Supposed VF1000R

Looks like it's had a bit of a rough life. Do you guys think it's really a 1000R, not F?

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/mcy/4353794097.html

 

offer him $200

 

Its an R alright. Rode hard and put away real wet. I saw this listing a couple of days ago. Pics like these always make me sick.

 

Tell him you will haul it off for $200.

 

Am I crazy to even think about buying this? It looks like it's gonna take a lot of work to get it back into shape.

 

Yah that is a nightmare just waiting to jump on your bank account. Hard to believe that someone could do this.

Has a real Mad Max look going on doesn't it.

 

I got as big a spot in my heart for one of these as anyone you have ever met, just not that one. Need a better example to start with. Parts at best.

 

It's over 500 bucks now. It's like a train wreck, I just can't stop watching the auction.

 

ah I see it's on Ebay too. Funny, he posted more photos on ebay. Man that thing is dirty. I wonder what he'll get for it.

1985 VF1000R auction

 

You would be better off buying one of the $4000 pristine ones that come up.
Will cost less and be worth more in the long run.
Without very deep pockets there is only so much you can polish a turd.

 

I guess I see it this way: so long as it's running, has no severe mechanical issues, and I can make it look decent, why not? If I have to put 500 into it, or even 1000, to bring it back to good condition, it could still sell for 2000 in the end, right? I don't really have any idea what these go for though so maybe I'm being overly optimistic. And if he's selling it on ebay for 560 or whatever he gets for it.. yeah that's more than I'm spending. haha.

 

I bought one off fleabay for $800 that was painted Nissan brown, but it ran fine and was ll there.

Larry

 

I think the key to value and risk here is that he says it does not start. Sure, it may be gummed carburettors but it may be a stuffed motor.

 

What do you mean by "stuffed" motor? He said it ran when it was parked.

 

This may come as a surprise but sometimes sellers do not tell the truth or at least the whole truth.
To me the possible translations of "it ran before it was parked up" could include;
Welded into a solid mass
Rusted into a solid mass
Dead ecu
Carbs too gummed up to run.

A useful rule of thumb is that if you can't see it running it won't.
Parts for these are not cheap, oversize pistons and rings are not available so rusted or scored bores are a problem.

 

My dad was a car dealer his whole life and would look at that bike and say if it has been treated/neglected that badly on the outside then the motor would have received the same level of care.
You might get lucky and get a good runner but it is a risky, albeit fairly cheap bike.

 

You make a good point.

 

Looks like it sold. Unlike the motor on that bike, I hope you ran away.

 

haha. I didn't bid or even try to contact the guy. I have no bike at all right now so I'm just keeping my eyes out for a project.

 

Duct tape seat cover is always a sign of a neglected bike and owner who does not care to repair things properly. So fluids have probably never been changed, over due oil changes with cheap oil and cheap filters.
Running when parked can be very misleading. May have been running on 2 cylinders and smoking exhaust, but it was running when I parked it.