VF500F Valves

You guys are fantastic! Thanks to all


(Now I'm just waiting to hear from Mr. Squirelman. I've grown accustomed to his pessimism and miserly ways over at the VTR250 forum.)

 

the VTRs have problems too?

 

I'm not sure. I know that the VTR250 engine is technically half of the 500 engine/ the 500 engine is a bored out 400 with 250 heads...

I'm just used to squirellman chiming in about now because he did the same when I was all over the VTR250 forum, back when I was trying to get my VTR250 running.

 

Hmmm, I wonder if anything in the 250 head is interchangeable with anything in the '85 500 head...

 

pretty sure that was explored...perhaps even in this very thread...

 

It looks like the springs are the same, and the exhaust valves. The intakes valves would be in common with the 86 VF500. That is what I think was posted earlier in this thread.

 

I have a terrible habit of not remembering what I read 10-15 minutes ago.

If the springs were the same, that would be fantastic, as I would then have a donor bike... maybe. My dad is still debating whether he wants to come by and buy it off of me and see if he can get it running, so he can start riding again.

But I'm becoming more and more convinced that it's chatter (or maybe a loose bolt somewhere...) every time I ride.
In other news, I have found a solution to my other problem, which seems to be over-heating: ride at night, in the rain. Does a beaut job.

 

A guy I raced against a long time ago had installed VTR250 valves in his 500, specifically because they were waisted (slightly more flow). I didn't ask at the time if he used both intake and exhaust, and I have no idea if he had an early or '86 model 500. Just putting that out there to show they will work.

That being said, I wonder since KPMI already had a kit for the VTR if they could just whip up a batch of valves for us? Well, for us older model year owners they would have to do different intakes.

Darn it, I have too many toys that want improvement. Or I have a character flaw in wanting to improve them all, hard to say which!

 

Thanks for the post.

Kibblewhite is happy to make these but I'm not sure that there is enough interest for a group buy.

Inner and outer valve springs + valves & retainers are going to run in the $1,500 for a single purchase.

I am not sure how the numbers would work out if there were multiple orders...but this is probably too steep an investment for VF500F owners – even ones with "have to improve ‘em" character flaws ;-)

 

Add on top of that about $1100 for reground cams and rockers from Megacycle, and we're on the verge of stupid to even consider it.

 

E-gads! It looks like I need to bump up the VF500F valve springs on the list of projects! I'd say the cost would need to be 25-30% of that quote just to make is sensible for VF500F owners.

 

I could POSSIBLY justify $1500 for all the parts in the heads, but just valves, springs, and retainers is quite a bit too much.

 

The performance spring kits are somewhat reasonable - these run between $400 - $500 (depending on how many are purchased).

It's the valves that are very pricey - if they need to be custom made - they are $50 a piece ($800 for a set).

Since the valve springs are part of the VF500F's Achilles' heal, maybe a group purchase of valve spring kits from Kibblewhite or R/D Springs would be a good place to start for those interested in a performance upgrade on one part of the VF500F’s valve train..?