Considering a 5th gen VFR

I've had my eye on the VFR for a while now.  My current ride is a 96 zx1100e but I just can't get the VFR out of my head.  So what should I look for?  Don't seem to be too many close to Grand Rapids, MI.  I've never ridden a VFR either.. Not sure how it compares to my current ride.  I like the sporty looks of the VFR, I've heard great things about the engine and the overall build quality / durability (apparently with exception of the Regulator).  
Anyway I'll be looking around trying to learn more and I appreciate any helpful tips as I seek out the 5th gen that fits my budget.  Thanks for letting me be part of your community.

LOVE my Gen 5.  2000-2001 used better regulators, but had a CAT in the exhaust that most people remove along with a pair of O2 sensors also to remove.  I often tell those who wish to be bored silly by my motorcycle rantings that if you gave me $20K to buy my favorite motorcycle I couldn't do it because I can't think of a single bike I'd rather have.

you won't be sorry.

I too love my 5th gen.  It does everyting well.  In 40,000 miles, my upkeep costs are : a battery, chain&Sprockets, tyres, grips, oil&filters and gasoline. I have found that if you paint them flat black, they pick up 56 horsepower.

Until last month, I'd been wanting a VFR since '94.  I've followed the bike since 1987 when I started biking.  I had a 86 Interceptor 500 has my first bike.  Extremely versatile, well built, maintenance free (for a motorcycle).  Fun without being limited to sport riding.  You know most of this.  The real question is what you want from a bike and how the VFR compares to the tradeoffs of your current bike.

Most all modern bikes are capable of things their pilots will never accomplish.  Find a bike that inspires confidence to get better, do more.  That's a bike that'll keep you grinnin' for a while.

For me it's a bright yellow (limited edition) 2000 VFR.

Over the past 27 years, I have had a 1983 VF750, a 1986 VFR750 and a 1999 VFR800, and no other bikes inbetween. I sold/traded each to get the next one, and I don't think I'm selling anytime soon.

Hope that enswers your question.

[image: View Post]Sparty76, on 20 March 2012 - 09:28 PM, said:

I've had my eye on the VFR for a while now. My current ride is a 96 zx1100e but I just can't get the VFR out of my head. So what should I look for? Don't seem to be too many close to Grand Rapids, MI. I've never ridden a VFR either.. Not sure how it compares to my current ride. I like the sporty looks of the VFR, I've heard great things about the engine and the overall build quality / durability (apparently with exception of the Regulator). Anyway I'll be looking around trying to learn more and I appreciate any helpful tips as I seek out the 5th gen that fits my budget. Thanks for letting me be part of your community.
I had a 95 ZX9r, and I really loved that bike! The y2k 5th gens were not around then, and I did not get mine till just 2 years back. I like the VFR better. Overall it's not a better bike, but it's a better engine, and has a soul to it that my 9r did not. Zero~100 mph time is about the same, and I only exceed 125 mph(gets slow over 125) every few months. So for me, the comfort, feel and sound of the VFR just cant be beat.

Well being that this is forum for VFR owners, the responses will be a little biased towards the VFR in general, the debate will come in which Gen is the best. I too fell in love with the first Interceptor but it wasn't until last year that I finally owned an Interceptor. Mine is a 6th Gen and every time that I ride it and step off of the bike, I can't help but feel that buying it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

I still have my 95 Ducati 900SS/SP and I love that bike too. The Honda though seems to fill more roles than the Duc and I think others will tell you the same, regardless of Gen, it's just an all around great performer. I can also add that my wife will now only ride on the back of the VFR and has yet to get back on the Duc!

With all that said, I would still love to have the original 500 and a one with gear driven cams!

Cheers

Bullet proof...on the 8th day god created the 5th gen VFR !!!

Here is a nice '98 near Indianapolis in a Craigslist ad.  I have no affiliation to this seller.  I just purchased a '99 last month and love it.  I had a hard time finding a clean 5th Gen but now they seem to be popping up everywhere.  I found SearchTempest handy for searching multiple cities simultaneously.  Good luck.  I am curious what your budget is.

http://indianapolis....2902406955.html

Thanks I saw that while searching CL using search tempest -- awesome tool!

Am I crazy or does this seemed priced about 1k too high?  He's way over blue book even.

Thanks for the info... keep it coming!

[image: View Post]indianagenius, on 21 March 2012 - 03:55 AM, said:

Here is a nice '98 near Indianapolis in a Craigslist ad.  I have no affiliation to this seller.  I just purchased a '99 last month and love it.  I had a hard time finding a clean 5th Gen but now they seem to be popping up everywhere.  I found SearchTempest handy for searching multiple cities simultaneously.  Good luck.  I am curious what your budget is.

http://indianapolis....2902406955.html

I paid $3000 for my '99 with 20K miles in late October, which in Chicago is the end of the riding season.   Now, the season is just starting and sellers can raise prices a bit.   You should be able to buy one for $3500 ish, depending on condition, miles, and accessories.   Great bikes!

Any of the 5th gen versions of the VFR should fit the bill.  The lower the mileage the better, but a solid reputation w/ a low entry price is hard to beat no matter how many miles...

I too was partial to the Yellow 2000...

The best part is OEM parts are still available including the plastics.  The down side of that is; it is really expensive...

VFR FTW!

The only time I thought about buying a new bike is when I saw a 99 for sale for $1500. LOL I love my bike and even miss my 96 one day a year. Happy hunting!

It is much more difficult than you think to find a reputable seller that has all his records, has kept the bike up well, and is honest about the condition.  When trying to shop bikes from private sellers, I met so many liars and idiots and often they were combined.  I would be willing to pay a premium for the right bike.  Miles are not everything by any means, but I would not go higher than about 25K miles.

Good luck.

I bought a 98 with 26K and a couple of scratches on the right cowlings where it fell over (not dumped but from a parked fall over) and a gas tank ding for $2500. I can fix the scratches and dings. The chains and sprockets ned rplacing soon but it rides like a dream. I wake up every morning feeling luck I got such a great bike. You will not be disappointed.

Oh BTW. I love the low roar you year from acceleration as opposed to the high wines you hear from R6's, R1's and Gixxers. IMO It gives the bike class.

[image: Posted Image]

I purchased my '98 from the original owner last year with just 6.2k miles. It even still had the original (13-year-old) tires!

Although the purchasing experience could have been better, the motorcycle I ended up with turned out to be an extremely clean and well-cared-for example. I have not regretted the purchase and intend to hang on to my viffer for the long haul.

As others have mentioned vfrs have "soul" and the engine's texture and exhaust note never fails to bring a smile to my face. These machines excellent all-arounders...sporty but not uncomfortable, not the fastest-but still plenty fast enough to get you into trouble.

I recently read an old article from Cycle Magazine where they first tested a '98 like mine and was a little surprised to read that the bike did 0-100 in 6.7 seconds. Heck, fourteen years later the awesomely powerful (1450cc w/197 rear-wheel hp) Kawasaki ZX-14 is just 1.7 seconds faster than the 800cc viffer to that speed!

Over the past year I've read where others have scored even lower-mileage 5th generation viffers...and in some cases for amazingly low prices.. So there probably are more of them out there languishing alone and unwanted in garages and sheds around the country..

I hope you're able to score a nice example too

[image: Posted Image] [image: Posted Image]

Well thanks for all the feedback.  I did sell my Ninja and I'm happy with what I got out of it.  I've been in contact with a few VFR sellers.  I wish there were one close enough to test ride -- I've still never had the opportunity to even see one in person.  I just think the way everyone that has one describes sounds like what I'm looking for.

But I find myself distracted by things like an FZ6 or FZ1.  I test rode an FZ6 yesterday and was impressed by it's comfort and light feel. I was underwhelmed with the gauge layout and the power was just ok feeling.  Don't get me wrong - it was quick, it just didn't seem quick.  But the particular model was a 2006 with less than 5k miles on it - too new and fresh to ignore.

Anybody in Grand Rapids, MI with a VFR 800 they'd let me test ride would be doing me a huge favor.  Or I might just have to bite the bullet and buy on faith from out of state.

What to do??

You will need to test ride whatever you are considering buying.  But, make sure to research your buyer and ask plenty of questions before making a long trip.  Asking for more photos is always a good thing.  A good seller will be glad to provide whatever info you require.  I made plenty of wasted trips looking at poor bikes that I could have avoided if I had been more demanding with my questions.

Good advice.  So far all of the respondents have provided a pile of pics.  The FZ6 is close (10 mins away) the VFR's are all out of state, and I basically have to decide I'm pretty much buying it unless I show up and it's a pile of junk before I even make the trip.

[image: View Post]indianagenius, on 23 March 2012 - 02:25 PM, said:

You will need to test ride whatever you are considering buying.  But, make sure to research your buyer and ask plenty of questions before making a long trip.  Asking for more photos is always a good thing.  A good seller will be glad to provide whatever info you require.  I made plenty of wasted trips looking at poor bikes that I could have avoided if I had been more demanding with my questions.

VFR's can't be beat, just ask this guy!

[image: Posted Image]

No, not the dolt with the microphone, the guy wearing the "VFR History(?) of Racing" cap in the background.

From Wednesday's 3/21 speech, anyone who's a member here?

Maybe this should be an issue in the presidential campaign? "Sir, do you support the ultimate superiority of the 5G VFR over all the other gens?"

:tongue:

I think you will love the midrange power of the VFR vs the FZ6, also the rumble of the v-four cant be beat, especially when compared with the sewing machine whine of an inline-4.

Put a slip on muffler on her and uncork some of that v-four roar! Sounds especially good when dialing in a LOT of throttle and short-shifting the bike in the midrange. Also blipping down thru the gears, setting up for a corner, they sound great on the overrun.

About the only thing that sounds even remotely as nice to my ears is a piped big twin like a Duc or RC51 or TLR, SV1000, etc.

There is a reason all us 5th gen riders are so passionate about our 11 - 14 year old bikes.  To find out, you will have to ride one.  The thrill doesn't fade.  Even after two years and 20,000 miles, when I get up in the morning and fire up Wench, by the time I get to the end of the block I'm grinnin ear to ear.  The 5th gens are that good.

Really can't say much more than what everyone else has said other than the VFR is a "do everything well" kind of bike. Better yet, here's a review of one not too long ago, maybe it will be of interest...since well, he rides motorcycles so you don't have to: -Mike

Thanks, I enjoyed the video... The older guy was great!
Really starting to waiver in my quest... Looking at FZ1's now too.  The VFR's seem tough to find near by.  At least in that price point.

[image: View Post]Sparty76, on 26 March 2012 - 01:46 PM, said:

Thanks, I enjoyed the video... The older guy was great!
Really starting to waiver in my quest... Looking at FZ1's now too. The VFR's seem tough to find near by.  At least in that price point.

FLY AND RIDE!

Sounds like you're not sure what you want.

FZ6? Would be a let-down performance-wise imo since you're coming from a ZX11. These are essentially economically-priced, beginner-level alternatives to Yamaha's higher-priced and higher performance R-6 sportbike. .

FZ1? Nice machines with a large following. Engine performance s/b closer to your ZX11 (the FZ1 engine is based on the R1 sportbike detuned for more torque), but the motorcycle s/b lighter and handle better than a ZX11. The FZ1 doesn't offer full bodywork so there will be less wind and weather protection vs. your ZX (or a vfr) though. Also, the earlier model FZ1 with 20 valves (5/cylinder) seem to be favored by purists over the later models produced with 16-valve engines.

No one here can say for sure if a VFR will make you happy. If it's important to you to have as much (or more) engine performance than you had with the ZX11 you should probably look elsewhere. However, if reasonable comfort, very good performance, confidence-inspiring handling and a killer exhaust note are important you really should check out a 5th generation. .

If you can be patient one should show up for sale in your area eventually. I searched for several months before finding mine.....

:offtopic: Ahh, Skylonda.  Hopefully I'll be back up there this summer.  That's where I cut my teeth as a rider on highway 35, 84, 92 and 9 to Santa Cruz.  Gorgeous terrain and pretty well kept (for landslide territory).

I had wanted a VFR for a long long time, and in 2010 I judt did it
About 500-miles one way, about a 1,000 mile round trip from NY where I live to Ohio where I found the bike
If you really want a VFR, holding out for one close to you could be quite a wait
Good luck, like so many people have said, the VFR is just great, it does so many things really well

[image: Posted Image]

Like everyone says, the VFR is a great all arounder.  One thing that I consider when getting a bike is the forum support.  As you can see, the ladies and gents here are very cool and willing to provide help and assistance on a whole range of topics. That makes ownership a bit easier.

For what it's worth, I've got a VFR that you may be interested in - I'm close to both NYC airports, so a fly and ride would be convenient.