Bought a VFR for my second motorcycle

I'm Will from Arizona, and instead of spending my money on the one car that needs work or buying a new BOV for the other car that needs one I went ahead and bought this.



You may have seen it on eBay, it's a 1986 Honda VFR700 Interceptor in the badass Red White and Blue colors.

Got approximately 18,500 miles on it
Carbs were rebuilt (Which I'm so thankful for. While very willing to learn how to rebuild them, I never messed with them)
Fluids and plugs all done
Fork seals need replaced
Original paint job in good condition with some minor defects

Basically a VFR that's been ridden and round the block a few times, but still in very good condition. It'll be nice for that first upgrade bike from my little CBR250R. Probably not the best choice in upgrading, but I never made the sanest choices when it comes to cars or motorcycles. Couldn't help it with this one, just fell in love with the style and looks of it!

Not planning on really doing anything to it other than riding and enjoying the hell out of it. Heard the particular tire sizes of the early VFRs are a pain to source, so I may change the wheels for something a little more plentiful in tire selection.

EDIT:

Shoot I forgot to mention, I actually haven't picked up the bike yet. I won and paid for it earlier today and am hoping to pick it up sometime next week (working all this week and my only day off tomorrow will be ferrying around my Mom getting dental surgery).

Really hoping to have the buyer (who I'm grateful for offering) to replace the fork seals, but I can always ship it down for a couple hundred.

But who really wants to do that? I just wanna fly up right now and ride the girl home!

 

Welcome aboard. Nice scoop, plastics look intact which is always a bonus.

 

Thanks. The plastics actually have had little repairs done here and there and the middle section of the front left fairing has a sorta spider web paint problem and the mid right fairing doesn't have the labeling. But I'm just happy to have the pieces, I can always touch them up and repaint them.

Finding the spares is always the problem, especially in Arizona. I don't think I've ever seen a running or good condition project VFR around my area. Always the "streetfighter" bikes or ones that are heavily damaged.

 

:welcome: to the madness :wave:
Glad to have you, ride safe :thumb:

 

Hi and welcome to the MadHouse:welcome:

Firstly kudos for the pictures :thumbsup: Hopefully the bike will run as well as it looks.

When you get a chance its worth updating your forum profile (Forum Actions/Edit Profile) to include the specs of your bike and a rough location, that way the information will appear beside all your posts, and folks nearby may be willing to assist if you need help with something.

As for riding home on an out of state 28 year old eBay bargain - you may want to arrange breakdown & recovery cover - just in case! When you pick the bike up, don't forget its probably your one and only real chance to ask the previous owner what they know about its history and service record. So it may be an idea to draw up a list of questions and the documentation etc. which you ideally should get - so things like the stamped service record, tool kit, spare keys...

Before you set off, definitely check all levels and give the bike a full inspection before you set off. If you are not sure how old those tires are - make sure you know how to decode the date codes printed on the sidewall. http://blog.unsafemotorcycles.com/2010/09/motorcycle-tires-age-matters.html If they are really old - they may not survive a long blast on the interstate. If they are less than 6 years old don't forget to check for damage and the pressures are right.

Are you sure about the mileage? 18,500 miles is under 700 miles per year which seems very low - indeed the bike has barely been run in. It may just mean its been someone's pampered pride and joy which has been rarely used. But there is always risk that auction sales are used to get rid of a bike which has been dogged with issues. Sadly when buying through eBay you rarely get to know a bikes full history.

Take Care ATGATT - and let us know how you get on.



SkiMad

 

Looks really nice. I'm with skid on this one.

 

Good luck with your new ride.
Very good points Skimad...

 

Congrads on your new Velcome to dah Madness

 

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

skidmad, honestly I'm buying this rather sight unseen. Just the pictures, checking the seller's reputation (no negatives and she seems like a good person) and judging it by that condition since I'm approximately 5 or so hours away from the place. The odometer reading could be rolled back for all I know, or at least a different cluster. Rather trusting of me of a stranger I know.

But I just couldn't care really, I've dealt with supposedly low mileage MR2s before (both owning one and other MR2 friends doing so) and I understand that just doesn't mean crap sometimes. I've seriously driven some examples that were far cleaner than a 100k-120k mile one (stock~ish), when those cars were 245,000 miles+. Long as the bike's in good shape and I can ride it with little hassle I'll be happy.

May sound silly, but I just can't seem to heavily worry and stress over stuff like this nowadays. Might help I got the CBR that I know is reliable and if need be I can always walk the mile to work.

Part of me is even looking forward to when the engine blows. I wanna rebuild one! Heck, I might just pick up a spare to do that with while I'm riding.

I'm actually going to have it shipped down now. I was planning on riding it since I thought I could get to the place from Las Vegas fairly easily, but no Super Shuttles go out there and the taxi cab places are figuring $75 just to get there (for a city that's only 25 minutes away). The tires I'm double checking, but already assuming I'll be replacing them with a pair of BT45s. Should do me just fine for now, but I am definitely looking at doing the 600F2 wheel conversion later down the line. I'd be worried about tire selection later down the road if I kept with the stock wheels.

And don't worry about ATGATT, I know I pissed off a couple coworkers in the past badgering them about that (didn't work but had to try with them)! I'm the guy wearing a leather (perforated) jacket in the middle of 120°F (roughly 49°C) weather in stop and go down here. Leather everything except the pair of kevlar jeans with armor for just riding around town for errands and such. Although I may be getting a newer jacket and helmet for the VFR, current stuff doesn't match a RWB bike at all.

 

I gave up preaching to other riders and especially co-workers regarding safety stuff, remember you gota be with these people 8 hours a day. I have two co-workers that don't wear skid-lids, meanwhile mine cost me $600. I wear an Aerostich suit in all temperatures, hi-viz. I commute aboot 3-4 times a week on highways where I am always hauling arse. I assume I am invisable and everyone is oot to kill me. High traffic and its volitile, my gear gives me a little edge and makes me breath a little easier.

Cheers

 

And she just arrived only 15 minutes ago! Parked her right beside my lil CBR250R, gotta get a longer chain so I can lock her up whenever I can.

 

Thats great...looks nice. Ya see that pole...I suggest you chain to that.
Since it looks like you park in an apartment lot...have a few locks....once had a FZR1000..parked in a spot just like yours ..chained to the pole and a kryptonite threw the front....gone after 3 weeks of buying it......just sayin..cop told me..if a thief wants it..its gone. Cordless saw with diamond cut blades.
Dont meen to be a downer but just some facts.....enjoy your ride bud

 

The CBR is currently chained to the pole, need a longer chain or need to re situate them both so they can use the same chain. Probably the VFR to the pole and I could fit the CBR in the back.

And I know it's not theft-proof, but I'll be getting disc locks for them both soon (once I get some vacation I want to get some Iron Butts out of the way, so that'll be good for the road). I'm lucky enough to live in a good neighborhood so I don't need to worry bout theives (although I do always keep mindful of them just in case, it's very rare for a bike to be stolen in my part of town but NOT unheard of). Plus all the neighbors around would snoop around if there was noise like that and call the cops right away, and we got a station 3 blocks away with officers looking to bust some son of a bitch for breaking some bigs laws like that!

 

Awesome.....enjoy your new ride..very nice