1985 VF500 Winter Project

Alright,

Finally decided that it was time to post a thread about the rebuild of one 1985 baby 'ceptor.

I bought this bike in the late spring/early summer for $900 for a guy who apparently had no idea what maintenance was... She had been laid down on the right side but ran pretty good. On my ride home noticed that the clutch was on or off.. Upon further inspection the clutch fluid appeared to be some form of jelly . Bleed the clutch out and it seems to work as normal now.. Bleed the brakes, adjust the chain and get a new front tire to replace the dry rotted front.

Fast forward a few months and it is time to get rid of the rash on the F1 slipons. I managed to score a set of pipes in O.K condition and restore them.. .

Rest of the season ride ride ride.. Now that winter is here its time to get to work. The goal is to restore it back to it former glory, powder coat the frame and get all the plastics painted in the stock RWB colour scheme

 

Cool.
More pics so we can see what you are starting with.

 

Tearing it down

New tank scored off of Ebay for under $100 NO rush or dents. It is too bad the old tank had some rest if the bottom and dents as the paint was it good shape

After a few hours work and countless photos so I hope it goes back together here is where we're at now:


Looking to get some Tarozzi rearsets and a fork brace, anyone have an opinion of the fork brace?. Maybe Jamie's rear shock and a rebuild of the front forks... Fun project for the winter!

Rearsets:
03-0077 by Fast from the Past
Fork Brace:
22-0054 by Fast from the Past

 

By request some picturesof her in all her former glory:

 

Interesting !!

I am in the process of restoring 85 VF750F.
Learling a lot and many many frustrations. I was going after VF500 myself but didn't pan out.

Ended up with 500 front fairing and original seat both in pristine condition. I will have to sell them and get 750 parts.

 

I'm interested in the fairing if it's the right colour!

 

I can send photos if I can get e-mail but mine is red and white and don't think it is a colour match.

I will go home tonight and take a look again.

Which part of TO do U live ?

 

Thanks for checking it out, yeah mine is mainly blue.

I live around eglinton and allen

 

Fairing is mostly Blue with white stripe and red bottom.

It is close but not a perfect match. To match you will have to reverse white and red.

 

Thanks for taking a look for me, i'll stick with the one I got then. Thanks again!

 

Not much to update,

Frame, upper and lower triple's and rear sets are off at the powder coater's, I will be sure to post pics when they are back.

Found these Brembo brake discs on ebay, any one used them, know if they will work on just a regular F since the link says they are for an F2?
Brembo Replacement Upgrade Front Brake Disc to Fit Honda VF 500 2 1984 1987 | eBay

 

I am in the process of getting my 85 VF500 miniceptor going too. I have it documented in another thread. will be following this one. You seem to be going in the direction I want to go, with the rearsets and fork bracing along with the rwb paint scheme.

 

Hey KOCONUT,

Thanks for looking! It is a huge amount of work, but in the end hope i'll have a bike that i can enjoy for years to come and will get the TLC she deserves. The RWB is such a classic scheme, I was debating going with a pearl white when I first picked it up but have since fallen in love with the RWB.

I can't wait for the powder coater to finish with the frame, fork lowers and rear sets so I can send the frame with the plastics off for paint! Should have new pics soon!

 

Update!
Finally got the frame, fork lowers and rearsets back from the powder coater

 

Happiness is fresh powdercoat. Looking good.

 

Got the bike back form paint, was going to do the RWB but after seeing it just red and white, we decided to leave it alone.

 

your painter really F'ed up the tankwing placement!

 

Hey Matt looking good. Who did you use for paint and powder coating?
I'm around High Park area.

Garry

 

Hey,

Thanks for the compliments.. Its been slow putting her all back together, but I am getting there! I'm in the Eg/Allen area.

For powdercoating i used : Brightside Customs | Powder Coating / Ceramic Coating / Vinyl / Custom Projects (Is in the middle on moving to Scarborough from Whitby). Bang up job and good prices.. nice guy
For Paint: Reflections Auto Refinishing - 6785 Cropp St, Niagara Falls, ON P.M me for more details if you want.

 

Yeah, he made a bit of a boo-boo with the wing logos. Standup guy offered to fix it,but i wanna ride! Riding season is too short up here in Ontario so we'll fix it during the winter!