1986 VFR700F Restoration

I've recently decided to try and get my dads 1986 Interceptor VFR700F running again after being stored indoors since early 90s. It had gas left in the tank and had nothing done to prepare it for sitting for so long. It has 8600 miles on it and is in fairly decent condition for being older than me! I have a full shop at my disposal and a mechanic to help me in his free time. He works on cars mostly but said motorcycles are pretty easy to work on.

My questions are:

1. How hard is it going to be to get it running?
2. Where do I start? (We figured draining all fluids, rebuilding carbs, new battery, new tires, relining the tank)
3. How safe is it to try and ride a bike this old?

I've attached some photos of its current state. I removed tank to inspect carbs and took off plastics to check everything else. I also included a picture of my dad on it in the late 80s early 90s.

I've had offers on it so many times but it just has too much sentimental value to get rid of. To my understanding these were and still are very desirable bikes. I have never ridden a bike like this but it's useless sitting in my garage.

I have downloaded the a manual with the filename "haynes.vf700-1100v4s" and was under the impression this would work.

 

I'd say that you're on the right track by replacing all fluids and rebuilding the carbs. I'd get it running before investing any more money in it though. As far as riding it, this is a 2nd Gen VFR and they were / are one of the best bikes ever made. With a new set of tires, this bike is still very competent on the road. That's a cool picture of dad with the bike way back in the 80's. Good luck with getting it running and keep this thread updated so we can track your progress.

 

For sure you need to flush/clean the fuel tank, but nothing says the carbs need attention until it won't start, won't idle without choke, or won't perform right. Usually, after storage vaccum slides will stick, but can often be fixed with a few squirts of WD40 and only removing the top of the airbox and the filter.

Don't proceed without the Honda service manual for your bike, and don't remove the airbox metal baseplate from the set of carbs !!!

You may have some fuel leakage from carbs until the float bowl gaskets swell and seal proppaly after a day's exposure to fresh fuel, so don't panic and start ordering lots of expensive parts.

 

Congratulations, & good luck!

I have a 1st gen VF750F, That sat inside a garage since 2003 with 12000 on the odometer ( I purchased her in late April of this yr. ). I believe the tank had been drained along with the carbs. But the guy I bought it from Put gas in it & would start her acouple tymes a month, He owned her for about a year prior to my purchasing her. When I got her going she smoked for the first couple days & she balked & sputtered for the first couple tanks of fuel! Now She runs great, & I have only had to do pretty much the basics for maintianance to keep her on the road. Infact I changed the original plugs last week, as I was noticing a slight high rev miss.

Like others have said: Clean the the tank & get her started before jumping in to a carb rebuild that didn't need doing.

 

8600!! wowzers! that thing belongs in a museum! You should ease into ridding it, get to know the bike, and take good care of her. I like my 85 VF500, but someone has an 86 VFR700 for sale like yours that i've been drooling over for a couple weeks.

 

How are you guys cleaning the fuel tanks/lines?

 

For fuel lines, I'd just replace them with new. For the tank, is it rusted? If not, shouldn't be much to worry about. If there is rust, I've personally had very good luck with Metal Rescue (safe on painted surfaces and easy disposal- water based) then using Red Kote to seal the tank. Best combo I've found yet on rusted tanks.