Matt Tries – 1984 VF500F Overhaul

> I've started to take for granted how easy "strapping" my SV650 down is.

Not sure if this will help but Ryan F9 is usually a good place to start: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/profBhutheU?feature=share

 

Matt's channel link, please?

 

Here's a quick one of a lap from the rear. I normally hate watching this view of people's videos... but I knew I wanted to get a camera microphone near the exhaust. It sounds so damn good.

I'll put my thoughts on the whole experience (which was awesome and exhausting) in another post. One thing I fight between turn 4-5 is flipping up the footpeg accidently and having to mess with it to put it back down.




(I assume a crackhead was given the task of numbering the turns on this track)

F9's videos tricked me into buying a TW200 with one of my favorite videos ever--so I try to avoid his channel (kidding, I love his channel). Here's the issue with that specific one though--that handle he's clamping is a bar. It's not moving. The clip-ons on the VF can spin when you're ratcheting it down to compress the forks. I know that a lot of bikes (VFR700 does, VF might, can't remember) have screws to lock the clip-ons at a certain angle. The problem is that angle is shit and way too inward. I know some people prefer it, but I want a wider stance.

 

Looks like you were having fun!

 

nice video Cold. thanks! Looks fun as hell!

 

Sounds killer, nice vid. I'm jealous for sure. Need me some track time next Summer.

 

Excellent Matt !!!

I have a "Track Bike" purchase in the works...we will see if it happens.

If it does, will I ever get it out on track ? IDK, but the bike will be cool as hell when its done, a MotoGP tribute/replica, stay tuned for that

 

You know I'm always tuned in and my ears perk up when I hear March of the Hares! Excited to see what you've got in store next.

 

I posted a way-too-long write-up of the experience on the Racing and Track Days board here if you've got time to kill and run out of other internet to read.

https://vfrworld.com/threads/1984-vf500f-track-day.61202/#post-644418

 

I forgot to post this a year ago, but those are some sexy valve stems.

 

Matt,

I just noticed something in the frame color thread and came here to confirm it looking at some other pics...

Your rear and front right disc are swapped.

It doesn't really matter, as they are obviously the same diameter, but look at the inner area around the bolt holes. A rear disc has more material there compared to a front.

Posts 624 - 638

 

This is why I need adult supervision. Let me go check and get back to you because I'm sure you're right, and I mixed them up somehow after having the wheels powder coated. I swear I tape on the damn things and write "LF", "RF", and "R" on the disks when removing them to avoid this type of thing.

Unrelated to the rotors but related to the bike: I did fire it up for the first time last weekend. Usually it's a bit of a ritual to fire it for the first time of the year that involves attempting to start it for a while, putting it back on the tender for a few hours, and coming back to actually fire it. Since putting in the #40 pilots (and removing the vac operation of the petcock), it's a way easier process to get the bike fired after winter.

 

Verified. You're absolutely correct. Front Right and Rear are in the wrong spots. All 3 measured to just about 5.3mm thickness, so I should be okay to run them until the next time I get tires... unreal, hah.

Thanks for pointing that out. I doubt I would have ever noticed.

 

"Unrelated to the rotors but related to the bike: I did fire it up for the first time last weekend. Usually it's a bit of a ritual to fire it for the first time of the year that involves attempting to start it for a while, putting it back on the tender for a few hours, and coming back to actually fire it. Since putting in the #40 pilots (and removing the vac operation of the petcock), it's a way easier process to get the bike fired after winter."

Matt, I remember that you got stranded once because your petcock diaphragm failed. I am starting to actually ride my 500 and was wondering if that diaphragm was a common fail point? I was thinking of replacing the diaphragm just to be sure. I can see that if it fails on the road you are pretty much screwed. If you do remove the diaphragm do you have to shut the petcock "off" every time you get off the bike?

 

On an 86, highly recommended. Its modern style float valves would handle the occasionally left on into stores, restaurants, etc. But a full tank with its direct gavity feed, a really good idea for anything longer term.

 

I had my petcock completely rebuilt incl. the vac. side by Carl @ AZV65.com. Wasn't cheap but it had failed & I wanted to keep it original. Looked like new when I got it back.

 

I've been stranded more than once. But the one a few years ago was the one that got me to do something about it. Somehow I had seen a friend driving in the opposite direction on the highway a few minutes before mine failed. Failed on the highway and slowly lost all power because I lost all fuel supply. I called the friend I saw driving the other way and it was him. Explained to him I needed a lift. Coached him into my house and where to find my truck keys and ramps. Explained where I was on the highway and where to find me. He came and picked me up, we loaded the bike, got it home, everything fine. But if I hadn't seen him or had someone else near me, that would have been really friggen annoying.

Theoretically the float valves should seal the fuel flow, but I turn the petcock off every time I get off the bike. Idk, it's just muscle memory at this point. Especially because I've changed every carbureted bike I have to manual now except one. I'm not advocating anyone else to remove the vacuum operation of their petcock because in theory it's a safety device to shutoff fuel flow when the bike isn't running. But I'd rather light the bike on fire at this point the mess around with those things if I don't have to.

Guess what I noticed was leaking on my SV650 when I pulled the tank off to replace the freeze plugs? I thought I'd been smelling gas at night. Lol, the device is very different than the one on the Honda since it doesn't have user input and has the tiniest bleed hole ever, but those little devious vacuum bastards make me so irritated. I'd say deleting the vacuum operation is an improvement in quality of life at the expense of safety in the event of a crash. I suppose you could also hydro-lock a cylinder do damage if you don't shut the petcock off and a float fails.



Guide I used to delete the vacuum operation on the VF500F if you want to do it, from Daugherty Motorsports: https://www.daughertymotorsports.com/howto/tankvalve/tankvalve.html

 

Hey Stray, a while back you asked me about the Helite Airbag I wear on track. It turns out it works really well. I did some definitive testing at PittRace this last weekend. I also tested the grip levels of Pirelli wets in pouring rain and, let me tell you, they can grip really good if you're straight up and down.

My first expert sprint race--I almost made it through one corner!


First corner, first lap, very wet. My biggest fear out there is running over another rider. A better rider maybe could have avoided this outcome. I couldn't tell which way the downed rider was going. I kept adding brake as I was catching him. Eventually it sent me over the bars and the bike doing a very picturesque 360 in the air. What you can't see in the video is that it lands on my head which is why it kicks out to the right side of the track on landing. I remember knocking my head on the ground, looking up, and seeing the #109 plate coming right at me. I had enough time to process the thought that "This is where I get seriously injured". But I didn't. Just a messed up right hand and a messed up bike. I have no doubt that the airbag locking my head in saved me from a lot of pain when the bike reunited with its rider.




I'm annoyed because I was having a really good weekend. I was 8 seconds quicker than I was last year in qualifying, and I'd just put in a really confidence inspiring run in the 25min endurance where I mixed it up with some competent riders and stole a few spots from bikes with a fair bit more power than mine. Just disheartening. My goal was to run sub 2:05 so as not to be an embarrassment in the expert class. Qualified at a 2:03.3 (overcast, dry) and know if I got out in a dry sprint (it cleared up later) I was going to crack 02's and maybe more. Oh well. I'll have another shot at redemption later this year hopefully. That's the coolest track in the country.

Oh, the reason this is Interceptor-related is because it's my excuse for not making more progress on the 1986 VFR700.

 

Well shit. So glad you're ok!

 

That was an effin mess, for sure!