New Owner Of 98' Vfr800!

Hey guys just wanted to say hi! I'm Adam and a relatively new rider only having experience with a couple of twisty runs on my friend's old 74' cb.

Well here she is. This' the seller's pic but will take plenty of photos in all her glory soon enough.
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Seems like there are little things to do to make this a better ride. Customize suspension for my self and a tri-oval carbon deklevic exhast as being the first on the to do list beyond new owner maintenance. There is one thing that I'm already rapping my head around. I do love the red for these bikes it just seems like they're every where. I had an 89' bmw 325i and even though I repainted her the original cirrus blau, there was always that urge to paint it in British Racing Green. Now that's a color! Accented with gold and it's a winner.

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Here's an example of the matching BRG and gold. BRG would be a great over all body color followed up by a retro golden rally stripe...s. Try to get her across the side and reach a bit on the rear fairings. Would love to hear you're ideas about it.

There's much searching to be done on this forum but still have some questions. What vendors or manufacturers still provide new gear/mods for these bikes? I saw some one do an LED conversion and that seems like a wicked universal newer mod to do. Hearing some change out the front sprocket for the 16T for better mileage and better but dyno. Anything else y'all suggest?

Welcome to VFRD from across the pond :beer:

Interesting sellers picture; you'd think he could have cleaned the mess from the floor!

And...........

the bike has the rare (Wolff?) underseat exhaust you will have no problem selling I'd say.

Welcome aboard. Nice pics. Hope you enjoy our stay.

I'd double think about selling the Wolf exhaust.

It's the HOLY GRAIL of VFR exhaust systems.

Made from pure unobtanium.

Right up there with a left-exit for a 1990-1993 VFR750.

If you ARE going to sell it, make sure you get a stock plastic undertray to put back on your bike, so you can sell the metal undertray along with the WOLF system, plus all the brackets and bolts, etc. Will make life easier for the buyer. It's nearly worthless to a buyer without the undertray and all the other brackets to bolt it up.

I couldn't find one, so I had to "make" my own:

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/28435-custom-devil-dual-underseat-exhaust-system/

As for the LED's, if you're meaning headlights, they're all over Ebay. H4 LED conversion kit.

If you mean the taillights and signal lights, then whitelights.de has what you need, clear or smoked.

As for the British racing green, not really a fan personally. The 5th gen DID come in green though.

Pearl Conifer Green to be exact.

[image: 10009.1302179292.APRIL4TH_008.jpg]

Welcome to the forum. :beer:

Welcome. Check out this guy's 6th gen bike in anniversary colours. I think they're great - could look good on a 5th gen too?

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/gallery/image/68553-473582/

WELCOME from the WORLD FAMOUS DRAGON ..

Thank you for the welcome guys and thanks from this side of the pond! It's nice to know that there's actual activity on this forum by the look of the responses. It's a bit embarrassing that I didn't know that I had a wolf exhaust. Makes my delkevic post look like a noob post, which is pretty fitting for my situation. I had my biker friend in Los angeles take look at the bike to give me the green light to buy and come from up from San Diego to pick her up. He didn't say anything about that! Seems like this talk of selling will never come to fruition :) @ Veefer,I remember google finding your undertail fabrication. I can paint cars all day but can't weld for **** so was very impressed.

The mess in the garage would be explained by it being in Inglewood. No time to clean those garages! Though I was a heavy modder/garage mechanic and my 2 car garage could just fit my small car because of the parts, tool boxes and the likes. Before you go on about Inglewood, I bought my beauty BMW in compton. I remember, being the only white guy, walking to the seller's house and holding tight my stomach. I had a huge belly ache and just remember that this real hood looking guy came up to me and offered me tea to settle it. Doesn't matter what was in it, it worked and he was such a gentleman!

Now about the color scheme. This won't happen for a bit since I'm still in the process for buying my new gear and the bike. Got a Bell Vortex rally helmet, icon 1000 skelly gloves and an awesome Joe Rocket full leather perforated jacket. The jacket is great because the inner sleeve all the way down to inner body can be zipped off to uncover this high air flow material. Perfect for this riding season. But enough about that, I do like the green and I do like that... Honda race? It's just that BRG is well, just my achilles heel. Such a cruel cruel mistress indeed so I'll post plenty of pictures of the respray for you guys to look and decide. So happy that I don't have to respray with a metallic color.

And just one more thing. Do you guys have names for your bikes beyond referring to it as 'her'? I have epilepsy, has been taken care of since, so I had a "water pipe" that I called Sharapova. Being Polish I'm going to keep with either Tatiana or Tati for short. I hope I'm not calling Tati anything else.

Thanks again and cheers!

Enjoy, and post up after you've has some miles.

Nice bike. My opinion is buy good gear...riding pants included. Chances are sometime in your riding career you will need good gear...

If you are new to riding, take a class or two at a local trackday or the MSF beginners' or the advanced classes. If you want to learn how to ride safely and as quickly as possible, a class is the best way to gain experience safely.

Learn about "the pace"...only one person can ride your bike at a time...when you are steering its up to you and your skills to ride safe, have fun and enjoy...ride at YOUR pace and what the road gives you...

As for the color and the exhaust, how it looks is the last priority...but it sure heats up the desire..if you have funds or time to support it...make it yours!

Welcome, learn, share, ride have fun, be safe...

Matt

Thanks for the advise. Looking around for classes today. The last things I need are some pants and boots. The only problem is that I ride to work and will have to use the pants as my work pants. Just a little more digging in what can be appropriate gear. Do you guys have boots for just riding? I've seen there is a street casual look so you wouldn't have to change to go into any social setting. Realizing that those won't have the best protection if much at all. I just don't have a backpack big enough for a change of shoes and pants.

Let me tell you that wolf pipe is THE exhaust system for the 5th gen. Having said that, I love my Delky pipe, sounds good and has held up well and cost me around 185$. That's a deal!

As stated, buy good gear! It is essential. Look around on motorcycle superstore or revzilla or motorcycle gear (.com for all) They make casual boots and shoes that are also protective. I ride a pair of Tourmaster Transition boots. They look a little goofy if you're not on the bike, but does it really matter? They are waterproof and have help up well the last year I have owned them. Great protection as well. As far as pants go, consider a pair of riding jeans perhaps? Also look at overpants, you wear them over whatever pants you wish and could take them off when you get to work, but they still offer impact and abrasion resistance. If you need a little extra storage, grab a tank bag or tail pack, there are tons of options, many are waterproof.

That is an awesome bike! I love my '98.

Live to ride, ride to live.

Enjoy :beer:

Pull over protective pants,jacket and I removed after I arrive at work and motorcycle boots I replace with work boots. Every day that i ride it's the same routine !!

dozyproductions

Thanks for the advise. Looking around for classes today. The last things I need are some pants and boots. The only problem is that I ride to work and will have to use the pants as my work pants. Just a little more digging in what can be appropriate gear. Do you guys have boots for just riding? I've seen there is a street casual look so you wouldn't have to change to go into any social setting. Realizing that those won't have the best protection if much at all. I just don't have a backpack big enough for a change of shoes and pants.

There are types of zip-off pants that you can wear...mesh ones over your work pants if it is hot. I wear an Olympia mesh suit to work and just swap out a dress shirt once I hit the office...pants don't wrinkle under it...

http://olympiamotosports.com/category/catalog/air-essentials/

Buy a lockable top case and zip off and store until you need to go home...

Great find, welcome aboard!

You may want to source a small heat shield for the section of the Wolf up-pipe that is just behind the right side peg holder...mine melted my booth heel even with the PO wrapping it in header wrap.

My wife said it looked a race horse with a broken leg (the header wrap not the melted boot) so found a carbon shield from Italy that was made for a Ducati of some sort and it doesn't look too bad.

+1 on the gear recommendations...after you have 2,000-3,000 miles under your belt find a Lee Parks Total Control class in your area.

When I used to have to go to an office (I office from home now) I would leave work shoes at work and change out of my riding boots when I arrived...YMMV

Thank you guys for the input. I just laid my 87 vfr down after an 18 year old girl in her daddy's audi s4 pulled right in front of me on a narrow beach road. Had my bell vortex helmet and my icon 1000 but with no jacket. I was just going for a test spin but it's true that your life is in jeopardy 100% the time. Pants are definitely huge priority within this next week. It was 10< but my jeans are about gone. A great wake up call, which in the end will make me become a better rider.

On the brighter note, I can't wait to pic this guy up. You're all pumping me up too much with this wolf exhaust. Will take a look at this thing to see what it will need in the case of heat with the exhaust. If he put enough money and time into the wolf, I'm only guessing that he figured out how to not melt everything. Fingers crossed!


Hope to be able to see some of you in San Diego for a weekend ride. Love this forum already.

dozyproductions

And just one more thing. Do you guys have names for your bikes beyond referring to it as 'her'? I have epilepsy, has been taken care of since, so I had a "water pipe" that I called Sharapova. Being Polish I'm going to keep with either Tatiana or Tati for short. I hope I'm not calling Tati anything else.

Yeah, I refer to my bike as "Wench", She's a working girl alright, and really scoots when I slap 'er on the bum. Welcome to VFRD.

my black VFR is "The Yellow Peril"

my black RC51 is "The Red Chief"

my black CB400 is "The Brown Hornet"

I am with you on the BRG, but most dont like TRUE BRG because is is kinda flat an dull

[image: British_Racing_Green_429749_i0.png]

I got the Speed and Strength Coast is Clear pants. They are a bit long off the bike, but plenty of venting when needed. They run a little on the big side. But I can easily put them over my normal work pants.

Awesome looking bike and Welcome to the Forum and indeed the realm of the VFR. You may now consider yourself spoiled to any other kind of bike. LOL

IMHO wearing the proper gear all the time is important as you just never know what's coming around the next corner or out of the next driveway. Might be a car, dog, child or wild animal and any of those can cause a problem to those of us on two wheels. Signing yourself up for a motorcycle safety course as others have mentioned is DEFINITELY a good idea. The info they teach will certainly help make you a better rider and I'm glad I took one back before I started riding.

In regards to your mention of the LED mods, if you are talking about modifying the headlights and going with LED, here is a link to the thread I started. Thinking back on the whole process now, I think the manufacturer of choice IMHO would be Lifetime LED's as the bulbs from this manufacturer seem to be a bit brighter and they come with a Lifetime warranty. The thread is quite long and I think has about 25 or more pages now but I did add a few of the manufacturers that popped up throughout the thread to the first post.

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/76766-led-headlight-install-5th-gen/

Good luck with the bike. Ride safe, have fun, and don't forget to keep her shiny side up.

Thanks zoomzoom! Any fiddling around with the turn signals too?

Check the bike in my avatar, that's the 4th generation green which is pretty rare but was a factory colour.

Best of luck with your new VFR!

Welcome to the asylum. You've acquired the best generation (5th) in the fastest color (red). Congrats. (I do like the idea of a BRG bike.)

I have had a few crashes in my riding history including surviving a 65 mph encounter with a deer on I74. One of the reasons I survived is because I was wearing an Aerostich Transit Suit. It is made from Gore Tex Pro Leather. Waterproof. Magic armor. I'd highly recommend you check this out. It saved me from being skinned alive. Mesh would not have been sufficient.

I wear them over jeans. Easy on - easy off.

Welcome to the forum and world of the VFR

dozyproductions

Thanks zoomzoom! Any fiddling around with the turn signals too?

The LED brake light tower bulbs I have are certainly brighter than stock bulbs but compared to the cost of standard bulbs I'm not sure they are worth the extra cost. Just my opinion mind you.

Welcome! You scored the best year of the best gen in the fastest color (opinions will vary but mine is the only one that matters :) congrats! Bike names are awesome and usually very unique, mine is Cap'n Frisky, a name spawned during a Bourbon fueled garage session with my riding buddy. Funny, I named my bike 4 years ago and it still makes me laugh when I type it.

zoomzoom

dozyproductions

Thanks zoomzoom! Any fiddling around with the turn signals too?

I didn't switch the turn signals on the front or rear to LED's as the cost of the bulbs was just too much to justify (especially since the shipping cost was quite high) and you need either an electronic flasher of some sort or resistors (I think anyway though not one hundred percent sure) to slow the flash rate of the bulbs. As a result I left them alone. I did however change the brake light bulbs to LED towers (the bulbs were a gift from a fellow member of the forum). I think the bulbs themselves were about US $25 each though I'm not sure where they were sourced from. If you do change the turn signals or brake lights, be sure that you get bulbs that are similar in color to the lens they shine through. Ie. red bulbs for the tail lights and amber ones for the turn signals, unless of course you have clear lenses, then you just need the appropriate color bulb.

The LED brake light tower bulbs I have are certainly brighter than stock bulbs but compared to the cost of standard bulbs I'm not sure they are worth the extra cost. Just my opinion mind you.

Awesome for the info and I'll report back after finding the right combo for bulbs and resistors. Even with the added cost, the slight gain in vision is so worth it for where I live. I just live in the thick of some pretty bad driving culture. I guess no where is safe in San Diego or most metropolitan areas to begin with. We'll see.

Crabenho

Welcome! You scored the best year of the best gen in the fastest color (opinions will vary but mine is the only one that matters :) congrats! Bike names are awesome and usually very unique, mine is Cap'n Frisky, a name spawned during a Bourbon fueled garage session with my riding buddy. Funny, I named my bike 4 years ago and it still makes me laugh when I type it.

Aren't they supposed to be like that? All my car/bike/precious item names are from some old crazy ex of some sort or the other. Eastern europeans just tend to have sexy names ;) Thanks for the welcome guys! Pictures will be tomorrow!

Might have to bestow "The Pup" title to my bike... I know MaxSwell would approve. :goofy:

Finally picked her up today and wow I'm in love! These bikes do have the 'touring' in mind, and that's something I wan't to grow into, so I can cruise up and down the california coast. I didn't have a phone or good lighting so pics aren't happening today but I'll confirm shes' got a wolf exhaust to every last part and drop.

As much as I'd love to keep the exhaust, I might have to weight the pros and cons ($$). Its like growling straight pipes but i do miss a side can...so We're going to adjust the ride to me in a few days and then the lifestyle begins.

I think she's grown into an Anastasia, just without the tragic ending.

dozyproductions

[image: 2z8cnl0.jpg]

any idea where i can get frame sliders like these? (no cut frame sliders that dont stick in your knees like the ones that goes on the frame bolt above the clutch)

Skip those "radiator smashers"

R&G's me think ..

PirateRiderBen

Might have to bestow "The Pup" title to my bike... I know MaxSwell would approve. :goofy:

I do. It's perfect!

I used to have a set, and I thought they were marked BKS. There's a thread from last year that showed they are still available from Bike Design:

http://www.bikehps.com/acatalog/Honda_VFR800F_1998-2001_Crash_Protectors.html

raoufhakam

dozyproductions

I already had to use one side of my set :( Tatiana has been sitting for a year with limited use so I had to jump her a couple of times and during one of them a car decided to get in the middle of it. I'm pretty new to motorcycles and all I've been hearing is how stupid this bike was to start off with. Being next to the coast, in San Diego, I'm glad she's a bit bigger and bit heavier to keep her sturdy during some of those heavy gusts.

Boy does this wolf let people know when I'm coming around. Y'all always have people wanting to race you? Didn't know I'd be saying this but it's pretty tiresome. Any go to thread for these gsxr forks I keep hearing about btw?

My bike left me stranded in a really remote part of town in San Diego and due to the time and everything else I just had to take it to a shop. We instantly inspected the battery and it couldn't hold a charge and with the bike running the voltmeter didn't show more than 13V so we decided it was the regulator. Upon picking her up yesterday I saw the carnage that was the stator and regulator and both plugs were just plain melted. Is this my bike telling me to buy the vfrness? I thought I had a couple more weeks (of the couple weeks of ownership I just had) before I had to buy.

Anyone in San Diego up for a hello?

Sounds like your '98 has fallen victim to the dreaded (and apparently inevitable) "designed-to-fail VFR charging system" issues.

Unfortunately after 21k miles and admittedly16+ years my up-to-now reliable '98's running voltage has dropped to where it generally registers in the low-to-mid 13V range. So I'm confident she's about due for an upgraded RR, heavier wiring/connectors (VFRness?) & more/better connections to ground.

Hopefully the shop that serviced yours didn't take you to the cleaners over this. You said you saw the carnage... that was the stator, regulator & both (melted) plugs. Did the shop replace all of these components? If so, I'm curious what was the cost to you?.

Also, how many miles are showing on your VFR's odometer?

In any case I hope you're good-to-go now, but if everything was just repaired or replaced to restore the components to o.e. condition you may want to consider installing some of the upgrades discussed & as recommended by other VFR owners on the forum.

I don't like the sound of this. I just got a low mile 98. With it came some type of mosfet(?) R/R the PO never got round to installing. I must get on this!

In my mind the original harness should be fine. It's the connectors that possibly corrode over time I'm thinking. I have to open things up and see what I have actually got I guess.

When I purchased my '98 from the original owner in March of '01, like you I ended up with a relatively-low mileage (6.2k) and well-kept example despite the age. So far my '98 has only let me down by failing to start once (three years ago) when the battery apparently failed when I shut off the engine while waiting for a long traffic light to cycle on a hot day in June. Later that year after I had replaced the battery I also installed a digital voltmeter to monitor the health of the charging system. Since then I've observed my viffer's typical operating voltage at cruising speeds as it has gradually dropped from a high around 13.8V - 13.7V down to around 13.4V - 13.3V now. Although my VFR seems to run well and the gauges and lights still seem to work normally, according to what I've read on this forum specifications listed in the factory service manual indicate we should be seeing around 14.2 volts at the battery w/the engine running and I've observed the voltage readings from my10-year-old Mazda 3 with just over 121k miles (measured at the cigarette lighter socket) typically seem to register in the 13.8V - 14.0V range.

So if your '98 was stored indoors in a relatively-low-humidity environment by the prior owner(s), like me you could be good for a few years and another 10-15k miles. However checking the running voltage at the battery w/the engine at a high idle, and checking the condition of the wiring, connectors, main fuses and grounds could still be a wise move on your part-just in case.

smoothsailin

When I purchased my '98 from the original owner in March of '01, like you I ended up with a relatively-low mileage (6.2k) and well-kept example despite the age. So far my '98 has only let me down by failing to start once (three years ago) when the battery apparently failed when I shut off the engine while waiting for a long traffic light to cycle on a hot day in June. Later that year after I had replaced the battery I also installed a digital voltmeter to monitor the health of the charging system. Since then I've observed my viffer's typical operating voltage at cruising speeds as it has gradually dropped from a high around 13.8V - 13.7V down to around 13.4V - 13.3V now. Although my VFR seems to run well and the gauges and lights still seem to work normally, according to what I've read on this forum specifications listed in the factory service manual indicate we should be seeing around 14.2 volts at the battery w/the engine running and I've observed the voltage readings from my10-year-old Mazda 3 with just over 121k miles (measured at the cigarette lighter socket) typically seem to register in the 13.8V - 14.0V range.

So if your '98 was stored indoors in a relatively-low-humidity environment by the prior owner(s), like me you could be good for a few years and another 10-15k miles. However checking the running voltage at the battery w/the engine at a high idle, and checking the condition of the wiring, connectors, main fuses and grounds could still be a wise move on your part-just in case.

Yes I plan to have a look at things when I get the chance. Will at the very least have a go at it with some dielectric. I am only on day 2 of her being registered and riding. MAY get some time sunday. Maybe.

Edit: got antsy about what was in there and what I got in a box with the bike. Pulled the plastic off and found the stock setup. Looked in the box and found a new mosfet regulater with connectors for the VFR and a new VFRness. Cool!

^^ Happy Bikeday!!!

The shop showed me the regulator plug and it was charred black and partially melted. He showed me the stator and 3/4 of it looked like it was a different color that didn't seem normal. We tested the battery before and it held a maximum of %63 charge so all of it went. This was all on a 30K mile bike. Pretty much $140 stator+$150 non mosfet RR :unsure: + $70 battery = $360 for parts. In the end he charged me $600. Before you jump the gun he did give me a final push a couple more blocks with his scooter via rear foot peg and did a final exam of the chain, oil, tire and brakes. He even threw me in a fruit punch gatorade on the hot afternoon. Yup, I got railed.

The shop didn't have the most favorable reviews so I'm still a little suspect with his work. I don't know if I forgot how my little red rocket sounded or I'm just imagining things but I feel like she sounds different. She rev's and rides easier but she seems to have more of a tic. If I knew how to post videos on here I'd show you. Then again I never had the bike without the electrical problem. Right when I bought her the lights were already slowly flickering and after the fix they dont. I'd love to swing by to some one in SD so I can hear what an in shape VFR800 should sound like.

With that I'll be checking fluids such as oil and coolant tomorrow. What are your summer temp readings? I stay between 171-180F but will jump and stay consistently 221F if I'm just idling or sitting at a light.

So to all of you guys that just replied, MOSFET RR and VFRNESS!!!!! Don't get stuck with melted parts. You're never in the place where you want it to happen haha.

Ouch - $600! That's gotta hurt since you only purchased the bike a few weeks ago. Of course, I guess "the damage" could have been worse.

It's also sad (and unfortunate) that the prior owner failed to own up to the fact that your vfr had charging issues, for I'd find it hard to believe he was unaware they existed before it was advertised for sale.

As far as the changes you've noticed in how your vfr runs now, I wouldn't be surprised since with a weak battery and charging system the motorcycle's ignition system performance may have been somewhat weak as well.

For what it's worth, your experience of having the bike leave you stranded unexpectedly has rattled my cage and convinced me it's time to stop procrastinating, for I need to inspect and upgrade my '98's charging system before the same thing happens to to me when I could be riding alone and a considerable distance from home.

Hopefully she'll last long enough for me to enjoy the relatively long day-ride to the mountains I've already make plans to take w/TNRabbit tomorrow.

Cheers!

Welcome to a newb from a newbie!

I'd keep that loud exhaust system if I were you.... it might save you from an accident someday if someone can hear you coming even though they might not have seen you...

Saw some good advice about an Aerostitch earlier on this thread. I can vouch for those. Have had mine some 20 years and used it for 10's of thousands of miles in all weathers...

Can put the entire suit on & take it off in around 1 minute over all my clothes. Other suits tend to be a lot more cumbersome to use.

So I'm really upset here and need some help. Was merging into the carpool lane on an onramp. Right before I was going to do so a school bus, going full tilt, passed me by just by a couple of feet. I had the bike fall as just a gut instinct.

The problem now is that my "open throttle knob" (sp??) fell off while riding on the freeway. When I was leaving for work it seemed like it was on okay but when I started riding it just became loose and lost all purpose in its functionality. The bloody thing just fell off 20 minutes later. What can explain this, since the thing seemed like it was stuck on pretty well, and what can I do about it?

I was very tempted to post a witty reply as I have only the vaguest idea what you mean by the "open throttle knob"! However if you dropped your bike you're probably not in a laughing mood. I'll assume you are referring to the throttle tube on the right handlebar. This has the handgrip slid over it, and it rotates around the bar. There's a push-pull cable connected to this within the switchblock. I would guess that the impact has perhaps snapped off the lugs that the throttle cables connect to? If so you're taking about a simple piece of plastic to replace. If you remove the Philips head screws in the switchblock underside you should be able to open up the block and check it. Then order a replacement from your friendly Honda parts supplier.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Do you mean the bar end weight fell off?

If it's that, I'd just buy a new one from your Honda dealer. It won't cost a lot.

Make sure you loctite the screw in when replacing, as evidently the previous owner either didn't tighten it enough, or didn't use loctite.

... the previous owner tricked the bike out. The reason I posted "open throttle" was because I didn't want to say cruise control ...

After searching what function the knob at the end performed, here is what I found...

http://www.compacc.com/p/throttlemeister-cruise-control-honda-vfr800-98-07