a rotten exhaust collector box. It had a Honda service history in its early years. I'm not concerned though as it was a joy to be able to get it back - and for a realistic price. It's going to be a keeper and I will do my best to bring it to an 'as new' condition. There's nowhere near as much pre-VTEC stuff on the net as there was back then so body parts etc might be a challenge if I need any.

It had the 'Buzzin Hornets' decals put on it by the first owner - no idea why - but I kept them because it made it a little more distinctive.

It's gonna sit in the garage next to my 04 CB1300 and and I will love, cherish, honour and obey it in exactly the same way as my wife!!!

Anyway it's great to be a VFR owner once again and here's a snap of it from about 2004. Can't wait to get it back in my garage then back on the roads and listen to that V4 howl that I fell in love with back then.

Martin

 

Hi and welcome to the MadHouse:welcome:


Its great to see a photo with your first post.:thumbsup:

If they are looked after, these bikes are good for much higher mileages, and if that's all the attention it needs after 9 years, then it sounds like you left it with a pretty good caretaker!

Take care





SkiMad

 

Oy yes they certainly do last well and it's 'caretaker' did indeed look after it and hardly rode it. I badgered her on and off for ages until she relented and sold it back! Admittedly I haven't actually seen it, but these things operate on trust! No reason to doubt.

Thanks for the welcome

 

:welcome: to the zoo mate :wave:
Glad to see the girl return to the original owner :thumb:
Glad to have you ride safe and ATGATT

 

woo hoo welcome back to viffer land !
:smileyfb:

 

Arranged to collect mid June, but this will involve hiring a van, getting some sort of ramp and a long drive!

 

Well I picked the bike up after a 200+ mile round trip. It's been about 8 years since I last saw the bike when I sold it on and now it's back with me. I was a bit shocked at some of the furry corrosion and the front forks are NASTY. The bike had been stored in an outbuilding open to the elements and under a plastic sheet. Therefore, the mold set in and it was very smelly. Didn't want to start and when I noticed that the road tax expired in October 2008 it gave an indication of when it was last turned over. I was edgy about trying to turn the engine over and in the end thought better of it.

Once home I hooked it up to the trickle charger. Nothing. Hooked it up to the car and the electrics came on, including the FI light and the LCD display. Phew! I suppose that means the fuel pump started to send petrol round the system, but I haven't cranked it at all and then turned it off. Hooked it up to a charger and then set about draining oil and coolant. Tank off, fuel drained - just incase it was sat in there for 6 years going off!

I'll get some oil coolant and fuel in then turn it over and all being well set about making it roadworthy. Most of the fasteners and connectors are corroded and there's a lot of of furry mess on the alloy parts. I'd welcome any comments about rectifying that, but a gentle stiff brush and some Muck-Off has already made a difference. If anyone has got any wisdom about the nasty condition of the forks I'd appreciate that too.

In the end, I'll accept that it's been laid up for 6 years and gone moldy, but it was a decent price and was bought as a long term keeper and restoration project seeing as I used to own it and regret selling it on! I've also got all the old MoT certificates, service book and old bills - some of which are in my name, and the seat cowl, so all is good really! Just those nasty forks with perished seals giving me the heebie-jeebies!

 

Wow...I would be heart broken if I sold a pristine bike and got it back years latter in that condition...good luck cleaning her up....maybe repaint the forks****
Hows the rest of the bike besides what you mentioned? Did she lay it down? Tires are probably rotten. Keep us informed

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Thanks Duccmann. The tyres look OK, particularly the rear, but I'm going to get the dates from them and depending on that see if I need to change them. Fork seals utterly perished and of course the finish on them has disintegrated. Rear shock outer tube has surface corrosion but the spring looks OK.

The coolant was a good consistency and very clean and green so that was encouraging and at least it looks like it's been replaced in the not too distant past. Expansion tank was grotty inside at the bottom though and the old coolant had formed a bit of a crusty residue inside. TBH, not any worse that anything else I've seen. The oil came out OK and wasn't sludge so again it looks like it's been replaced 'fairly' recently.

I don't know about the US, but here, when a car or bike reaches its third year from new it has to have an annual test. It's called an MoT and you can't use it on a road without one being in force. It checks lights, horn, shocks, brakes, rust, wheel and head bearings, tyres etc. This bike's last one of those was in 2010, so it must have been started up and allowed to run back then. That makes it a maximum of four years since it last ran, so not as bad as I thought! It's also done only 31,000 miles which is not bad either.

Bodywork is very good though. A Minor scratch on the front mudguard, but everything else is clean, no chips scratches or cracks, which will save me a fortune. All in all the condition is not as good as I hoped, but not as bad as I feared. Wheels still have the polished black finish but there are some chips here and there and surface grot which may be road dirt, old oil or grease that I need to have a really good go at. It doesn't look like the corrosion has penetrated the wheel finish and pitted them though.

Brakes seem to work but the rear caliper is dragging a bit more than I would like. Pistons may have seized slightly or it's just lack of use. I'll change pads, clean the calipers and change the brake fluid. I haven't bled a CBS system before so that could be fun!

One really good thing is that's had a new stainless exhaust and it looks good. No idea what make it is.

My only worry as I sit here with a cup of the at 8am is whether it will turn over when I start it. If it's seized then I'm in loads of trouble! I'm not mechanically minded beyond basic servicing, so this could be a real learning opportunity for me.

 

Well Yellow..that bike is lucky to have you to give CPR too...sounds like ya know yur shit......good luck ...oh.. haven't heard the word grody in a long time got a good chuckle...thanks
Take lots of pictures...before and after..I know you posted some already...hope it starts.

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It might be worth the time to turn the engine over by hand. Make sure it does turn over without any issues. Also remove the valve covers & have look inside prior to turning over. A little oil sprayed on the top end prior to starting on an engine thats been sitting for awhile is a good idea too.

 

My forks look a lot like yours with bad peeling and corrosion on the lowers, but the seals are spot on. What do people reckon is the best way to re-finish these?


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"rectum-frier"
Lmaooooooooo


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Good luck on your project.

What's up with that shiny exhaust? Is that a full S/S system, or has it just managed to withstand mother nature?

 

Plus one. The 98-99 definitely don't come from the factory with SS exhausts... What's up with that??


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It's had a new s/s exhaust at some stage in the last few years. I've had a chance to look at it and it looks fine. No idea what make it is - been looking for a manufacturer's stamp but can't see one.

I'm picking up new washers for coolant drain bolts, fuel sender banjo and sump plug and then I'll refill the oil and coolant, hook up the fuel tank and give it a crank to start.

My shopping list so far includes:

Remove, strip, powder coat forks and replace seals/oil etc
Replace monoshock. It has a completely rusted damper and the spring doesn't look too good
New air filter. The air box has lost a corner due to seized screw on top right hand side. I think it seals well enough without that one screw. Filter grubby but not too bad
New fairing bolts. Not expensive, but there's no way the tired and rusted ones are going back on.
New brake pads. Obviously really, but I've had them out and although they're good ones with plenty of meat left they're a cheap replacement in the grand scheme of things
Braided hoses: brake line banjos are all rusty and the hoses are 15 years old so they're being replaced. Bleeding the system will be a challenge if the workshop manual is anything to go by!

There's tons of corrosion on everything underneath the bike. Subframe is rusted in one place under the under tray but I think it will respond well to a good clean and some paint. Some of the fixings are shagged and heads are mashed so getting them out is a problem, but not a deal-breaker. Wheels are unfortunately pitted through the gloss black finish. They'll be coming off and going to a repair specialist to strip and re-paint.

We'll see tomorrow if it starts!

 

see my last update

 

Good Luck! Hope she starts! If your looking for new hardware try (link) : Pro Bolt 99-01 VFR800

There is quite a selection titanium, stainless, anodized, fairing kits, engine kits....

 

Today saw the moment of truth looming. New washers for drain plugs and fuel line banjo installed, new Honda-approved coolant and some new Honda approved oil were put in. Tank refilled with clean unleaded and then a big cross of the fingers and I was ready to give it a go.

Gingerly and with some nervousness the key went to position 2 and then I gently tickled the starter button.

It started first time on the button! No plumes of smoke from the rear, no leaking oil and only a little dribble from a coolant pipe which stopped when I tightened up the nearest jubilee clip. I tried it once again and it sprang into life a second time so I put it in 1st and gently let the clutch out. Rear wheel span nicely.

The remaining work is going to be largely cosmetic, but there is a lot of it, but at least the very expensive bits are working!

More later.