Project: Get 86 VF500F race bike on the street.

You're making me miss my old 500 . Your project looks excellent. What was done to the engine for racing ? My old standard one was putting out 59rwhp @ 50k miles ! Thanks for the memories.

 

That bike is frickin' great! I thought I was the only one with the crazy idea to race a VF 500 these days.

What is the air box mod on that bike.

 

I'm in the Seattle, WA area. I have no idea who made the exhaust. I have never seen another set exactly like them, but they were definitely professionally made. I traded a stock exhaust setup straight across for them. They have smaller 'street' baffles that can also be wrapped in glass and inserted into the larger race baffles. I've never ran them, but I might just to see how it sounds/feels. The pairing is how Honda did it on some of the VF race bikes.

 

It is an 86 air box (smaller than the 84-85, it doesn't wrap down around the radiator fan). The reason I chose it was to help air flow through the radiator at the track. Don't know if it 'helped', but it runs great, so I never changed it. I think I may throw an 84/85 air box on soon to see if I can feel any difference in power characteristics with bigger air box volume. Snorkel removed and those are UNI air box inserts in the lid. They have oiled foam inserts on the inside.

 

Doubtful I'll ever be in Seattle to see it first hand, but she's a fine example none the less. Kudos again.

You are correct, the early HRC exhaust systems (and the Kerker) used that pairing of cylinders.

 

Nothing really to report ... Just went for a ride the other night to a friends house. I have reduced the front preload as much as possible. It's almost like I'm riding a racebike on the street.... . Need to change the fork oil viscosity for the gold valves a bit. I just loved these shots so I'm bumping the thread with a couple pics.

 

Great looking bike Captain. Kinda jealous that mine is so stock looking.

I know you said the rear is a race fairing, was it made for the 500? It looks very similar to the NC30. I'm guessing it required some modification to fit?

 

Airtech 1992 RS250. Trimmed the front corners off. The unit is actually mounted to a modified and abbreviated stock seat pan so it contacted the frame rails in the right spots and slips under the rear of the fuel tank. The whole tail section comes off with just two bolts above the rear tire.

 

Bump away! I like that second shot. It looks so light in that pic...like 50lbs lighter than stock. It screams purpose built...love it.

 

Thank you sir!