1999 California model?

Hey guys, I've got some questions about a 99 possible California model. The owner said he was not completely sure if it is or not.
I found the 99 VFR on the craigs list and the owner tells me he got the bike from the original owner in southern California, so I asked if it was a California model. He says he looked down by the oil filter and did not see an evap can but he is not 100% sure. Is there any way to tell if it's a California model besides the evap can? Is it in the Vin code? Isn't there a big sticker on the air box?
If it turns out to be a California model, is there a big difference in performance vs the 49 state model?

 

I looked through the service manual and it looks like the significant difference is lower lift cams for CA. You are right there should be a Vacuum Hose Routing Label on the airbox specific to CA as well. Should also be an Emissions Control Label under the seat near the toolkit.

 

Yea, I thought I remembered that sticker that had the vaccuum hose routing diagram for the evap can. The reason I was asking was I am intrested in buying the bike, but I really don't want a bike with the lower lift cams.
I've been trying to find out if there is a significant horse power loss because of the less aggressive cams, but I've not really found anything on the interweb yet.

 

Hey, just throwing this out this out there...
Would a '99 5th gen Cali bike have less HP or performance than a 49 state '97 4th gen?

 

This topic came up on a post last week. So I guess the 98/99 California bikes are not catted?

 

I really don't know much about the Cali bikes, I'm guessing they don't have the Cats but I'm not 100% sure.
How are the 4th gen vfr's?
Just hypothetically, what if the '99 Cali models were noticibaly detuned, would they be more responsive then the 4th gen bikes?

 

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that if you are worried about responsiveness and peak power, you might be looking in the wrong place, GS. However if you want a well-engineered bike that will feed your soul in a way few other Japanese bikes can, then keep looking.

The 4th gen was the last in a long line of VFR's that started in 1986, and so is refined and well proven, the pinnacle of the carbed V4. The 5th gen that followed was built around a quite different platform, and could be said to lack some of the purity and simplicity of the 4th, introducing FI, side-mount radiators, linked brakes and a pivotless chassis, and also is the last in the line to get gear driven cams. I doubt that there is much difference to be had between the 4th and 5th in terms of performance, as for looks, those are in the eye of the beholder...

 

Hey Cadbury, thanks for the input.
I know the vfr's are not liter class super bikes. I wasn't looking for cbr 1000 type speed, I'm definitely looking for vfr comfort and reliability.
The reason I'm asking so many questions is that I want a vfr I will be happy with. If for example, if I buy bike "A", then find out bike "B" has 5 more horse power, I will regret my purchase. I know it's silly, but that's the way my brain works. Lol
The reason I asked about the 4th gen is there is a near mint 97 very close to where I live, and I definitely want to check it out.

 

If you can, ride both and see which one you like more. I've only ridden the 1st, 6th and 8th, and I own a 5th, so no experience with a 4th but they are awfully pretty, and I suspect I'm more of an analog (carbs) kind of guy rather than digital (FI).