New to VFR world, getting back into riding and will be rebuilding 2 1985 VF500Rs.

HI. I'm new to this forum so excuse me if I write or post anything odd or in the wrong spot. I have had bikes for most of my life, starting with a Kawasaki 100 enduro from the 70s, then my father brought home a Honda in a box. It turned out to be a CL90 and we spent the winter reviving it whenI was a teenager. That was my first introduction into "project" bikes. Over the years I have restored another Honda CB125 into a poor man's cafe racer, and an SOHC Honda 750. My Bikes that I had for riding were a CM400T that my father bought brand new in 1980 when I was 16, then I had a 1980 CB750 Custom when I was about 20. The last bike I rode was a pretty customized 1982 GL1100 Aspencade. I sold that bike 18 years ago, while my wife was pregnant with our first son. Every year since then I have had the itch to get back into riding or to work on a non-house-related project. This is the year. A week and a half ago I purchased 2 1985 VF500Fs from someone who just had new twin babies and whose project time will be limited. It was apparent that he loves projects too. One was the bike he rode in high school and the other was his best friend's bike. Both have sat for over 10 years. The motor was removed from one to replace the seal by the clutch shaft (maybe not the proper part name) and the other was pretty much together but in need of restoration. These are projects for my 2 teenage sons and I to work on. They seem to have the thought that these will end up being their bikes. We'll have to see. :wink: Anyway, so far both sets of carbs have been cleaned. One was in good shape. The other set was, well, very dirty and gummed up. I'd like to chronicle the rebuild on here but am not sure which area to start a post or how to really go about it, so any suggestions from you would be greatly appreciated. Nice to meet all of you and I will thank you in advance for all the advice I'm sure you'll provide along the way. Cheers!

 

First of all, welcome to the forum. I will be the first af a few I think, that will say:

Funny you mentioned your sons. Back about 2007, I told my son, who was 18 at the time, to try on my helmet. He said "What for?" I told him if it fits, I would send him for bike lessons and he can get his class 6 (our version of M endorsement). His answer to that was "I'm not riding that thing!" Now i just don't know how I feel about that!

Where in Taxable land do you live? Assitance may be close at hand.

As far as where to post you projects, scroll down the home page and you should be able to find something under the generation of bike you have, where you can generate a new thread.

Good luck on everything.

 

Did you get the 2 bikes off of Kijiji in Calgary ?? I saw a set posted for $1500 a few weeks ago.

 

Thanks. I'm in Burlington, Ontario, which is west of Toronto and about a block up from Lake Ontario. My sons are already chomping at the bit, as I was at their ages.

 

Hi. No, I did get them from Kijiji, but they were in Welland, Ontario.

 

Welcome home bro...good luck wit the builds

 

:welcome: to the madness Jagguy :wave:
Glad to have you, make yourself like at home.

 

Pics of the "BEFORE"

Here are some photos of the Before Stage from the day I go the bikes. The body panels were off, so any shots showing them on are just to get an idea of what they look like. Nothing is attached. So far, we have completely disassembled and cleaned both sets of carbs and have removed all 3 calipers on the red bike and the rear has been rebuilt. Working on the fronts tomorrow night. I ordered a bunch of rebuild kits for the brake master cylinders both front and read, as well as the clutch mc, new pads, etc. I'm going to attempt to add some pictures here from Day One. While I'm here, I'll ask if anyone has any experience with the clutch rod leak repair, dremel vs the heat shrink tubing. I will read more through these forums, but if anyone has some quick advice, I'm all ears. Thanks.
Don't mind the messy garage. it's cleaned up better now.
The 2 guys sitting on the bikes are my sons/cheap project labour.

 

Jarr the guy! Cool projects you got yourself into. They look nice and I'm sure they'll look even better when finished.

 

welcome jagguy, those look like nice starting points