Buying 05 VFR800 ABS - Tips please

[piyushpatidar]

Hi,
I am gonna strike a deal tomorrow for a used 2005 VFR800 ABS.
It has 4100 miles on it and no scratch on it.

Can you give me some tips - as what to what particular things to look for before finalizing?
The owner is an old guy and looks like it has been kept like a baby.

Thanks,
pp

Check the service history, pay the man, and leave with the bike, there won't be anything wrong with it. Obviously check it starts, state of the tyres etc

[ukbiker]

doooooooo not buy vfr......reason? go to vfr owners club and read before u decide..........
http://www.bikersoracle.com/vfr/foru...isplay.php?f=4
i copied link here check it out

[mello dude]

Originally Posted by piyushpatidar

Hi,
I am gonna strike a deal tomorrow for a used 2005 VFR800 ABS.
It has 4100 miles on it and no scratch on it.

Can you give me some tips - as what to what particular things to look for before finalizing?
The owner is an old guy and looks like it has been kept like a baby.

Thanks,
pp

UKbiker says dont do it because of a recall on the oil cooler pipes - well maybe have the current owner deal with the recall before you buy. If he wont use that to gig some bucks out of him. At 4100 miles its still a new ride --- viffers are a solid machines. If you have your heart set on it, go ahead and do it.

BTW - the recall looks to be a relatively minor deal - just dont let it go.

MD

[jasonsmith]

Don't let a basic recall get you down or deter you. There are recalls on just about everything that mankind has made. A recall is actually great, better than a problem that everyone knows about and isn't getting addressed by the manufacturer.

Anyone have a copy of this recall letter? It needs to be added to the Wiki.

PS: Hey PP, looks like tomorrow has come and gone, did ya get it?

[ukbiker]

hi

when said go and check out vfr club before u buy one i did was not talking about recalls...
correct there is recall ragarding oil pipe.......
i took mine to the dealer and sorted it out quick..
vfr vtecs have very very serious ISSSUES with throttle control......
so bad that its unsafe to ride...

IT ALL DEPENDS WHERE U GOING TO RIDE...
IF U GONA USE IT LONG NON TWIST ROADS AND NO FILTERING THRU TRAFIC AND NO LOW SPEED RIDING THEN ITS FANTASTIC MACHINE.

STRAIGHT NON BENDY ROADS WITH HIGH SPEEDS(THEN DONT WORRY...)
IF U A LIKE BIKE WITH (WORPDRIVE) ENGINE AND HAS AMZING STOPPING POWER THEN VFR IS THE ONE.......
BUT FOR ANY OTHER USE FORGET IT.

VFR IS RUBBISH TO CONTROL BETWEEN 2K TO 4K REVS.(TO A POINT I NEARLY CRASHED FEW TIMES.
DID I MENTION VERY POOR TANK RANGE 33MPG AND THIS IS EASY RIDING...(130 MILES BEFORE RESERVE LIGHT COME ON........
SOME.

[Florida]

Poor throttle control? When I first got my '05, the throttle was very abrupt under 4k rpms. It turned out to be slop in the throttle cable. I guess it stretched a little during the break-in period. Easy enough to adjust (although it is a little difficult to get a wrench on the fittings below the tank where where the cable meets the mechanism). That small adjustment made a world of difference.

The V-Tec VFR is one of the easiest riding bikes I've ever owned. I've put over 20,000 miles on mine without a lick of trouble. And it excels at everything from mountain twisties to long range touring. By the way, I get over 40 mpg (and I ride hard). As Peter Egan recently observed in Cycle World, if you can only have one bike, the VFR is the one to own.

[Action]

Hmmmm.... VTEC's unsafe to ride. Well, I think you'll find a large disagreement with that seeing as a lot of us ride VTEC VFR's on this form. I bought mine used with about 3K miles on it and haven't had a problem with the throttle or the VTEC transition. I did notice that as you put some miles on the bike the VTEC transition seems to get smoother. I have seen some bikes with a snatchy throttle but you can usually adjust it out. Most FI bikes will not be as smooth comming off a closed throttle as a carbed bike.

Action

[junktionfet]

vfr vtecs have very very serious ISSSUES with throttle control......
so bad that its unsafe to ride...

I don't have anywhere near the level of experience of some of the riders on this forum, yet even I find the VTEC VFR very intuitive to ride. The throttle control is actually considerably more refined than my friend's Suzuki. I'm curious if something is wrong with your bike.

[5891Jonathan]

I bought a used 2004 VFR this summer. ukbiker has a point about the throttle response, but the point isn't a very good one. Sure, the VFR doesn't reward a rider who chops the throttle in a corner or in other manuevers. What bike does? It took me about 5 seconds to figure out the throttle response. Great bike.

[jasonsmith]

Originally Posted by ukbiker

hi

when said go and check out vfr club before u buy one i did was not talking about recalls...
correct there is recall ragarding oil pipe.......
i took mine to the dealer and sorted it out quick..
vfr vtecs have very very serious ISSSUES with throttle control......
so bad that its unsafe to ride...

IT ALL DEPENDS WHERE U GOING TO RIDE...
IF U GONA USE IT LONG NON TWIST ROADS AND NO FILTERING THRU TRAFIC AND NO LOW SPEED RIDING THEN ITS FANTASTIC MACHINE.

STRAIGHT NON BENDY ROADS WITH HIGH SPEEDS(THEN DONT WORRY...)
IF U A LIKE BIKE WITH (WORPDRIVE) ENGINE AND HAS AMZING STOPPING POWER THEN VFR IS THE ONE.......
BUT FOR ANY OTHER USE FORGET IT.

VFR IS RUBBISH TO CONTROL BETWEEN 2K TO 4K REVS.(TO A POINT I NEARLY CRASHED FEW TIMES.
DID I MENTION VERY POOR TANK RANGE 33MPG AND THIS IS EASY RIDING...(130 MILES BEFORE RESERVE LIGHT COME ON........
SOME.

I have absolutely no idea what this fella is talking about. I don't think rubbish at all when riding... actually the opposite.

But to be on the safe side everyone give your bikes back! You can send them to me and i will give them back to Honda.

[whittecar05]

I just bought an '05 w/ ABS. I love it. Though I haven't had much of a chance to get it out on the twisties yet, because of leaves and cold (black ice)... and work and school and family... :) But, it's been a great bike for commuting so far, rain or shine. Also haven't been able to try the ABS yet, but I'm sure it'll work when I need it.

I've been averaging ~40MPG w/ traffic. So, the open freeway will probably get me more.

I've got my electrical recall, but haven't recv'd anything regarding an oil pipe recall. Perhaps only certain bikes are affected?

Buy it, get the issues addressed, ride it forever. And enjoy that V4 sound!

[whiteboyslo]

Originally Posted by ukbiker

hi

when said go and check out vfr club before u buy one i did was not talking about recalls...
correct there is recall ragarding oil pipe.......
i took mine to the dealer and sorted it out quick..
vfr vtecs have very very serious ISSSUES with throttle control......
so bad that its unsafe to ride...

IT ALL DEPENDS WHERE U GOING TO RIDE...
IF U GONA USE IT LONG NON TWIST ROADS AND NO FILTERING THRU TRAFIC AND NO LOW SPEED RIDING THEN ITS FANTASTIC MACHINE.

STRAIGHT NON BENDY ROADS WITH HIGH SPEEDS(THEN DONT WORRY...)
IF U A LIKE BIKE WITH (WORPDRIVE) ENGINE AND HAS AMZING STOPPING POWER THEN VFR IS THE ONE.......
BUT FOR ANY OTHER USE FORGET IT.

VFR IS RUBBISH TO CONTROL BETWEEN 2K TO 4K REVS.(TO A POINT I NEARLY CRASHED FEW TIMES.
DID I MENTION VERY POOR TANK RANGE 33MPG AND THIS IS EASY RIDING...(130 MILES BEFORE RESERVE LIGHT COME ON........
SOME.

I could take you more seriously if you showed some master of the English language....

Mike

[NeverlosT]

Yeah, I have to go with the gang on this one. I toss my bike into twisties like I mean it, and I have made the Vtech transition mid-corner and in traffic. It is not at all scary, or difficult to control.
I would say sure the bike is spikey if you jack on the throttle, but try doing that on a Fireblade and you will find yourself on the pavement on your back wondering where your bike went. Comparatively, this bike is super well behaved.
There are minor surging issues at lower RPM's, I'll give you that, but they get better with age, and can be remedied with a pair valve blockoff, a PCIII, and a little throttle control.

I love this bike. I simply cant wait for the snow to melt so I can ride again.
Also, I get closer to 200 miles per fill up with my bike. It seems that UKbiker may have something fishy with his bike. I am sorry to hear it isn't working out for him.

[piyushpatidar]

Its been almost 10 months since the purchase of my bike. I got to admit this .. this is like a dream machine.
Power on the bike ... whether its straight or twisties .. its amazing. You can feel the 4 cylinders working as you approach 6k rpm. I have tried it on highway upto a speed of 150mph and it still wanted to go faster.
Throttle control in twisted roads is very nice. All you need to know is when to down shift. Its been close to 6000 miles on it now .. and never did I felt less on its controlling ability.

just wanted to share personal thoughts.

no mods/ additions on it yet. Replaced the tires recently (got bridgestone). Purchased a set of saddle, tail and tank bags and I am ready to go anyplace. Will be upgrading to Sargent seat soon.

thanks for suggestion you guys and hope my reviews helps someone as well.