Yoshimura 4-2 Reissue for the VF500F

Hello, I am new to the Forum. I own a 1984 VF500F with 5,800 miles on the clock. I have been working on a few upgrades (17” wheel conversion using CBR600F wheels, F4i shock conversion) and was looking into options for 4-2 and 4-1 exhaust systems – researching what was available for the VF500F back in the day.

As a bit of a long shot, I recently sent an email to Yoshimura regarding the possible reissue of an exhaust system for the VF500F.

I heard back from them on Friday and would like to share what I've found out so far.

They are considering reissuing their 4-2 system for the VF500F!

This said, they would like to get an idea of how many owners would be interested in a group buy.

I'm a fan of the way the Yoshi system looks and I've read that their 4-2 system works well on the VF500F. The only caveat I see is that you may need to remove the stock centerstand to install (though a custom stop may be able to be fabricated, which would allow you to keep the centerstand, if so desired).

If there is interest please send me an email and I will add your name to the list of people interested in purchasing - I recently posted this on VFRWorld and the Yahoo VF500F Owners Group, both of which I am a member of.

Also, if anyone out there has very detailed photos of this system (on/or off the bike) Yoshi's R&D department has requested this for their reference - as a first step. These photos should include: a side elevation, detail at the chin cowl, the oil pan and any mounting points.

Nice that they're willing to work with you! When I placed the same call to Vance & Hines about a possible VF750F exhaust, they basically laughed at me. :blink:

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 01 May 2010 - 11:07 AM, said:

Nice that they're willing to work with you! When I placed the same call to Vance & Hines about a possible VF750F exhaust, they basically laughed at me. :blink:


Thanks. Yes, I agree, it is very cool that they responded and are giving some thought to this.

Can you check to see if they would be interested in coming out with the VF 750F?

[image: View Post]KarateDoc, on 02 May 2010 - 07:06 PM, said:

Can you check to see if they would be interested in coming out with the VF 750F?



Happy to ask them. On a side note - I'm not sure that there is enough interest out there for a 4-2 system (only a handful of owners have replied to my original post).

One interesting thing did come out of this though. I found out (thank you to Jamie D.) that the 4-2 systems don't really work that well. The 4-1's are better for this application. From what I've read Yoshi did produce a 4-1 for the VF500F, though it seems to be the stuff of legend - only one reported sighting in the US. I am going to write to Yoshimura and ask if they have any intel on this system. I will keep everyone posted what I find out.

I remember reading a post by Jamie stating that the 4-1 is the only way to go if you want to put out greater than stock HP, but I'm sure he'll chime in to clarify. I can't decide if I'd be interested, as I am already kind of planning to sell my 500 next season. Any possibility of a ballpark price range?

nice work man, long live the VF!

-P

[image: View Post]pmucka, on 03 May 2010 - 01:24 PM, said:

I remember reading a post by Jamie stating that the 4-1 is the only way to go if you want to put out greater than stock HP, but I'm sure he'll chime in to clarify. I can't decide if I'd be interested, as I am already kind of planning to sell my 500 next season. Any possibility of a ballpark price range?

nice work man, long live the VF!

-P



Yes, you're right, the 4-1 is preferred over the 4-2. It looks like Yoshimura (along with Hindle) also made a 4-1 for the VF500F. I have an email out to my contact at Yoshimura regarding this. I will keep everyone posted on what I find out. Thx.

i have a 1986 VF500F and would like to help her breath better if the option was available with a set of Yoshi's. any suggestion of cost?

did the baby-ceptors use a different crank (paging BLS - Larry?) than their bigger brothers? I know that the 700/750/1000's got much better power from the 4-2's.. I have/had both systems on my 700, and the power from the 4-1 isn't nearly as good as the 4-2 I had prior.

[image: View Post]ss_burns, on 27 May 2010 - 07:51 AM, said:

did the baby-ceptors use a different crank (paging BLS - Larry?) than their bigger brothers? I know that the 700/750/1000's got much better power from the 4-2's.. I have/had both systems on my 700, and the power from the 4-1 isn't nearly as good as the 4-2 I had prior.


Thank you for the post. After a bit more research it looks like the 4-2 systems do not work as well as the 4-1's - on the VF500F.

The Yoshimura 4-2 VF500F re-issue is also a bit of a non-flier. There simply isn't enough owner interest in this - I only had a handful of responses regarding a sign-up list.

How many do they need to make to re-issue and what is the projected cost? My sons may want two.
Keith

Yeah, cost is the biggest thing for me. I'm not putting a $1000 exhaust on a $1200 bike.

[image: View Post]wera803, on 27 May 2010 - 10:53 AM, said:

Yeah, cost is the biggest thing for me. I'm not putting a $1000 exhaust on a $1200 bike.


Thank you for the post.

I haven't discussed pricing with Yoshimura as of yet. My contact at Yoshi first requested that I send a count of how many owners would be interested ordering a 4-2 system. So far the list hasn't gotten into double digits (I have posted this on three forums) so I am guessing that we don't have enough signatures. I believe we would need to be in the 25 - 30 range to gain their interest in a re-issue.

I take it even a picture of the legendary 4-1 systems are hard to find not to mention the specs? With the right engine specs someone at an exhaust manufacturing company could calculate the diameters and lengths of headpipes and merge collector etc. A 4-2-1 would be probably the easiest to fit and maybe even use the stock headpipes and step up from there.

"
Hello, I am new to the Forum. I own a 1984 VF500F with 5,800 miles on the clock. I have been working on a few upgrades (17� wheel conversion using CBR600F wheels, F4i shock conversion) and was looking into options for 4-2 and 4-1 exhaust systems � researching what was available for the VF500F back in the day.

As a bit of a long shot, I recently sent an email to Yoshimura regarding the possible reissue of an exhaust system for the VF500F.

I heard back from them on Friday and would like to share what I've found out so far.

They are considering reissuing their 4-2 system for the VF500F!

This said, they would like to get an idea of how many owners would be interested in a group buy.

I'm a fan of the way the Yoshi system looks and I've read that their 4-2 system works well on the VF500F. The only caveat I see is that you may need to remove the stock centerstand to install (though a custom stop may be able to be fabricated, which would allow you to keep the centerstand, if so desired).

If there is interest please send me an email "
-------------------------
>>hello
'read above
please add my name to list
and
let me kno if any progress is/has been made
i'd also like the email contact you have w/ them, to try to pep them w/ my own correspondence

thanx, gil
gilwirt@yahoo.com
(86 vf500f)

[image: View Post]2hype1, on 12 April 2011 - 04:09 AM, said:

"
Hello, I am new to the Forum. I own a 1984 VF500F with 5,800 miles on the clock. I have been working on a few upgrades (17� wheel conversion using CBR600F wheels, F4i shock conversion) and was looking into options for 4-2 and 4-1 exhaust systems � researching what was available for the VF500F back in the day.

As a bit of a long shot, I recently sent an email to Yoshimura regarding the possible reissue of an exhaust system for the VF500F.

I heard back from them on Friday and would like to share what I've found out so far.

They are considering reissuing their 4-2 system for the VF500F!

This said, they would like to get an idea of how many owners would be interested in a group buy.

I'm a fan of the way the Yoshi system looks and I've read that their 4-2 system works well on the VF500F. The only caveat I see is that you may need to remove the stock centerstand to install (though a custom stop may be able to be fabricated, which would allow you to keep the centerstand, if so desired).

If there is interest please send me an email "
-------------------------
>>hello
'read above
please add my name to list
and
let me kno if any progress is/has been made
i'd also like the email contact you have w/ them, to try to pep them w/ my own correspondence

thanx, gil
gilwirt@yahoo.com
(86 vf500f)



You can try, but I wouldn't get my hopes up. Getting Yosh to remake a system for a bike this old is pie in the sky to say the least. 'Tis nice to dream though!