How many is too many?

[mioraet]

I'm wondering if anyone can help me out. My wife has commanded me to get a bike again (who am I to argue?) The budget dictates a higher mileage bike and I have my eye on a '92 VFR 750 but its done over 150,000k's. I know they're pretty well made but what would you consider high k's for one of these?

[vifferman]

While the VFR750 is a very robust bike, and examples of these have much higher mileage than that, for any Japanese bike 70+km is a lot.
With the 150,000km example you mentioned, the engine could still be good, but the gearbox will probably be worn, the suspension will be well overdue for an upgrade, the switchgear will be very tired, the plastic brittle, the carbs will be flogged out, etc etc.
While most of the 750's parts are still available, some bits will be getting harder to source, particularly fairing parts, indicator and light lenses, etc. Other bits like electrical items can be swapped from other Honda models.
While I really like VFRs, and used to own a 1990 VFR750, on the face of it this one could prove to be a real Can'o'Worms.

It all comes down to a careful examination of the beast, and if any bits are worn to the point of needing replacement, check if you can obtain the bits you need before committing yourself to the purchase. A new back shock, frinstance, could set you back $1200, although there are places that can overhaul the OEM Showa one.

On the plus side, because of the VFR's robustness, there are still lots of them on the planet, and several owners forums on the Interdweeb, so it's not an impossible task to get the help and bits'n'pieces you need to keep one on the road.

[hellnback]

My ZXR's just past 108000, am slowly having to replace/rebuild things, eg. master cylinder, cam chain etc. Once everything that's gonna crap out craps out and is replaced I've no doubt I'll get another 100000!!
I'd say that with 150km then a lot of the things may have already been replaced/rebuilt???

[Rogue]

Rather hi Kms would look for something else with lower Kms if you can. If not get the bike shop to give it a good going over, better to spend a little now than a heap later

[McJim]

I'm wondering if anyone can help me out. My wife has commanded me to get a bike again (who am I to argue?) The budget dictates a higher mileage bike and I have my eye on a '92 VFR 750 but its done over 150,000k's. I know they're pretty well made but what would you consider high k's for one of these?

Crikey - surely the budget can be stretched a bit further. I mean $200 is a bit mean. Ask the wife for more.

Seriously though - what is your budget and what will you be using the bike for? (i.e. Touring, 2 up, day trips, track days etc.)

[mioraet]

the budget is about 4K. I thought it would be heaps for a decent bike, but asking prices seem to be in la-la land. I sold my 96 CBR 600 in 2001 for 7k. Asking prices for the same bike today 7 years later are still 6 or better. I will be using the bike for pretty much everything. Commuting, weekend rides, occasional long trip etc. Quite keen on an old CBR 1000 but again not prepared to part with 5 grand for an 18 year old bike. Really like the VFR but values seem a bit strong for me.

[toebug]

You can have my bike for 10K, only 23 years old and 140,000k's!

4k doesnt really get you much, but for 6-7k your options are much much larger i.e a 2000 VTR1000 for around 6k.

[pc220]

Ah forget second hand bikes go brand new and get a ................scorpio. Only missing a cylinder or three and 500cc. Runs on bicycle tyres. If you can get past these small faults it would be ideal.

[Coyote]

I got a VFR400 with 60,000kms for $4000. I've since spent $2500 on it (brake disks, rear shock rebuild, major service interval at those k's, etc.) with more to go (clutch, fork rebuild, etc.). I'm now stuck since I know if I sell it the next owner is going to reap the benefits of the time, money and aggravation I've spent on it whilst I could only get back about $2000, but if I keep it it'll either just sit there or I'll need to spend more on it.

$4000 for a cheap bike + $2500 for parts + $1000 more to go = An expensive bike with high k's and little resale value.

Just don't, don't do it.

[dino3310]

look around, be patient theres lots of good buy's around for 4k with a shit load less klms. for example:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-145520932.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...htm?key=302996

[CookMySock]

if you need a commuter, then I take it it's important that it actually starts every day and gets a WOF etc. If so, then you are stuck with getting a much more modern bike - unless you want to spend your weekends fixing it, or paying the bikeshop to do it. $6k gets you something much newer with MUCH less than 10,000k - and never put a spanner on it - and they do 70mpg, not 35mpg.

DB