Honda VFR 6th Gen 2009

I had just finished rebuilding my previous VFR a 2003 6th gen so I was pretty familiar with the bike, what to look for and the pitfalls associated with the model when one popped up on the internet at a very good price and the details looked promising…

A 2009 6th gen that had been accident damaged but only light non-structural – it was worth looking at…

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The seller was pretty honest about the damage to the bike and the missing plastics/exhaust so I made an offer and bought it !

Once home I checked what I had been told and all was correct and as advertised.

I started stripping off the damaged bits still on the bike and assessing the remaining parts to start a new parts list to repair and restore this nice bike. Some minor parts I had left over from my previous VFR build and they would do to get her running but to be honest as soon as I started in it was obvious, the more you do to this the better she will turn out to be !

The main shopping list went like this….

• Exhaust system (complete) – Delkvick chosen
• Body kit (colour coded)
• front wheel, front disks, rear disk
• wheel bearings front & rear, new final drive rubbers
• new HH brake pads front & rear
• headlights, nose sub-frame
• tyres, chain
• and more as I uncovered and progressed… ouch !

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So as the parts start arriving and get test fitted, some parts are cleaned and prepped or painted the work was now making progress.

However once the exhaust was on and I tried to start her up there was a porblem, lights up but no fuel pump, I checked everything from the HISS key code thru to the sensors and all the electrics… nada !
I eventually tracked it all beck to the ECU and as they are not cheap I contacted the seller, he was a very genuine guy and told me he that he didnt know it was faulty (in ad said not run/tested) as he was selling it on after Black Widow had used the bike to make a template for new pipes (bingo), I put 2 and 2 together and can guess they are tack welding pipes on the bike without disconnecting the ECU – pop !
He asked to me to find a replacement and he would go half-in as this was an unknown issue when sold, I agreed and we sorted a replacement o jthe internet without breaking the bank. As soon as it was connected and keys registered it fired up like a dream and settled really quick, quite impressed for a bike with a chequered past so to speak.

Now I could move on and continue with the fix or replace checking and repairs along the way…

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Once the main structural and mechanical where checked or sorted then I could move on to the practical and cosmetic bits to lift it just a little above the standard run of the mill VFR.

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Then back to some of the other tasks before I can start final assembly

The rear shock was past saving so I managed to get another for a VFR with a remote preload so I can adjust for pillion/camping whatever without compromising the ride, so that was swapped out. VFR’s are known to run hot, usually around 110-120 degrees when the fan cuts in to cool but I managed to find 95 degree switch so in town the fan comes on earlier but not on & off like some of the 80 degree switches some have used in the past.

My next challenge was to finish the oil cooler upgrade before the front end could be properly assembled. using the OEM coller pipes but cutting them near the front of the engine and then using some braided pipe and compression joints I managed to join and fit the new cooler (from the VFR 3 layer to a new 5 layer will also help her not cook at the lights)

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