All of them were bought new, by a 5th gen fan :cool: Not too many 1 owner machines out there by now I'll bet.
I wish! It was 4 years and 20,500 miles old when I got it, but looked like it was fresh from the factory.
A better question, IMO, is how many bought it brand new, sold it for "newer, better", then bought another one after several years of wishing they had just kept it. :beer:
I bought my first VFR, a pristine '01, in 2006 with 4,000 miles for $6,000. (My first mc since a Honda 350 scrambler I had briefly in 1969 - 1970.)
I saw an ad in the local paper; I had to look up VFRs on the web to find out what they were. I read an article titled "Living With The VFR". It was exactly what I was looking for. Able to take me long distances and provide Fun when I got there.
I've since put on 140,000 miles on fifth gens. (Being retired is fabulous.)
My '00 was purchased new. I still have her :)
I picked up my new-to-me 2000 VFR800 about 5 years ago now with over 40,000 km's on the clock. The bike was for sale at one of the dealerships I do work for and the general manager has been a client for quite some time. He knew that I had sold my 97 VFR750 just before my son was born and as soon as he took the Viffer on trade he phoned me up and asked me if I wanted the bike. At the time my son was only 3 months old and I told him no, and that as much as I wanted to buy the bike, I knew I would have no time to ride so I declined. The bike sat in the showroom for almost 2 years with no interest and every time I picked up a car he would mention that the price was reduced and I should take advantage. Finally the dealership changed hands and the new owners said, this bike has got to go. Find a buyer and get rid of it. My buddy was still the GM and he said, "Give me an offer." The price sticker on the bike had dropped from $6900 to $4500, and I told him that the best I could offer was so low that the new owners would laugh at me and I did not want to offend anyone. The GM called the new owner into the office to talk and I said, "I don't want to offend anyone by giving a low ball offer, but I only have $2000 and I know that's not enough." I told them I would try to help find the ole girl a new owner, and the owner replied, "Nope, she's yours at $2000." Well, that was just too good a deal to pass up, and I thought well, hell, even if I fix the issues with the bodywork, clean her up, and put on some new tires, I could still sell the bike and make a bit of money. When I got home that night I broke the news to my wife that I had just purchased another VFR and she replied, "THANK GOD, I thought you would never get another bike." She had tried to convince me to keep the previous VFR and I let the pocketbook and common sense about being a new parent and not having time to ride be the deciding factor. I was sure I was gonna get, THE LOOK, but was pleasantly surprised. Now my son and I enjoy many a good time taking the bike for a ride and the father/son bonding time is something we both enjoy immensely.
Previous owner had not taken really good care of keeping her clean and polished and she had some minor issues and needed new tires but there was a file folder of maintenance history and a set of brake pads that the PO have given them. I spent the winter cleaning her up and I had the lower cowls painted to get rid of the rock chips and pitting caused by numerous trips down gravel roads and she is now next to perfect. I still have people asking if the bike is new and most are utterly shocked when the find out the bike is 15 years old and has almost 70,000 km's.
Not sure I could ever get rid of the ole girl. She is like a part of the family, and my son would NEVER forgive me. LOL
ZZ, you have a fabulous wife and it is so great to hear about riding with your child. I can certainly relate to the feeling of Never Let Her Go.
(Both the bike and the wife. :tongue: )
My personal definition of FANTASTIC would relate to the feelings I have for my wife. She is truly the love of my life and the fact that she not only wants me to have the bike, she recently told me to buy a 2014 VFR if I wanted one, but that she is totally fine with our kids being passengers. She has ridden and owned bikes of her own in the past and the two of us have enjoyed many an hour in the middle of nowhere just watching the scenery tick by on the last VFR. My wife just recently signed up the local motorcycle safety course since she has not ridden on her own in some time and we purchased her a bike last year. The 97 VFR I used to own was one of her favorite bikes and when one came available about a year ago, she decided that was the bike for her. Once our daughter is old enough we hope to be able to do some family rides. This may be a couple years out still, but the opportunity and willingness to spend the time as a family is perfect.
.Bought 99vfr in 2001 with 2,000 miles. Had been without a sport bike for 5 years, for the first time in 20years. Was playing competitive golf, finished a tournament in third place, and was miserable, came home told my wife I was done, but needed an outlet and the only thing I truly loved was sport bikes, she said if you quit playing golf buy whatever you need. The next week I bought the 99' VFR. Now I’m either riding or wrenching on that same 99 vfr, which I enjoy today as much or more than I did in 2001
My first VFR, '96 4th gen, was purchased new in Alabama.
My current ride, a 2000 5th gen, was bought slightly used, with less than 2500 miles, in 2001 in Idaho. I saved $3000 by buying it used.
My 99 was a year old with 1400 miles when I bought it. I never thought I would become a collector. :)
No, I did not...
but... The VFR, especially the 5th gen, has always had a special place in my heart since I was a teenager lusting after the RC30. I was working for a competitive OEM to Honda in 1998, and got to take a "spirited" test ride on the brand new 5th gen when it was introduced. We were at the Honda Hoot in Ashville NC and I was hooked. Even though the company that I worked for made very capable bikes with plenty of character, I was hooked on the 5th gen. At the time, they really did not have a great "do it all" sports touring bike. That was still in development and at least another year off (turned out to not be so great anyways).
I had previously ridden the 4th gen ripping around the back roads of Newnan GA (where they film the Walking Dead now) about a year earlier and was quite smitten with the 4th gen. My company got one on loan from a local dealer for comparison testing. My boss at the time was an ex Honda guy that had an RC30 and and NC35. In fact, I got in trouble with said boss for putting too many miles on our "test bike" that we were using for comparison purposes for our new yet unannounced sport touring bike. I was only supposed to put on a couple hundred miles, but I think it ended up being more like 2,000 miles. I just heard a 2 in there I think... Well I think, being an RC30/ NC35 V-four guy himself, he knew how hard it was to NOT put miles on the VFR and spared my life/ job.
Fast forward to 2011, I am no longer working for the "competitor" and finally decided its time to get on the 5th gen VFR I always wanted. Searched high and low and ended up with a "nearly new" 2001 in Feb '12 that only had about 700 miles on it. It was quite the challenge to get it from Florida to Indianapolis but with some help of some of my coworkers and friends, we got it done. Made for a good story as well, handing it off from person to person until it got to me. Been happy (and modifying) ever since...and then bought another 5th gen so I could really modify it and not put a ton of miles on my '01 which is up to just 4,000 miles in the past 3 years.
Nope, bought my Y2K in 2010 with 14k miles on it... I was in love with Honda V4s since the 80's and when I finally bought my own I was a very happy camper... made even happier every time I straddle her!!!
The 5th gen has classic, timeless lines and many people think it is a new bike!!!
Bought mine new in Spring of 98'... $9899.00 if I remember correctly... Many mods later we're still together. :wheel:
Bought mine new in Spring of 98'... $9899.00 if I remember correctly... Many mods later we're still together. :wheel:
Did you realize the price is the first three years of the 5th gen... :goofy:
Bought my '98 almost new in Feb '99 with just over 2,000 miles.
Other bikes have come and some of then have gone since.
It shares the garage with 2 Tuonos today.
But the VFR is the one I would like to take cross country.
76,000+ miles really doesn't matter to it.
I'll admit it doesn't look quite as good, but it runs just like always. :beer:
My brand new 99 Bonus.......the first few seconds!
[image: med_gallery_2144_2760_26706.jpg]
Still purring but with more crap! Taken just before my Utah trip last year. Where to in 2015 is the question?
[image: med_gallery_2144_7292_2707665.jpg]
My '99 had 3K on it when I bought from the original owner in '01. Hit 99,550 today on the way home from work.
Bought my '99 new in December of '99 from Hillsboro Honda in Hillsboro, OR. Traded my '95 in for it. I got in a rush because I knew the Y2K's were going to be yellow and at the time I wanted red. I've softened to that and think having a Y2K now would be great. I knew the 5th gen's were FI, but did not know that '99 would be the last year for manually controlled starter valves and no catcon. She's still in the garage next to the 6th gen. Other than the fluids, polished wheels and high mount 2 Bros. exhaust she's just as Soichiro built it. She's never seen rain and is still in pristine condition. It gets ridden occasionally but the 6th gen is the workhorse.
5th & 6th together
Three bikes have come and gone (1984 Yamaha RZ350, 1975 Suzuki GT 380, 1975 Suzuki GT 550)
The magazine's loved the 98 when it was introduced and Motorcyclist even named it their MOTY. That upset many people because 98 was the year that Yamaha introduced the R1 and many people didn't understand how a heavier sportbike with less power could be the motorcycle of the year but we know why they chose the VFR.
I doubt that I will ever sell the VFR!
I lusted after the Suzuki GT's as a youngster. While still cool, they're dinosaurs compared to today's bikes!
If you don't have it and want to read it again, I uploaded the Motorcyclist MOTY article in the Downloads section.
Me neither!
I got my 99 from craigslist in CT. It had 3500 miles. Ran better then new. Looked almost perfect. Paid the man 3000 bucks. I feel real good about it. Never was the first owner of any bike.
Max I looked up "living with the VFR". Good story thanks!
I had a 1996 in 2000. I was never a fan of the red 98-99.
In 2000 when the yellow came out, I said that I could ride that bike.
After seeing one in person, I said that was my next motorcycle purchase.
Needless to say, two weeks later, I totaled my '96 VFR.
Fortunately for me, State Farm contributed to the purchase of a Y2K.
It took me thirteen years to buy another 1996. Then a 1995. I sold the 1995 when my wife said she was no longer going to ride.
I love my Y2K... But it is no forth gen. My love is that red of the forth gen and the superior handling.
Though the linked brakes on a forth gen would be a nice feature.
Bought my 2001 in spring of 2004 with 2,900 miles on it. It has 71k on it now.
Three bikes have come and gone (1984 Yamaha RZ350, 1975 Suzuki GT 380, 1975 Suzuki GT 550)
The magazine's loved the 98 when it was introduced and Motorcyclist even named it their MOTY. That upset many people because 98 was the year that Yamaha introduced the R1 and many people didn't understand how a heavier sportbike with less power could be the motorcycle of the year but we know why they chose the VFR.
I doubt that I will ever sell the VFR!
I lusted after the Suzuki GT's as a youngster. While still cool, they're dinosaurs compared to today's bikes!
If you don't have it and want to read it again, I uploaded the Motorcyclist MOTY article in the Downloads section.
Me neither!
Good reads! I read them both. Thanks for that!. The testers would be appalled if they saw my 99 festooned with 135 litres of cargo space and back rest and rack. But I like it that way.
Count me in. I bought my Y2K VFR in April 00. The good news: we're still together and she's still running strong. The bad news: she only has 20,300 miles on her. I usually have 2-3 bikes, but I do need to ride more.
For those who've kept their bikes since Day1: I'm thinking about replacing my cooling hoses, and upgrading to stainless steel brake lines. I should also look at the rectifier. Any other thoughts?
Was waiting to get Samco hose issue worked out before posting, but currently 5th gen kit is incomplete, lacking both thermostat hoses and radiator to cap hose. Ive been round and round for four months finally sending. Will post when sorted, but for now if purchased, will be incomplete.
Hel SS lines are by far much better fit and finish than any other, but also more expensive.
Bought new '99 VFR from Hillsboro Honda. Now at 50,000 miles.
Getting ready to clean fuel injectors, and do PAIR blanking, new sparkplugs, new t'ars.
Then head out to Colorado this summer for the VFR SUM-SUM III ride.
>>>> BTW , can't post a picture. I load the URL into the image dialog box ... but then everything just hangs.
Anyone else experiencing this?
Thanks! E-Ticket
Was waiting to get Samco hose issue worked out before posting, but currently 5th gen kit is incomplete, lacking both thermostat hoses and radiator to cap hose. Ive been round and round for four months finally sending. Will post when sorted, but for now if purchased, will be incomplete.
...
How much different are the hoses from 5th gen to 6th gen?
So if my count is correct, the answer so far to the OP's original question (how many purchased a 5th gen new) is 9 that still own them, 11 counting another 2 that later parted ways. I'm guessing that by now the owners that bought new and still have 'em will never sell them.
Member Year
Mohawk 2000
y2kvfr 2000
fastrc46 1998
BonusVFR 1999
Cogs 1999
zon 1998
gr8vfr 2000
MorganSteele 2000
E-Ticket 1999
WERA 910 1998 (later sold it)
GP Paul 2001 (5.4km - that's new! - R.I.P.)
I bought my 1999 in 2004 used from a local Albuquerque dealer. I looked at several other bikes but just always came back to Mr.VFR. Helped that it only showed 5,000 miles on the clock. Recent work developments will let me put more miles on leading up to this summer's Sum Sum 3.
Yah, I have always used Photobucket. That's why this is so confusing.
Well, I'll just keep dinking around with it to see if I can get the pic posting to work.
Thanks!
Yah, I have always used Photobucket. That's why this is so confusing.
Well, I'll just keep dinking around with it to see if I can get the pic posting to work.
Thanks!
Sometimes when I have a problem with picture posting I switch to "Compatibility view Setting" in the browser tools?????????
Great allegiance to our brand, BTW, I bought my 83 new!
Wow. 32 years old. Amazing. How about a pic?
How about 5?