Anyone have experience trying a different gas tank on an Interceptor? I have an 84 VFR 500 and the gas tank is pretty shot. Covered in dents and the gas cap won’t go in correctly. My goal with the bike is to strip it as naked as I can and go for a kind of vintage cafe racer/brat something like that.
I was thinking about buying a more universal tank and trying to make it work on this bike. Most all of the tanks are made to mount in more of the cruiser style bikes, so I was wondering if anyone here has put any other kind of tank on one of these bikes and if so what kinds of tanks would take the least fabrication/alteration to make work on the bike. Thanks!
If you mean VF500 (I am sure you do), then not much as far as I know. I have not seen reports of anyone successfully trying to do this. I have often thought the best way to do it would be to take the bike to a local friendly breaker (if such a thing exists) and try a load of tanks on the bike. If you do manage it, please be sure to post back. Good condition VF500 tanks are very rare now unfortunately.
I think I mean VFR 500 interceptor. Isn’t Vf the short for the magna series?
There never was a VFR500. Just the F/F2/Magna in Europe and Interceptor/Magna in N America. Bike had a three year model run. from 1984 to end of 1986 . Two very different petrol tanks too. The 84/85 has a different petcock location to the 86.
Connor, a picture would speak a thousand words.... :tongue:
Of course. Here is a photo of the bike.
[image: 6BF110F2-A83E-4AD1-82B8-03D133CF0126.jpeg]
Looks like an 86 tank but the engine is an 84/85. The brake lever looks challenging.
Nah, the brake is easily grabbed the way it is. I think the tank is from an 86, because there is an 86 parts bike nearby I’ve been considering acquiring with the same one.
The 86 bikes use pretty much the same parts besides the fuel pump thing, right?
Google is your friend....
Every VF500 owners needs at least one parts bike..
Just going to keep my eyes peeled for another VF500 tank.
Tanks not the same. 86 has a different petcock. The petcocks are hard to find too so if you get a another tank make sure it either comes with a petcock or its the same as the one you have.
Here are pictures showing the differences
[image: VF500 Petrol tank 84_85.jpg]
[image: VF500 Petrol tank 86.jpg]
Biggest "thing" between 84/85 model and the 86 is the oilpump and oilsump. On the '86 the oilpump is bigger and the sump holds a little more oil..
and the gasket on top of the cilinders is different ("half moon shapes").
Speaking of oil, mine's due again 🙂
Rain or shine, she will do the business!!
[image: P8120582.thumb.JPG.6a8b4751065bc170492f046444d1862c.JPG]
The engines are different too. Can't swap heads between 84+85 and the 86.