Should i jump into it?

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by SzBalogh, Apr 9, 2020.

  1. SzBalogh

    SzBalogh New Member

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    Greetings, my first post here!

    I was looking for a classic bike only for tinkering and hobby cafe racer building.
    One VF400F was offered for me in a basket, according to the owner it has conrod bearing failure due to misaligned ignition. It is uncommissioned but getting back the title seems doable.
    I did not see the bike myself but from the pictures it turns out that the front wheel and forks are replaced, the headlight is round.
    The price is 100-ish USD.
    The engine off the bike, cam covers, and oil pan are off. Are there some specific critical issues i should look for in the engine?
    I understand that this is a very rare motorcycle, how easy is to get parts for it?
    Thank you in advance!
     
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  2. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    Hi and Welcome to the MadHouse:Welcome:

    Wow - even without seeing any pictures that sounds like you are considering a massive challenge.

    Yes it is cheap - but given your description you will need access to decent workshop facilities and most importantly be keen on months of hard work to ever get that bike back on the road. It sounds a whole lot more than a simple hobby tinkering project and sadly it may well require a total rebuild.

    NB A common reason people replace the front wheel and forks on a motorbike is the bike has crashed into something. Obviously any serious impact may well have caused damage to the frame and other components, so I would be wary of assuming any of the dismantlled parts are fit for further use without careful examination.

    A VF400F will date from 1982/83. For any motorbike approaching 40 years old, apart from basic service bits, most other parts will now be unobtainable. Yes you might be lucky and be able to recover some parts from breakers yards, but I doubt many VF400F models were ever sold brand new in Hungary, and I suspect that most of them will have been scrapped many years ago.

    If owning a VF400F is really what you want, then it might be better to simply buy another VF400F which is already in running order and keep that heap of bits for use as a source of spares.

    Good luck




    SkiMad
     
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  3. SzBalogh

    SzBalogh New Member

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    I have some experience with repair. That Triumph on the left sat for 15 years, worked with that one year long, received MOT a month ago :)
    I am really looking for something unique. There are a lot of CB750-s out there :)
    Next week Tuesday or Wednesday I will check on the bike. I want to turn the crank if it moves.
    Anything I should look for?
    Thank You!
    92402946_2588916328022227_3225113697303134208_n.jpg
    Ah just noticed that cam lobes are corroded, hope they are not deep.
    So the only differences between the Vf400 and VF500 are the oversized cylinders and different frame?
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2020
  4. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

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    I like tinkering and a project, but a con rod failure on something that rare? Unless you got very deep pockets... either pass on it and think of another project, or buy it for parts, go look for a better one that is at least running. I wouldn't do a CB750, would much prefer a V4, but must admit I have an attraction to the CB350 or 360 if I found one of those.
     
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  5. Captain 80s

    Captain 80s Member

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    JUMP OUT
     
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  6. SzBalogh

    SzBalogh New Member

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    Will see if it is doable. Selling parts if cant be saved.
     
  7. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    run in the opposite direction, fast !
     
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