Seeking VFR Advise

[st ryder]

- Which MY is the best 750 VFR?

- How often is major service, ie shim the valves, sync the carbs etc due, and what can I expect to pay?
 
- How difficult/expensive is it to replace the r/r. I hear some riders now carry spares with them.

-What should I look for when buying one?

I have have never owned a Honda, (and in all honesty am not a fan of the brand but do give credit where it's due) but a 750 VFR is among the models I'm considering as a good starter bike for my son due to its reputation for being a well balanced all-rounder. (Ducati 800 ss, Suzuki SV650 are also being considered)

Thanks for any feedback.  

[steve.ski]

What's your budget, if I may ask? That has a bearing on carb vs. FI synch, valve clearance interval/cost, etc.

Each generation of VFR are very capable bikes, so really it's a matter of how new you want to buy.

ALso, go here for some excellent VFR advice:

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com

[traveler]

imho, none of the bikes mentioned are suitable as a "good starter bike", with the possible exception of the SV650.

You might want to consider something in the range of 250-500cc, without bodywork, as a more reasonable "starter bike". I personally started on a Honda 350, many years ago and still my learning curve was steep and costly. But I was young and dumb.

I wish you and your son all the best.

[atadaskew]

I have an 800ss, I love it but it is a horrible starter bike.  The extreme ergos, harsh suspension and limited steering lock see to that.
IMO a good starter bike should have a comfortable, easy to sit on, upright riding position.

[photomd]

I think any of the gear driven cam bikes are good. They had a fork upgrade in '93. That's about all I remember. I'd check the charging system carefully: look for over heated wires going into the R/R. If they're brown/brittle, I'd decrease the price accordingly. Spec on my '93 was something like 13.4- 16v. If its showing greater than 15v at the battery, I'd be worried the R/R is on it's way out. FWIW, mine had 53,000 miles and no R/R issue.

As for a starter bike, IMHO, an EX500 is a great, inexpensive, relaible starter. The bodywork on a VFR can be expensive. I think on my '93 it was about $300 per panel.

[Zerosum]

I also recomend against a VFR as a first bike.  It is a heavy bike, and it's also a little top-heavy compared to other bikes.  The chances of a new rider dropping it in a parking lot, garage, etc. are quite high.  

My VFR was my 3rd bike, and I almost dropped it once or twice.  I shudder to think about all the stuff that would break if my VFR ever went down.  Lots and lots of expensive plastic parts.  Some bikes are designed to take a drop well.  The VFR is not one of them.

The VFR750 makes around 95hp, which is way more power than a new rider should have.  The bike rides so smoothly that you can get to high speeds and not even notice it.  You think you're at 50mph, look down at the speedometer... nope, you're doing 80.  You need a fully developed set of skills and reflexes in place to safely handle (and fully appreciate) a bike like this.  It's on roughly the same level as your ST.

I think you should steer your son towards something lighter and more mildly powered.  Something like the Kawasaki Ninja 650R, EX500, Suzuki SV650, GS500F... something like that.  

To answer some of your questions...

The R/R is a real issue with this bike.  If a 750 is on its original r/r, you can assume that it's about to fail.  Failures are that prevalant.  The good news is that you can replace it with an r/r from a 2000 Yamaha R1.  It has to be the 2000 model.  The Yamaha unit is way bigger, has cooling fins, etc.  Worked like a charm for my VFR, and it only cost $40 from eBay.

re: major service... I think valve checks are every 16K.  I haven't gotten there yet.  I picked my VFR up last year with only 7200 miles on it, I'm at 11K now.  I just changed the oil and hit the road with it... so far so good.

[st ryder]

Yes, well thanks for the feedback on starter bikes, it's not like I haven't thought about most aspects mentioned. I'm a believer that a starter bike should be an intermediate bike so one can concentrate on learning how to master it over a few seasons, rather than always thinking/obsessing about what the "next bike" will be, as sometimes a rider feels ready to move on within the first season, and almost always the next season for sure, and really hasn't learned too much, other than "I want a bigger bike." I figure a VFR could be handled easily enough once one knows what to expect, and will only go as fast as the right wrist allows, and won't be outgrown for a while, if ever. My son is not exactly a kid, and he'd always be with me; that's part of the deal, ie I buy the bike, but the bike stays in my garage, and he rides only with me for the first three seasons, as well as take an approved rider safety course, and ride ATGATT etc.

I'm just starting to think about it, and it depends on a number of variables, so it may not even happen this season. Thanks again.  

[Nitro]

I think good choices for starter bike..although I think the suzuk sv  is a great choice just due to the lighter bike and simple maintenance..the vfr would also be a dandy! Any of the 750's would be great, right back to 84!  Cant see why waste money for a duc either way for a beginner unless  price as the others or u can afford a #@! up now and then. I do think if the  kid is sure he is going to ride, then dont waste any money on a little one just to unload it 2 months later. You can usually tell the kids who have the knack for  it, If he's one, and If he can balance a 250 , he can ride a 1000 just as easily. If not, then just buy a beater  till u know.But thats your call....  Id just go by the price /shape myself of your picks,  but the sv would really be hard to beat. Ive ridden both a lot and the sv is a real and fun bike! JMO  

 good luck!