I bought a 99 VFR back in April. It's a lovely motorcycle except...... After having two BMW's, a Suzuki, and a Honda CB550, I've never been left at the side of the road stranded. Not sure if I can trust the bike any more. Although I got stranded almost 90 miles from home I was lucky enough to be only 20 or so miles from the dealer where I bought it. I was also lucky enough to have a Honda pre-owned warranty.
Anyone here going to talk me out of Ebay-ing it when the repairs are done?
While on a 10K tour of the US, my rr died just as I past the Memphis city limits sign. I had a spare and was running again within an hour. RRs do fail, and I always carry a spare, (now 5 yrs. old) but the current one has about 70K and still works fine. Purchase a spare and rest your mind at ease.
E baying the bike as a result of this experience is the same as selling it because it needs tires. VFR's are reliable bikes. RR's fail as they are electrical components with a limited life span. I have had RR's fail in cars, trucks, bikes and marine applications. Just replaced the part and partied on. Keep the bike. BTW, there are much more compact multi-meters available now days if you truly feel compelled to carry one. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Unfortunatly some people think its ok to sell a bike that is giving them problems. I suspect it was showing signs of rr failure when it was sold to you, rather than just replacing the bad parts and keeping the bike (my option) since I have had the same issues on my 120,000 mile vfr as well (I took care of the problem and fixed it) - I consider it a cost of doing buisness really. RR's and stators having been replaced over the years, I have however got my moneys worth. As far as being stranded well it was a used bike and it should have been checked out before you took it out. Me I have a voltage meter installed on the dash - a led tells me the charging system condition and gives me a heads up if there is trouble brewing.
An RR is a considered a consumable almost like tires on a motorcycle. Other bikes tend to have them last a bit longer however a vfr seems to burn them out a bit more since it is on the design edge concerning how many watts you can safely deliver with an internal motor mounted stator and external RR system. Its pretty much on the ragged edge for how much wattage you can deliver with that type of charging system. Bigger bikes go with a car type alternator that is mounted off of the motor and stays cooler usually driven by a belt. VFRS are sport touring bikes so they upped the wattage to handle extra watt loads like communications systems, heated grips, heated vests, and it can handle those items, its just that well it tends to push the limit. I have not had to replace much on my bike in terms of total cost just a couple of RR's and a Stator I would say its reliable alright. So your confidence is shaken, - replace the parts, get a voltmeter and monitor it, and ride many happy miles.
Yeah definintely no need to ebay it over the RR. Get your new RR and VFRness from Tightwad and get back to riding. It's also a good time to wire up a set of grip heaters if you live in an area that will get cold.
AndyJ, Sep 13 2009, 06:34 AMYeah definintely no need to ebay it over the RR. Get your new RR and VFRness from Tightwad and get back to riding. It's also a good time to wire up a set of grip heaters if you live in an area that will get cold.
Yeah I know. I'm gonna keep it. Just frustrating seeing Harleys out riding and a Honda down for the count. I guess I was just venting a little. As far as handling and rideability this is the most confidence inspiring motorcycle I've ever planted my fat arse on. Felt like it was made just for me.
I am reluctant to install an aftermarked R/R or stator because the motorcycle is on a Honda pre-owned warranty. It was serviced by the P.O. at the dealer where I bought her. Hopefully Honda's OEM replacement will cure the problem. Regardless, I'm an industrial electrician and have good supply of 12v cooling fans and heat sinks from bad frequency inverters I can rob and install which may happen. I'm also thinking about doing what others have done and relocating the R/R where it can get more ambient air flow like under the tail section somewhere.
AndyJ, Sep 13 2009, 06:34 AMYeah definintely no need to ebay it over the RR. Get your new RR and VFRness from Tightwad and get back to riding. It's also a good time to wire up a set of grip heaters if you live in an area that will get cold.
Yeah I know. I'm gonna keep it. Just frustrating seeing Harleys out riding and a Honda down for the count. I guess I was just venting a little. As far as handling and rideability this is the most confidence inspiring motorcycle I've ever planted my fat arse on. Felt like it was made just for me.
I am reluctant to install an aftermarked R/R or stator because the motorcycle is on a Honda pre-owned warranty. It was serviced by the P.O. at the dealer where I bought her. Hopefully Honda's OEM replacement will cure the problem. Regardless, I'm an industrial electrician and have good supply of 12v cooling fans and heat sinks from bad frequency inverters I can rob and install which may happen. I'm also thinking about doing what others have done and relocating the R/R where it can get more ambient air flow like under the tail section somewhere.
Don't worry about doing the aftermarket R/R a lot of here have done it with no problems. One thing you may want to do is the VFRness that Tightwad made I have not one issue with my system but as a precaution as I was planning on going to the Dillion meet this summer, I bought a new R/R and the VFRness harness from Tightwad and installed it. You may want to do this as one of your first mods.
AndyJ, Sep 13 2009, 06:34 AMYeah definintely no need to ebay it over the RR. Get your new RR and VFRness from Tightwad and get back to riding. It's also a good time to wire up a set of grip heaters if you live in an area that will get cold.
Yeah I know. I'm gonna keep it. Just frustrating seeing Harleys out riding and a Honda down for the count. I guess I was just venting a little. As far as handling and rideability this is the most confidence inspiring motorcycle I've ever planted my fat arse on. Felt like it was made just for me.
I am reluctant to install an aftermarked R/R or stator because the motorcycle is on a Honda pre-owned warranty. It was serviced by the P.O. at the dealer where I bought her. Hopefully Honda's OEM replacement will cure the problem. Regardless, I'm an industrial electrician and have good supply of 12v cooling fans and heat sinks from bad frequency inverters I can rob and install which may happen. I'm also thinking about doing what others have done and relocating the R/R where it can get more ambient air flow like under the tail section somewhere.
On my 99' VFR, I left the r/r where it was, and cut the side panel, near the r/r, to allow more air flow. Never had a problem with the r/r EVER (100k later). Also gave me room to adjust my after market rear shock knob thingy..... Just lucky, or more air flow.... Who knows?
Yes, get two R/Rs and a VFRness from Tightwad (www.wiremybike.com), carry one for a spare, and buy the BSA for a fun bike (but don't get too far from home with it). The VFR will last longer than you do, and will stay healthier than you to boot.
Monk, Sep 13 2009, 11:33 AMOn my 99' VFR, I left the r/r where it was, and cut the side panel, near the r/r, to allow more air flow. Never had a problem with the r/r EVER (100k later). Also gave me room to adjust my after market rear shock knob thingy..... Just lucky, or more air flow.... Who knows?
I just did mine with a Ricks, (I had a credit at dennis kirk so it only cost me $26 out of pocket) and his unit seems to work well and it Has a LOT more cooling surface. I tucked my old one that was failing slowly under the seat. and I am going to mount a charge indicator (every bike ought to have one any way).
I am thinking of mounting a second RR and wiring parallel with a switch under the seat so if it goes it is a flip and keep going ( used to do that with old british bikes)
I do not really consider a RR failure as out of line I can't think of any vehicle I have ever had that did not need some charging component at some point.
Funny I had read that the RRs gave trouble from time to time on fifth gens(the only trouble they ever give) , and had bought the RR back in Feb. to have laying around as a just in case.
ps the charging components on my old 750vfr were different, and still working at about 70k when I sold the thing.
well one thing you may want to do is run an accessory of two that suck up some excess juice it seems like the vfr has some excess charging capacity and using this up will help keep the RR cooler.
