Looking for some tips on buying a used 2002 interceptor

I'm checking out a used 2002 Interceptor with about 30K on the clock. The dealer claims it was well maintained (Of course it was! Granny only drove it to the store for milk!) but I was wanting to see if anyone could throw out a few specific things I should be looking for on inspection and test ride...

Thanks in advance!

 

This topic has come up quite often but essentially it's the same for just about any used bike. Look for signs of being dropped or crashed. See what kind of service records they might have. Look at the chain, tires, brakes, battery and other "expendable" items and use those as bargaining chips.

As far as specifics to this year bike, there was a recall done on certain year 6 gen, don't recall if it was the 02 or a later year, but see if that was done if it is the 02. If at all possible, see if they will let you look "under the hood" basically the wiring under the seat near the battery, there's a few connectors and relays there that suffer from overheating (i.e. melting) and if at all possible, the Stator/RR connection under the right side fairing.

 

Thanks OOTV. I currently have a Magna and this was exactly what I was thinking of as well. I hadn't thought about recalls so I'll be sure to ask.

 

Yeah, I put exactly 1.5 miles on my 2007 before the wiring harness started smoking and caught fire.

My wife asked me what I would have done if it were to catch the whole bike on fire. My response: don't call the FD, until it was fully engulfed...

It may seem strange to a dealer, but insist on pulling the body off and inspecting the big blue connector on the left side and the harness on the right side.

 

Oh yeah, the infamous blue connector too. Good call.

 

I don't know how you guys in the Magna community behave, but acting as if VFRs are immune to age is deeply ingrained here.

This is why you can come and post on this forum that you're just about to purchase a 30,000 mile, 16 year-old motorcycle (an '02 VFR800) and nobody says anything about the long-term condition of the bike. VFRs stay "new" forever. No mention/question of whether the valves have been checked/adjusted, no mention/question about whether the fork oil has ever been replaced (VFR fork oil is a magical substance, unicorns use it to prevent inner-thigh chafing) and whether the fork slider bushings have been replaced, no mention/question of whether the hydraulics (both brakes and clutch, lots and lots of 16 year old rubber sealing rings in there) have ever been cleaned/flushed/refurbished/bled, no mention/question of whether the shock linkage pivot points have ever been cleaned/inspected/serviced, ditto for the swingarm and rear hub, no mention/question of whether the cooling system thermostat (yeah, it's probably 16 years old too) has been replaced (I know, where's the fun in changing it before it actually fails and ruins your trip?) and the cylinder head coolant hose connection O-rings replaced and while we're at it is there any record of coolant changes? How long a Honda water pump will go before developing a slow-drip leak from its bearing is very dependent upon the quality/age/type of the coolant running through it. No mention/question of whether the fuel filter has been changed. How old are the spark plugs (and are they the correct type)? How old is the air filter element? Make sure somebody hasn't stuck a K&N oil filter on the bike (those things are basically a ticking time-bomb).

But this is just me, I'm not the most attractive personality you'll meet.

 

Bring your multimeter, pop off the seat to check how well it's charging the battery. don't testride the bike until you have personally checked tire pressures for proper psi; can't trust the dealer with your safety.

 

100% on target, bro.


What coolant changes ?



two thermostat housings from '86 and '87 bikes ^^^ and check O-ring ruination.

 

Great post Greg. I checked out the bike today and bought it. It needs some TLC. I'll be swapping out all the fluids on the bike over the course of the next few weeks and getting a little deeper into it.

Brakes seem fine.
Rides great. Very smooth...
Wheel bearings & swing arm bearings seem tight.
R/R is doing its job.

The one thing I wasn't happy about was that it has a power commander on it and an open exhaust. I know some will says that is a good thing but I just want it stock.

I chewed them down on price to $2300. It's runs and rides well now. It is going to be a lot better by the time I am done.

Three questions...


1. You mentioned using good coolant... What coolant do you recommend?

2. What do I need to do to ditch the power commander? If I just unhook the box will it default back to the stock tune? I plan on just picking up a used stock exhaust for the bike. I'll swap out the air filter and plugs attached the same time. Hopefully nothing else was modified by the previous owner.

3. Where can I find a digital copy of the factory service manual?

 

Scratch #3... I found it.

 

Looks like a good bike and the price you got was right on (I'm not good at haggling, so I'm jealous). I use nothing but Pro Honda HP coolant (comes in blue bottle, 1 quart, pre-mixed at 50/50), I use this coolant in all of my motorcycles, 1 Kawasaki, 1 Suzuki and 2 Hondas. Neither of my VFRs have a Power Commander so I have no experience/knowledge there.

 

Nice one but you're not gonna ride that with an open exhaust if you have any sense at all.

 

Thanks Greg. I'll check it out.

 

LOL! I will until the proper exhaust arrives! It is ATROCIOUSLY loud when you are behind it. When you actually riding it though the noise isn't so bad.

Still though... I'm fine with it being stock and would prefer (for the longevity of the bike) to get it back to factory specs.

 

Earplugs, always. 30 years flying airplanes, riding motorcycles, mowing lawns and building furniture... and I still have great hearing and no tinnitus.

 

As far as the Power Commander, it can be removed and you'll be back to factory settings. That's the beauty of them, it really is just a go between for the ECU. That being said, most of these when installed have the O2 sensors bypassed with a terminating resister, you can leave them in or put the O2 sensors back on, if they do have the resisters in place. You can look for the manual at DynoJets website to see how it gets installed and just reverse the process.

 

Ah! Should have thought to hit the DJ site!

Adding it to the to do list...

 

Wouldnt have it any other way. It amazes me how hard it is to get the guys I ride with to use them and how positive thier response is after they do.

My dad worked at IBM for 25 years around HUGE cooling towers and can barely hear a thing now. Even with his hearing aids he has a hard time. I see how hard he struggles with it and plainly put: I'm not going to be that guy.

 

Ah yes. Tinnitus. I have learned that ha a special ring to it. But mine has nothing to do with riding. I wear ear protection any time I am out on the highway, which is most the time riding.

I was going to post a ;ink to the service manual but see you found it. That can't be stock colour. I have never seen a yellow 6th gen. Looks good though.

BTW. Welcome to the World. I have been enjoying my '06 for over 213,000 km now and about to head to Mexico in a few days with it.

 

Thanks! Interesting catch on the color... I can only find a few others that are yellow when I search images for other yellow VFR's. Could be a respray... Odd though as I find more frequently than not people don't redecal the bikes after painting it. I'm going to have to look into the color thing. Like I said, I can find them... Just not many. The VAST majority of the pics I find are red.