I Got My Stolen Bike Back- Time to start over on things!

My bike was stolen June 15th.

http://vfrworld.com/forums/1st-2nd-generation-1983-1989/35402-keep-look-out-my-stolen-85-vf500.html

I a certified letter was attempted to be delivered in the mail yesterday from my local police department, went and picked it up today. It stated, "We have recovered your property: "1985 Honda Motorcycle"

I immediately called the tow yard it was at, asked them the details. They didn't have much for me, lady didn't know what kind of shape it was in ect.

Called the police department. She looked at the case and said "Yea, it looks like the found it at a chop shop"

I instantly thought, well, looks like I can go get my frame out of the impound lot for $250 (8 days of storage plus the tow)

I called the tow yard back asking if I could come look at the bike before getting it out of storage, she told me that would be fine.

Went and lunch, and to my surprise, it was there, almost ALL of it!

It got quite the make over, but the pieces are together.



I didn't really like the yellow paint, but i'm not a big fan of this shitty camoflauge either!



Notice the paint that turns the 2nd # on my tag from a 6 to an 8 at first glance.



Zip Ties are great for holding plastics together, as you will see on ALL of the plastics.



The starter, not doing great at starting the bike for sure! It was also missing the oil filter.

My First Question:



Do You have to take off the oil filter to take off the starter?






A Sweet Duct Tape Job over the windshield



Pretty messed up front plastic...



I guess 3 switches are way better to start a bike than a key. (no idea how they are wired or what they each do, with the starter off the bike, I have no ground at this point)



Notice the trigger/button on the break pedal, seems like something that could be attached to a bomb! (reminds me of the worst of the speed movies, where the guy has the trigger that if you let go the bomb goes off!)



Some wiring that I guess wasn't up to par for the new owner...



Anyone got a clue what this wire/cord is wrapped around here?



Here is another angle, it almost looks like a flat head screw on the end...



Seems like whoever had it enjoyed the bike, put on about a thousand miles if what I had written down last was close to being correct... They also did some carb work of some type as the carbs have different boots/boot clamps. The Crankshaft viewer has also been taken out at some put, as they had trouble getting it out and jacked it all up.


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So here is my question, If this is your bike, What do you start with?

Here are my first steps, but I'd really like to know if I am forgetting something important to get started.

First I will check to see if the engine is seized up, have a friend push me and put it in gear, just to know how bad it is.

Second, I will check the cams, make sure they are in good shape. I did a valve adjustment within the last 1500 Miles, so I'll just make sure their isn't pitting and may check the clearances since the oil is already drained and i'll have the radiator/coils and such off...

Third, is there an easy way to check the starter to see if it is working? If the battery was low on this bike, the starter would click like it was going out, so I think there could be a chance that was the case, but really don't have much to work with on figuring that out at this point...

Fourth, anyone have a spare gas tank cap and ignition switch with keys? Also, I may possibly need a gas tank, the cap hole is pretty messed up, looks like from prying off the old cap...


Let me know what you guys think, I'm excited to have the bike back, I had given up all hope that it would ever be found as a whole! Now the long process I started with this bike begins again!


Forgot to mention, it also has no air filter, It had a K & N filter on it when it was taken, I guess they wanted more air flow :shrug:

 

You should not have to pay ANYTHING to get you bike back from the police.
If you paid any money you should go to your local newspaper and put the story in the newspaper that you had to pay to get your stolen bike back. It is outrageous!!!

And you should get an apology from the pollice dept.,.

 

I didn't have to pay the Police anything, i had to pay the tow company who the police had tow the bike for the tow bill and the storage costs...

Don't like it, but that is what they get paid to do... I haven't spoke with the detective yet to see if they caught the person who stole it or not...

It was recovered at the same place as a Chevy Suburban, The tow shop said the Suburban was completely stripped, not even the dash left in the vehicle... no idea why mine was all together!

 

What a mess.

BTW...That cord with the flat head end is for your Speedo. Goes to the front wheel....left hand side.

 

Salvage any good parts , sell them and move on . The bike looks to have been threw the ringer and REALLY do you want to try to fix and dump who knows how much $ into the bike that once was nice . Get what you can and buy a sweet used one, maybe a newer year . I found my 2002 with 1800 miles for $4000 . Just my opinion

 

Thanks for the input, but as long as this motor is in good shape, I have too much into this bike to just bail... Not money, but time, enjoyment, sentimental value, ect.

Plus, what would I be able to part it out for anyways...

Since the bike was taken, I really have lost a lot of interest for motorcycling, and if I sell the bike, it will not be replaced (with another bike), so as long as it is do-able without another engine rebuild or expensive upfront costs to get things going the bike will not be sold!

 

you do what you need to with it..did your insurance cover the bike? I bet the button on the foot peg is a starter button... trace the wires and see were they go to.

good luck

 

You should have tried to talk the price down with them. They wouldn't get that much for the bike, if you walked away. Just a little advice for the next time, God forbid.

You can hook up 12V to the starter, without installing it. Just use jumper cables, if you have nothing else.

I would definitely make sure it runs and figure out how much it will cost to make it right before you get too far into it. It certainly doesn't look like it was babied, so you have no idea how bad they really treated it. Do the math, then decide whether it is worth it to rebuild or not.

Good luck.

 

Damn. That sux man. I'd have pitched a bitch at that tow company, and probably would have called the local paper. Sorry to see your ride like that. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

I'm glad you got it back. I hope they got the turd who stole it, but it sounds like they didn't. Definitely go through it thoroughly before dumping any money into it as it looks like it is in far worse shape than when you last had it. I understand that it might have some sentimental value for you, but you don't want to put good money into bad. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

doesnt look TOO horrible. I can get you another fuel tank for it in good shape. maybe a few other pieces too. possibly lockset with keys. glad you at least got it back. few stolens are recovered in anything but that suburban's condition, if they're even recovered.

 

Well, I found out why the guy ditched it... Didn't take long to find it when I started taring it down.

Looks Like some valve issues...



Rocker arm broke and got caught in the cam chain.



The tops of the valves seem a bit flattened...



The next two pictures you can see how thrashed the intake valve is (3rd cylinder I believe)





Here you can see the broken rocker, and the tops of the valves.


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So correct me if I'm wrong, This would, at a minimum, take replacing those two valves, as well as the rocker arm, cam chain, and exhaust valve?

If I'm wrong on any of that, please let me know..

Looks like I'll probably be parting it out, unless someone can convince me otherwise... I don't want to put much money into it, as for the labor, I enjoy working on it, so if it could be done without spending a ton, just putting some time into it, I would go for it, but I don't really want to spend money replacing something such as a head gasket which will be expensive.

So, pending no one changing my mind, who is interested in a set of Yoshi pipes?

 

Sorry to hear about the extent of the damage. Are you done with bikes or will you look to replace it? You'll have no problems getting rid of the exhaust.

 

I have another bike that I bought last winter. It's a Yamaha Seca 750. I won't be replacing this bike at this time. I've been shifting my focus and funds towards a C6 Vette, that is going to be my sports vehicle. I'll feel safer heading on the highway in that than I would on a bike.

 

That sux. Must be the result of high rpm flogging or wheelies. Shoulda locked up the rear wheel and hopefully he fell on his face.

We had a ZX9 stolen from the shop I used to work for that was found about a mile away with a leather jacket wrapped in the rear wheel and chain. There were blood spots all over the tank, dash, seat etc. We finally got the jacket removed and it had a name and social security number written on a tag inside it. Some police/customers of ours went to visit the guy, he was all banged up but they really couldn't prove anything, he claimed the jacket was stolen etc. They busted him not long after that for some other stolen vehicle. He copped to stealing the ZX9 as part of a plea deal and asked if we still had his jacket, he wanted it back. POS human being.

 

Ouch. Sorry about the thrashed-ness.
I bet it was a freakin' tweaker.

 

This one has given up the ghost.

While I am a big fan of restoring 500s you would really be taking on a big project.

As much as it pains me to say it I think it may be time to part the bike out.

 

I'm in agreement that it is a lost cause.....darn shame.

 

TJWOR sorry about your loss, your pictures and write up were titz and may even be the high-light of my day. Do not confuse this with taking joy in some other sods misery. Like I sed, Sorry about ur Loss.

 

At this stage, unless theres a deep sentimental link with this bike, its time to part her out and throw in the towel. that motor is probably toast.