1984 vf500f about to buy, should I do it?

I was about to say not to kid yourself about how easy it will be to part her out if you ride for a while and then she dies. Then I read your next line.

There is just something about these 500's. I wish Honda had kept making the mini-ceptor and improved on the engine, etc as it did with the larger displacement VFRs. They are a great size for learning, but also for kicking around town. Light, but still with enough power to entertain and be safe (some of the little 250's lack too much power). The Ninja 500 has had a great run, so it's suprising Honda didn't stay in that market. Obviously more to it than what we would want! :biggrin:

I agree with the above statements. 40K on an engine that is prone to top end problems and the "oil leak" would at least push me to have a qualified mechanic look it over before buying it. If you dug into it yourself you could save some money but you may end up without a bike for a while. Let a mechanic make an unbiased call on it and take it from there. $1200 for a solid bike that only needs a tune up is great. $1200 for a bike that needs a lot of work and parts could quickly turn into quite the project, and for a first time bike you definately want something you can be riding before too long.

Good luck and keep us posted. Trust me, most of us would want to hear (and see) you posting up your first ride on the 500, but more than that all of us would hope you get off to a good, safe, enoyable riding experience.

 

I was taking another look at the photos - do you have a close-up of the front and rear wheels and rotors - these look a bit different than stock - though it is hard to tell in these small images.

 

I asked for pix of the front and rear wheels, and he said he'd take them.

Also here is what he said when I asked him about head work and stuff:

"The upper on the bike is sound... It has been inspected when it was being restored. A lot of the issues the people are referring to were mainly issues with the 750s and 1000s, not the 500s.
The oil leak is coming from the counter shaft seal."

 

What I meant by that was that if I wait two months, I'll have enough for a new bike regardless of whether or not I sell anything, just started at a new job

I already shook hands with the guy, and I'm 100% going to buy it.

Thanks for all the feedback, now I feel less confident about my purchase, but from what it sounds like, this guy has taken very good care of the bike, so I'll just see what happens!

 

Sounds like you bought it already but I would personally pass.
40K on this model and year of bike is sketchy at best.

If you had another bike to ride while you ironed out the problems on this bike I would say sure, go for it.

Small oil leak, hehe.

 

Well one of 2 things can happen:

1. The bike lasts me this season, and I decide to keep riding and buy a new bike later on. The bike ends up getting parted out and there is a temporary boost in the amount of parts available for fellow vf500f'ers

2. The bike doesn't last me all season. I save up and buy a new bike with lower miles, having learned my lesson. The bike ends up getting parted out and there is a temporary boost in the amount of parts available for fellow vf500f'ers

Either way, you guys will end up winning ;]

 

You forgot one:
The bike runs like a dream and even two years from now you would't think of selling it. That was what I meant earlier about parting it out...you may grow quite found of it.

 

good point.

3. I ride the bike and it's amazing and when it dies, I hoard it up and start hoarding other vf500f's as well, and then I come in to vfrworld tell new potential riders not to buy one so that I can go grab up the deal they found?



I figured you guys out

 

eep:

Leaky countershaft seal is good since it'll keep your chain well oiled, but if you want to replace it, plan on a total engine disassembly.

Often a bad countershaft seal is caused by a failed roller bearing on the shaft, in other words, the gearbox needs repair.

Unless PO can show service records indicating that valve springs were replaced at 20,000 miles as factory recommends, you'll need plenty of optimism as a substitute for proper maintenance.

Good Luck, regardless.

 

How serious is the said work needed on the gearbox? Is it something I can do?

 

Weren't the 500's of this VF vintage of the chocolate-cammed variety also until they went to geared cams?

 

There are the pics!

 

Walk away from this deal, this is not the bike you are looking for.

 

Straight from paul:

"I'm going to look for all my receipts for the work I had done to it. I didn't do any of the major things myself, just chain, sprockets, fluids, etc... For piece of mind, I used Mares Cycle out of Downers Grove. I'm sure you could give him a call too if you wanted more detailed info. Hell, maybe he would even give you a discount if you needed anything since he did so much work on this 500."