restoring & adding a modern touch to a 86 vf500

yea for right now i'll just ride her bu ti will be getting parts together for the up coming engine build, i still need gaskets pistons i am thinking of buying two good used heads off ebay or someone off the site here for the larger valves and port n polish, i wish i could talk jamie into making me a dry clutch setup

 

i'll trade you the 500 for a liter bike lol

 

ok gang did alittle searching and found a few things. first megacycle cams for 350 lift and 250 duration and also sending my rockers off to get reharden would be 1094.00 bucks.second i contacted arias pistons for some custom pistons and had to leave my number.thirdly i would need a new gauge cluster seeing how i will need to turn more RPM's and the stock tach will be useless.fourth i contacted falicon cranks (awesome guys) they dont make ccranks for the VF's but they do offer balancing,polishing & cryro treatment.fithly i figured might as well do something with the rods falicon can do rod work as well and they would balance, polsih & shot pen plus cryro treatment.now i need to get ahold of megasquirt for a ignition system. heres what i got so far jamie send me a like for the mega squirt syetem you found please.

 

I have to give you credit for wanting to do all this to the VF Matt but it sounds to me like it's just too much money for what you'll get out of it.

Maybe just work on getting the FI setup with the Megasquirt system? That'd be a lot cheaper and an awesome mod!

 

well thank you. but really we dont know what i'll get out of it you might be right i might get a whopping 5 horsepower or 35HP i really just dont know but i will be pressing forward with this build as for the FI system its in the works because i do need to start figuring what i need to do with the fuel next.

 

Well good luck and god bless :-D

 

When you have a chance could you please post a bit more on the details for your radiator and fan upgrade? Thx!

 

hey matt i called a guy at dakota gauges and they have a conversion from mechanical to electric speedometer sending unit that utilizes your stock mechanical cable. i just thought it would help you. here is the web site Dakota Digital - Digital Instrumentation and Accessories

 

dunno Slowbird...I get the impression taht you view these early VFs as some sort of investment. None of us is ever likely to see a dime back on these bikes. For me this is about seeing what you can do with what you have, learning about MC mechanics and engineering, keeping a classic on the roads, and most of all...having fun!

I spend twice as much as I have invested in my bike on tickets to sporting events (Ravens season tx and maybe 30 O's games) in a given year and the bike is WAY less frustrating =P

 

No, you are mistaken Moby. I don't see our bikes or any kind of motorcycle purchase as an investment. I definitely see the early VF's as the complete opposite of any kind of investment.

The only reason why I mentioned to Matt that he may want to re-think his idea on building up the motor is due to the fact that the money he mentioned on doing the Cams and Rockers is almost $1,100! Then you need to think about Valve Springs, perhaps new cam chains and tensioners?
Then factor in Crankwork, Pistons, Rods, perhaps work to the block? At the very least a new clutch should be installed to help cope with the extra power.
Then Gauges and the FI system.....and all the man hours to research, build, assemble and tune.

We are looking at a HUGE investment in time and money.

Matt can do whatever he wants, and I'm sure he will. I HOPE he succeeds in doing all he has planned to his VF. I have a good feeling he will accomplish his goals.

I just wanted to hop in there once and try and sway him from starting down a long and expensive project. He said he wanted to press on and I respect him for that.

I'd like to see Matt get a nice VF1000R cause he seems to want one of those ;-)

I love my VF500. It's a great bike and I would like to keep it for as long as I can.....but I hate that feeling of not being sure the Top End is not gonna pop.
....also it's old and always needs work, uncomfortable on long trips, and the story of me and my bike is a long and bumpy mess. Maybe that's why I want to keep it?

 

Well written Slow. Thanks for the post.

 

Just filling in the void until Matt posts the details on the Rad fan mod.

Is it just the Rad fan or is the Rad different too?

 

Last I read it's both, higher output fan + custom radiator. I'm curious to know the details on this upgrade.

 

^^^ Yea...me too.

 

All the "STAGE ONE KIT " means is that is the minimal jetting to match aftermarket exhausts and NO intake mods.
Doesn't matter what company the kit came from. No air in -No air out, Just that simple.

Once you modify the INTAKE system then you need the Stage2 kit whatever.

But you do NOT NEED TO BUY A KIT.
The main cost of the kit is the COUPON you get with it, which is worth $100 towards a dyno run.
And if there is any adjustment needed on the DYNO run it can cost up to $300 total.

So all you really get in a kit is some jets a drill bit for the slides and maybe needles.
Drilling the holes in the slides helped a lot to get a crisp clean throttle.

I bought a DYNO JET kit for my Kawasaki 1500 V twin and the needles would not work and then
I called them, and they said the COBRA kit was better.
The best thing to do is tell other forum members what mods you have exactly and see
if they will tell you what jets to change to and if new needles were required.
This forum seems to have a lack of jetting information compared to the Kawasaki website.
It is the forum members sharing information that makes it a great website..

 

right now all its got is a 900RR fan the radiator was'nt going to be done in time for my ride last week but man let me tell you when the fan kicks on the temps down quick! it doesnt run long at all best 5.00$ mod i've done

 

dude thats been many moons ago...dude i am now running a set of 85 VF500 carbs with a factory pro kit in it now, most of my gains are mid & topend

 

Is this your idea of more details?!?

Bragging!!

 

Hey Matt from what year of the 900 did you order that fan.