I'm on a quest to buy and restore the significant bikes of my youth. I have 5 now from a Bridgestone 60, Honda CL160, Honda CB400F, Yamaha AT1 to a Yamaha XS650. The sixth bike I had was a 1985 VFR500. It had issues with the cams. Never could quiet the tappets. I've heard stories about bad oiling issues, pitted cams, etc. What's the history o reliability?
Here's pic of my favorite at the moment.
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Hello Jim,
I bought 2 VF500F2's this year and did a bit of research. The are a few topics in this sub-forum on it
The 86 did only suffer cam problems "by association", by the problems the larger capacity VF's had.
Regular valve clearance checks are key though and one needs to have the proper tool to hold the little nut on top of the tappets.
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Thanks, buying 30+ years later that's my concern. There seems to be more 799's available. How are they mechanically and reliability?
gentlemanjimThanks, buying 30+ years later that's my concern. There seems to be more 799's available. How are they mechanically and reliability?
Depends on the year, i would buy only 1986 and above . And then try to run 100% gas only.
SwitchbladeAnd then try to run 100% gas only.
That's becoming more widely available. http://www.pure-gas.org/ lists available locations in the US and Canada by state and province.
If you search this sub-forum, you will find that some have experienced them dropping valves but what is cause was is debatable...
I follow a fellow Dutchman who is considered an expert on VF's; check valve clearance every 5000kms and change oil, don't rev it to the max for long hours on end...
For me 5,000km will probably more than one season riding, as I have a 4th gen as well.
I bougth a set of tapered head bearings so when the riding season ends I will put those in and -if I touch the 5k, verify clearances and change oil.
You have a dream/mission to own the bikes of your younger years, so go for it I would say.
you are not going to have to re-mortgage your house to buy one I reckon.... :-)
Free after George Best:
"I spent half my fortune on alcohol, women and motorcycles
the other half I wasted...."
Thanks I meant in an earlier comment 700 cc not 799, typo. So as I understand it the 1986,87 700's are typically a better buy for restoring.. Gear driven cams. Do they need the oiler kit too?
gentlemanjimThanks I meant in an earlier comment 700 cc not 799, typo. So as I understand it the 1986,87 700's are typically a better buy for restoring.. Gear driven cams. Do they need the oiler kit too?
No .
And there is even discussion on the web on the usefulness of an oil mod....
People that sell it will tell you it is a must for sure.
Find one to fullfill your wish to again own one. Ride it and if it does fail eventually, you had your fun and at worst are 1k out of pocket.....
gentlemanjimThanks I meant in an earlier comment 700 cc not 799, typo. So as I understand it the 1986,87 700's are typically a better buy for restoring.. Gear driven cams. Do they need the oiler kit too?
The 86,87 vfr is near bulletproof. The only part i had to replace 3 times is the rr. I have driven my 86 at 200 km/h and above and several times at topspeed on the German autobahn, without any trouble (exept excessive tire wear) The bike has now 92000 km (57000 mile) on its tacho without any mechanical wear.[image: post-9697-0-48615500-1441709785.jpg]
This is how it looks inside.
I had a 75 cb400f in varnish blue in high school. I regret selling it 15 years ago and have been looking for another ever since.
It was weak springs that caused VF500 valve problems, i believe, and subsequent engine destruction. High rpms caused disasterous valve float leading to damage to top valve tips, mushrooming and eventual failure, holes through pistons and relegation to boxes under workbenches everywhere.KAPUT !
Edited October 3, 2015 by squirrelmanSave your money and don't buy an oiler kit - you don't need it unless you plan to race the bike. The following article was written by a Honda expert who worked on these when they were in Production: http://www.motorcycleproject.com/text/v4_cams_what.html
The issue with cams was caused by a number of variables, but top end oiling wasn't one of them. Inspect the cams and follower, adjust your valves, change your oil and filter, and ride it like you stole it!
I too can attest to the '86 700 dependability. Mine has about 90k miles, I bought it in 1999 with about 58k miles on it. Had to put a clutch in at about 80k miles, at about 85k miles I had to replace the springs and pucks in the starter clutch, also had to replace the right hand switch gear. Knock on wood, mine has the same R&R since I bought it, it was replaced by the PO at about 50k miles (I helped replace it). I have a new water pump to put in it this winter along with Samco hoses.
I was talking with some one who has the 750cc '86 with about 150k miles, said the R&R has been replaced several times, but the last time other electrical work was done (wires?) and the latest one has lasted much longer than the first few replacements.
Gentlemanjim, what's a VFR 500 ? Never heard of that model.
No one can claim to be a VFR veteran until after he's replaced his SECOND voltage regulator.
Edited October 22, 2015 by squirrelmansquirrelmanGentlemanjim, what's a VFR 500 ? Never heard of that model.
No one can claim to be a VFR veteran until after he's replaced his SECOND voltage regulator.
Four !!! :angry: More expensive on RR's then on tires.