84 vf700f with 52 original, yes 52, yes again 52, original miles from new !

handshake taken

 

Nice job guys!

Sbear, where did you get your decals?

 

Enough bashing and gnashing of teeth. This project is GOLD, GOLD I tell ya!
Keep it up, Shabba!

The photo thing will be addressed.

Your garage is like a museum. Nicely done. I too have a soft spot for old Honda cages. The CVCC there reminds me of one we had a ways back. It was brown. We called it the turd. Couldn't kill it. I have an '82 Accord sitting in my shed in Kansas waiting for the day I can show it some love.

Now, back to the Viffers!!!!!!

 

OK I just uploaded a pic to my gallery. I chose "photos" in bold at the top, then "upload photos" in fine print just below and to the right.
Try again.

If you have trouble getting a hold of the mods for an important issue, just PM me and I will do what I can.

 

CBDecals.com Got them and they look 100% factory original !

 

LATEST PROGRESS REPORT:
Been really busy with my full time job, projects, the family and I also teach at the local college at nights so, no, I haven't gotten very far. I need to post new pics tonight as I have completely disassembled the front end. I ohmed each wire to ensure that when this is put back together it all works like it did before I took it apart. Did all my fluids, took apart the radiators and painstakingly cleaned each individual fin on both, did fork seals and fluids, finished metal polishing of the front wheel and "cookied" [Eastwood rotor surface buffers] the front rotors to bring them back to new finish.
Basically, as I take each component apart, I make sure it is perfect, clean and/or touch it up, and get it ready for the re-install later. I should be hearing something from my painter soon, so I am kinda nervous about that since I took a perfectly good paint job (a few light scratches were on it) and am converting to the Candy Aleutian Blue model.
I'm also working on three (3) 1984 Honda Gyro scooters I have ( all with under 300 miles) at the same time so that is consuming massive amounts of my time. I already have an original 1984 Gyro with ONE, yes 1, original mile on it that sits in my little museum but I am determined to finish the other 3 as well. I am giving myself until June or July to finish the VF700F but I'll try to do better at posting updates.
I'll get some new pics up tonight I hope.

Shabbabear

 

CB decals are the only way to go, worth every penny!

Can I ask a huge favor? When you do stuff like resurface your rotors, snap some pics and post them up. I know it's a pain but I love seeing stuff I haven't seen before...plus its winter and I need project entertainment. You have a unique situation and I for one look forward to seeing EVERTHING that you're doing. I don't care if it's just changing the fork oil, I love seeing pics of pristine parts...they look like shop manual photos.



Remind me to tell you a funny(horrible) Gyro story from my salesman days at Depot Honda.

 

Will do [post pics] and a lot of what I wrote about I'll post pics of tonight. And yes, I'd love to hear the Gyro story....especially if its about the 84 model. As you know the Gyro was here from 84-86 but only the 84 model had the little frame and, in my opinion, was the coolest...and rarest. The 85 & 86 models were also called the Gyro Fox and Gyro 'S' models.

 

Not much progress thus far..too busy at work and teaching

OK here's some more photos of my menial progress. Between my reg job and teaching at the local college I have literally worked every single Day since Jan 13 but one. So progress has been slow. Here's some pics of complete disassembly of the radiator, every single fin blade cleaned, all plastic parts "polished " to regain original shine or luster (there is a difference). Got all the fluids out and flushed, went over all the lettering on the master cylinder reservoirs, ohmed and cleaned each wire in the front half of the bike and all the instrument cluster and so on.

 

Fantastic. That lower radiator looks amazing as does everything else. Keep 'em coming!

 

Just out of curiousity, where (what type of environment) was this bike stored? And those pictures represent the bike as you got it?

 

Lovin this thread.....soooo many shiny photos of perfection......haven't spotted the money printing press you must have tucked away in the garage. Seriously I'm am impressed with your eye for detail perfection - keep it coming.

 

Hi yankee, great question. I'll do my best to answer clearly. Only 1 or 2 pics are of the bike as I received it. This is the owner's story Original owner was a microbiologist, yes seriously, bought the bike new, drove it home, parked it in his attached but NOT climate controlled garage on the center stand. New rider and nervous about the speed and handling so he "waited" for a better time to learn to ride. "better time" never arrived, he covered it with a series of bedsheets after about a year and until the date of sale in June 2012 never moved or uncovered it. Only maintenance done was when he attempted to "install", not remove and flush like is proper, a KREEM kit in the tank. See my first post and the lack of all the four letter words I did not write trying to clean the tank of all that sh*t. Small normal neighborhood house, nothing grand or fancy at all. Only warmth to preserve the bike was the warmth from the house as the bike sat next to the wall that was attached to the home and a bunch of bed sheets.
Keeping bike on center stand was a blessing as I'm sure you know. My photos show the bike AFTER I got it home (Maryland) and did a really SLOOOOOOOW warm water wash and dry. Only a few of the photos are at this time (first brought home). All the other photos are as the process moves along. I still have a ton of detailing to do. The bike has definite cosmetic issues with the metals, paint and plastics. Read on and you'll see what's being done to bring the bike back to 110%, yes 110% BETTER than new.
The painted parts have all been cleaned, polished with toothpaste, and polished again with ONLY 100% Pure Brazilian White Polish followed by 100% Pure Brazilian White Carnauba Wax. (see Porsche P-100 products that match this as they are made by S-100 company if you want the info as to where to get these from). Toothpaste can ONLY be Crest or Colgate BLUE GEL...do not use any flavored or RED toothpastes as they will "dye" the paint. After each painted item has gone through this process they are all coated with Teflon polish so NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING, sticks to them (road grime, bugs, etc.). I do the same to my Ferrari, Porsche, Cobra, etc.
For Plastics, remove every single plastic part on bike, get a Walmart 25 gallon "tub" for about $9.99, fill the tub with a ratio of 4:1 De-ionized distilled water (available at any grocery store in the detergent section as this is used for delicate clothes washing) and Armor All. Again, 4 gallons of the water to each gallon of Armor All. I do my tub with 2 gallons of Armor All and 8 gallons of the water. Stir it up like a big cauldron, put all your plastic pieces in it and go away. About every three days go out and CAREFULLY (so you don't break any parts) stir it up because the Armor All and water will separate like oil and vinegar !. I stir it CAREFULLY with my hand then I , of course, wash my arm/hand to get the oily stuff off. After at least 2-3 weeks [ the longer the better as when I restored my 78 Honda CVCC I left those parts in the tub for about 6 months] remove the parts, wipe them off with a clean towel and behold the newness restored into the plastic. Plastic breathes, that's why your Tupperwear bowl becomes RED after eating Tomato soup in it a couple times!. This will install a PERMANENT sheen to the plastic and you will not need to apply a greasy substance like Armor All ever again. If you srive in the rain a lot or wash your bike a lot woth soap the sheen will dissipate after a while though.
Tires, too much to write for now but I "buff " my tires as well. That's what makes them DEEP satin black without Armor All or Tire Shine and so on.
By the way fellow VFR fans, for those of you that are keen to follow rare bikes. My EXACT bike was actually posted for sale by a Ford Car Dealership in Ohio on EBAY about a month before I bought it. Further valuable documentation validating the true condition and mileage of this bike BEFORE I got it. It was found [from EBAY] and re-posted on RSBFS.COM (Rare Sportbikes For Sale). The original owner was trading the bike in toward the purchase of a new car.

Shabbabear

 

White carnauba has been bleached. As it comes from the plant, the color is a deep green. Don't buy into the "100% carnauba" line. The fraction of carnauba is 100% but if the total were 100% carnauba,

you'd have to apply it with a heat gun and a putty knife and remove it with a hammer and a cold chisel.


If one were to secure a cache of the wily wax, it might be suggested that for waxing the carrot it might beat Viagara hands down.

...Is this bike going to sit there all shiny and be of no use other than eye candy or will it be used for it's higher calling?

There is a trend in various iterations of old/classic/antique bike concours that they run. This engendered by "show" bikes and yes, many of same are Harleys, with no operating internals. We see this occur at various bike shows as well in machines that do not yet exist in full trim.

 

Yep you're spot on with the carnauba analysis bro !. I believe they mean the carnauba portion is 100% pure with no synthetic additives. The big difference is, when I wax with this it never really dries to a haze or gets crusty and the residue turns to dust that I can just brush off with my "california duster". Also, by using a "softer" wax, it "fills in" better after doing the toothpaste polishing and it is covered better with the Teflon application. I used to be a Concourse Level Judge with the PCNA [Porsche Club of North America] and these procedures (with any combo of finishes, polishes and waxes) work best and provide a firm and durable protection up to 6 microns. This process also works well after wet sanding or "clay barring" your finish, both of which I do regularly on cars.
As for riding when done, YES I have every intention on riding (perfect days only of course) probably about 150-200 miles per year. Remember I have other bikes as well. This is the exact year and color bike (when I'm done painting it in BLUE) that my beautiful wife, of now 28+ years, met on. She liked Sport Bikes and it was she that approached me in a mall parking lot in early 1985 to ask about the bike. So yes, we'll ride together as well on it some. Even the bikes I have in my "museum" all run perfectly and are pulled out periodically and run. Then drained and put back inside. The only bikes I don't run at all are the 2007 VFR 25th anniversary model and the 1984 Honda Gyro that both have 1 mile or less and are still new from the crate. However, I still "silicone" the seals and hoses, turn the motor, spin wheels, etc. to move bearings, etc.. I'm like you I'm guessing, even if I don't ride it I want it to be "rideable" in 1 hour or less if need be.


Shabbabear



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What they mean is that they can BS the public with exotic sounding words that until the wide use of the internet most folks would not research. Thats my analysis and I'm stickin to it.

This likely has roots in patent medicine ads dated before the movie versions in the wild west flix and on into the 50's with cosmetic ads stating that various products contained stuff that sounded really great but maybe 1 in a million knew about or could even spell. Cases in point: "carnuba" and Wildroot Cream Oil with jaberandi.. Say what ?

After many applications of varous waxes ect.. and since my little stash of bikes is in comparison is rather small, I use polymers except on the Maxwell, the DB4, the Bardahl Ferrari and the 300SLR.

If ya want to see some really exotic runners carwise and are ever in LA, get tix for the Merle-Norman Collection.

Are you mixing your toothpaste with Armourall? Never met a diatom I didn't like..

 

You have the Ferrari and 300SLR ? I am officially on record for being jealous now !. Gotta post pics of the Bardahl and DB4 please. My wife and I love Astons. No I never would mix the toothpaste with Armour All...why do you ask...am I missing something that I'd love to know. If you've done it [mixing] what does it do ?. Very curious to learn.

BG

 

I was thinking of selling them. Horrid mileage ya know. Leaded gas too and the neighbors hate the noise.

The Bardahl Ferrari actually existed. Bardahl corporate is a couple of rock throws from my place in Seattle. The 300SLR's were factory cars and MB has several in the museum in Stuttgart along with the W125 ect. The 300SLRs were withdrawn after a tragic accident at LeMans in the 1950's

IMO there are better rubbing compounds than toothpaste or powder. Both do add to the mint condition of things that need polish..

For the admix of Armourall

and water you might try an emulsifier like xanthan gum to inhibit separation.

All kidding aside, The use of Armourall on certain "plastics" IMO is not a great idea. On waterbourne paints and lacquers is another I do not fancy.

On ABS fairings ect, most are not coated on the inside surfaces and some harm may be done by the product.

 

On the rubbing compounds my favorite is the regular 3M brand. I use Pinnacle series 1-7 for various finishes, abrasions, depth penetration, etc. with my Porter-Cable and 5 gram "head weight" and the usual assortment of grey,green,orange, blue,yellow,white and black pads. Great to swap ideas.

BG

 

Wow! That look beautiful, slightly jealous of the quality of work your putting into it. Thanks for the tips about the plastics, good to know!