Refurbishing my '99 5th Gen

Discussion in '5th Generation 1998-2001' started by GreginDenver, Jan 13, 2017.

  1. RllwJoe

    RllwJoe Insider

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    +1 more on this well presented thread!

    Many thanks Greg.

    I need to do many of the same overdue maintenance projects, and value this as a guide and inspiration.
     
  2. duccmann

    duccmann Member

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    Dam, now I need a seat cover
    Great job Greg


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
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  3. hosepipe

    hosepipe New Member

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    Thanks Greg for your detailed posts. They will be my guide for refurb of my machine. I bought a '99 5th Generation UK model (green indicator lights on the dash) just a couple of weeks ago with 105K miles on the clock. Tyres (Bridgestone BT020s) looked good but this thread has educated me on DOT codes and it turns out they are 12 and 11 years old! Fortunately it looks like the rectifier has already been upgraded to a CBR929 model. How to identify the VFRness? It's also been given a stainless exhaust. The bike came with virtually no paperwork, just previous MOTs that confirm it racked up most of its significant mileage in the first five years of its life. It has spent the last 10 years garaged and off the road. The dealership that originally sold it has recommissioned it and I got a bargain at only £850. I am now slowly investigating the bike for signs of recent work done. A helpful note written in marker pen on the airbox confirms that the filter and plugs were changed at 94K miles and I think I see what looks like a new gasket on the clutch cover.
     
  4. GreginDenver

    GreginDenver New Member

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    Glad to be of service. Hope your '99 refurb turns out nice, I sure do love mine.
     
  5. Stray

    Stray New Member

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    Wow Greg - that bike is a credit to you and your meticulous attention to detail. For all of intents and purposes you've got a brand new bike. With the suspension upgrades I bet it now runs even better than when it was bought nearly 20 years ago.

    You've also done the VFR community a great service with your write up. Hope you enjoy your bike for many, many happy miles - you've earned that.

    Stray
     
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  6. J800VFR

    J800VFR New Member

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    In one of the earlier threads you mentioned a Wire My Bike VFRness and a Kisan Pathblazer headlight modulator.

    Please can you explain what these are and their benefit?
     
  7. GreginDenver

    GreginDenver New Member

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    The VFRness is an "approved solution" within the VFR community. The VFRness is a ready-made (with detailed installation directions) remedy for the weak 5th Generation VFR800 wiring that causes Regulator/Rectifier and Alternator problems. Even if you don't understand anything about electricity you can install it.

    The Kisan Pathblazer is a simple bit of plug-n-play electronics that you install in between the headlight bulbs and the VFR's OEM headlight plugs. When you switch the headlights to "Bright" or "Highbeams" during daylight hours the Pathblazer will modulate the headlights, which means: it gently "throttles" the headlights back and forth between 20% power and 80% power a couple times per second.

    Headlight modulators are legal all across the U.S. A modulated headlight is not a flashing headlight. The Pathblazer has a gentle up-and-down pulsating appearance and because it only goes up to a maximum of 80% of normal headlight brightness it is not "in your face" or offensive. It is very good at making you visible to other drivers when you're riding in heavy traffic where distracted people often miss seeing motorcycles.
     
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  8. mhzpower

    mhzpower New Member

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    I must say that this is show room clean. Might be too clean though. I would hate to be afraid of riding and getting it dirty.

    Could you summarize how much work/time it took? I've put together a dream list from your experience that I want to do to my '01.
     
  9. GreginDenver

    GreginDenver New Member

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    Actually, the date-stamps at the bottom of each post in this thread give a very accurate account of the progress and time spent on the refurbishment. Until a few minutes ago I couldn't have told you how long I spent, but each day after doing the bits of work I would come upstairs from the garage and post the pictures and write about it. So now that I've looked I can tell you it ran from Jan 13 to Feb 13.

    I didn't work on the VFR refurbishment every day of that Jan-to-Feb timeframe, but when I got down in the garage I went at it pretty hard. There were more than a few all-day-long marathons during that month. But there were also a couple breaks of 3 or 4 days during the project while I was away at work (I fly the Boeing 737 for Southwest Airlines, so when I work I also travel).

    I'd say that I probably put in the equivalent of two weeks of eight-hour days of work. A hell of a lot of it was the pure drudgery of cleaning 18 years worth of grease, grime and filth off the bike. I went at it pretty hard because I wanted the bike ready to go for the Springtime riding.
     
  10. Stray

    Stray New Member

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    Greg, I've just read your thread...AGAIN...all 7 pages.

    Just wanted to congratulate you again on a wonderful and thorough rebuild job. The results speak for themselves.
     
  11. mhzpower

    mhzpower New Member

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    This might be my winter activity. I need to replace the head bearings, spark plugs, and check valves.

    Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
     
  12. faran

    faran New Member

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    Stumbled upon your thread and I must say, hands down, super impressive and amazing.

    Really superb and amazing job, once again.

    :Peace:
     
  13. cbviffer

    cbviffer New Member

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    Diablos were my favourite tires, they seemed to last a bit longer than battle axe did for me anyway
     
  14. sfdownhill

    sfdownhill New Member

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    RVFR, since you and cbviffer are talking Diablos, look what came in the middle of the pair of Diablo Rossos I lucked into recently.
    (Sorry for the diversion, Greg. Your fuel tank and cooling system procedures in particular have been helping me w a 99 I’m going through. Thank you again for sharing your expertise and experience with us)
    70C65091-F617-4ECB-A597-D48BE1FED73B.jpeg D951E0A2-6B08-4148-BEA0-BCF17785634F.jpeg 1751E4D1-11B3-4782-983B-9A36ED2BD7C2.jpeg
     
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  15. ottablue

    ottablue New Member

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    GreginDenver it was a great write up about your project and it is even greater resource for the rest of us who would be brave enough to undertake any of your endeavors of the project!!! Photos are excellent as they are worth 1000 words!!! Congratulations on your literally NEW VFR 1999!!!! When you get a chance post photo of your dashboard with those new led lights you installed. Thanks. Happy and safe riding!!!
     
  16. Joel Brown

    Joel Brown New Member

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  17. totomoto

    totomoto New Member

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    I feel like a beginner! Great job!!
     
  18. Scotto

    Scotto New Member

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    Greg, you're passengers are the luckiest bunch in the world.
     
  19. Scotto

    Scotto New Member

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    +your+
     
  20. GreginDenver

    GreginDenver New Member

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    POSTED MARCH 7, 2020

    Sorry about the state of this thread, with all of the pictures missing from it. Unfortunately I built this forum thread/discussion up while using Photobucket as the image host. Photobucket has become a complete shit-storm of greed and poor service. They keep coming up with new demands for more money so I'm dropping them. I don't know what to do about this build thread, maybe the moderator should un-pin it.
     
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