Project: Get 86 VF500F race bike on the street.

I actually like the mismatched tank, it gives it a bastard look. It looks like it's ready to pick a fight in the twisties with bikes twice it's size. Well done.

 

Thanks for the comments. Yeah... I don't mind the mismatched tank either. Part of the reason I decided to run it instead of trying to fast track the original tank. It helps that the tank is in pretty decent condition.

Planning on leaving it pretty much as is (except the tank) for next season, as close to how it looked as the race bike. Still need to put some thought into a real seat, but for next spring it will be fine. might put on a chin cowl and see how it looks, but I really like having the engine and headers all visible. After that, prob go all white, lose the numbers and maybe add some simple stripes.

Performance is definitely up from stock. Those headers are awesome and my jetting is (seems) about as good as you could get (without a dyno session). Plugs are perfect with the very slightest mid-range flat spot, that's really not noticeable. Plus even with the street equipment I have back on it, it's still considerably lighter than stock.

Now thinking about tires. The racing AM22/23's are SOOOOO expensive, but they're SOOOOO good. Not going to worry about wheel upgrades on this bike. Going to keep it like I raced it. I have another one I'm building that I will do some wheels on. I have a very unique fairing (made for the 500) and a full Yosh for that bike.

 

Awsome thread!!! Nice NX 125 I remeber them when they were new. Dont-cha-love safety wiring schitt? Nice write up along with pictures and hands down the best (dont take this in the pejorative manour) Mini-cepter I ever laid my eyes on...

Handy lift tables are sweet huh...

 

Thank you very much!
I consider my Handy-Lift some of the best money I ever spent. Wife's NX (my rain bike).

 

Curious on your opinion of the Tarozzi rearsets, thinking of getting a set for my 500, but wasn't sure if they'd be comfortable for the street and/or how far up/back they are?

 

That is the cleanest 500 Interceptor I have ever seen. Wow. And it sounds soooo wicked! I am extremely jealous. Have you given any thought to the Pirelli Sport Demons for the street? No personal experience, just wondering what you knew.

 

The position is streetable for me, but I wouldn't want to tour with them. My race seat also reduces the seat to footpeg relationship, so they would be more comfortable with a stock seat. Quick measurement puts them approx 3" back and 2-1/2" up.

 

I've got Sport Demons on my 85 VF1000R (http://vfrworld.com/forums/1st-2nd-generation-1983-1989/37749-1985-vf1000r-getting-close.html) and like them. They are not the softest compound and considered a sport touring tire, but they offer very good grip so far and didn't introduce any handling quirks.

Right now I'm leaning towards Bridgestone BT39's for their dry performance. On any other of my street bikes I would have a harder time deciding between the Sport Demons, Avon Road Riders and the Bridgestone BT45 for some extra mileage but plenty sporty in a bias ply tire.

 

Thanks for the response. I don't plan on long touring with them, just day trips and the like. Where did you order yours, Fastfromthepast?
I appreciate the measurements, I was interested in them, hoping them would allow my 6" frame more room. Passenger Pegs still doable in your opinion or forget about it?
Thanks again!

 

awesome thread! its funny how much shit you would have caught if you were trying to turn a vf500f into a race bike, but even funnier how much praise you are receiving for turning a vf500f race bike into a street bike. anyways awesome thread and great to read something different! gotta love the underdogs!!!

 

They came on a parts bike I bought... It had the rearsets (but they just had pegs, not all of the adjustment plates that originally came with them), a Fox Twin Clicker, aftermarket front springs and Targa clip-ons... for... $150.

So I adapted CBR900RR controls to work with the rear-set plates. Not a big fan of the footpegs that come with the Tarozzis. Also, I'm about 5'11" and it looks like passenger pegs would still be doable.

 

Jealous, sounds like quite the deal, the rearsets are 295$ IIRC.

Good news about the rearpegs, the wife likes to go for the odd Sunday ride. Thanks for the feedback.

 

Fantastic bike!!! I have a couple of questions, I aready searched and didnt find the answer on this forum. with the total loss you removed the rotor, was there any thing tricky or note worthy with the conversion? I also read that you
reinstalled the t stat does that mean you removed it for race duty? did you remove the entire housing or just the t stat? One more stupid question, i always thought the rotor controlded the ignition timing, with it removed how does the engine run properly. How much of the electrical system down stream were you able to stream line.
Sorry if these are stupid questions.

 

Ignition gets signals from the pulser coils on the right side. Removed both stator coil and rotor. Revved up really fast and throttle response was better, but it was very harsh on the cam chain runners. Wore thru them really fast. I think the torque waves in the cam chains were more pronounced without the flywheel weight to smooth things out.

 

Thanks for the reply!! So as far as the wiring, you can at that point remove the reg/rec and the related then how did you wire in the battery? Thanks for your help

 

Oh I see what you mean... I made a jumper at the reg/rect connector. I think it was just jumping the red to black that allowed the battery to power the ignition. Could actually run quite a while on a sealed scooter battery.

 

What a great thread.

Can you get any vids of the bike in motion? Would love to hear it roaring down the street

 

Got all the turn signal brackets matching the stalk radius and painted a couple weeks ago. Also took apart the dash, painted the housing black, and painted the upper cowl bracket and hardware to help hide wiring and stuff.

 

Where abouts are you located? Would love to see that baby on the street in person!

Never seen exhaust cans like that before, maybe custom at some point? Headers remind me of the early Kerker 4-2 systems for the VFs. My Vance & Hines full system was paired right & left cylinders. Sure wish I coulda scraped together the $$$ for the Hindle 4-1 back then though, but the V&H was pretty good, sure dropped a ton of weight off my '86 VF-500.

Nice project indeed!

 

That bike just looks silly... in a good way!