VFR400r (NC24) - Rothmans Build.

So this will be a little like my last thread (just QUICKER) but will end up with a Rothmans Version. Now personally I think this was the best colour scheme Honda ever made with the RC30 scheme a very close 2nd.

Overall the bike is in pretty good condition but has been stored ineptly. The bike visually needs a fair amount of love, has low miles & is a good candidate for bringing back to life. I have not yet run it ! I will be getting the bike running, replacing a few parts, repairing what I can't replace - I do have a few spares - lol, & then painting the fairings & tank..

So today I'm taking a close look at the tank. The tank has minor bubbles in the paint (BUT IS DENT FREE !!!!) - so I'm guessing rust from inside. A quick look inside the tank shows signs of bad storage & signs of rust.

P1080182 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

Damm - It's not looking to be a good start.

P1080191 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

So the plan is to put Hydrocloric acid (also called Muratic) in to get rid of it.

Started on the VFR tank, started to empty it, had about a gallon of fuel in it & it wasn't new fuel - bike was last ran in 2015!!!
Drained most of the fuel out of the tap, then removed it & the cap.
Then shook the tank..
It made a LOT of noise....WTF ! I just drained the fuel..?
Took a CLOSER LOOK inside . hmmm

What is this.. - Bits of plastic... epoxy !

P1080194 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

This pile took 2hrs to remove..

Holy Baloney!!
It looks as if at some point someone has sealed the tank (BADLY) to the point it has now FAILED & bits are floating around inside the tank... ARGHH.. Need to remove this crap before I put the acid in so that's this mornings job.

kept pulling more out.

P1080206 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

In total 4 hours it took me to even get the tank ready to put the acid in !

its not that good a start.. lol

 

Gonna be following along, Mr. Pete.

The darkest hour is always when you take out that first bolt and you think to yourself, "Self, it can only get better from here".



Just a little encouragement.....

 

Yep - the aim is finish it by September.

The carbs I took off & amazingly were actually almost clean so now off the bike & just waiting on a rebuild kit.

However, it was not exactly loved - lol



I have thrown on my spare set of carbs to just check it works fine & then I'll rebuild the original set, clean up the V, paint the engine & Valve covers & check the valve clearances. Then I can pull the subframe, refresh that but hopefully I'll start it this weekend...

 

Good on ya for bringing another one back, Mr. Pete. That thing is lucky it was adopted by you, that's all I gotta say.

I like looking at the subtle differences between the 30 and the 35. They really aren't that similar in a lot of respects. You can get a little bit of an idea from the FSM for the 30, but it really becomes apparent through your detailed photos.

 

its a 24 - the earlier version. I think they are even rarer than the 30 or 35 in the US... lol

 

I could tell from the title of the thread and also from the external oil line in the V photo, prolly should have been a little more clear, what I was meaning to convey was that your detailed photos from all of your work is great to compare all the different model layouts. Basically, you take great pics and I like the detail in them.

 

LOL - thanks for the compliment...

I really enjoy getting these bikes alive - they are everything that I hate in the newest modern generation of vehicles - traction control, ABS, anti-launch, blah, blah, blah, basically electronic controls...

Bikes are to give me the control, freedom, & choice to screw it up - Its up to me to avoid that by raising my game. There will be times when I get it wrong - I take responsibility for my own actions.

These bikes allow me those freedoms - it also helps they are Honda V4's & excellently made...

 

Light weight, amazing lines, excellent chassis, no nanny aids, decent power, legendary engine config, great bloodline....what's not to like

 

I'm very conscious that it doesn't look like I've done much with this - BUT I have lol..

So I eventually got the thing running in June - it had been sat since 2015 & not stored correctly... During the run I discovered that the exhaust collector was rotten. This then led to the following outcome - which is the most I've ever done on a single bike.

We all love pics so here you go:

Starting to strip it down..

IMG_1862 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

Back is slightly dirty...

IMG_1869 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

At least the Oil rad is in a reasonable condition.

IMG_1870 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

Don't think they cleaned in this area either...

IMG_1872 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

I'm sensing that its not been cleaned or polished for a while..

IMG_1879 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

Well its out..

IMG_1889 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

Just as uncared for as the rest..

IMG_1891 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

 

Back at it, I see. Looks like another child abuse victim...seen one of those somewhere else before....Can't wait to see what ya do with it as the project progresses.

 

On the bench..

IMG_1908 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

IMG_1909 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

time for some love for the carbs..

P1080552 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

P1080501 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

 

I'd actually forgot - I lost the use of the garage for 4 months as we had really strong winds that ripped the roof off it & it took a while to get fixed - along with some subtle upgrades (Skimad4x4 also helped).. This did slow the project a little - lol

 

This engine took MANY HOURS to get clean & I'm 80% happy with it.

IMG_2031 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

getting good at masking up..

IMG_2035 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

IMG_2036 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

A couple of weeks ago it was put back in..

IMG_2041 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

You can just see the rear stainless pipes.. - The new system is beautiful.. From Predator Motorsports - took over 3 months to get.. - He did warn me about this as he moved site 2 days after I ordered it !!

Painting bits...

IMG_2044 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

More bits painted - along with the frame (before the engine went back in LOL)..

IMG_2045 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

 

front pipes on.

IMG_2055 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

parts to be put on - including reconditioned / repainted fan

IMG_2057 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

Starting to look better.

IMG_2073 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

IMG_2074 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

IMG_2075 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

hubba hubba

IMG_2093 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

now we are cooking..

IMG_2094 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

 

Valve clearances all checked & adjusted to correct - a couple were touch tight but nothing major. I'm happy that it will run fine once the electrics are plugged back in although I still need to check the stator - the connector looks to be non standard.

The rear brake bar - yep equally unloved..

IMG_2110 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

time to do some work on the back..

IMG_2111 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

IMG_2112 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

So this is where we are now..

Rads on, Oil back in, just starting to button it up a little..

IMG_2114 by Pete Smith, on Flickr

 

The entire front end will be removed - Have a set of powder coated triples & wheels to go on, the brake lines will be stainless steel, & I have a spare set of forks (reconditioned & repainted) ready to go on..

 

Very nice, Mr. Pete! Gaining on it.

 

Je-Sus Pete. That looks fantastic. Keep up the good work, I love the pics!

 

As an update on rough costs so far for a bike that will end up as a ridable 8/10 - I could spend more time to get it to a 9 - But this is for me & life is too short...lol

750 - Cost of unloved bike

440 - Half system exhaust
250 - Paint - for fairings, frame, engine, forks
150 - Various other bits - SS bolts, brake pads etc, etc
140 - Stickers (OEM copies - Rothmans style)
80 - Powder coating front & rear wheels
20 - Exhaust gasket

180 - Chain / sprockets, new OEM exhaust bolts, new wheel bearings
60 - Carb rebuild Kit
40 - Service items - oil, oil filter, rad fluid.
20 - Non oem carb mounting rubbers

Still needed:
Front & rear brake rebuild kits
Front & rear master cylinder rebuild kits
Front pads
Might get new tyres - another 150 depends on how well it gets back together..

So as you can see its still going to hit 2+k by me doing all the work... LOL, although at least 300 is in service items that need to be replaced at some point anyway. These are costs that add to every bike. If i wasn't restoring it to a 'reasonable level' then some of the costs could be ignored - but where's the fun in that.