Quote:
Originally Posted by jkv357
My oldest son has a '98 VFR800 and loves it. Went from WI to CA and back last summer solo. Did some 800+ mi days.
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My dad still has his '99 VFR800, bought back in 2002(?) With around 20,000 miles, now up to 92,389 miles (I checked). It has a scottoiler, sargent seat, Ohlins rear suspension, bar risers, full two brothers exhaust, lowered pegs, GPS and phone holders/chargers, and a luggage rack that will hold top and side cases. I believe he also got the VFRness after the stator failed right around 90,000 miles.
The '98-'01 VFR 800s are an amazing bang for the buck. A great all around motorcycle. You should be able to find plenty of examples sub $3000. I got my '98 with 40,000 miles for only $2100, and it had better bodywork than my dad's bike! (He promptly asked me to switch the bodywork, so he could have the pretty bike. I obliged.)
Problems he had with it: Rear suspension failure, Stator failure, proabably a few regulator rectumfrier failures, random clutch pressure loss after storing for a while(leaking somewhere?).
The engine/transmission on the VFR 800s are great, but the electrical system is not the most reliable. I believe the VFRness solves many potential problems associated with it though.
I got a '98 VFR 800 with around 40,000 miles on it before I got my CBR 250R. Only rode it a few thousand miles in that time. I don't remember trying to hypermile it much, but I got mid 40s MPG, with a best of 47.4 MPG. My dad has hit a best of 50 MPG on his 800.
Some quirks/things to know:
The VFR 800s of this generation don't do a great job at regulating temperature. Usual operating temp is 176 degrees F
, but they would regularly pass 220F in traffic, mine has passed 240. Mine has also dropped down to 150F
in the rain at highway speeds.
The V4 engine is pretty rumbly at low rpms, it is hard to tell if you are lugging it, but generally avoid accelerating any amount below 3000 RPM in 6th gear, keeping above 2000 in gears 4+ is a good idea. There is a weird fueling transition at right about 2200 RPM, most riders would probably never notice it, but if you cruise around there often, you will notice it.
Full throttle in 1st gear will result in power wheelies/rolling burnouts depending on traction of surface.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkv357
If I wanted to do more long haul I'd go with a DL650 V-Strom, as I do really like my naked SV650.
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There is an SV650 cam swap mod going around the DL650 forums, maybe you could flip that around for better MPG and low end power. With the extra VFR 800 now sold, as well as a non functioning mini trail 50, we now have room for another bike! So my little brother is looking at SV 650's, S and SF. We will probably(I HOPE!) have one by the end of the weekend. He is resistant to fuel economy mods, like the cam swap, but i'll bet I will be able to pull down some serious numbers with it.
Would you believe I have never ridden a V-twin motorcycle before? Airbox video coming soon....(whenever we get the bike)