Epic puffing and cussing in the garage when taken to the end of your tether with a b***ard of a job and in a tight space too. All been there. Loved the honesty of it. No rock music and clinical operating-theatre-like spannering: just a mallet, drilling out mashed up stuff, some top common sense problem solving and some elbow grease - the reality for all home mechanics. Top work. Tidy job. Love the V4, but the way Mr Honda shoehorned everything in, though brilliant, is an absolute ball ache to work on.
Had my VFR for 11 years now, been slowly replacing bits, it took me 5 days to get the new exhaust back on by myself, front on, rear falls off etc. - rear shock wasn't so bad - had to change the throttle bodies (sensor failure - ebay to the rescue), I have all new internals for the front forks. replaced the spark plug caps - could only get origninals -- 4 for 250 quid! but like you I got it cheap and with all the expense its still been cheaper than buying a second hand bike for a few grand; great series, great bike, keep the tips coming
I paid £1200 for my 98 6 years ago. Chain sprockets reg rec clutch & springs fork rebuild maxton rear valve clearances full exhaust rapid bike pro evo & a map, it's only my commuter bike...where do or how can you throw in the towel I've got thousands in the old lass ?
Love the reality and honesty in these videos. Glad to see your wife is as happy as mine when I ask for help with maintenance! Been meaning to upgrade the 20yr old rear shock on my Fazer for a while now, you’ve given me the inspiration to bite the bullet.
I'm having a combination of palpitations and flashbacks watching this. My own journey of pain was exactly the same of yours. I too fitted a Hagon rear shock and had the mother of all battles with the same bolt and the entirely crud-ridden seized 'dog bone' linkage piece. I used penetrating spray, mallets, hammers, freeze spray and eventually got the nut off with an angle grinder. My exhaust studs all snapped and the header gaskets were a pig to fit. This was in 2015 after I'd rescued my 1999 VFR from certain death by buying it back from a colleague I'd previously sold it to in 2005. I originally bought it in 2001. It was now in crap order having been left in a wet lean-to for years. Every metal part that could rust had done so, but after throwing a couple of grand at it and stripping it all down, then putting it all back together with new parts it lived on and still does today, in my garage. The moral if this tale is to stick with it because they are just so wonderful!
@@bennettsbikesocial Oh dear me I haven't mentioned the front forks which had no paint on them with pitted and ugly stanchions. Trying to separate them to do the seals (perished) was no fun at all because the bolt inside the bottom end spun around like Kylie Minogue. I can't even remember how I sorted that out. Fairing bolts were corroded in place, instrument binnacle and seat were covered in mould, brake line banjos rusty, oil cooler pipes rusted through, silencer was full of rust, wheels were pitted and nasty etc etc. However - and this sums up the VFR - changed all fluids, charged the battery and it started on the button first time. It now looks like a showroom condition bike after a ton of work!
@@vfrbore1728 Ooof, I feel your pain! For the fork bottom nuts, it's best to pull the fork out, and use an impact wrench to rattle the bolt out - that way it won't spin. Cheers, John
Loved this video. I remember working on a vfr400 20 odd years ago doing the front valve shims. they were a pain with the limited tools I had. They were right on the limit. I was getting so stressed. I will always remember my dad who designed industrial electric motors coming along and saying to me " remember, every limit has a tolerance". That always stuck with me. 🤣
Over the years I have upgraded five bikes with new shocks from Hagon. Excellent service, excellent products, excellent value for money. Such an upgrade changes the ride so much.
the VFR major flaw is the mild steel exhaust system. if you take it off you pretty much need to do the stainless replacement because you don't want to take it off again
Never worked on a VFR... but i've worked on some other Hondas... and the intro is 100% true! Like you have to do a ritual at the right planetary conjunction to be able to do what you want to do...
Great video, makes me want an old VFR! I remember those downpipe gaskets on my SP1 OE silencers. I found a bit of copper grease and opening them up slightly with the neck of a small bottle helped a lot.
I don't remember removing the headers and collector box to change my shock? I used a Nitron. You are right about the exhaust though, my motorcycling mate helped and it went much smoother. I had spent weeks prepping the bolts with penetrating agent though.
Wow! I'm always so impressed by the dedication people put into these wonderful bikes. Definitely goes to show that regular maintenance saves the balls from much later aches.
John, I did this exact job on my 2000 VFR800Fi... With a Nitron shock. It was nowhere near this bad... I can't really remember that well, I did it in 2019 but I vaguely remember that linkage nut being a touch difficult, having to use a bunch of tools connected together to get at it, but I didn't remove the exhaust at all. I did the job in half a day.
OMG! I was at full sympathy for most of this because I have vivid memories of all the frustrating "get the thingamajig out of the whatsit without shearing or sweeping up 3 pounds of corroded bits and bobs" moments. However, I did go into hysterical laughter when you said "Don't let that put you off". I'm still giggling and getting funny looks from my nearest and dearest. I blame the lateness of the hour. Admittedly, it can feel like even more of an accomplisment when you have put some Herculean effort in against all the odds, no matter how "simple" the job was supposed to be. So, well done!
I've had my vfr 2000 year since new, replaced the rear shock earlier this year. With the exhaust can wheel heatsheild and lineages off , tank lifted and battery box removed and the rear tank bracket we managed to wriggle the shock out. Then wriggle the new back in. It was a case of this is in the way lets remove it but apart from the can the rest stayed put. I bought a hyperpro shock as that's what my local m/c dealer sold and what a difference best mod ever. But at 22 years old and nearly 50 thousand miles, I'm not looking forward to replacing the exhaust headers.
Yeah - I reckon I could have done it but I was also trying to get the linkage out to check and grease it all. In the end that final bolt was seized in and going nowhere! Fortunately the linkage moves fine.
Ohh John, I feel your frustrations mate, I've been spannering on my own bikes (and cars) since I was 17 so a looong time, and I've also had times when I wanted to burn the things, when confronted by poor design and poor workmanship by previous owners... well done for sticking with it, I look forward to further installments on the Viffer 👍
One of those jobs where you start off doing one thing and then the secret nightmares all start showing themselves, great entertainment watching you work through it.
Strange, I've had the rear shock off and on my 2001 VFR800Fi a couple of times (replaced with a Nitron unit) and not needed to remove the exhaust. I did have to remove that collector bolt when replacing the engine but managed to undo it without the need to drill it out.
I was trying to check and grease the linkage too - I do have a feeling that I could have had the shock out without all this faffery! After all that, The final linkage bolt was seized in place anyway! Fortunately it all rotates fine. For now. Cheers, John
Love the maintenance vid waiting for the next. And yes working on the bike is really a pleasure, i do love doing the brake on my GSA, i find it really relaxing and at 95000+ Km have done it more then once... plus doing the tire... pull of the shocks to have them rebuild... i found that doing it i bond with the machine!
I suppose when you are ready to replace the exhaust system it will come apart easy love my vfrs have 3 of them and yes do all my own repairs myself a hgv mechanic . Honda vfrs are a well made bike if you look after it will run ever both of my 750 models i replaced the exhaust system i replaced the shockers like you did top tip grease the the linkage every 2 years . my other vfr is 1200f love that as well that v4 motor is a beauty.
I salute you for perservering, I sold my VFR750 before it needed work doing to it because it was obviously going to be a bike the does not lend itself to spannering. This video has made me realise I made the right decision but I did love that bike..
Oh did I laugh and cry…I thought it was just my ineptitude when restoring mine. It’s a challenge in every way. I have several vfr800fi how too’s to help others through the pain but what a great bike..great delivery 👍
Great video and about a bike I always liked but never owned. Gives all of us that are a bit scared of doing anything but the most rudimentary mechanics encouragement* *At least it will if I can find a house I can afford with a garage - working on a bike outside and watching a nut roll away and fall down your neighbours drain, or rain starting when the tank is off and carbs are in pieces around you is a little too much fun!😄
Yeah, that would be bad! I used to work on my car in the local car park, but luckily Mum and Dad had a shed I could put the bike in. When we bought our house though, I had to sell my bike to pay the deposit. But at least it had a garage!
I bought a 2 owner, 97 VFR750 in June. 28k miles on it and I’ve done 4K miles till now, from Edinburgh to Inverness and down as far as Fishguard. MOT yesterday and it went straight through! What a piece of engineering.
You can save a lot of money on jobs like this by shopping around and researching on eBay. For example, generic stainless bolts and nuts solve the rust issues, especially with exposed exhausts etc. And it’s easy to improvise rubber parts from multipacks available from DIY stores, Aldi or Lidl etc. Adapt and improvise.
Not just hi-milers. I bought a new V-Strom 650 last year and they employed a chimp to assemble it from the crate. Loose front spacer as axle bolt not torqued up, cockeyed chain alignment and zero grease on gear selector linkage. However, its satisfying & confidence building to fettle your own bike. Bolts on my cbr945rr are either in good nick or replaced :-)
I've resisted the urge to comment until I watched the whole video... As a fellow 5th gen VFR owner I know all of this pain and more. Great bike, absolute b*stard to service. The link plate on mine also had groves from a seized needle roller bearing on the dog bone, I've had more header studs snap than I can count so again, I feel your pain completely. Just when you think the header pipes are going to be the worst bit, the VFR has a surprise in store for you haha. I also bought new gaskets from wemoto, mine also didn't fit! I also ended up crushing them then gave up and just ran the old ones I've actually got a shelf in my garage dedicated to all the parts/bolts/fasteners/broken things that I had to get creative with when trying to remove - I call it my trophy shelf! The only thing I also did was replace the swingarm pivot bearing while I was rebuilding mine as it's often neglected because it's such a pain to get to!
Thanks so much for this... glad it's not just me! I've got six of these videos backed up, but I promise to get more out in the next week or so. Cheers, John
Im watching your pain and feeling it. I have a 1997 GSXR1100 and its a pain in ass {38.000 miles}. I had to buy a new bike because i cant rely on it to take me anywhere. I only ride where there is cell phone reception within a small radius of home in case it shits out again again.
Er.. electrics by any chance?! Had a slabby 1100 and more modern 1000s and Suzuki always had a poor reputation for their electrics in the eighties - frikkin' rightly - and if they don't still, they should: as the 1000s are no better. Connectors' quality shite, weak regulator/rectifiers (and on the slabby, weak coils)...
@@villiamo3861 Yes all the connections/ relays/ switches etc . Apart from that its an awesome bike. My 80s Katana 750 was the same. Its a 1997 1100 so i will sell it or if i cant get decent money leave it in the back of the garage to rot. Maybe i could start a bonfire on guy fawkes night with it lol
I have an old gs and I have to say I was ready to push it on to the street, but once you accomplish something successfully on an old bike it’s so rewarding!
Best stuff I've ever bought is 'PlusGas' release fluid. I don't know what they put in it but nothing else comes close. I spent over a week soaking a seized cylinder on a pre war Francis Barnett. Heated the iron barrel until the penetrating oil on top of the piston was actually bursting in to flames (did it outside and wore goggles. Not for snowflakes or the safety conscious) Used a lump hammer and wooden drift. Never budged a millimetre. Tried two types of fluid and even just regular oil. As a last resort i bought some PlusGas and within an hour it had freed the piston. It's amazing stuff!
Richie Vida has one of those bikes and paid a company a small company mom and Pop to redo his bike and it came out phenomenally well. You should check that out. I wouldn’t be afraid to sink a lot of money into a bike like that if you are able to get the parts to make it like new or aftermarket parts to make it better than new . Odds are That bike would have a whole new lifespan ahead of it as the engines rarely give you any problem
I had to chuckle watching this again, we've all been there, shiny sockets and spanners and a Haynes manual, what could possibly go wrong ?. Three hours later, bleeding knuckles, face covered in grease and contemplating phoning the scrap man. I replaced my VFR800 shock with a YSS unit last week and struggled to get the old shock out at first, I had to drop the top mount as far as it could go then unbolt it from the shock, the shock then fell on the floor, fitting the new shock was the reverse.
I’ve had my 99 VFR 800 since 2003, now with 45k on the clock. One regulator rectifier, one exhaust (replaced by high level custom s/s one), one headlight and one seat later (oh, and a FSH), and it’s as good as ever. Although if you could pop by and swap the shock I’d appreciate it… ;)
I did all that a year ago fitting Maxton shock, I had already replaced the original exhaust system with Delkevic so getting the shock our was a lot easier. Did you realise if you take off the tank and the hinged holder there is a big nut under there that holds the top of the shock bracket on the bike. Release this and the entire thing drops out no need to struggle with the top of the shock under the bike. Plus you need a bike ramp badly, or better still a skylifter.
I can completely sympathise with you. My project bike, an nc30 has the same problem. Literally got to the point of taking the rear subframe completely off in an attempt to remove the exhaust manifold from the engine before resorting to an angle grinder lol. They're so tightly packed! It's the thing that makes them great aswell as utter turds to work on 😆
:( I bought a Kawi Z400 a couple months ago and one of the first things I looked for was a haynes for it. Seems like they don't have anything past 2019 for Kawasaki, and didn't bother to make one in 2018 for either the Z400 or the Ninja 400
Keep em coming on the vfr because I'm nursing a 80k 98 model on the daily commute. How did the overheating go mine doesn't like traffic or hot days fan on over time in the high 90s
Great vid mate 👍, But it did look rather challenging. I bet the swear box more than paid for all the parts, and a few well earned beers afterwards 😉 Haha.
I've got 4 older bikes, your description of the trials and tribulations as you work through it are very apt - but how good do you feel when you've conquered the problems ! Honda have this great reputation of finish, but hell do they make bad decisions in some areas - on my vfr750 I cracked off a piece of engine casing because a mild steel pipe support, case bolt and aluminium casing had utterly bonded together - used releasing agents, heat etc etc thought I'd loosened it, only for a piece of aluminium to break by the threaded case section
I feel your pain! But yeah, it is rewarding. I had to machine a part for the cam holder on my ZX-6R out of scrap aluminium and was well chuffed with that, especially after my mate who's a mechanic said the break meant it was knackered.
I’ve done a couple shocks on Vfr’s without much trouble but none of the bikes had 100k. I did have one exhaust stud that came out with the nut. I do like the Hagon shock but haven’t seen it available here in the US. I had my exhaust system JetHot coated early on and have had a couple of Delkevic header systems over the years. Unfortunately the don’t tuck in as nicely as the stock system and somewhat interfere with the center stand.
Or the superblackbird rear shock fits straight in and was built to last for under £100 second hand. I added a 2mm stainless steel washer to the top mount, perfect imo.
Im the owner of a 1984 VF750F with 50000km on it....I have often thought of upgrading to a VFR800 1999 to 2003 gear driven model but every time I see anyone working on one the complexity seems 10 times more than my old bike...so I have not pulled the trigger to upgrade...but darn do I like the look of the 800....If the 800 is anything like the VF750 Im expecting the bike to fit my 6foot 4 size very well.
That moment in the garage (on your knees in more ways than one) is unfortunately quite familiar to me! My mate has a 2015 facelift Crossrunner 800 and was considering swapping the standard shock out for something newer / better. I told him it was a great idea, but although his bike looks a lot cleaner / less corroded than your VFR, I'm now wondering if the exhaust system on it is just as fiendish as this frustrating setup?!
I just carried this out on my VFR without any of the problems encountered here. Mine is the same 5th gen with 55k miles. The exhaust is stainless steel, replaced by a previous owner and DID NOT require removing at all. The new Nitron shock was a larger diameter than the original but still went in relatively easily, I just needed to lift the rear wheel up a bit to get the clearance. Don’t be put off doing this work. I had the old shock out in less than an hour.
Annoyingly I'd deleted the bit where I said I hadn't need to do all that after all, but I did want to get thew linkage out completely to grease it, and in the end it was so seized I couldn't.
@@bennettsbikesocial yeah well with yours one of the nuts looked way more corroded than mine. It’s the one where the link meets the frame. I got a ring spanner on mine and it came off with some muscle. I think that whole linkage does have to come out anyway, to get the shock out. Really enjoyed your vids so far. Esp the one featuring John Mcpint.
Don’t think I ever had to take the exh. off to get the shock out but I have broken a exh stud off. I made a wood ramp to keep the swing arm/wheel up. Grease the gaskets to keep them in place.
9:20....yea...she was happy. God blessed you with an awesome wife. I swear ,the entire deal looked like a nightmare. Thanks for not doing the RUclips magic install video.
I was also trying to get the full linkage out to check the bearings - sadly it has to all come out for that. But yeah, once I'd got the whole thing off I realised!
One of my bikes is an ‘09 VFR with only about 75 000 kilometers. However, it’s been rigorously maintained, sheltered in a heated garage and (to my memory and good luck) never been ridden in the rain. By virtue of that weird history alone I can’t sell it; decent bike too!
I've had a 96 VFR750 . The exhaust had a ball joint to swing it out of the way to remove the rear wheel. Also had a 2002 VFR 800 first of the VTEC motors. Owned it for 9 yrs put 85000kms on it. Only normal maintenance and tyres. Still had the original chain and sprockets when I traded it in. We don't have salt on our roads in Australia. 🦘
A great example of why you should lash everything under the covers on a VFR with old engine oil then it wont end up a corroded mess like this one . Engine/shock/stand/oil pipes and copper slip your exhaust nuts .:)
Superb real world vid. I loathe & despise that kind of bolt-access design, that they could so easily get around designing differently. I'm a bit surprised you went for an original replacement - I know you couldn't get a patent, but maybe some sort of rig-up of your own? That original looks like a poor thing. Anyway, well done!
Great work - to be honest I think I walked around with a stupid grin on my face for about a week after successfully removing all 8 header bolts on my 17 year old GSXR1000 - it did take around a week before that of heat and gentle coaxing mind! 😏
Wow these bikes look like they had been submerged into the North Sea for a couple of years. Soo crusty and rusted up it's incredible.. I bought two of these VFRs 99' models. Rust free but both failed with electronics. Recertifiers two times. Both at 130 000kms. One was a dedicated track bike. No lights, mirrors, etc. Straight piped, no collector. Sounded awesome just like MotoGP.😊 When the rectifier failed i just finished the sixth session of the day, so it stopped at the end of the event but it nearly burnt down. The battery got such a load that it expanded into the frame and had to prie it out with tire irons and screwdrivers, when the whole thing cooled down. It was a mess. Oh well it was fun until it lasted.😅
Did you replace the collector box bracket bolt With an Oem one. Doing this job now what a massive pain to remove that bolt same as yours completely corroded have it our now as I'm fitting a full stainless exhaust and the centr stand is a pain aswell. Love your videos their making my job a bit easier to do , I'm goimg to replace the rear shock aswell .
I have always had Low price higher mileage bikes 30,000mi+. your not buying for economy and know your going to be replacing/ maintaining it to YOUR standard.... Yes absolutely an uneconomical task but the fun lies in making it YOURS to be enjoyed in your way, where Purity isn't such a factor in putting you off REALLY enjoying your machine
Im interested in getting into working on my bike. But don’t know how to start. Any tips for someone who knows next to zero mechanics, e.g. should I do a mechanics course or something else?
Make sure you can get a Haynes manual for your bike, then start on the basics. If you're in the UK, do this: rewards.bennetts.co.uk/rewards/diy-motorcycle-maintenance-voucher-discount-code
Having owned many singles, twins and inline fours, I once owned a VF750F, and soon became enamoured with it (till some dimwit cager pulled out on me me), so yeas, I WOULD have a VFR (particularly love the early 3rd gen in red, or the 4th in 'NR' colouring/styling..), HOWEVER.. It's this particular nightmare that makes me think, yes - IF I had a large garage AND IF I had a ramp AND IF I had a good sized work bench AND IF I had a vast tool setup THEN YES I WOULD get one hahahaha Otherwise I'll happily stick with my Front garden, the tools I have, and an aircooled or liquid cooled 4... As sadly, not everyone even has a basic garage, but, I've done alright so far 👍😉🤞 😎🇬🇧
Awesome video man. Great work only thing I would do differently is that I would have wire wheeled the exhaust pipes for cleaner look other wise well done job👌
Appreciate this was "just" the shock, but would it be fair to say that all V engines are a pain to work on, and the more cylinders the greater the pain? 🤔
Hmmm, tricky. This is a particular pain as it's so crammed in. I wouldn't say more cylinders are more awkward as my 4-pot ZX-6R wasn't as bad, but that's only done 18,000 miles and it's an inline four. Yeah, Vs can be tricky I think, depending how they're put together. More heavily worn bikes seem harder as more things fail when you take them off. It does come down to design too though. Really, you can't generalise I reckon; it's the bike itself and the state it's in. Cheers, John
HECS (catalytic convertor equipped) VFR800s have rubbish mild steel exhausts - my 16k mile 2000 bike wasn't amazing. And that cat/collector box bolt was knackered on mine, too. Gen 6 VFR800 ones fit, and are stainless, and are cheap on eBay. You just have to chop off the centre stand rubber stop bracket (it's on the collector box/cat rather than the rear can on the Gen 6, because of the high mounted pipes).
Appears to be this was not a design problem, more like a location issue. Here in Australia we don't have an 'off season', no salt on the roads (even on those two days when it does rain) and the beers here are famous for removing any and all stress (...ed bolts).
Black widow full high level (get the rear wheel straight off) stainless steel all gasket & a fitting kit £400 it literally fell on. No collector box bollocks.
Christ knows why you had to take the front pipes and collector box off. I've had my 800 from new in '98. Changed out the shock after 35k for a fully adjustable Nitron, it's been jn and out a few times for servicing. I have slso swopped out rear shocks on a few other 800s with no problems and have never had to remove anything but the rear wheel and the end can.
Interesting video but I steer well clear of high mileage, abused rust buckets. There are plenty of clean, low mileage, well looked after bikes that cost little more in the long run.
Epic puffing and cussing in the garage when taken to the end of your tether with a b***ard of a job and in a tight space too. All been there. Loved the honesty of it. No rock music and clinical operating-theatre-like spannering: just a mallet, drilling out mashed up stuff, some top common sense problem solving and some elbow grease - the reality for all home mechanics. Top work. Tidy job. Love the V4, but the way Mr Honda shoehorned everything in, though brilliant, is an absolute ball ache to work on.
Had my VFR for 11 years now, been slowly replacing bits, it took me 5 days to get the new exhaust back on by myself, front on, rear falls off etc. - rear shock wasn't so bad - had to change the throttle bodies (sensor failure - ebay to the rescue), I have all new internals for the front forks. replaced the spark plug caps - could only get origninals -- 4 for 250 quid! but like you I got it cheap and with all the expense its still been cheaper than buying a second hand bike for a few grand; great series, great bike, keep the tips coming
I paid £1200 for my 98 6 years ago. Chain sprockets reg rec clutch & springs fork rebuild maxton rear valve clearances full exhaust rapid bike pro evo & a map, it's only my commuter bike...where do or how can you throw in the towel I've got thousands in the old lass ?
Always the same. Start one job end up doing half a dozen others. Nothing changes, glad you overcame your problems. Keep these videos coming.
Love the reality and honesty in these videos. Glad to see your wife is as happy as mine when I ask for help with maintenance! Been meaning to upgrade the 20yr old rear shock on my Fazer for a while now, you’ve given me the inspiration to bite the bullet.
that's nothing, i have to beg for a brew.
@@MrWhothefoxthat Ive been meaning to replace the 52 year old wench as well..
Wives are just jealous of our relationships with bikes. They can be nasty about it. So cook her a nice meal to make it up to her.
I'm having a combination of palpitations and flashbacks watching this. My own journey of pain was exactly the same of yours. I too fitted a Hagon rear shock and had the mother of all battles with the same bolt and the entirely crud-ridden seized 'dog bone' linkage piece. I used penetrating spray, mallets, hammers, freeze spray and eventually got the nut off with an angle grinder. My exhaust studs all snapped and the header gaskets were a pig to fit. This was in 2015 after I'd rescued my 1999 VFR from certain death by buying it back from a colleague I'd previously sold it to in 2005. I originally bought it in 2001. It was now in crap order having been left in a wet lean-to for years. Every metal part that could rust had done so, but after throwing a couple of grand at it and stripping it all down, then putting it all back together with new parts it lived on and still does today, in my garage. The moral if this tale is to stick with it because they are just so wonderful!
Excellent work! I've just had a nightmare with the thermostat, but things are looking up now. Hopefully. Cheers, John
@@bennettsbikesocial Oh dear me I haven't mentioned the front forks which had no paint on them with pitted and ugly stanchions. Trying to separate them to do the seals (perished) was no fun at all because the bolt inside the bottom end spun around like Kylie Minogue. I can't even remember how I sorted that out. Fairing bolts were corroded in place, instrument binnacle and seat were covered in mould, brake line banjos rusty, oil cooler pipes rusted through, silencer was full of rust, wheels were pitted and nasty etc etc. However - and this sums up the VFR - changed all fluids, charged the battery and it started on the button first time. It now looks like a showroom condition bike after a ton of work!
@@vfrbore1728 Ooof, I feel your pain! For the fork bottom nuts, it's best to pull the fork out, and use an impact wrench to rattle the bolt out - that way it won't spin. Cheers, John
Loved this video. I remember working on a vfr400 20 odd years ago doing the front valve shims. they were a pain with the limited tools I had. They were right on the limit. I was getting so stressed. I will always remember my dad who designed industrial electric motors coming along and saying to me " remember, every limit has a tolerance". That always stuck with me. 🤣
Excellent! I'll remember that! Cheers, John
Over the years I have upgraded five bikes with new shocks from Hagon. Excellent service, excellent products, excellent value for money. Such an upgrade changes the ride so much.
the VFR major flaw is the mild steel exhaust system. if you take it off you pretty much need to do the stainless replacement because you don't want to take it off again
Never worked on a VFR... but i've worked on some other Hondas... and the intro is 100% true! Like you have to do a ritual at the right planetary conjunction to be able to do what you want to do...
Honestly, it's put me off having a V4 ever again. It's a lot easier to work on an inline four (and a boxer is a dream!).
Lol 😅 the best bit was your wife chucking the gloves!
Oh the joys of working on older well used bikes
And she stole my shoes!
Great video, makes me want an old VFR! I remember those downpipe gaskets on my SP1 OE silencers. I found a bit of copper grease and opening them up slightly with the neck of a small bottle helped a lot.
Well done fella, you deserve a beer!! I could feel the frustration through the screen
I feel you … have just removed nuts and studs from my latest project bike. Fist bump on sorting it 👌
It's all good fun! Cheers, John
You're a very patient man. All credit ro you.
I don't remember removing the headers and collector box to change my shock? I used a Nitron. You are right about the exhaust though, my motorcycling mate helped and it went much smoother. I had spent weeks prepping the bolts with penetrating agent though.
Yeah, I wanted the linkage out to service that too
Wow! I'm always so impressed by the dedication people put into these wonderful bikes. Definitely goes to show that regular maintenance saves the balls from much later aches.
A good way to put it! I'm using that! Cheers, John
Still, machines like these make it too easy to take it easy.
Maybe blind idiots lol
John, I did this exact job on my 2000 VFR800Fi... With a Nitron shock. It was nowhere near this bad... I can't really remember that well, I did it in 2019 but I vaguely remember that linkage nut being a touch difficult, having to use a bunch of tools connected together to get at it, but I didn't remove the exhaust at all. I did the job in half a day.
Yeah, I think this was made a lot worse by the seized bits. Cheers, John
OMG! I was at full sympathy for most of this because I have vivid memories of all the frustrating "get the thingamajig out of the whatsit without shearing or sweeping up 3 pounds of corroded bits and bobs" moments. However, I did go into hysterical laughter when you said "Don't let that put you off". I'm still giggling and getting funny looks from my nearest and dearest. I blame the lateness of the hour. Admittedly, it can feel like even more of an accomplisment when you have put some Herculean effort in against all the odds, no matter how "simple" the job was supposed to be. So, well done!
Thanks! There was a lot to sweep up!
I've had my vfr 2000 year since new, replaced the rear shock earlier this year. With the exhaust can wheel heatsheild and lineages off , tank lifted and battery box removed and the rear tank bracket we managed to wriggle the shock out. Then wriggle the new back in. It was a case of this is in the way lets remove it but apart from the can the rest stayed put. I bought a hyperpro shock as that's what my local m/c dealer sold and what a difference best mod ever. But at 22 years old and nearly 50 thousand miles, I'm not looking forward to replacing the exhaust headers.
Yeah - I reckon I could have done it but I was also trying to get the linkage out to check and grease it all. In the end that final bolt was seized in and going nowhere! Fortunately the linkage moves fine.
Ohh John, I feel your frustrations mate, I've been spannering on my own bikes (and cars) since I was 17 so a looong time, and I've also had times when I wanted to burn the things, when confronted by poor design and poor workmanship by previous owners... well done for sticking with it, I look forward to further installments on the Viffer 👍
Cheers! Fire may still be an option...
One of those jobs where you start off doing one thing and then the secret nightmares all start showing themselves, great entertainment watching you work through it.
Love watching this guy, honest and real, just subscribed
Thanks very much! Cheers, John
Strange, I've had the rear shock off and on my 2001 VFR800Fi a couple of times (replaced with a Nitron unit) and not needed to remove the exhaust. I did have to remove that collector bolt when replacing the engine but managed to undo it without the need to drill it out.
I was trying to check and grease the linkage too - I do have a feeling that I could have had the shock out without all this faffery! After all that, The final linkage bolt was seized in place anyway! Fortunately it all rotates fine. For now. Cheers, John
Plusgas is one of the best release sprays 👌
Love the maintenance vid waiting for the next. And yes working on the bike is really a pleasure, i do love doing the brake on my GSA, i find it really relaxing and at 95000+ Km have done it more then once... plus doing the tire... pull of the shocks to have them rebuild... i found that doing it i bond with the machine!
I don't do tyres any more - I did the on my CBR6 years ago, and my Dominator a while later and hated them. Luckily my mate has a tyre machine!
I suppose when you are ready to replace the exhaust system it will come apart easy love my vfrs have 3 of them and yes do all my own repairs myself a hgv mechanic . Honda vfrs are a well made bike if you look after it will run ever both of my 750 models i replaced the exhaust system i replaced the shockers like you did top tip grease the the linkage every 2 years . my other vfr is 1200f love that as well that v4 motor is a beauty.
I salute you for perservering, I sold my VFR750 before it needed work doing to it because it was obviously going to be a bike the does not lend itself to spannering. This video has made me realise I made the right decision but I did love that bike..
Loving this series. Painful (on your part) but hugely satisfying!
😃👍
Thanks! Three more shot, I just need to get on with editing them! Then there'll be more after those too...
Oh did I laugh and cry…I thought it was just my ineptitude when restoring mine. It’s a challenge in every way. I have several vfr800fi how too’s to help others through the pain but what a great bike..great delivery 👍
Thanks! I'll check them out. Cheers, John
Great video and about a bike I always liked but never owned. Gives all of us that are a bit scared of doing anything but the most rudimentary mechanics encouragement*
*At least it will if I can find a house I can afford with a garage - working on a bike outside and watching a nut roll away and fall down your neighbours drain, or rain starting when the tank is off and carbs are in pieces around you is a little too much fun!😄
Yeah, that would be bad! I used to work on my car in the local car park, but luckily Mum and Dad had a shed I could put the bike in. When we bought our house though, I had to sell my bike to pay the deposit. But at least it had a garage!
I bought a 2 owner, 97 VFR750 in June. 28k miles on it and I’ve done 4K miles till now, from Edinburgh to Inverness and down as far as Fishguard. MOT yesterday and it went straight through! What a piece of engineering.
I love a good high mileage bike. Love the series so far.
Thanks! Cheers, John
You can save a lot of money on jobs like this by shopping around and researching on eBay. For example, generic stainless bolts and nuts solve the rust issues, especially with exposed exhausts etc. And it’s easy to improvise rubber parts from multipacks available from DIY stores, Aldi or Lidl etc.
Adapt and improvise.
Totally agree
Not just hi-milers. I bought a new V-Strom 650 last year and they employed a chimp to assemble it from the crate. Loose front spacer as axle bolt not torqued up, cockeyed chain alignment and zero grease on gear selector linkage. However, its satisfying & confidence building to fettle your own bike. Bolts on my cbr945rr are either in good nick or replaced :-)
I've resisted the urge to comment until I watched the whole video... As a fellow 5th gen VFR owner I know all of this pain and more. Great bike, absolute b*stard to service. The link plate on mine also had groves from a seized needle roller bearing on the dog bone, I've had more header studs snap than I can count so again, I feel your pain completely. Just when you think the header pipes are going to be the worst bit, the VFR has a surprise in store for you haha. I also bought new gaskets from wemoto, mine also didn't fit! I also ended up crushing them then gave up and just ran the old ones
I've actually got a shelf in my garage dedicated to all the parts/bolts/fasteners/broken things that I had to get creative with when trying to remove - I call it my trophy shelf! The only thing I also did was replace the swingarm pivot bearing while I was rebuilding mine as it's often neglected because it's such a pain to get to!
Thanks so much for this... glad it's not just me! I've got six of these videos backed up, but I promise to get more out in the next week or so. Cheers, John
I literally just fitted a Hagon shock to my Firestorm. Very impressed and fitted perfectly and didn't take long either! (Sorry!)
Ha! Rub it in why don't you?!
Im watching your pain and feeling it. I have a 1997 GSXR1100 and its a pain in ass {38.000 miles}. I had to buy a new bike because i cant rely on it to take me anywhere. I only ride where there is cell phone reception within a small radius of home in case it shits out again again.
Bugger! That's not even that high a mileage!
Er.. electrics by any chance?! Had a slabby 1100 and more modern 1000s and Suzuki always had a poor reputation for their electrics in the eighties - frikkin' rightly - and if they don't still, they should: as the 1000s are no better.
Connectors' quality shite, weak regulator/rectifiers (and on the slabby, weak coils)...
@@villiamo3861 Yes all the connections/ relays/ switches etc . Apart from that its an awesome bike. My 80s Katana 750 was the same. Its a 1997 1100 so i will sell it or if i cant get decent money leave it in the back of the garage to rot. Maybe i could start a bonfire on guy fawkes night with it lol
I have an old gs and I have to say I was ready to push it on to the street, but once you accomplish something successfully on an old bike it’s so rewarding!
Best stuff I've ever bought is 'PlusGas' release fluid. I don't know what they put in it but nothing else comes close. I spent over a week soaking a seized cylinder on a pre war Francis Barnett. Heated the iron barrel until the penetrating oil on top of the piston was actually bursting in to flames (did it outside and wore goggles. Not for snowflakes or the safety conscious) Used a lump hammer and wooden drift. Never budged a millimetre. Tried two types of fluid and even just regular oil.
As a last resort i bought some PlusGas and within an hour it had freed the piston. It's amazing stuff!
Good call, thanks!
Richie Vida has one of those bikes and paid a company a small company mom and Pop to redo his bike and it came out phenomenally well. You should check that out. I wouldn’t be afraid to sink a lot of money into a bike like that if you are able to get the parts to make it like new or aftermarket parts to make it better than new . Odds are That bike would have a whole new lifespan ahead of it as the engines rarely give you any problem
I had to chuckle watching this again, we've all been there, shiny sockets and spanners and a Haynes manual, what could possibly go wrong ?. Three hours later, bleeding knuckles, face covered in grease and contemplating phoning the scrap man.
I replaced my VFR800 shock with a YSS unit last week and struggled to get the old shock out at first, I had to drop the top mount as far as it could go then unbolt it from the shock, the shock then fell on the floor, fitting the new shock was the reverse.
Why didn't you change out the manifold for a stainless steel one while it was half way off?
Just cost, but considering it
I’ve had my 99 VFR 800 since 2003, now with 45k on the clock. One regulator rectifier, one exhaust (replaced by high level custom s/s one), one headlight and one seat later (oh, and a FSH), and it’s as good as ever. Although if you could pop by and swap the shock I’d appreciate it… ;)
I did all that a year ago fitting Maxton shock, I had already replaced the original exhaust system with Delkevic so getting the shock our was a lot easier. Did you realise if you take off the tank and the hinged holder there is a big nut under there that holds the top of the shock bracket on the bike. Release this and the entire thing drops out no need to struggle with the top of the shock under the bike. Plus you need a bike ramp badly, or better still a skylifter.
Ha... I did once I got there! I was trying to get the linkage out to service too though.
I can completely sympathise with you. My project bike, an nc30 has the same problem. Literally got to the point of taking the rear subframe completely off in an attempt to remove the exhaust manifold from the engine before resorting to an angle grinder lol. They're so tightly packed! It's the thing that makes them great aswell as utter turds to work on 😆
Beautiful bike that'll be worth the effort!
:( I bought a Kawi Z400 a couple months ago and one of the first things I looked for was a haynes for it. Seems like they don't have anything past 2019 for Kawasaki, and didn't bother to make one in 2018 for either the Z400 or the Ninja 400
Sadly they've stopped making them. 😞 The one I have for my Grom, and the S1000XR I just sold were the most recent.
Keep em coming on the vfr because I'm nursing a 80k 98 model on the daily commute. How did the overheating go mine doesn't like traffic or hot days fan on over time in the high 90s
Not good... I think the thermostat has had it, but it's a sod to get to
@@bennettsbikesocial it certainly is and not cheap. I ended up changing the intake rubbers not cheap either🏍️👍
Great vid mate 👍, But it did look rather challenging. I bet the swear box more than paid for all the parts, and a few well earned beers afterwards 😉 Haha.
I've got 4 older bikes, your description of the trials and tribulations as you work through it are very apt - but how good do you feel when you've conquered the problems ! Honda have this great reputation of finish, but hell do they make bad decisions in some areas - on my vfr750 I cracked off a piece of engine casing because a mild steel pipe support, case bolt and aluminium casing had utterly bonded together - used releasing agents, heat etc etc thought I'd loosened it, only for a piece of aluminium to break by the threaded case section
The V4s are mostly very good, but the hard to get to bits aren't designed to be easy to work on after a few years !!
I feel your pain! But yeah, it is rewarding. I had to machine a part for the cam holder on my ZX-6R out of scrap aluminium and was well chuffed with that, especially after my mate who's a mechanic said the break meant it was knackered.
Really enjoying the series, can’t wait for the next video.
Thanks! Just got to find time to edit them!
I’ve done a couple shocks on Vfr’s without much trouble but none of the bikes had 100k. I did have one exhaust stud that came out with the nut. I do like the Hagon shock but haven’t seen it available here in the US. I had my exhaust system JetHot coated early on and have had a couple of Delkevic header systems over the years. Unfortunately the don’t tuck in as nicely as the stock system and somewhat interfere with the center stand.
Or the superblackbird rear shock fits straight in and was built to last for under £100 second hand. I added a 2mm stainless steel washer to the top mount, perfect imo.
Im the owner of a 1984 VF750F with 50000km on it....I have often thought of upgrading to a VFR800 1999 to 2003 gear driven model but every time I see anyone working on one the complexity seems 10 times more than my old bike...so I have not pulled the trigger to upgrade...but darn do I like the look of the 800....If the 800 is anything like the VF750 Im expecting the bike to fit my 6foot 4 size very well.
That moment in the garage (on your knees in more ways than one) is unfortunately quite familiar to me! My mate has a 2015 facelift Crossrunner 800 and was considering swapping the standard shock out for something newer / better. I told him it was a great idea, but although his bike looks a lot cleaner / less corroded than your VFR, I'm now wondering if the exhaust system on it is just as fiendish as this frustrating setup?!
Great and honest video! Is there a playlist for all the VFR videos?
No, but I will make one, ta!
Can't believe you've put those old headers back on. Get the Delkevic system ordered ASAP. Enjoying these VFR videos 👍
VFR's are well known for their corroded exhausts.
Is there no aftermarket collector box? Delkevic do everything else you need.
I just carried this out on my VFR without any of the problems encountered here.
Mine is the same 5th gen with 55k miles.
The exhaust is stainless steel, replaced by a previous owner and DID NOT require removing at all.
The new Nitron shock was a larger diameter than the original but still went in relatively easily, I just needed to lift the rear wheel up a bit to get the clearance.
Don’t be put off doing this work. I had the old shock out in less than an hour.
Annoyingly I'd deleted the bit where I said I hadn't need to do all that after all, but I did want to get thew linkage out completely to grease it, and in the end it was so seized I couldn't.
@@bennettsbikesocial yeah well with yours one of the nuts looked way more corroded than mine. It’s the one where the link meets the frame. I got a ring spanner on mine and it came off with some muscle. I think that whole linkage does have to come out anyway, to get the shock out.
Really enjoyed your vids so far. Esp the one featuring John Mcpint.
Don’t think I ever had to take the exh. off to get the shock out but I have broken a exh stud off. I made a wood ramp to keep the swing arm/wheel up. Grease the gaskets to keep them in place.
Yeah - looks like I could have got away without taking it off, but I wanted to get all of the linkage out to grease it. Cheers, John
Ouch ... that looked slightly frustrating ... anyway all done for a long time now.
Good video, came up on my yt suggestions. I've got a 2000 vfr800 50k miles and I was thinking of doing this job..you've put me off 😄
Great video and great bike even if it does end up costing you a couple of grand it’ll do the same mileage again!
Hope so! Cheers, John
9:20....yea...she was happy.
God blessed you with an awesome wife.
I swear ,the entire deal looked like a nightmare.
Thanks for not doing the RUclips magic install video.
Wow, I just enjoy the riding. Anyway, ride safe, god bless u.
Can't ride it if it's broken!
I miss my VFR 800 (same as yours) Amazing bikes. Nice video.
Have almost new stock shock, a twin clicked from Fox, oem headers good shape.
What if I told you there is no need to remove the exhaust to change the shock?
I was also trying to get the full linkage out to check the bearings - sadly it has to all come out for that. But yeah, once I'd got the whole thing off I realised!
One of my bikes is an ‘09 VFR with only about 75 000 kilometers. However, it’s been rigorously maintained, sheltered in a heated garage and (to my memory and good luck) never been ridden in the rain. By virtue of that weird history alone I can’t sell it; decent bike too!
I've had a 96 VFR750 . The exhaust had a ball joint to swing it out of the way to remove the rear wheel. Also had a 2002 VFR 800 first of the VTEC motors. Owned it for 9 yrs put 85000kms on it. Only normal maintenance and tyres. Still had the original chain and sprockets when I traded it in. We don't have salt on our roads in Australia. 🦘
But you do have killer bugs!
A great example of why you should lash everything under the covers on a VFR with old engine oil then it wont end up a corroded mess like this one . Engine/shock/stand/oil pipes and copper slip your exhaust nuts .:)
You’ve got more patience than me! I’d have torched the bloody thing! 😂
I did consider it!
Superb real world vid. I loathe & despise that kind of bolt-access design, that they could so easily get around designing differently. I'm a bit surprised you went for an original replacement - I know you couldn't get a patent, but maybe some sort of rig-up of your own? That original looks like a poor thing. Anyway, well done!
Great work - to be honest I think I walked around with a stupid grin on my face for about a week after successfully removing all 8 header bolts on my 17 year old GSXR1000 - it did take around a week before that of heat and gentle coaxing mind! 😏
You needed a MAP gas torch. I have some oxy-acetylene left but I don't think you can get acetylene any more. Propane is probably as good for red heat.
@bennetts any chance we can get radiator coolant reviews. Love to see to what the after effects are with leading manufacturers..?
Entertaining as normal. I struggle adjusting the chain😀
Wow these bikes look like they had been submerged into the North Sea for a couple of years. Soo crusty and rusted up it's incredible..
I bought two of these VFRs 99' models. Rust free but both failed with electronics.
Recertifiers two times.
Both at 130 000kms.
One was a dedicated track bike.
No lights, mirrors, etc. Straight piped, no collector. Sounded awesome just like MotoGP.😊
When the rectifier failed i just finished the sixth session of the day, so it stopped at the end of the event but it nearly burnt down.
The battery got such a load that it expanded into the frame and had to prie it out with tire irons and screwdrivers, when the whole thing cooled down. It was a mess.
Oh well it was fun until it lasted.😅
Did you replace the collector box bracket bolt
With an Oem one. Doing this job now what a massive pain to remove that bolt same as yours completely corroded have it our now as I'm fitting a full stainless exhaust and the centr stand is a pain aswell. Love your videos their making my job a bit easier to do , I'm goimg to replace the rear shock aswell .
Yes, and it was bloody expensive! Cheers, John
I have always had Low price higher mileage bikes 30,000mi+. your not buying for economy and know your going to be replacing/ maintaining it to YOUR standard....
Yes absolutely an uneconomical task but the fun lies in making it YOURS to be enjoyed in your way, where Purity isn't such a factor in putting you off REALLY enjoying your machine
Hi mate I put a nitron r1 shock on my vfr750 ,it was a job I did with no problems, must have been lucky
I think I made it harder than it needed to be by trying to strip the linkage to fully service it! Cheers, John
Good effort, we’ve all been there. That annoying half hour job that turns into an 8 hr job 🙄
I see like my wife with my shoes, your wife wears your shoes for ease 😂
Ha, yep - it's all about the style!
Im interested in getting into working on my bike. But don’t know how to start. Any tips for someone who knows next to zero mechanics, e.g. should I do a mechanics course or something else?
Make sure you can get a Haynes manual for your bike, then start on the basics. If you're in the UK, do this: rewards.bennetts.co.uk/rewards/diy-motorcycle-maintenance-voucher-discount-code
@@bennettsbikesocial thanks 🙏🏼
I hate asking my wife for help but when I do, she reacts just like yours. Lol
Having owned many singles, twins and inline fours, I once owned a VF750F, and soon became enamoured with it (till some dimwit cager pulled out on me me), so yeas, I WOULD have a VFR (particularly love the early 3rd gen in red, or the 4th in 'NR' colouring/styling..), HOWEVER.. It's this particular nightmare that makes me think, yes -
IF I had a large garage
AND
IF I had a ramp
AND
IF I had a good sized work bench
AND
IF I had a vast tool setup
THEN
YES I WOULD get one hahahaha
Otherwise I'll happily stick with my Front garden, the tools I have, and an aircooled or liquid cooled 4... As sadly, not everyone even has a basic garage, but, I've done alright so far 👍😉🤞 😎🇬🇧
@4:50 Cadwell , my favourite track in the UK bar none 🙂
Awesome video man. Great work only thing I would do differently is that I would have wire wheeled the exhaust pipes for cleaner look other wise well done job👌
Appreciate this was "just" the shock, but would it be fair to say that all V engines are a pain to work on, and the more cylinders the greater the pain? 🤔
Hmmm, tricky. This is a particular pain as it's so crammed in. I wouldn't say more cylinders are more awkward as my 4-pot ZX-6R wasn't as bad, but that's only done 18,000 miles and it's an inline four. Yeah, Vs can be tricky I think, depending how they're put together. More heavily worn bikes seem harder as more things fail when you take them off. It does come down to design too though. Really, you can't generalise I reckon; it's the bike itself and the state it's in. Cheers, John
HECS (catalytic convertor equipped) VFR800s have rubbish mild steel exhausts - my 16k mile 2000 bike wasn't amazing. And that cat/collector box bolt was knackered on mine, too.
Gen 6 VFR800 ones fit, and are stainless, and are cheap on eBay. You just have to chop off the centre stand rubber stop bracket (it's on the collector box/cat rather than the rear can on the Gen 6, because of the high mounted pipes).
Excellent, thanks!
Makes me glad I own an old air-cooled GS 500 twin to work on... I'll pay someone else to work on my 2011 yamaha xj6....
A perfect opportunity to replace that filthy heavy header with a stainless aftermarket system. I got 10 more hp out of my old '99 VFR by doing that.
Appears to be this was not a design problem, more like a location issue. Here in Australia we don't have an 'off season', no salt on the roads (even on those two days when it does rain) and the beers here are famous for removing any and all stress (...ed bolts).
and yet...still looks like a ton of fun to do
Black widow full high level (get the rear wheel straight off) stainless steel all gasket & a fitting kit £400 it literally fell on. No collector box bollocks.
Tempting! Been looking at the Delkevic pipes too.
I feel your pain
Anymore VFR videos coming?
Great video!
Are there any more videos in this series?
Here you go: ruclips.net/p/PLEmXSigXaptyswcPc2tliSo6POESJg5h2
Christ knows why you had to take the front pipes and collector box off.
I've had my 800 from new in '98.
Changed out the shock after 35k for a fully adjustable Nitron, it's been jn and out a few times for servicing. I have slso swopped out rear shocks on a few other 800s with no problems and have never had to remove anything but the rear wheel and the end can.
Interesting video but I steer well clear of high mileage, abused rust buckets. There are plenty of clean, low mileage, well looked after bikes that cost little more in the long run.