I currently ride a 2007 Kawasaki 650R Ninja with 6,320 kilometers in excellent condition. I'm thinking of trading for a 2003 Honda VFR 800 with 22,000 kilometers. Is the VFR 800 expensive to maintain? The Ninja 650R has been trouble free. Thank you.
I went from a 05 Ninja 500 to an 02 VFR... so a similar experience... my 500 was a fantastic bike; no issues and I absolutely loved it. However the minute I got on the VFR to test ride it, I knew I was selling the Ninja. My 2c is you won't look back. I've had no concerns about maintenance requirements or expense. Everything about the VFR is truly better than the Ninja, just like you've been reading!
Hi William and Welcome to the MadHouse When you get time please swing by the "introductions" forum and say Hi to the rest of the folks on here and tell us a bit about yourself and your riding history. The folks on here like photos - as they are easy to add - just click the "upload a file" link and follow the prompts to select and upload a file from your computer. As for the VFR - 22,000km sounds like it is now close to or past the major 16,000mile valve check service - which is expensive. However if the bike has not been a track day mule or redlined every day then many people skip every other the vtec valve check but they still do the spark plugs, oil and filter changes and other checks for brakes etc. Mine is past 200,000 and still running happily on every other valve check. As for trouble free - you should note pretty much all 6th gen bikes will eventually suffer electrical gremlins - typically down to the poor connectors and the Regulator/Rectifier killing the stator. This thread will clearly explain what will eventually happen - less if - more when, and although it started with 5th Gen models much the same carp charging system was fitted to 6th Gen models too. https://vfrworld.com/threads/how-to-fix-common-regulator-stator-failures.39277/ The fix is well known so budget for it assuming the seller has not already fitted an upgraded Shindengen RR. Take care SkiMad
I think that once you ride one and hear that V4 howl, you will not look back. Get it, do the basic stuff like mentioned by SkiMad and you should be good to go.