My Next Second bike project..... VFR800

[raYzerman]

Or subtitled, something's gonna follow me home later this month.......
Posting this in the Build Thread category because I do have some work ahead of me..... Now that the FJR is out of the stable, kinda needing a project but not a real project, more like a second older bike I can refurb and ride.... I mean, the CBF is going to be my sport tourer and I don't want another sport tourer. If that happened, I'd have a hard time deciding which one to ride. So, I need a more sporty sumthin' maybe... contemplated an FZ1 until my insurance guy told me it's classed as a supersport, and in this neck of the woods, the insurance is simply budiculous for that 150 hp monster (or any sport bike for that matter). Thought briefly one of the later Bandits (GSX1250FA) might be interesting, but there we go, another sport tourer... I am into good used lower cost bikes to play with now, or it seems.
Got this one very reasonable..... here's a teaser pic of a nice bike I've lusted after in the past. It's older than the CBF. That's all you get for now until I get it home and take some more pics.

[Hppants]

My thinks me smells a viffer in the wings....

I love the sound of gear driven cams in the morning....

[bungie4]

Don't discount the Bandit 1250's. I almost bought one after test riding a friends. That engine. It makes about 90% of its max torque around 2000 rpm. To bad its a Suzuki. Are they even still in business?

[wetwolf]

My Bandit 1200 is a handful. Haven't ridden a 1250 yet, but given the chance I'd throw my leg across the saddle for a spin.

[Hack]

'Bought a new 2008 1250 Bandit back in...2008.
Rode it for 8 years

It was far more capable than I.
Very powerful/fast, yet insurance friendly.

[Hppants]

Have ridden a 1250 Bandit - absolutely LOVE that bike. It is VERY fast and with a nice set of Givi luggage, every bit the capable sport tourer.

[gixxerjasen]

When I had my Gen 1 FZ1 I swapped and rode my friends big Bandit. I was expecting to be more impressed with it than I ended up being. I was happy to get my bike back.

[extrememarine]

VFR - the best kind if it's got those sexy gear drive cams...subscribed

[raYzerman]

Well, you see, I have ridden a Bandit, sat on an '08 1250 a few weeks back... but I don't need a second sport tourer... so I decided I'd like a kinda more sporty sport tourer (they class it as one, even though to me it is a lotta sport)......

Pants and The Marine nailed it, it's a Viffer, which rhymes with the Biffer (as the Brits call the CBF). I absolutely wanted the (1998-2001) Gen5 with the gear driven cams, there's nothing like that sound when you wind them up. 2002 (Gen6) went all Vtec and chain driven cams, now they're up to Gen8 with the 1200 Crosstourer (how did a Viffer become an adventure bike, LOL).

Anyway, I now have a VFR800, 1999 with 60k miles on it, and with some other projects going on, no room for it quite yet. There are two bikes in the shop that aren't mine.....
I'll use this thread to keep ya posted on the "restoration"..... first order of business is to get a fuel tank.... here is what a new one would have looked like in that Pearl Shining Yellow.

[Canadian FJR]

The VFR is a sweet ride.

What is this silly talk "Now that the FJR is out of the stable" ??

[Hppants]

I know a few Viffer riders and consequently I've ridden a few as well. The "experts" say that the Gen 5 VFR800 is the best bike ever made. Seriously, they worship it and because of that, these bikes still command real money in any condition. I have no doubt you paid for that bike, and I'm sure it was worth it.

I have ridden that bike (it might have been a different year) in Red (the "orange-y" version) and I must say: With ear plugs on a cool weekday afternoon in Deals Gap, riding with a couple guys (and one gal) that know how to ride, that bike is sex on wheels. Sitting on top of those gear driven cams singing well into the power band is quite literally.... addictive.

Stopped to gaze at the view one day on the Talemena Scenic Hwy (Arkansas) on my 1st FJR. There was a lone guy standing there next to a filthy 5th gen VFR800 with hard bags on it. His aerostitch was absolutely disgusting - that suit hadn't seen a bucket of water in a very long time. Turns out he is a CPA from the DFW area and was on his way home from a 3000 mile ride out east.

(Pants) "So, that Viffer has been around the block - still like it?"

(CPA) "Bought this bike new. It's got almost 200K on it. Don't let the dirt fool you. Underneath, that motor is perfect. Believe me when I say this: I will NEVER sell this bike. Not in a million years."

Looking forward to this one.

[wheatonFJR]

The VFR is a sweet ride.

What is this silly talk "Now that the FJR is out of the stable" ??

He lost his taste for Root Beer.

[raYzerman]

Pants, I knew there was a reason you picked up on the teaser pic right away.... BTW, the odo on this one shows 109,000 kms. (60k miles) and 90% of people simply shy away once that one shows up in the first digit. Still, these Hondas I've been buying are still in the toy money category, I got this one VERY reasonable because of the mileage.... the owner put the vast majority of those miles on himself, and it's been all over, not on a trailer... to California and back no less. He loves the bike, but life, kids, sports and a love for track days on his Triumph triple..... decided to give up the Viffer.. We talked at length about the history/maintenance, very happy to tell me lots of detail with no BS.... and in the end, it was a handshake deal, no money or paper exchanged hands, he wouldn't take a deposit, I pay him when I pick it up in a coupla weeks. The gear driven cams..... addictive is definitely the right term.

[Hppants]

Well- like the Yamaha products, it of course will last forever with proper care and feeding. IIRC, the big concern for the VFR is the stator, which apparently is quite a job to change. Child's play for you, Ray I'm sure. If that is even an issue.

Before I bought the 2nd FJR, I did consider the new VFR1200. I even rode one for a bit - totally unimpressed. That bike was nothing compared to what you bought.

[bungie4]

Buddy had a VFR1200. Came out to SEO once or twice with me. We'd swap bikes enough times that i have a pretty respectable amount of miles on it.

Great bike to reinforce just how good the fjr is. Nice bike for sure. But i think the fjr beat it every category. Except maybe reach to the bars. They are WAY out there on that bike. Great when you're 6' 8" or more

[CollingsBob]

I like the look of the Husqvarna Norden 901..

[blind squirrel]

I like the look of the Husqvarna Norden 901..

I like pie!

[CollingsBob]

I like the look of the Husqvarna Norden 901..

I like pie!

My wife makes an amazing lemon meringue pie from scratch...a bag of lemons and a pound of lard. I love pie

[raYzerman]

Well the Bumble Bee followed me home a couple of days ago, and I promptly gave it a bath... with her clothes on. Parked it inside and then she got all naked except for her bra and shoes...........

[Canadian FJR]

Some purdy - be sure to top that coolant up



Canadian FJR