Thinking of Buying a Vf500 with Motor issues. Need advice..

Hello all. I found an 86 vf500 with 18K for sale for a cheap price. Bike is great cosmetic shape, but owner says it runs but is very low on power. He said he believes it to be the head gasket, but I have yet to look at the bike myself. . Anyone know if this was a common problem for this bike? I heard valve springs might be a problem?? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

if its cheap enough you can always part it out. if it comes right down to it.

 

Asking 500 for it. Is there still a good source for head gaskets since honda no longer makes them?

 

I'd say it's probably not a dropped valve, the engines with this failure either 1) don't run 2) run but with loud noises or 3) have a large hole in the cases. It sounds to me like it got hot and someone smoked it. Burnt valves (exhaust) would be my guess.

$500 is a ton of money for that bike. It should be $150, maybe $250 if the rest of it is really nice. If it's good, the engine itself is worth more than the rest of the bike. You are on the other side of that coin.

CopperGaskets Unlimited Home Page can make head gaskets for you. I've not bought any from them yet but I will for the next 500 engine I build.

 

I hope its not blue and is from toledo ohio

 

Gasket

I am talking with copper gaskets about a head gasket. He sent me a template, to check if it lined up. Close, but not good enough to use yet. I sent him my old gasket to match. Haven't heard back yet. Cometic can make one, but it is @ $56.00. Copper is $28.00 +5 shipping.

 

If you don't mind, the next time you talk to Cometic can you find out if they offer a volume discount? If so I might buy a few just to have around. The copper gaskets are a nice idea too, but I like to have some options. Thanks!

 

don't buy that bike; the newest good-running bike you can afford is the one to buy.

 

I have a customer who bought a 1980 CB650C this past summer. He paid $1000 for it. Cosmetically speaking, this is already too much for this bike. strike one. He then rode this bike only to find out that the battery doesn't charge. Strike two. When he brought it to my shop, I had the pleasure to inform him that his head gasket was blown. It sounded like a machine gun when you would rap the throttle; blowing out the front of the head. Oil was everywhere. Strike three and it's junk. He's out a grand.
Moral of the story: Don't buy something unless you know exactly what you are getting in to. A bike that old that doesn't run right is not worth even ha quarter of what it would be if it were perfect. If you really want this bike offer him $100 for it and when he says no. Walk away. Take more time and save more money and buy a nicer bike. If this is your first bike. Buy something that you know is ready to ride. The old axioms applies to bikes very strongly and under most circumstances you only have to pick one to apply: "You get what you pay for" and "A fool and his money are soon parted"