1985 VF1000R....What is it worth?

Friend is looking to sell his 1986 it has 3600 miles original miles, never dropped and one repaint in solid red (average quality). I told him I would help him get rid of it as he has had it for many years but only rode it a couple of times, he is not a computer guy.....
Bike is in reasonably good shape, was stored in a dry basement most of the years, runs really good, comes with a spare tank also....
any idea what something like this would be worth or sold for, what is a fair price for both a buyer and a seller?

Thanks
daleone3

 

Daleone3, you may want to add your city to your profile. Prices do vary by region and that may help anyone here who can estimate the value.

When you have some good photos I suggest that you add this bike to the classified sections of this and the vfrdiscussion web site. There is no customer base like a bunch of VFR fanatics. Cycle Trader is another place that I personally like to browse.

 

Thanks for the info Knight, I made a mod to the profile, I am in the Boston area.
Appreciate the note

 

Keep checking here.. There are owners of that bike that can add salient information as opposed to clichés out of a book that anyone with a room temperature IQ already thought of..

 

I am always skeptical of these statements. But get some pics and we can try and get you some price ranges. Condition (and usually originality unless very smartly modded) affect prices on these greatly.
Mike.

 

I understand. I am just trying to help him move it, don't really know these bikes well, have always been a big twin person but I can appreciate anything that is well built and fast. The repaint is average, having bought and sold many vehicles over the years, I am very sensitive to anything that has been hit or down and know generally what to look for in terms of different tells to indicate something has been apart

CORRECTED; IT IS A 1986

 

Wrong front wheel, front fender and discs. That is probably a whole VF1000F front end (black fork legs).
Edit: It is, you can tell by the front axle holders.

It has 1986 dual headlights (which can be a plus if installed correctly).
Edit: Top triple clamp looks gold? Maybe it is an 86.

And missing a few (expensive) parts (side covers, seat cowl).
Mufflers painted black... not a good sign.
I bet it had major front end damage and was rebuilt. (Not calling anyone a liar, perhaps nobody knew unless they are the original owner)

Even if the mileage seems somewhat accurate, still not worth much over a $1000 for me.

 

Hard to place a value on that. The front end is not from an 85 1000R, possibly from a 85 1000F. With a swapped front end I'd be skeptical of the miles since the odometer is cable driven by the front wheel. Side panels are missing, factory directionals are missing, oil filler access panel is missing, mirrors are missing, mufflers have been repainted. Thats just what is noticeable from the pic. Now that doesn't mean the bike has no value. Someone may want the bike for parts or may have a parts bike & use that for the basis of a restoration. Either way I think more info would be needed. I think at most as is your looking at $1500. Theres been a couple of decent 85 & 86 1000R's come & go on CL's in the northeast in the last few months. Prices were in the $3000-$5000 range for complete running bikes.

And Captain 80's beat me by a few minutes.

 

My error, I have the title and it is an 86 not an 85. I think he thought it was an 85 and told me that originally.
Hope that clears up some of the confusion on this.

 

I agree with Arnzinator, $1500 would be about the top on this example.
But the right motivated buyer?... you never know.

 

My error, I have the title and it is an 86 not an 85. I think he thought it was an 85 and told me that originally.
Hope that clears up some of the confusion on this.

 

So when you say "never dropped"......you meant oot of an airplane right?

 

Did you mean to say "out"? Want to make sure I understand BigToe

 

I type in Canadian oot of respect for our brothers to the north.

 

Not too be a jerk but you said never dropped and that was not what was advertised. You listed a unicorn on a website that knows what a unicorn is. Looks like this,

https://www.google.com/search?q=198...bm=isch&q=1985+vfr1000r&imgrc=X0xBGp0VY5Ph0M:

That is why yours looks like it was dropped from an airplane as apposed to never dropped.

 

Respray will always be for a reason,

-Owner may have hated the awful RWB colour scheme
-Bike was slid down road
-Paint deteriorated in the dry garage

On classic bikes modifications will always result in devaluation. Some things like non-original paint more severe than other things. The people who are generally prepared to pay good money for a collectible bike will pay top dollar only for originality.

If the 3600mi is correct then the engine should be a fairly good proposition but the frame may need checking considering the front end replacement, the fork lowers look like 1000F parts, pic is bad but they don't look like quick release clamps to me. If the mileage is correct the rear brake disk should be virtually new, often a good way to assess mileage. Should also be genuine chain and sprockets at that mileage too.

 

Toe I've been laughing out loud for 10 minutes here at 6 AM trying not to wake the wife.

I don't even know the old bikes well but after reading the original description I could somewhat picture what this might be. Then the picture was posted and I figured this was the Martian option version. That thing is a monstrosity.

Daleone3 I don't know what your ethics are but keep this in mind: If you help sell this bike and the owner insists on that description, "Fairly good condition, kept in a controlled climate, etc.", and it sells to someone ignorant of these bikes, be prepared for that person to come back and murder you in your sleep when they figure it out. AKA, if MY name were attached then I would list the major mods these guys have pointed out and keep the facts well-known. Maybe you can separate yourself from the sale and no one will know who you are, which would be best. Otherwise don't expect a visit from Santa anytime soon.

 

Twas the Knight before, during and after Christmas..

 

I think this is what everybody was expecting (hoping for)...

 

I looked at one here in Ohio a few years back the same color and missing parts. This bike didn't come from Ohio did it? The one I looked at was a real mess for the $3500 the guy was asking. I'd only offer a $1000 bucks for something like that. A lot of money if one wanted to get it back to original. As a beater bike then maybe $1500, depends.