86 VF500 would need a complete restore, should I walk away?

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by leftfield6, Feb 10, 2011.

  1. leftfield6

    leftfield6 New Member

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    Aw come on, that ain't fair. I was resisting it at the triple dog level, now you've gone quad-dog on me. Damn it.


    It's still listed on CL, I'm starting to weaken. I'm starting to justify it to myself, after all a project is a project, right? If this is a $300 bike, how much better is a $600 bike? You know I'm going to tear the damn thing down anyway.

    The only thing I know it's missing in the left side plastic and the chin spoiler. Both on eBay right now.

    Still, it would be a gamble. It is not currently running, so no way to know if it ever will. What the hell, I'm still considering it.:crazy:
     
  2. leftfield6

    leftfield6 New Member

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  3. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    problem is you have no idea how solid the motor is until you tear into it. They are known for having cam, valve, and timing chain tensioner problems. All are hard parts to find. As TOE said early on, it's apparent the bike has not seen the best of care. So what are the chances that the motor hasn't been bounced off the rev limiter on old oil it's whole life?

    I bought my project 500 in boxes for $400. The body work was all there in good shape. By the time I got done getting it back roadworthy and reliable, I barely broke even in the sale. Of course that doesn't count time which is the hobby part of the endeavor.

    I'd still avoid it at the price he's asking. If he's softened on his price a bit, you can always find a donor for parts if needed and still break even when you're done. OR, you'll be able to part it out and break even on the initial cash out of pocket.
     
  4. vfourbear

    vfourbear New Member

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    I suggest that you offer to take it away for free, he obviously has no clue what to do to fix it and doesnt have anyone beating down the door to buy it. Seriously, give him token amount to appease his sense of dignity, like 50 or 100 bucks, if he wont do that screw it.

    Then if youre truly feeling generous part it out here. Everyone that has thought about any of these old junkers knows they aint worth shit unless you just happen to have a hardon for them, if you do , so be it, good on ya, but really if youre into the old shit and you love em, then use the opportunity to share its parts with others.
     
  5. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    I must say, "restoring" a mid 80's kinda sport bike is sort of reviving an 80's 4cylinder Mustang II in my book.

    It's no 60's muscle car. And even those guys acknowledge the technological leaps and bounds that have been made since then and usually modernize the brakes, suspension, steering, and fuel delivery systems with only the body and interior remaining the same.

    Maybe in another 20 years there will be a real mystique surrounding the VF500
     
  6. mecrutio

    mecrutio New Member

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    Ok, my first post.... Sir it is not the end but the journey. I just picked up an 86 500 myself. All the plastic is there, really good condition cosmeticaly, carbs were used to dig trenches somewhere and i dont know what is inside the intake side of the head but i know it doesn't belong there. 750 bones and the guy delievered to my house. Clear title and it is in parts. Got the carbs dismantled the first day, radiator the next, and I finnaly called it quits for the week. Damn near 200 more into parts and haven't heard it run yet. I'd break even if I sold it (running) and went through some heartache for nothing. My point is this is MY childhood dream. It will run again and run well. The best part is that there is a story atatched to it. Not just "I paid for a bike and it goes." Yeah I paid too much but dreams are expensive.
     
  7. callahanj617

    callahanj617 New Member

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    My Parts bike has saved my ass on numerous occasions.
     
  8. vmxwinn

    vmxwinn New Member

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    My .02 is that you never venture into something like this as a money making proposition. You have to do it for your on love of something. I have restored near all the late 70's early 80's twin shock MX bikes and have kept the ones that I really liked, the others being sold to fellow vintage racers. Some of these are built as racers and others as garage queens. The racers are more expensive as much more work goes into chasis and suspension set up along with competitive motors.

    I made money on some, broke even on others and lost money on some. So in the end I would call it a wash but I enjoy doing it.

    The one bit of advice that I would stress is the you need to start with a GOOD CORE. And depending on bike it could be different things. With some motor work is no big deal and other it is. Others it can be cosmetic iteams. Just do your home work first.

    I am just starting a 86' 700 project. It is a good basic core, runs well but is cosmetic rough. Most people would have passed on this but I always loved these peticular bikes, along with first gen GSXR's. So I am going ahead with it knowing full well that if I ever sale it I probably will not make any money on it but I will have fun doing the restoration, and the first day I ride it all done, it will be a very happy and statisfying ride!!! Also I will be able to look back at what I started with and have a sense of pride of what I have accomplished.

    If this sounds like a journey you want then go full ahead, if it is not, then let it go.
     
  9. leftfield6

    leftfield6 New Member

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    Checking in with an update here. I decided not to go after the bike after exchanging messages with the seller a few times. Just had a bad "gut" feeling on this one. I'll keep looking.

    As for the wisdom of restoring a mid-80s sport bike, sure I can see there's not a lot of logic there, but I've already done it once with my Nighthawk S. Before anyone questions the "sport bike" status of the 700S, you need to be on that thing when it hits the power burst at 9K rpm.

    Anyway, point is, I know restoring a mid-80s 500 is likely a money losing proposition, so what? I've got more invested in my Nighthawk S than I could sell it for, I've got more invested in each of my project vehicles than I could sell them for. Restoring motorcycles is not my job, so I don't have to make money at it, I have a job to make money to feed my hobby!!:cool:
     
  10. invisible cities

    invisible cities New Member

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    A good outlook to have!

    500s are great bikes that deserve good owners ;-)
     
  11. matt1986vf500f

    matt1986vf500f New Member

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    Im glad there's more of us around here. This place was turing into VFRD and I don't know a thing about givi bags:crazy:
     
  12. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    the point is - why lose money when you don't have to? Holding out for the right prospect vehicle allows a guy to enjoy his hobby without burning up cash.
     
  13. invisible cities

    invisible cities New Member

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    Totally agree here.
     
  14. JamieDaugherty

    JamieDaugherty New Member

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    So, since motorcycles are inherently poor financial decisions we are all stupid for having ever purchased one in the first place. Ok, I get it now, thanks.
     
  15. Bubba Zanetti

    Bubba Zanetti Member

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    Jamie, you are smart enough to read between the lines on what poeple are saying to the OP.

    Too many guys get a fixer upper because its 'cheap' thinking they can fix it up for 'cheap' and ending up spending more time, money and headache, which all leads to heartache when they could have saved for a few years and bought a running bike outright an dstarted enjoying riding.

    BZ
     
  16. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    Clearly you do not get it.
     
  17. vfourbear

    vfourbear New Member

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    Stick to your strong suits Jamie, bitter sarcasm doesnt become you. Leave that to us real assholes. :joker:
     
  18. rpierce

    rpierce New Member

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    Cmon Left, get a 700 or 750. There's too many 500s for them to be cool around here. (besides it'll give me ideas to steal on my bike unlike the 500s)
     
  19. leftfield6

    leftfield6 New Member

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    Wow, here is someone who maybe got a little "over his skis" cost-wise on a VF500 restoration. Needs someone to finish it for him.

    Project Bike in VA
     
  20. rpierce

    rpierce New Member

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    That actually seems worlds better than the first bike you had your eyes on. I would say if you have the means to pick up all those pieces and are comfortable with his price it would be a much better starting point than the first bike. It even has a nice aftermarket exhaust which are ridiculously hard to find.

    Only downside is that you don't get to hear it run.
     
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