EasyRider Posted July 28, 2014 #1 Posted July 28, 2014 I HATE TO ASK THIS HERE!!! But if you were to revitalize a first gen which year has the least issues and most available parts?
bongobobny Posted July 28, 2014 #2 Posted July 28, 2014 Later '85 on up! Plenty of overpriced parts on fleabay and yes you can still get new parts...
Peder_y2k Posted July 28, 2014 #3 Posted July 28, 2014 IIRC, there was a Consumer Reports Magazine article several years ago that concluded based on repair surveys, that the '88 and '89 VR was the most trouble free (least amount of dealer repairs) in the entire production series. -Pete, in Tacoma WA USA
Yammer Dan Posted July 28, 2014 #4 Posted July 28, 2014 I have plans (that are pisappearing) for a 84. A 1200 Royale in good shape will spank most of the others unless you have a freak like my 86. That bike should not run as it does. That's tough question. I could really dress that 86 now but it has 80k. How much longer can it run as great as it does before it starts loosing that power?? I think starting from scratch I would go for a later one after tranny and frame woes. 86-93?? Are you completely cornfused now??
Peder_y2k Posted July 28, 2014 #5 Posted July 28, 2014 A 1200 Royale in good shape will spank most of the others Dan.... don't fool yourself. If 1/4 mile drag race times and end speed is considered as a mark, then the MkII VR1300 is the champ. This was shown in Cycle Magazine test reports. The 1300 is 7 more hp, a few lbs. heavier, but some few 10ths of a second quicker and 2-3 mph faster. There ain't no substitute for cubic inches!! -Pete, in Tacoma WA USA
mraf Posted July 28, 2014 #6 Posted July 28, 2014 If I had my choice of 1st gens it would probably be a 85 with the tyranny fixed. It has the bigger trunk but still retained the removable side bags. Not that removing them was all that great, just that they looked better on the bike. {Each to his own} The old saying the more gadgets the more fixing you have to do. I had a 83 standard that I fixed the transmission put a aftermarket radio on it, a thumb operated throttle lock and we rode it everywhere. Now we have a 86 with all the whistles. Its alright but relies on to many gadgets. Always having to massage it. They all have issues, but as been said overpriced flea-bay parts are plentiful right now.
friesman Posted July 29, 2014 #8 Posted July 29, 2014 mraf,...I loved my 85 for all the reasons you listed, but because it was a one only year parts were a pain to track down Brian
BlueSky Posted July 29, 2014 #9 Posted July 29, 2014 As has been posted before, 91 is the first year they had the 4 brush starter.
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