Is a 1986 VF1000 a good buy?

Hey all, looking at picking up this 86 vf1000 that I see here on craigslist. The pictures of it look amazing, fully faired rwb paint, no dents or chips and all the guages and instruments look almost new and are functional. I called the owner and he told me he has completely torn down the bike. The engine had the top end rebuild and it had a head gasket failure so that was replaced as well. The bad is that the starter soleniod needs to be replaced and it is missing the actual starter motor so I wont be able to start it or test ride it. The bike has 39k miles and the seller wants 1900.00 for it. Are there any other things I should look for when I go look at this bike?

 

I looked up the listing and I think if your after one that could be it. Looks very tempting. As far as what to look for at least for me is the body work and this one looks pretty good, I can deal with the mechanical problems but not a hopeless hunt for crazy rare body parts.

 

thanks for taking the time to look for it, toecutter. I will post a link to it in case anyone else wants to take a look. The more I look, the more I want...:leghump:

1986 VF1000R Interceptor VFR Honda

 

A good buy is always relative but with people asking crazy money for these things, 1900 is looking good.
I'm with Toe on wanting all the panels in one piece but I can't spend 2k on a bike that I can't hear turn over. Motor plus shipping can get expensive if the lower end is shot. I wouldn't say the body work is spotless. It has an '85 seat section. The '86 ones don't flow the white up onto the seat cowl, so that means something bad may have happened to the stock one. Judging by the color mis-match on the lower fairing, I'm guessing that has been replaced as well. The scrape on the left exhaust may confirm a boo-boo somewhere down the line. The tank has a dark spot on the front left side corner that could be nothing or the start of a rust hole, not uncommon there. Hopefully the tank is rust free. The black side covers have an interesting screw/washer setup, possibly broken corners, again common. It's missing the external tool box and some fairing hardware.

None of these are particularly deal breakers and it seems to be all there. For me, when things appear to be all there, it boils down to "how's it run?" I'd have to at least confirm compression or hear it spinning freely with the starter but that's just me. You could always part it if the motor was junk so 1900 may not be bad.

 

I wouldn't consider that bike without the ability to evaluate the tranny (especially 2nd gear) while running, as heavy, powerful bikes like that can have serious gear problems from owner abuse somewhere along its history. Non-running is too much risk imo. And it's always gonna be a fat, heavy bike ill- suited for crowded city traffic. Too much power to use, too heavy for comfort except for touring. No city bike, but a thechnically-impressive garage queen.

 

Yeah, but i still want one.

 

Only true if you're pushing 70 years old and find the power of a VTR250 comforting yet mildly intimidating.

 

Thanks for all the insight guys. I never would have known about the mismatch of those 85 and 86 year model seat cowl. I am really drawn to those big first gen models with the rwb paint. That said, I think I may have to wait on one that I can hear run. Its just too much risk, I mean I have my running rwb vf500 and I would have to sell it to buy this one....

 

mmm that looks nice. It would be hard to say no if you are looking for one. Your probably right to let it pass though - bit of a gamble and its no fun if you lose the gamble and got nothing else to ride anymore!

 

I would be tempted to take some tools over and see if the engine turns over and has compression. If it did I would be offering the seller some cash, maybe not $1900 but $1400 as risk money. The plastic work has to be worth more than half that alone.
The mesh side cover bolts are often replaced with bodgy bits and pieces because people are too lazy, broke, or stupid to go and buy the correct shouldered fastener from Honda to replace lost or damaged ones. Often the lack of a shoulder causes the ends of the covers to crack.

If it was near me I would just buy it and worry about the details later, but then again I'm an 80's Honda tragic (as long as it is 4cyl).

 

See if you can tape over the starter hole with or without a plug/cap to help keep oil in. Then bump start the bike. That's what I would do because $1900 for that bike is a good price IMO. Everything it there. Some parts may need reworked but big deal. Love those bikes. Not really that fast or heavy compared to some today even. Unless your used to a VTR250 as your big bike and your skills fit that size only.

 

I have my old cafe Yamaha XS750 and I think that bike suits me well. It prob weighs about the same if not more than this VF1000. I think I may try and at least see if I can get some compression out of it somehow. When i talked to the owner, he said it didnt have any coolant in it yet either. So trying to bump start it might be a bad idea. Do you think that if I put it in 5th gear and roll it forward with the compression tester attached that will give me enough of a reading?

 

Ya.. all that Hobbit said just by looking at the pictures ...scary but talented. maybe what thx said makes sence. you have OOTVS that lives down that way...maybe he can go with you and try to bump.start the beast to life. Thats to much of a gamble to have to sell your ride and possibly buy a non.runner that needs Way more work then you think

 

The tools are to turn motor over by hand - think it is the alternator bolt can be used to turn it over, will know if there is compression or not from that test. Not exact but will know if bent/burned valves in heads.

 

Yep, better than nothing, at least you'd know if it was free. It won't give you a bearing knock by hand if there's a problem with the crank.

Why would anyone go to the trouble to tear down a v4 motor to rebuild a head and replace a gasket, put it all back together, fairings and all and not put in a $50 used starter motor off ebay and get $700 more than how it sits right now? No coolant? Why asks me.

 

Smells fishy to meeeeeeeeee !!!! keep on walkin

 

think I might have to. I will hit up the owner again and ask him whats up with why he didnt finish this thing before he put up for sale. If he seems to not remember or have any good reasons, I'm walking away from this bike. Funny thing is, I happened to find a VF750 newer and with fewer miles that runs for less money! If only it was that RWB.

 

Must reply cuz anyone whose skills are questioned online with nothing better to do......must It's a rule !

Grampa, that's a Low blow, and you know it !~ Haven't ridden a VTR for 3years !! Mostly ride the 650 Hawk, cuz my bigger bikes in storage. Hope my skills ( and self-confidence) are adequate for any current bike, thank you, i think. Love to pick my spots and do some high speeds occasionally, what the bikes were meant for, so not that old yet; but I choose to live/ride small cuz i know how much power i can use on city streets and don't feel the need to haul around excess weight to impress the idiot public as i did when beginning. Just no fun hauling extra weight for a few exxtra hp or exhaust noise i guess. Sure, i'd love to roll a clean '85 1KR out on two or three summer days for a fast ride in the country, but my current rides are enough, and don't think i'll be buying any more.


Condition, missing or damaged parts, wrecks, running or not ?? VF1KRs come in a range of conditions and prices, and may need work. Best 4 collector.

 

Let's focus people........thread jack later.......what is the status of purchase?

 

Paint it !!!!!!!!!! KOKODUDE