should i pull the trigger?

there is a vfr800fi for sale on cl relatively close to me. the seller only wants around $1k.
the bike looks like it is in good shape, just with some bad red paint fade. i asked him why it is priced so low. he said it's got a fueling issue. he hasnt elaborated much more than that. we have only communicated through email. i did a little research on the fueling issues for the 98 vfr, and it sounds like the strongest candidate is the blue connector in the front left fairing. i'm not really sure, and i'm definitely not an expert on the subject. i'm really not a fan of electrical work in general! a $1000 vfr in good shape though, is super tempting. i have a 2012 cbr250r right now, that is for sale on cl. it's a good bike, and a lot of fun, but i just want another bigger bike, and i have owned a vfr before, and loved it (a 92 750). commuting is so much more relaxed when you arent at full throttle and redline the whole time.
i dont have a lot of money to play with. it is possible that i could go buy the bike right now at this moment, and live off ramen for the next 2 weeks, but i'd rather not waste my money if this turns into a big involved project.
i need some voice of reason, or tips from the wizened vfr gurus here.

there is another vfr i have been eying. it's also a 98. this one's purple and yellow, with some busted up fairings and some nice suspension. the seller wants more on this purple one, than the owner of the red one. it's a good running bike- just very ugly.

 

All 'older' bikes require a little more attention than you may have the skills for at present.
Save your money for a bike thats not got issues to fix first or be prepared to have to learn how to fix bikes the hard way - because you have to..
You have a perfectly reliable bike currently - switch it for another reliable bike - not one with problems.

Fauty bikes are Vampires - they suck time & money out of you - just ask Long....lol

 

it sounds like the red bike is just a dirty maf, or otherwise needing a replacement for it. i'm meeting the guy tomorrow morning.
btw, the 250 i have currently is bike number 13 for me. i have ridden everything from dualsport 250's to 1500something h-d's, and all sorts of japanese bikes from 1981-2009 and a stupid, stupid purchase of a 2016 ktm duke 390- an austrian bike made in india.
i know my way around some bike work fairly well. this will hopefully be my second happily purchased vfr, but the first fuel injected one. i'm really pumped up about getting back on a vfr. my 3 sv650's that i've had are almost as cool.

another plus, is a guy is coming to look at the cbr after i get home with the vfr. he's pretty intent on buying it- woot!

 

I would go for the red one... But thats just me. I'm a mechanic

 

yeah, i'm pretty sold on it, too

 

If you can suss out the problem and it's not a big $ fix, scoop it up.

 

the guy says that he's replaced the throttle bodies, battery, fuel pump, spark plugs, and some other stuff. he said he sold it a couple of months ago, but the bike died as soon as it got on the street. you can ride around at just a little throttle, but when you crank on it, the bike dies. it sounded like what the guy in the 4th youtube search result for "vfr800fi" describes, as he then figures out whats wrong and fixes it. pretty sure it's a bad or dirty mass airflow pressure sensor.

 

I would wait. Looks "sitting out in the elements" used and abused. Doesn't make sense for him to dump all of that money on throttle-bodies ($$$) and a fuel pump, etc, then get rid of it for so cheap.

 

Lol I bought it
The main problem is rust in the tank. I'm going to get it chemically cleaned, if I can find a place near me that will do it.
I also have a friend nearby that's about to hook me up with some cheap, good condition bodywork from his red vfr of the same gen. He sold his bike a while back but still have the bodywork. Woo!!

 

And I sold the cbr!

 

so i got a full set of red plastics in good shape! dude gave me a nice price.
anyone have any need for some rashed fairings? the ones from my bike are mostly in tact, just rashy. the top fairing is broken on the right side. i can get pics tomorrow if anyone's interested. they are red... just really faded. this would look good if you ride with an old, red aerostich suit.

 

i'm in montgomery, tx. around an hour nw of houston.

 

question: the bike isnt so easy to push. the tension on the chain is kind of high... im wondering if that could be the cause, or if there are some bearings or something in the rear wheel hub area that i should do something about. i'm planning on checking into this when im at the bike later today, but like i said earlier, i think the great vfrworld hivemind may know more than i do.

 

Like my grandpa always said "Diagnose and fix with the cheapest part and move up." Good Luck. ;-) I know no help other than what gramps said.

 

gramps is a wise man
i just made a table in google docs, tracking my costs on this venture so far

not on the list is that i need to get the title in my name and insurance on the bike. the title, i'm expecting it to be around $180
hey, only $1400 in and i should be able to get some of that back from whatever i get by selling the fairings for. the tail isnt that bad, and the sides have a little rash, but the upper is good, aside from the right side tip being broken off, and some very poor sticker removal from PO.

 

I live in Houston and had been watching that bike on CL for at least 3 months. Let me know what you find out regarding the fuel issue. I am curious what the problem turns out to be!