Unfortunately I am not a CBR owner.....YET. Tomorrow I'm going to check out a '99 F4 with 14K miles. The guy wants $2600 for it which seems like a reasonable deal. From the pictures it looks to be in great shape and according to the seller it has new tires, chain, and Vortex sprockets. I'm pretty mechanically inclined and for the most part I know what can go wrong in a motorcycle (former EX500 owner) but is there anything in particular I should check out or be cautious of on this bike?

 

Welcome to the forum CBR_Fan.

Since you have some background w/ motorcycles, be sure to check as much as you can. If possible, ask for the side fairings to be removed. They can hide damage that isn't seen w/ the fairings on. One bike I looked at w/ side fairings removed, revealed that one of the engine bolts (thru bolt - major on an RC51) was missing! Also, if the bike's been in an accident, there could be damage behind shiny fairings. Just be sure to inspect everything that you can.

The F4 (99-00) is the last of the carb'd model. So, appropriate questions would be - when the last time the carbs were cleaned? Also, has the bike had its scheduled (per manual) maintenance checks, including valve-adjustment(s)? Of course, full maintenance records would be a real plus but rarely are given.

There are so many little things that can tell tales. Check the suspension rebound. Check the fork seals for leakage. Check alignment of steering. Check brakes; pads/rotors/lines. Does the bike have any leaks? Do the gauges work properly (warning lights for low gas, etc). Do all the lights work? Has any of the electrical been cut into for aftermarket lights, etc?

Usually, you can get a pretty good idea of a bike's needs by doing your homework on what to look for & what to ask about. Too, sometimes you can get a good feel of if the bike has been genuinely taken care of or just ridden w/o regard for proper maintenance. If you don't feel completely comfortable inspecting the bike, ask the seller to meet you at a Honda service center for a "pre-purchase inspection". They're about $85 (you'll pay for it but it benefits you both). The inspection will tell you if the bike has problems or minor needs. Its inexpensive insurance on a major purchase & will give you more peace of mind in making a more informed decision.

Good luck w/ everything. Keep us informed.

 

All good advice... There is something cool about the f4. I love the f4i and that will probably be the next bike since I like everything about the f4, but the ;f4 was only made for 2 years.. Don't see them all that much..

I hope that it works out for you.