1986 Viffer 750....what to look for?

I have a line on a 1986 750 with 44K on it for $1100 (actual bike pictured below). I have no service history of the bike but it does come with a clean title. Since it has the updated gear driven cam gears what are the weak points of this model? Things I should look for and expect from this bike considering the mileage? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

The most common problem is the charging system, with countless failures of the regulator/rectifier. Not much else ever goes wrong with gen 2s if you keep up with periodic maintenance, and that price is almost unreal !!!|

 

The rectifier has been recently replaced. Both side fairings are cracked/broken as you can see in the pictures which bugs me because, to my knowledge, they are no longer available.

 

Not a big deal. If you have them, fairings can be repaired.

Don't hesitate!! Go buy that bike NOW and expect years of fun and excitement !

 

With the right side tip broken off where it attaches to the frame standoff is what worries me. The left side is just cracked.

 

Do you want that bike enough to overlook a small problem or two is the question.

If the engine sounds good with no worrisome noises and the tranny shifts gears OK, buying that bike is a no-brainer.

 

I go Tuesday after work to look at the bike. Guess I'll know more then. VFR's are foreign to me with having no experience with them. This bike will be a weekend backwoods fun bike when riding with my fellow Assfault Junkies.

 

Just out of curiosity....cant the side panels be taken off and the chin spoiler/belly pan be used?

 

How about this 1985 500 with 48K? Carbs just cleaned out. Thats all I know. The guy bought it from a charity action it was donated to. It started but did not stay running. Runs good now. Carbs may need to be sync'd. It's all orginal. I can get the 500 for $1300.




Oh, the 750 is not for sale any longer......he is going to keep it and, get this, streetfighter it!!!! NOoooooooooo!!!!!

 

That's too many miles on the 500, so i'd suggest you keep looking and not waste your time and money keeping a tired, old VF on life-support.

Honda factory had service bulletins saying the valve springs needed to be replaced on VF500s at 40,000 miles.............but the supply of new springs ran out years ago ! Sweet bike when it's running, buying at that mileage is a poor risk.

 

go with the 86 and fairings are available ...look into the gen 2 section here, there is a list of where to get them, they are unfinished unpainted but they can be found. as for the cracks... you can fix them those aren't that bad. if you are worried about it being laid down, well the bike is over 25 years old it has been dropped at least once.. if it runs good and has no other issues it would be a done deal with me. once oyu get it look at the gen 2 forum again and scope out the wheel conversion... it will give you more tire options than just the stock tires.. good luck... oh and as far as the 500... nope It is a heavy ass bike, doesn't stop worth a dam and and and and..... it will cost you to get the carbs sync'd

 

Buzzkill on the 500.

The owner of the 750 has decided to keep it.

 

Could I maybe source some low mileage take-off heads/engine for spare parts? I mean, is a 48K mileage 500 a ticking time bomb?

 

I own a 500 and like it a lot but it's a bike with motor issues. 48K is quite a lot of miles. In the UK there are (OK, were then) plenty of examples with similar and greater mileage still running fine. If I were in the market for one now though I'd be looking for lower miles than that, unless it had a really good history. Anyway the VFR750 is without doubt a better bike so I'd look out for one of them if you really want a mid to late 80s V4.

 

Didn't i say that deal was almost too good to be true ??

 

It may or may not be a time bomb, but with a VF500 you're taking a BIG chance at that mileage.

Problem with spare engine parts is most are used-up already and lots of OEM bits are NLA.

 

I looks so darn well taken care of. I really wish I had some history on the bike.

 

Getting into the nitty-grotty on that bike would require an inspection of the cam lobes and valve tops for signs of distress.