Build or buy?

I sold my 5th gen. It has been replaced by a pristine low mile 1997 TL1000S and a 1998 a low mile BMW R1200C scooter.

My dilemma is I miss that v4 sound and am debating between waiting for another one to show up or to build one with mess of parts that came with my previous bike.

I have the following right now:

• Full engine with throttle bodies, wire harness and airbox. As complete as you want. 22k miles.
  
• Swing arm with hub, sprocket,disc and wheel.  Complete. Might as well replace the chain/sprocket with new/
  
• Speedo/gauges
  
• Full front wheel with rotors. Complete.
  
• Wire harness.
  
• ECU
  
• Gas tank with fule pump and sending unit. Complete.
  
• Ignition, gas cap, and seat lock with key. All one set.
  
• I think a few smaller parts that are not worth mentioning since they look cheap and easy to rebuy.

Since I am missing a frame and forks ( I do have an OEM rear shock) as well as the plastics (hello china), I am thinking I could build one in a nice china ebay plastics silver. I think it will look great with the silver frame and black wheels.  And since the bike is in pieces I could easily send my shock for a rebuild to Jamie and have my yet to be purchased forks sent over as well.

Oh and I am missing the headlight, mirrors and turn signals. Edit: and the headers and exhaust.

   This sounds like a good idea but also seems like a whole lot of work, plus I was told that even if I get a clean title it would still say "reconstructed" on it and have that taint impact the resale value. But it would be the way I want.


   What to do....
But, waiting for the right 5th gen to come around at a price I will pay may take forever.

[image: View Post]squidzilla, on 02 September 2012 - 03:53 PM, said:

But, waiting for the right 5th gen to come around at a price I will pay may take forever.
But probably worth the wait.
It isn't like you don't have anything to ride while you look.

Too bad I can not get one with silver OEM paint like they did in other parts of the world.  I think I can build the bike for about 2k.

[image: View Post]squidzilla, on 02 September 2012 - 04:08 PM, said:

Too bad I can not get one with silver OEM paint like they did in other parts of the world.  I think I can build the bike for about 2k.

It will be more expensive than you think. All the little things add up quite quickly.

With that said, well, do the numbers. Make a spreadsheet and add up everything you'd need to buy, add another $500 min to that, and see if what you'll end up is worth the effort and will be worthwhile to have alongside the other bikes. Or maybe you'll end up with something better and sell the TL or ZX10. Only reason to buy is if you plan to sell it soon after building, or aren't in need of upgraded front suspension. Or don't have 5-10hrs a week to do the work.

Thanks for the replies. My main goal is I want the upgraded suspension from Jamie (even the 929 shock rebuild) and I want it in silver. By incident, I will end with a fresh service/valve inspection,tires and chain and sprocket since the bike is in pieces.   I found a 2001 on ebay with 3000 or so miles and it went for 4500 plus shipping and tax. Then I would still have to replace the old tires (originals) and pay the money for the suspension. I redid the calculation and worst case is 3k total for a build job.

I just can not come to terms with paying 4k for a clean 5th gen and then have to dump another 1k or so for suspension work and possible services or tires. I plan on having about 7-10 motorcycles. But the cost of each one is a big deal, especially when it comes to buying things I do not need. Did I just say I do not need a v4? Hmmm

Good thought, but IMO you'd be far better off buying a replacement and just selling all those parts. Way too much time and effort and also coming up with every little piece or bolt needed could drive to bonkers!

BR

Too bad nobody builds a custom frame for the V4 like Rickman, etc. used to for various powerplants back in the 60s & 70s.  It would be way cool to have a state-of-the art chassis with the 5th gen motor.

Sounds like a great project!!  How much would you sell all the 5th gen stuff you have?  Just curious.  I, personally would love a project like that.  Something that, when complete you could sit back and enjoy whether riding or just looking at it because you could say you built it and you would know every nook and cranny.

My '93 VFR is like that to me.  I pulled it out of a yard it had been sitting in for 5 years.  dropped $1300 into it and now I have a gorgeous ride.  It's mine and I did it all.  Far from perfect but mine.  I would take a year or two and build it for yourself.  Don't plan on selling it because as you already know,  it won't be worth much money and it'll crush you to see some young squid smack it against a tree or to do burnouts and wheelies.

That's my 2 cents though.

Some people just like a challenge. Better hobby than producing plywood garden gnomes on a bandsaw.

As for resale, you are building it to ride, right? Not to sell.

When the day comes to sell (way way off in the future) you will have racked up so many rewarding miles that it'll all be worth it.  

And, like you said, it'll be the way YOU want it, which is a good feeling.
And you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself.

Protip: look for a bag or box of assorted VFR800 bolts that people often sell as a lot item after breaking a bike down.

Bottom line for me, I am happy I took the road I did, rebuilding my bike.
Like you said, it's the way I want it. (except for the missing Torocharger)

I just think this looks so good. I think silver is a pretty hard color to screw up , so ebay plastics should work fine..

Attached Images

• [image: full_Autocollants-Honda-VFR800i-1998-silver.jpg]

If you buy a frame with a regular title, you will have a bike with a regular title. I bought my bike after it was totaled, but before the insurance company took ownership, so I have a regulation Maryland title.

I did look at buying an OEM UK 5th gen in silver since that color is as commong as red in the UK.  I tihnk I can get one for about 2k or so but will have to pay 2k in shipping. Ouch.

[image: View Post]squidzilla, on 04 September 2012 - 05:23 PM, said:

I did look at buying an OEM UK 5th gen in silver since that color is as commong as red in the UK.  I tihnk I can get one for about 2k or so but will have to pay 2k in shipping. Ouch.

5th gens in Silver and blue, red, yellow, black and green were all available just north of us in Canada, so that should greatly lower shipping cost

BR

Now if only Harris (UK) made a special tube frame to hang all that stuff on......
they used to sell special aluminum (I think) tubed frames for inline four sportbike engines that can be made into the fanciest looking naked or faired specials that repeatedly showed up in the English mags back in 90's. Sadly, I haven't heard of them making one for Honda V4's though.

Beck
95 VFR

Maybe I can get a silver OEM 5th gen from Canada.  Fly up there and drive it back..... Then it would be silver...or maybe cost kills the whole idea....

Bikes up here are stupidly expensive as compared to the same model/mileage/condition in the USA.

Especially with the dollars at par, you will have no advantage other than a silver bike which isn't available south of the 49th.

You're talking about a grand more for a 5th gen than in the USA.

I just looked on autotrader.ca and the only 5th gens on there are $4000 and $4700, a red 1999 and a green 2000.

http://wwwa.autotrad...&showcpo=1&st=1

Oh, I looked harder and found a yellow 2000 for $4500, And a Red 01 for $4200.


You're probably far cheaper to get a USA bike and paint it, or assemble the parts you already have with a good frame and the Chinese fairings, just don't sell it a week later.

$4500 for a 5th gen is really high. Maybe that one was just in that perfect condition and the buyers were there. They seem to have been more typically selling around the $3500 mark for actually used ones in good condition.

I would recommend using a web site like www.adhuntr.com . This site will allow you to search all of craigslist accross the country.
I just found this ad for a 98 VFR in San Fran for $3K with 18k miles and new tires to mount. Nice ride from San Fran to Utah.

http://sfbay.craigsl...3248352745.html

Good luck and remember that 98 & 99 have headers. :tour:

This one has all the goodies including an upgraded suspension!

http://sfbay.craigsl...3243697863.html

Since you have to put it all together anyway I would just go with the USD now. 

I sort of have it together. I still need the body kit, headlight, chain and sprockets, possible rear shock upgrade, mirrors, and few other small things.  This is a price driven build and I need to get the balance of these parts as cheaply as possible. Even if it means this build takes two three years.

The USD fork would be ideal. Hopefully some member wants to unload their entire USD front end one day and I can buy it all in one swoop.

Build with the fork you have. Maybe later you can go University of San Diego on it. :goofy:

No forks yet. I still need to get a set and have found a full set with the complete triple and bearings for 399 shipped. That is too much for that type of fork and if that turns out that is what I need to pay for the complete set then it will have to be USD.

No pics = didn't happen.

No forks yet.

Sounds like you will need patience.

I guess patience is a virtue. So they say.

Yeah yeah! How long will that take?! :rolleyes:

J/K now. Patience, Fleabay, Craigslist, these are some of your friends.

Also your elbow grease and know how. Don't forget good old cash money. :biggrin:

Too bad nobody builds a custom frame for the V4 like Rickman, etc. used to for various powerplants back in the 60s & 70s. It would be way cool to have a state-of-the art chassis with the 5th gen motor.

Or Spondon.  They made frames that fit lotsa bikes.

You guys want pics of my frame?  Here you go.  :goofy:

http://www.ebay.com/...984.m1423.l2649

Well my frame and title came today.  It is as clean as listed so I am happy.

I guess I need to start a build thread soon. In the meantime, I will give thought to what is most important to me.

1st is the suspension. On the RC51 forum, the owners of that bike are complaining about how the cost of used RC51 parts are going up more and more. And getting harder to find. That got me thinking that I should look elsewhere for an USD fork option. Maybe a zx14 with concours 14 bars. Or who knows. On Customfighters.com, those guys find a way to make most any fork work with any bike. Truly impressive.

2nd is the exhaust. So far I have nothing. No headers. No can.  Ideally, I would like it loud, so if anyone hates their loud exhaust perhaps we can talk.

3rd.  All the preventive maintenance one can should do while the entire bike is in pieces.

So there we go.  I will either do Silver ebay plastics VFR with the stock silver frame, or the same with the frame and swinger painted some type of black. Or maybe some very bright and loud racer boy ( on a VFR-- ha) color, like Kawasaki Green.  And last resort is a fighter but so far I have not figured out a way to hide all of that engine stuff, et al.

In fact, if I do fighter, I will play around with painting the engine parts, radiators different colors, as well as doing something colorful to the frame and exposed hoses and wires. Or maybe doing that is nothing more than putting lipstick on a pig.