Buying a High Mileage 2000 VFR?

maverickfhs · May 23, 2018

Looking at buying a high mileage 2000 VFR(close to 90ish K miles)

Should I stay away from it?

It does have maintenance history, all plastic is there. Missing some bolts and pieces - definitely NOT a garage queen.

Thanks for the input

khittner · May 23, 2018

Gotta love Honda engines. I wouldn't pay a lot for any 18yr-old sportbike, and you should probably curry favor with a pickup truck owner, or hang a trailer hitch on one of the cars.

maverickfhs · May 23, 2018

Originally Posted By: khittner
Gotta love Honda engines. I wouldn't pay a lot for any 18yr-old sportbike, and you should probably curry favor with a pickup truck owner, or hang a trailer hitch on one of the cars.

What would you think be a fair price?

Trailer hitch on the car is in the process

khittner · May 23, 2018

Well, unless you're the sort of BITOGer who's geeked by having big numbers on their vehicle's odometer, it probably has no commercial value as an intact motorcycle. It may be worth more parted out than it is as a semi-working motorcycle. The NADA guide gives about $1500 for its low retail, but I'd have to think that that's based on a more normal mileage figure; at 90K miles, this has at least twice that mileage on it. Unless there's been a lot of money, labor, and parts put into it, every moving, electrical, and fluid management piece that hasn't been replaced yet is close to needing it.

skyactiv · May 23, 2018

I would stay away from it. Honda doesn't make a more reliable motorcycle than the other 3 Japan motorcycle manufactures.
Consumers Reports says that title belongs to Yamaha. I'm an experienced rider. If I was looking for a used motorcycle today,
a clean Yamaha FZ6 would be at the top of my list. Upright riding position, plenty of power and it's a bike that will age very well
and not look dated eons from now.

maverickfhs · May 23, 2018

skyactiv , I definitely like Yammi and that's why have a R1

Love FZ6 and Fz1, just browsing for the right one.

You can call me motorcycle hoarder

02SE · May 23, 2018

That year VFR is generally considered to be a Sport-touring bike. They have a linked brake system (which I hated) like I had on a CBR1100XX. The best part is the sound of the engine. But a 90k bike which sounds to be in less than pristine condition, probably isn't worth much. I'd use low book as a guide to the most I would pay.

maverickfhs · May 23, 2018

Originally Posted By: 02SE
That year VFR is generally considered to be a Sport-touring bike. They have a linked brake system (which I hated) like I had on a CBR1100XX. The best part is the sound of the engine. But a 90k bike which sounds to be in less than pristine condition, probably isn't worth much. I'd use low book as a guide to the most I would pay.

What would be your thoughts in terms of the price? Like less than $1000 or $500 or something else?

02SE · May 23, 2018

Originally Posted By: maverickfhs
Originally Posted By: 02SE
That year VFR is generally considered to be a Sport-touring bike. They have a linked brake system (which I hated) like I had on a CBR1100XX. The best part is the sound of the engine. But a 90k bike which sounds to be in less than pristine condition, probably isn't worth much. I'd use low book as a guide to the most I would pay.

What would be your thoughts in terms of the price? Like less than $1000 or $500 or something else?

I'd have to see the bike in person, hear it run from cold, and ideally ride it, to answer that. Or at the very least have numerous good quality pictures that show wear and tear of the entire bike.

David_g · May 24, 2018

To me the VFR is a heavy sport bike. All the comfort of a sport bike with all the weight of a heavier bike. Others see it differently of course. Though comparing it to the FZ6 above, I'd take a 800 V4 over a 600 I4 any day. So if I were deciding between those two I'd...

...buy another FZ1 instead.

OTOH maybe you like sport bikes, even the heavy kind, and want this slightly rough VFR, and don't mind doing some work and spending some money on it. Hope it's inexpensive.

Have valve checks and adjustments been done? I think they're a lot of work on those, and commonly skipped.

Besides mechanical stuff, on an old bike in somewhat rough shape I'd want to make sure the wiring was OK--make sure hadn't been hacked up in weird ways to add accessories for example.

jeff78 · May 24, 2018

The thing with missing bolts and pieces is, those are just the parts you can see. I'd wonder about the ones you can't.

That generation VFR was the last to have gear driven cams, so if you're not familiar with those, the engine whine may surprise/scare you at first, but it's normal.

AFAIK no known issues with these bikes except for dodgy regulator/rectifiers which was not uncommon for Japanese bikes of that era. Easily fixable with modern more reliable units.

NADA book value says $1500-1900.

Personally, I'd love to snag one of these as a project bike.

maverickfhs · May 24, 2018

Snagged it for $500

Definitely worth it.

Ausfahrt · May 24, 2018

Originally Posted By: maverickfhs
Snagged it for $500

Definitely worth it.

I think that you got a great deal for a running VFR at that price.

You could get another 100k out of that bike. How about some pics?

maverickfhs · May 24, 2018

Originally Posted By: Ausfahrt
Originally Posted By: maverickfhs
Snagged it for $500

Definitely worth it.

I think that you got a great deal for a running VFR at that price.

You could get another 100k out of that bike. How about some pics?

Honestly yes, because of side cases, PR4 tires, all plastic there and was able to ride home.

I am going to strip it down and check everything on it.

Picts are in the process

Buying a High Mileage 2000 VFR?

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