Just acquired an "abandoned" 1986 VF500... now I know why it was left for dead

Hey all,
I'm new to the VF world but not to bikes. I've got a thing for bikes from the 80's and I've always liked the VF500's so I thought I'd add one to my list of bikes. The bike is complete but hasn't run in a couple of years. I did a quick clean on the carbs, confirmed oil pressure and got it to fire but number one cylinder was really low on compression. I took the valve cover off and saw whats in the attached pics. If I push down on the spring retainer (the valve retainer clips were even still there) I can see the top of the valve stem where it is broken. So, I'm hoping it didn't drop and hammer the piston. I've got another project to finish before I can tear the motor down but is this a common problem? I hadn't run across this in my web search. Also - I'm in SoCal. If anybody has an engine they want to sell let me know I'd like to get this bike back on the road quicker. If I take the time to tear the engine down it will be a couple of months before I'm riding it.

 

I plan on doing this "on the cheap". I can do all the machining, paint and body work myself. I got the bike really cheap so if I need to part it I will make money but I'd rather not since it's all there and complete (except for the stock exhaust has been replaced with "F1" pipes). However, this is my first Honda V engine so I'm looking forward to getting into it. I've done Ducati's, BMW R & K's, Kawasaki GPZ's and Suzuki DR's so I've done this before.

 

VF vs. VFR ??

No comparison !!

Don't let the problems the factory built into the VF series spoil your V-4 experience. Durability is absent. The modern era of Honda V-4s began with the '86 700. Investing in anything earlier is a mistake unless you're a certified antiquarian.

The VFR series is so much more technically advanced that your efforts and financial commitment would make SO much more sense !

I mean, why would you date a crack whore if you could marry Miss America ??

 

Cos I reckon a crack whore might be more fun in the sack..

 

alright lets get something straight about first gen's... My first sport bike was an 86 vfr and I'm serious, It was a real P.O.S. I replaced it with a 85 vf700f, and I am so much happier with it. It feels lighter (not sure about the actual specs), The look of the bike is way better, IMO; I swear it feels faster, It seems pretty reliable, I've had no problems with it. and it has 10000 MORE miles than my VFR did! I would take a 1st gen any day over a 2nd gen. I say don't get rid of the VF500! Find an engine and get that thing back on the road!

 

kweezy, you had a bad one. All the very subjective opinions aside, there's no real comparison between the gen 1 VF's (I've owned one each Sabre, Magna, and Interceptor) and a gen 2 VFR that has any relevance with regard to performance. The gen 2 VFR is 40+ lb lighter and has 25% more power, a superior chassis, and is just plain better as a sporting mount. I'm not saying the gen 1 VF's are bad; but they have a lot of fairly serious design/manufacturing flaws that are acknowledged by pretty much everyone (including the manufacturer), and as the first generation of a pretty revolutionary design concept that's to be expected. Essentially all of these flaws were identified and corrected with the gen 2 VFR, and the result is a motorcycle that is both faster (than even the 1000cc and 1100cc gen 1's) and more durable.

 

Hey all,
Thanks for the "discussions" but can we get back to the focus of the thread?

I have located a good running, low mileage engine so I'm looking at buying it. It's already out of the bike and the seller claims it was from an 86. Can that be verified by the engine code?

Oh, and btw - if I buy this engine my total cost of the bike including the replacement engine will be $500 dollars. I have yet to find a gen2 that meets that spec.

 

I call BS !! Anyone who thinks the VF series is better looking than a VFR may have a vision problem or be unclear about esthetic principles. Be specific about the issues you had with the VFR or no one will believe this cuz i sure don't.

Just how many miles have YOU put on your oh-so-reliable VF ??

 

:crazy::crazy: I have had both VF and VFR.. guess what I still have...... the VFR

 

5000 since I've had it... not a problem except for a wheel bearing... that brings the grand total to almost 31k. as far as the looks, I like how different it looks than the same full fairing sportbikes that you see all the time. I mean its just different. Mine is really clean with original paint, too. I definitely agree that when you take one and spray paint it black or grey, it looks like $#!+.

The problems I had with my 86 vfr-
numerous electrical problems:
The headlight connections were bad, the rear brake switch was junk
the starter motor went
the starter solenoid went

-It would overheat constantly in traffic even after replacing the coolant

- after taking it out of winter storage one year, it started running on only 3 cylinders: had spark, Cleaned the carbs, rejetted the carbs, I continually failed, so I took it to a shop where they failed as well to get it running right. The mechanic thought there was something wrong internally, and I didn't want to put any more money into it, so I told him to stop working on it and I got rid of it.

-It would overheat constantly in traffic

Now I'm not an idiot, I know how to maintain a bike, and I don't beat on them. For example, you're all gonna say it was my fault that that the motor stopped running on all 4 cylinders, but I changed the oil when I got it, and at the recomended intervals, used mobil 1 motorcycle oil, checked the level, new filter, everything. I didn't even ride it hard because I was still getting used to something that wasn't a dirtbike. I properly stored it for the winter, and it was stored in a heated garage.

The previous owner had other bikes (including a project cafe racer) He seemed to know alot about them, so I trusted him when he said he adjusted the valves.

All this, and the bike only had 20k miles! If the 2nd gen is really as good as you guys say, I must have had a lemon.

 

Interesting, but you can't claim you stored it proppaly unless you used the float bowl drain screws to get rid of the fuel completely.

You should have posted your VFR problems here so our team of experienced trouble-shooters could have helped you.

Overheating ?? I'd suspect your fan was not switching on or you might have simply needed to replace a tired old radiator cap.

 

I did drain the float bowls, and I didn't join this site until I was already dead set on getting rid of the thing, and looking at 85 VF750F's

 

you must have had the wool pulled over your eyes about the condition of the bike........

 

The guy likes his VF better. Trying to convince him other wise is like arguing over someones favorite color, pointless. In HIS EXPERIENCE, the VF is the better bike. Why some are offended by that is puzzling to me.

 

well said.