Any Performance parts for the 86 vf 500?

Discussion in '1st & 2nd Generation 1983-1989' started by AlexVF500f, Apr 8, 2012.

  1. AlexVF500f

    AlexVF500f New Member

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    Hi to all Im new here . I am in school to be a motorcycle tech i have been working on dirt bikes,mopeds and scooters mostly all my life .
    Anyway a couple of weeks ago i bought A vf500. I did little research and really fell in love with the vf so i wanna rebuild it and make something unique out of it . So i am wondering if anyone knows of any performance parts for this bike and different mods. I have already stumbled across some cam parts and the cbr wheel mod but would like to find more like exhaust,pistons,rods,valves,springs,carbs..... anything to go faster and make it look unique .
     
  2. AlexVF500f

    AlexVF500f New Member

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    Has anyone used the megacycle cams and Accel coils ?
     
  3. Mobtown

    Mobtown New Member

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    Ive never seen someone fork out for the megacycle cams, but there are a few folks on here who did the coils. Your options are pretty limited TBH.
     
  4. AlexVF500f

    AlexVF500f New Member

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  5. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    I think the general consensus is the VF500 engine is a bit fragile and upping its performance wont do much for its longevity. There are some high mileage examples floating around but there are also a lot with valve gear issues, like scored cams, dropped valves and damaged valve stem ends. If you want more performance I would recommend a different bike to work on. I have a VF500 but I wouldn't dream of tinkering with its performance knowing what I now know, if you see what I mean. Good luck if you go that route though.

    Edit:You might want to search for info on the Factory Pro carb kit. It seems to be used by a few on here. I've no idea what it does for performance but it is still available to purchase off their website.
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2012
  6. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    Limerick, jeremy??

    'ere's mine....


    "There once was a VF with power,
    it lasted about an hour,
    when it broke down and quit
    cuz the engine took a shit
    and never repaid its investment."
     
    blitzkraig likes this.
  7. jeremyr62

    jeremyr62 New Member

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    Take your best shot..
     
  8. Bubba Zanetti

    Bubba Zanetti Member

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    LMAO!

    That was a good one.

    I think if the OP took a VF500 and restored it to street condition, that could be a nice project.

    But to take one and hop it up!? I can't think of a worse bike, completely ill suited to such a thing, as the mini-ceptor.

    If you want to hop up and old bike find a 84-86 Ninja 900. Parts are everywhere cheap! And hop up parts are oddly still plentiful.

    BZ
     
  9. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    I picked up this mid '80s Ford Escort and wanted to know if anyone made performance parts for it still? I could slam it and throw some neon and make it look like one of those import racers you see in the movies.

    Nothing personal Alex. Welcome to the forum and I hope you enjoy your bike. Owned one myself and they are a ton of fun. But unless you won the lottery and are looking to offload too much dough - just ride the thing for what it is and enjoy. There are far better platforms to throw some money at.
     
  10. PorscheBob

    PorscheBob New Member

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    Ditto what Bubba says. Bring it back to showroom stock and it will be a better more useful bike to have.
    And when you go to sell it you will most likely get a lot more money for it.
     
  11. AlexVF500f

    AlexVF500f New Member

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    thanks guys for all the replies. You really put some sense in to me .... just thought i could do somth that was never really done before but look like its not worth it at all
     
  12. tinkerinWstuff

    tinkerinWstuff Administrator Staff Member

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    If you're going to put money into a 500, you just have to do it with open eyes and know what you are getting in to. Be glad to see someone do something that hasn't been done before, but you have to know that it's a labor of love and that you will never see your money again. In addition to that, there are reliability issues with the motor that require diligent maintenance and care along with parts becoming increasingly difficult to find. The handling and the brakes are not near what the technology had just 4 or 5 years later.
     
  13. GreyVF750F

    GreyVF750F Member

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    Here's a better way to hop it up.

    h2intercept3.jpg
     
  14. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    You took the abuse well, Alex. The only power/weight improvement that's practical is the addition of a quality aftermarket exhaust, but some rejetting would be needed.
     
  15. xtravbx

    xtravbx New Member

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    And also trying to find an aftermarket exhaust is never easy.

    Clean and tune the carbs - there will be the biggest hop-up you can find, and it's free. My bike SCREAMED (as much as a little 500 can) after I did the carbs correctly.
     
  16. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    No one with the VF500 knowledge widely available on our site would SCREAM their engine lest it turn into a GROAN !
     
  17. xtravbx

    xtravbx New Member

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    Oh don't get me wrong I know. The bike doesn't get beat on. My point is if he wants power just make sure the bike is running 100% and enjoy the stock power because it's adequate.
     
  18. AlexVF500f

    AlexVF500f New Member

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    xtravbx is right i should get it in 100% good running condition first which im having some difficulties right now it had no spark so i changed cdi boxes up to here all is great it had spark then when after i removed them to fit them on to the frame and re connect them ..... no more spark :frown:
     
  19. jazclrint

    jazclrint New Member

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    Hmmm. Back in the day before I got my VFR and started turning my '86 500 into a track bike, I used to ride the piss out of it. I really can't count the number of times I hit the rev limiter on it. What a blast. But I also took care of the maintenance. I got to see a tricked out VF500F race bike at NHIS back in the late 90s. It had a Hindle exhaust and MegaCycle cams, with a little bit of head work, F2 wheels, and RC45 fairings. 72hp and something like 40ft-lb of torque. It sounded like a really pissed off 750 2-stroke. The owner sold it, and the new owner didn't mind the valves and swallowed some. Don't know what happened to it after that. That thing was sick. I think Mega cycles cams would be great for a race bike that is going to be well gone after and only run 20-25 miles a race, but for street use, I think the timing would be all off.

    Both my 500 race project, my Mom's 500 I was restoring, and most of my VFR were stolen out of my brother's garage back in '10.
     
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