Advice Needed: Looking at buying 83 VFR750F

I'm looking into buying a 83 VFR750 and would love any advice on what mechanical problems to look for and what would be a fair price for one that is in good shape.

 

Do not want to rain on your parade but look for an 86-87. The gen 1 is way to prone to way to expensive mechanical issues. In the last couple of months I have fixed one with a dropped valve and another with cam lobe damage. Hanging up my gen one hat after this last one and jumping on the Squirrelman band waggon. You will be better off looking for a clean gen 2, trust me.

 

Et tu, Brute?

 

Didn't you just buy a 93, and now you're buying an 83. You must have a little bit of disposable income. If you're looking at getting another VFR, go with a newer gen. The older gens are getting harder to find parts for.

 

Yep I just got a 93 but I'll be slowly working on that for a while, I'm looking for something that runs and is cheap but reliable. I've been waiting and saving up to finally get another bike and since I got such a good deal on the 93 I've got some left over to find another to fill that need to ride. The only downside is that the 93 might be bad enough that I might just have to part it out but I'll be tearing into it soon so we'll see.

 

I'm interested in what goes wrong with the older one, honestly I'm quite found of them and they're also more in my price range. I know the very first production bikes had a problem with poor oil circulation to the top end and chewing up the cams/head but from what I've been reading it sounds like that was addressed in the 86 and later years. So I'm trying to figure out how big a problem that is in the older year and what other mechanical mischief that is common for those years.

 

Since you asked.....

The difference between a VF and a VFR is huge; one is reliable, the other is plagued with multiple problem areas. When the VFR was introduced in 1986, it rendered the VF series laughably obsolete.

Here's what British motojournalist Kevin Ash said on the subject:

"The VFR750 reversed the dreadful reputation for unreliability of Honda’s first big V-fours, the VF700 and 750 cruisers and VF750F of 1982, the VF500 as well, all notorious for their rapid-wearing camshafts, sagging camchains, breaking camchain tensioners and other issues. The VFR750 was designed to put that right, and even did away with camchains altogether by using a costly gear train to drive the camshafts. It was dependable, durable, lasted forever, and gained a huge fanbase for its combination of quality and all-round ability: this was the bike that the term sports-tourer was coined for."



"Runs, cheap, and reliable" does not compute regarding VF-series Hondas unless you're a preternaturally lucky individual.

"Flawed from the factory" is the operative phrase.

Find a newer bike, even if it's not a Honda, cuz otherwise you're ASKING for trouble.

 

I can't believe I'm going to say it, but I'm actually going to agree with Squirrel on this one. If you're looking for a cheap VF, then that is what you're going to get. I do own a VF500, but I take meticulous care of it. Unless you're going to do that, look for an '86 750 or newer.

 

Good to know. How much newer should I look for? What's a fair price for a 86 that's in good running condition?

 

I like the sound of that. A dual sport could be a lot of fun.

 

Man, bunch of haters in here!

I like Gen 1 bikes but they are right, they arent reliable... it's just a small sacrifice for me. Just look at the difference

 

This is an ongoing debate for sure.

The First Generation naysayers are not entirely wrong but a VFR750F, however technologically advanced, does not a VF500F or kR make.

It was a sad day when Honda decided to switch from a 360° to a 180° crankshaft on their V4 production engines, IMHO.

 

I am on the Squirrel bandwagon - although I own a 1984 1st Gen myself. I hate it! Ah, no, I love it. No, I hate it!

My list of mechanical failures: cam chain tensioners, ridiculous pneumatic shock, scoring on the cam lobes. Oh, and a blown head gasket and leaking fork seals, but that could have happened with any bike.

 

I've always wanted a dual sport bike. I'm thinking that I'll be replacing my XR650R with a CRF450X once they put fuel injection on it. At that point, I'd like to convert the R to a dual sport bike.

 

Definitely not a hater as I own the 500 (and love it). It just sounds like engel630 is looking to buy a 1st Gen and is unaware of its weaknesses. Based on his intentions for the bike, I don't think it is a wise choice. 2nd Gen or newer is the way for him to go.

 

Looks like fun, tink.

We see a lot of KLRs up here. I would say it's the dual-sport of choice to romp around Alaska.

Plenty of BMW GS1100s and GS1150s as well.