As the title says I'm thinking about looking at a 2002 Viffer on Monday. It appears to be in good shape (haven't seen in person yet), custom painted white with black wheels and it has 15k miles. They're asking $3999 for it. Is that a reasonable price? Seems low to me just from what I've seen, but I haven't seen many first year ones out there.
When I go look at it, anything I should look for specifically?
For that price they are either a motivated seller, or something may be up with the bike. I'm guessing because it's custom painted, it may be the latter rather than the former...
[image: View Post]toddulu, on Aug 22 2009, 09:45 PM, said:
For that price they are either a motivated seller, or something may be up with the bike. I'm guessing because it's custom painted, it may be the latter rather than the former...
Yeah, I'm gonna ask about any title "anomalies". I saw the bike earlier being sold by a private seller on craigslist, and it seemed clean and legit, now it seems to be offered by a dealer (hard to miss because of the custom paint job).
FWIW, Motorcycle Consumer News Summer '09 used price guide lists the '02 at $4335 average retail value with this caveat...
"The prices given here are for the full
retail value of a stock motorcycle in a reconditioned or
clean, undamaged and well-maintained condition with average
mileage ready to be sold by a dealer or between individuals. The
value assigned is a national average"
That's certainly reasonable mileage for a 7-year-old bike. It also depends on what farkles the current or previous owners added, and whether or not they add value in your mind. Obviously, the custom paint job makes it not bone stock. Do you like it? Look for chain/sprocket wear and lubrication maintenance, dings on the fairing, has it ever been "down?" At speed or in the garage? Does everything look symmetrical when viewed from the rear? Does the current owner have maintenance records, or did he service everything himself? Was the Honda campaign for the main wiring harness ever performed on the bike?
If the bike is in good shape that's a reasonable price. If you're not too sure about evaluating a motorcycle's condition take a buddy with you whom you trust to know about these things when you check it out.
[image: View Post]dendron, on Aug 22 2009, 10:37 PM, said:
Motorcycle Consumer News Summer '09 used price guide lists the '02 at $4335 average retail value with this caveat...
"The prices given here are for the full
retail value of a stock motorcycle in a reconditioned or
clean, undamaged and well-maintained condition with average
mileage ready to be sold by a dealer or between individuals. The
value assigned is a national average"
That's certainly reasonable mileage for a 7-year-old bike. It also depends on what farkles the current or previous owners added, and whether or not they add value in your mind. Obviously, the custom paint job makes it not bone stock. Do you like it? Look for chain/sprocket wear and lubrication maintenance, dings on the fairing, has it ever been "down?" At speed or in the garage? Does everything look symmetrical when viewed from the rear? Does the current owner have maintenance records, or did he service everything himself? Was the Honda campaign for the main wiring harness ever performed on the bike?
If the bike is in good shape that's a reasonable price. If you're not too sure about evaluating a motorcycle's condition take a buddy with you whom you trust to know about these things when you check it out.
[image: View Post]LostCosmonaut, on Aug 22 2009, 09:15 PM, said:
As the title says I'm thinking about looking at a 2002 Viffer on Monday. It appears to be in good shape (haven't seen in person yet), custom painted white with black wheels and it has 15k miles. They're asking $3999 for it. Is that a reasonable price? Seems low to me just from what I've seen, but I haven't seen many first year ones out there.
When I go look at it, anything I should look for specifically?
- Patrick
Reasonable price for a bike that has been repainted and is in prime condition. Repainting adds some unknowns. Was the bike crashed? Is there any damage remaining under the fairings? Is the bikes geometry straight? Does it have a rebuilt title? Repaint is never as durable as the original. I am not saying it is a bad buy but you better be able to check it carefully and know what to look for. The ad says it has ABS which was a $1000 option when new, maybe worth $500 used if you want it. The 02 had 3 recalls, have they been done? Alternator, rear subframe, and wiring harness. Dealers mark the frame at the steering stem to show the work had been done. A dealer could verify this. The Alternator and subframe recalls have expired. The valves adjustments are pricey $400-$600. Honda recommends every 16,000 miles but that could be stretched to 32k miles.
I have seen immaculate low mileage 02's advertised on the Seattle Craigslist for around $5000-$5500. For me, I would wait for the cream puff bike that someone has meticulously cared for and used little and is finally getting rid of it because it is not been used and pay a $1000 more for it. It may take a few weeks or months but they do show up.
You can email me any questions you have. I am about an hour south of where the bike is.
Like others said above, if the bike is in good shape, has a 'clean' title and verifiable service records - including performed recalls - that price seems pretty good to me. Take a knowledgable buddy with you if possible, and please let us know how it turns out!
I just got over some serious electrical issues with my 2004 VFR so I wouldn't recommend a 2002-2005 VFR. Try to stick to 2006 and newer. The frustration is not worth the money saved.
Now I have worked out the electrical issues with my bike (thanks to my diligent and patient mechanic) but I want to sell it next season. I have never had a bike break down on me so much :mad:
*I should also mention that the dealer who performed the wiring harness recall on my bike f**ked it up. I just couldn't win!
2002 Honda VFR800 - $4000 (Redmond)
Date: 2009-08-24, 6:58PM PDT
Reply to: sale-a26uk-1340528765@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
Beautiful VFR! Just over 16,000 miles. Fresh oil, less than 500 miles on new rubber, brand new battery! Extras include Gore-tex jacket (m), two helmets, service manual, bag, oil filter socket and bike cover. This bike is well worth the $4k price tag.
Contact Chad @ 425-233-5369.
* Location: Redmond
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
[image: View Post]LostCosmonaut, on Aug 22 2009, 09:15 PM, said:
As the title says I'm thinking about looking at a 2002 Viffer on Monday. It appears to be in good shape (haven't seen in person yet), custom painted white with black wheels and it has 15k miles. They're asking $3999 for it. Is that a reasonable price? Seems low to me just from what I've seen, but I haven't seen many first year ones out there.
When I go look at it, anything I should look for specifically?
- Patrick
I loved my 2002 but learn a few things that Honda doesn't want you to know. The recall for the wiring harness is a big pain. I went round and round with my local Honda shop even to get it preformed. After they finally did it I started having a real problem with the bike just shutting off for no reason; going down the road, sitting still it didn't matter. The Honda shop wanted 135.00 an hour to work on the bike after their work seemed to be the cause. I'm a better then average mechanic but it still took a couple months to sort out the problem. The bike was giving codes for all kinds a stuff but it came down to the center pin in the stator connector was burned. To shorten up the reset of this story I did get it corrected but the real problem was the stator itself is prone to over produce on the 2002 bike! As it over produces the RR on the 2002 is a much-improved unit from the 5th gen model and it actually handles the voltage without failing but the result is burned up wiring and connectors I.E. the recall.
I ride a 2004 today but while I researched the problems on the 2002 I discovered several part # changes in the bikes and the old part # no longer available, yeah the stator is 1 of them. So if you buy the 2002 make sure the recall work included a new stator, as it's the real cause of the problems you will face and the stator will ohm out fine. 2002 was the first year of the 6th gen and Honda improved several parts for the 2003 up bikes.
The upside is I rode the hell out of the 2002; it saw track days, the mountains, several 2000 mile trips and 2 trips on the dyno for tuning.
End of thread · 12 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 10 Apr 2010