Here's the scoop. I'm interested in getting a 900 RR but I don't have much cash lying around. I just finished a restoration of a 87 VFR 700F, and am looking for a new project. I came across this guy who has one but it has some problems and I am looking for some feedback to see what I am getting myself into.

Here's the post:

"95 CBRwith 96 plastics. complete set of airtech platics with spare tank. AS well as 96 set of plastics w/ tank. 96 plastics (Purple/yellow scheme no stickers except for factory Honda Tag on Fuel tank)never down however the bike has been down. It has all the typical CBR issues wiring harness problems, and even more tech issues. Just not interested in dealing with it anymore. Runs and rides, but I am just gonna by a new one and leave this one to someone who wants to put some work into it. It has been torn down I dont know how many times by how many diff people. So ideally take this bike home, tear it down inspect the pieces, polish the frame wheels etc. Then re-assemble before the good weather hits and with the plastics it will look nice. I just dont care to do the work. $3000 OBO."

I talked with him and discussed the bike in detail, and the fact it was way over priced, which he agreed with. He told me that the bike had burned out a rectifier, which he had replaced, but the wiring harness was still burnt. The stator cover is scratched, the right fairing has a small scratch/crack. He also said it needed a battery box!?! The front fender apparently has some paint peeling, he said possible due to powerwashing!?! He stated that the bike had about $25,000 miles on it, not represented on the new guages. On the up side it does come with a complete set of plastics and a tank!

I was thinking for $2000 it would be a decent project bike. Thoughts? Is there anything you guys might think of that could bite me, or ahould I go for it. I'm a pretty decent mechanic, and enjoy the build, but my lack of info on this bike makes me worry.
Any thoughts, or points of view would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Don

 

$2000 sounds like a good deal. It runs and rides. New harness (or partial wiring replacement yourself), tune the carbs, some paint on the fender, and you're good to go. One side note though. These bikes don't usually have wiring problems. The rectifier is constantly bagged on for overheating and failing, but that hasn't happened to me or too many people that I know with 900s. That's the only weak point in the wiring. It's not like you're buying a '60s Jaguar or anything.

 

Update! Apparently the bike has been storred for a while at his house nd he forgot some details. The wiring harness and battery box have been replaced. It does have a few minor cosmetic issues, but not too bad. A carbon fiber Yosh pipe, and he has ordered a new stator cover to fix the damaged one.

He has dropped the price to $2750, but I think he will go lower.

 

So it's just a few cosmetics? SOLD!

Show up at his house with $2500 in cash and take your new bike home. Eh, bring $2750 just in case, but leave that $250 in the car.

 

Well it took a little longer that I had originally thought, but it worked out for the best. The deal for the first 900rr fell through, but I ended up running into a guy with an even better one.

$2500 with 20,000 in very good shape and I even like the colors. It's really clean, only a few scratches, came with two different drive gears, two different windscreens, a bra, back seat, ans seat eliminator and a full service manual. It really is a rocket! I've been really impressed with its performance. Eye blurring cheek stratching fast--- Nice!

I do need to pick up some new tires, the ones on it are getting low. Any suggestions would be appreciated. It currently has a set of SportMax tires on it. D207s I think.
Here are some pics of it with my VFR 700F



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