86 VFR700 lights

Hi All,

I recently picked up a 1986 VFR700FG, in original RWB colors (NOICE!), but just in the process of returning it to roadworthy condition and hit a barb in regards to the lights...

These bikes don't have a toggle switch to turn the headlight on and off? I thought my bike had some aftermarket control, but a quick google search shows me others are like this too... so normal behavior is, ignition on, lights on in low beam? Surely this can't be right, please correct me if I'm wrong however...



Cheers

 

That is how they function, they do go out while cranking but on with the key is normal.

 

As TC mentioned, power to the headlight goes through the START pushbutton, and lack of headlight power can often be traced to bad contacts within that switch.

 

Oh okay, cheers Toe Cutter and squirrelman. The bikes headlight seems to work, but intermittent, so best thing to do would be pull that assembly apart and check contacts?

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That model of VFR is a surplus stock US-spec bike, imported and sold cheap (NZ$8600 IIRC) by Blue Wing Honda in 87 and 88, I know, I owned two of these new back then. A NZ-spec VFR750FG in pearl white sold for NZD$10,500 so these 700s were a good deal indeed, and not really lacking anything compared to the 750 (aside from a centrestand).

Good luck with the restoration.

 

Interesting to know. I've actually been looking for a centre stand, I understand you can actually still mount it fine, it just lacks that component. Pretty sure I checked the reg history and a Honda shop down south did own it so that would fit.

Btw, any good resources for how to pull apart handlebar controls? To check the terminals. Although once the parts bike arrives I'll be going over the wiring anyway...

Cheers

 

Yup. normal ... daytime running light essentially.

 

The centrestand should be the same as any 86 or 87 VFR700/750, if you can find it. In 88 Honda changed the exhaust routing so the stand is most likely different for that; those bikes have 17" wheels and faired-in front indicators but are otherwise visually similar to 86/87.

 

Cheers My VT250 has running lights built into the indicators, so not too much different other than it being the main one.

Nice looking bike man.

Re: the sidestand. That's actually frustrating because I have a parts bike, a 1988, but if the exhaust is different I can't pinch the centre stand. not such a huge deal except when I need to do front wheel stuff or drain oil, I suppose.

Cheers

 

Buy yourself some stands from Torpedo7; I'm VERY happy with mine:



http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7S7LNNFH/title/torpedo7-motorcycle-front-head-lift-stand

http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7S7LNNRL/title/torpedo7-motorcycle-lift-stand---rear

 

I should point out; that photo was taken in 1990 or thereabouts, I don't have a 1987 bike that looks that good now...

But I still have many fond memories of this bike.

 

Would an intermittent headlight (as in, not always when ignition on, and comes on and off as it pleases) likely be those contacts? Or should i be looking more at the wiring in between...

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Could be both but there is a light interrupt when the starter button is pressed so corrosion in there would make the headlight intermittent.


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Arghh, spent an hour this evening going over fuses and what not, took the starter assembly apart... can't get the bloody thing back together properly! Now the button doesn't return correctly...

Its only the Low light, so for example, if bike is running (or just ign on), I press Hi Beam, light comes on, turn it off and it goes off... but then randomly does come on, on low.

When I have the proper tools to take the handlebar ends off I will completely disassemble the assembly and see if I can find some corrosion that may be causing this.

 

If only the lowbeam is affected then won't be the starter switch as that would affect both equally. So maybe the bulb connector or a wire connector specific to the lowbeam circuit.


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Hm, alright well tomorrow when it's light I'll get it out in the daylight and take apart the headlight. Need to do that eventually anyway, to replace the rubbish headlight assembly on it and put the original style back on. Everything else on it seems fine to get it Road Legal, just the low beam.

Just wish I hadn't pulled apart the starter side now and broken the button return!

 

Success!!



Turned out it was just a loose connector, as soon as i pressed it back in, stayed on consistently - it must have just been vibrating with the engine making contact.

Now i just got to wait for the fairing... I'm too impatient for this!





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Good work!


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Just wondering, can you tell how much the metal framing has been messed with? In that photo. I don't know if the PO bent any of it to fit his front panel on or not, I'm hoping not so the new fairing fits straight on.

Cheers

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Very hard to say from the pics, but the mirror mounts look about right to me. Guess you won't know until you try and fit it.