OldFart Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Greetings from hot and steamy Palm Desert, California! Thanks for accepting me into the forum. I just picked up this 1998 VFR800 two weeks ago. I wasn't really looking for one but I saw this one advertised locally on Craigslist for...are you ready...$1,500! Around here you pay that much for a old Ninja 250 in rough condition. Yes, it's got 56,000 miles on it but it seems to run great and I love the way it feels and handles. The ergonomics are terrific, I can ride about 55 with the face shield up on my helmet with no issues. It looks great, I'd give it an 8.5 on a 10 scale for appearance. Just a couple of scratches here and there. The seating position is perfect (it has an older Corbin leather seat which is comfortable as heck). As soon as I got it I changed the oil and filter, changed the coolant, replaced the fork seals and steering head bearings, checked out the electrical system (having read about the regulator/rectifier issues) so yes, I've got a few more bucks into it now. By the way, it came with a Vance & Hines slip on exhaust system which I don't want (it had the stock on it when I bought it) so I'll probably post that for sale elsewhere on the forum. For now I'm happy as heck with this great new bike! I also have a Kawasaki Versys 1000 and a Honda CRF250L dual sport, as well as a little PCX150 Honda scooter for putting around on. I hope to be a helpful contributor, especially in the Fifth Generation category. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer thtanner Posted September 9, 2018 Member Contributer Share Posted September 9, 2018 Almost bought that one myself but I'm waiting until Feb to begin my second 5th gen project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer MaxSwell Posted September 9, 2018 Member Contributer Share Posted September 9, 2018 What a fabulous find. And a Great price. Best generation in the fastest color! You obviously have great taste in mc's. Welcome to the asylum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Duc2V4 Posted September 10, 2018 Member Contributer Share Posted September 10, 2018 Welcome Aboard! You did good, not only with the purchase price but with the things you did right off the bat. First thing I did when I got my 5 Gen was full fluid flush/fill and replaced the tires. Although I did also change the fork seals, I did this by way of DMr, I had the front & rear suspension rebuilt to suit me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Calculon Posted September 11, 2018 Member Contributer Share Posted September 11, 2018 Hello, great looking bike. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldFart Posted October 6, 2018 Author Share Posted October 6, 2018 Made a few cosmetic improvements in the last month. The gas tank had a big gouge out of it on one side that was neatly covered by knee grips. The Honda tank pad in the center was a nice touch over scuffed up paint, I like the look of it a lot. Then I polished the crap out of everything. Installed the Vance & Hines slip-on that came in a box with the bike, the old owner didn't like the sound. I love the sound! Different strokes I guess. It had an old Corbin seat that had seen better days so I had that recovered at a local upholstery shop and had them add the red piping, which is how the Corbin seats come now but wasn't on the original. I'm thinking it's looking good for a $1,500 bike. By the way, it's not orange, of course, but the light in my garage makes it look that way. It's very red! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer mello dude Posted October 6, 2018 Member Contributer Share Posted October 6, 2018 Welcome to the 5th gen addicts club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer MaxSwell Posted October 6, 2018 Member Contributer Share Posted October 6, 2018 Wow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duccmann Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 I’d say you done real good, beautiful bike.Enjoy the crap out of the new girlfriend. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer VARIABLE9 Posted October 8, 2018 Member Contributer Share Posted October 8, 2018 Very cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VFR4Lee Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 Very nice. Enjoy. It's amazing how little cash older but good bikes go for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepretender Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 Couple of weeks ago the was a yellow 5th gen 20k miles minor faring damage on CL Sacramento $1600, should have went and got it 😞 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RVFR Posted October 9, 2018 Share Posted October 9, 2018 Nice score, I can see your smile from here. Yea the V&H belonged on it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tightwad Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 Nice bike, looks well maintained and fully supportive of your MBS affliction... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Airfiddler Posted October 26, 2018 Member Contributer Share Posted October 26, 2018 Great find. $1500 !! amazing. I was in Palm Desert earlier this month. Such a beautiful area. I was surprised at how many motorcycles I didn't see. maybe you guy's don't ride much when it's above 95 F ? We can only dream of those temperatures in Canada. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer GatorGreg Posted October 26, 2018 Member Contributer Share Posted October 26, 2018 Congrats - that’s a helluva bike for $I,500! Heck, I just paid $1,200 for a 2010 Honda Elite 110 scooter. I used to have a PCX150 like yours (great scooter!) before I bought my VFR but I started to miss having something small to putz around on so I added the Elite to keep my VFR company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldFart Posted October 26, 2018 Author Share Posted October 26, 2018 20 hours ago, Airfiddler said: Great find. $1500 !! amazing. I was in Palm Desert earlier this month. Such a beautiful area. I was surprised at how many motorcycles I didn't see. maybe you guy's don't ride much when it's above 95 F ? We can only dream of those temperatures in Canada. Regarding the temperature, we ride at night in the summer, or straight up the mountains to Idyllwild or Big Bear or Julian or somewhere cooler and higher elevation during the day. Never around the desert floor unless you have to. The VFR, as most everybody knows, is extremely sensitive to ambient air temp and the operating temp of that bike especially goes through the roof on 100+ degree days with anything less than a high speed airflow. Regardless, it's great motorcycling country precisely because it is so close to cooler mountain temperatures (not to mention the great twisty roads!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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