New North Jersey VFR owner

Hey all!

I had been looking for a VFR for about a year, and lurking around the VFR site for info and classifieds for even longer. I already have to thank you all for the pre-purchase info that I learned by hanging around here...

First, I found a used white 1991 model. I was excited because I think that the white looks awesome. It had less than 20K miles (if memory serves), left side exhaust, and I think that the white looks great, but during my inspection of the bike, there were two things that made me walk - one, the seller said that the bike had never crashed, but it was a 1991 with white paint, and I fairly sure that 1991 only came in red. The seller had no comment on the mismatch... The second item is that the bike was leaking fluid. It was on the body, and smelled foul like gear oil, but it seemed like it was diluted by a gas leak... I could not find the source of the leak, but it seemed like it could turn out to be a nightmare.

Anyway, about 8 months later, I caught an ad for a 2000 with about 63K miles. The engine had been replaced at about 48K. At first, that made me a bit nervous, but once I saw the seller's garage and how perfectly maintained EVERY item in it, I felt a lot better about the whole thing. (Every item in the garage was organized and labeled, and it was cleaner than my kitchen.)

The bike itself looked very well maintained, so I checked it out twice and bought it. It came with a PCIII, heated grips, a Sargent seat, some carbon accessories, a micron slip-on, a custom installed volt meter, and a variety of extra parts, manuals and such. The only thing it needs are tires, and, for some reason, the lights behind the speedo and tach don't work. the needle is lit, but that's all. I have to see if it's a fuse or what...

This is actually my first bike. All of my previous riding experience has been on a Nighthawk 250 and an S40, both owned by others, so I was a bit worried about the power, etc., but I find that the VFR is actually easier to ride and is not too much bike if you use your brain and ride within my limits.

I am going to try to keep riding until the weather gets too cold for my own good.

If there are any VFR riders in the area, I would love to get together and see your rides! Also, I would love an opportunity for someone around who really knows VFRs to take my bike for a ride and see if they can point me to any items that I should maintain sooner than later. Lastly, any recommendations on places to take it for mechanical stuff that I can't/won't do myself would be awesome!

Thanks!
Sam

I can't seem to attach an image, so here is a link to a pic of the bike...

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1281812977/gallery_19464_5533_49841.jpg

 

Welcome aboard

 

Sharp loooking ride, Welcome to the world.

 

Geez my 99 only has 16k on it and it doesn't look that nice. Nice find. How do you like that sargent seat, I've been interested in picking one up when i get the cash.

 

Welcome aboard, Sam. Hope your enjoying your new ride.

I'm a north Jersey guy too (lived in Bloomfield for about 7 years), but I'm west on Route 80 now in Mt. Olive. Probably about 45 minutes or less.

I'm no VFR expert by any means, but if you want to meet sometime and grab a beverage/breakfast/lunch, just let me know. I at least know all of the basics about the bike, and seeing as how our bikes are twins, we could do a little side by side comparison!

Let me know.