91 VFR750 for ?500 - good deal, bad deal?

Danny · Ask Me About Stoppie School Joined: 26 Jan 2003 Karma :

I'm looking to buy a winter hack and I've found a 1991 VFR750 for £500.

Details:
Been standing outside for about a year
No tax or mot
46,000 miles
Chain and sprocket will need replacing before MOT
Forks slightly twisted (apparently an easy fix)
Aftermarket fairing in poor condition
Rust on upper parts of forks
General tatty look
Tyres have lots of tread left
It apparently runs, but the battery needs charging

So for £500ono is it a good deal? I would want it to last at least a year without any major servicing needed.

Any other information about this bike would greatly appreciated.

funmonkee · Super Spammer Joined: 27 May 2004 Karma :

I'd be worried about the forks... Rust or pitting near the fork seals(?) will fail the MOT, and replacement or servicing forks can be costly. Try to work out how much it'll cost to put it on the road before you take it on. £500 for 750 is a good deal if it'll not cost the same again or more to put everything right...

Good luck
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Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Difficult one. Depends on what else will need sorting, such as valve clearances and exhaust condition. Corrosion on the top bits of the forks is not a major problem, just tends to suggest it has not been that well cared for.

Is this a single sided swinging arm VFR or the older one? If a newer one I would be tempted to go for it but I would also budget on a good few hundred pounds to sort stuff out (eg, fork seals, rebuild calipers, grease rear linkage / replace the bushes).

If the worst comes to the worst then you stand a fair chance that you could break it for spares without loosing a massive amount.

All the best

Keith
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VFR400UK · Scooby Slapper Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Karma :

the exhausts rust to crap, check the downpipes, i bet they blow like a bitch.

The forks on them go saggy and can't relly be fixed.

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

Depends on what you are gonna use it for but i reckon a 250 is all you need for a winter hack. Id prefer something light in winter in case you have to put your foot out to stop from going over. I wdnt want to have to pick up a fallen vfr750 but I'm sure there is a knack to it.

VFR750 is a great comfortable bike that you could tour on for days so would be luxury if you have a long commute. Personnaly for commuting Id go for something with lower running costs.

I know nothing technical about the bike.
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iCraig · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Karma :

Danny, scrub the VFR, it sounds like a winter project not a hack.

Your better off getting a Honda Superdream or something, you could get a decent one for £500 with tax and mot.
I recently bought a 1992 Honda CB450DX, the last of the Superdreams, fully Mot'd and taxed for £550.

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Just ride the tcat. I assume you have crash bungs on it, its now old enough and I asusme high enough mileage that a little corrosion isn't going to hurt that much.

Spray it in FS365 or similar for winter, and give it a good going over to get rid of the corrosion in the spring.