Define "overheating" ... What's the symptom?
Temperature gauge going up when you are stopped, as long as it is not going into the red zone on the gauge, is normal and is not "overheating".
Going into the red (STOP THE ENGINE), or puking out coolant, etc is not normal.
Things to check, start with the simple and go to the more complex.
1. Make sure the coolant level in the expansion tank is in the normal range - not empty, and not beyond the "max" mark.
2. Make sure the coolant in the radiator - remove the radiator cap when the engine is cold - is filled to the brim.
3. Make sure the coolant is circulating. From a cold start, feel the radiator(s) - some of those bikes have two. Normal behaviour is for them to start getting lukewarm after the engine has been running for a minute or two, then once the temperature gauge gets to the normal range, they should become hot (indicating that the thermostat has opened).
4. After the above tests, ride. If you stop and the temperature gauge goes up, then start and go 80 km/h or higher, it should come back down to the normal range. If this does not happen, you probably have a stuck-closed thermostat or a bad water pump or clogged radiator fins or something of that sort.
5. With the bike stopped and engine running, verify that at a certain point when the temperature gauge starts going above the range indicated by riding in test #4, the cooling fan comes on. No cooling fan operation? Find out if the connector to the fan motor is getting power when the fan should be running (ignition on, temperature above normal range). No power? Check fuse, check thermosensor, check relay. Power but fan no workie? Check wiring, check fan motor.
6. A radiator cap that does not hold pressure will wreak havoc - test it, or just replace it with a new one.
P.S. VFRs of certain generations are notorious for running hot, I'm not sure if yours is one of those affected.
