1986 VFR700 Buyers Guide

I've been looking at an '86 VFR700 that someone local to me has for sale and was wondering if anyone has any potential buyer's advice of things to look for on it before potentially buying it.

It is the all white F2 version. It has 23k miles, some slight cracking on the fairings, and comes with both an aftermarket and a stock exhaust. It needs steering head bearings and fork seals, both of which the seller is including and I can replace myself. Is there anything else I should be looking for besides the usual checks (cold start, idle, lights, etc.)?

Thanks in advance for any info!

 

Price and any pictures.

The mileage is a no brainer, just broken in. Remember it is 30+ years old, every o-ring in the fuel and cooling system can be assumed toast.

 

This is the Craigslist posting it is listed in. $1400.

https://syracuse.craigslist.org/mcy/d/auburn-1986-vfr-700/6876784130.html

 

Bummer about the plastics. Even the speedo cover looks cracked. It has been dropped pretty hard. At least it has the stock exhaust.

But, looks like solid bones... price is perhaps a bit high. But not ridiculous.

Edit: Looking at the right side again, it looks decent. Price is doable assuming it has been honestly portrayed mechanically.

 

Yeah that was more of my reason for posting if there is anything mechanically I should look out for. From my research the engines sound pretty bulletproof aside from the ignition system, so then it comes down to the normal bearings, bushings, seals, etc., but I wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking anything. Sounds like as long as I do my standard used bike checklist I should be fine.

 

If you can inspect the stator and reg/rect connectors, do. Bring along a volt meter.

 

ugliest exhaust can ever, but the bike is a bargain.

 

I ended up picking it up for $1300. Everything looks good on it aside from the plastics. Apparently it was dropped by the person who owned it before the guy I bought it from then it sat in a barn for 5 years. He did all the work on it to get it road worthy and put about 2500 miles on it in two years so it seemed like a good buy.

Thanks for the help!

 

Yay!! Very cool.

 

Nice!!!!