(Cheap) Deal of the Day, VFR500f, $1k

[chuck peterson]

That would make me look good....

https://hartford.craigslist.org/mcy/d/1986-honda-vfr500f-interceptor/6762650550.html

[jas67]

At first glance, it is missing the fuel petcock knob.

[JohninVT]

I’ve had two of them and this one is tempting. 

[LowRyter]

IIRC everyone of them was a time bomb and Honda took them out of production.

[kirby1923]

Actually that is a VF not a VFR. They are pretty sweet handlers if in good nick. 68 hp for about 400 lbs empty wt is a 120+ mph and a 12 second quarter.

I had a VF750 "83 bought new and put around 65K on it. It has the same architecture (engine) which works well. In the early ('83) days Honda had some cam issues' with cam hardening and oiling which were sorted by '84. They didn't make the same mistakes on the 500.

They get an undeserved bad rap.

If I was looking for a good 500 that will really handle and go the VF would be on my radar...a bargain. Its a little cramped due to racer like riding position, but for the short inseam it would work well.

[Tusayan]

The engine issues with the 500 were less with the cams and more with the bottom end... but by '86 they had made some beneficial changes to the 500 engine and I think that's the year to get. 

The '86 fuel delivery system and petcock is different than the earlier ones too, and I see a NOS petcock offered currently on EBay for about a third of the price of this bike.

[JohninVT]

The engine is fantastic.  Swap the forks and swing arm from a CBR600f2 onto one and the VF500 becomes a formidable back road weapon.  I put 35-40k on two different 86’s and never had an issue.

[Two Checks]

Iirc the valve springs required replacement at 40k. And they are NLA.

[Rough Edge racing]

IIRC everyone of them was a time bomb and Honda took them out of production.

  Please elaborate with documentation if possible....I'm looking at a 95 750 for short money, another time bomb?

[Two Checks]

The later models are fine. Just a pita to work on as I understand.

[JohninVT]

Only the 83' 750 had cam issues.  I had one but didn't have a problem.  The 85' 500's didn't like sustained 12,000rpm running(like in endurance racing).  After 30-40k, they had a tendency for valve stems to break when they were abused.  The 86 got a larger sump and increased oiling to the top end and the valve issue mostly went away. 

Today there are stock bikes with 200hp per liter.  That wasn't the case in 86'.  I think the 500 Interceptor was the most powerful bike per displacement on the market at the time.  Honda claimed(I think) 68hp at the crank and the bikes usually pulled 55-60 on a dyno.  That's quite a bit for a bike that weighed 425lbs full of fuel, ready to ride.

The V-4's are not time bombs and Honda didn't pull them all because they were unreliable.  They fixed the cam issue on the 83' 750's and then the bikes were reliable.  Don't hold a 500 wide open at 12,000rpm for 4 hours at a time and you won't have a problem.  They sold the V4 in multiple displacements, in multiple models for decades.  400, 500, 750, 700, 1000, 1100 and 1200 and 1300cc V4's have all been built by Honda.  They've been in Interceptors, Magna's, Sabres and ST1300's(though it's a transverse V4). 

A 95 Interceptor is a solid bike and has gear driven cams and is pre VTEC.  Carry a spare rectifier on long trips or do the Radio Shack mod.  That's about the only issue with them.         

[kirby1923]

I have a '97, the last year w/carbs. I put a Ti exhaust can on it but otherwise stock. I have owned all the VF series thru 98. I didn't like the '98 'cause when they went to electric carbs the mileage went down and the throttle response was "jerky" for lack of a better term. I also didn't like the "flexie frame,(long story).

The 500cc machines had a good run 'cause the power to wt was vey near the 750 at the time for less money. Then the 750s became much lighter and the 500s lost their appeal to most.

I've seen VFRs in Europe used for courier duty w/300K miles with no major problems encountered. If there was ever a "bullet proof" moto engine ,this is as close as it comes.

I'll never sell my VFR.

[Tusayan]

The 1986 VFR was the real fix for the 700/750 cam issues, 1983-85 all had issues.  The various fixes didn't fully resolve them.  Mine had worn out the valve gear by 50,000 miles as well as spinning a rod bearing at 30,000 miles (I rebuilt it with a used Sabre crank, same part, learned about selective fit bearings)

The first 1984 VF500Fs had serious bottom end issues and for a short time that year 500s were unavailable while Honda sorted it out.  The affected 500s got new engines.  During that period no Interceptors at all were available new in the US.   I 'couldn't wait' and bought a low mileage used 750 instead.  $3300, sold later with 53,000 miles and a rattly top end for $1800.

If you want a truly sorted out engine, the '86 VFR 700/750 is the way to go.  However this '86 VF500F is the best of the 500s and is as good as the early engines got.

[Two Checks]

The ST engine is no relation to the VF series.
A friend had an early 750 which scrapped out in Moorehead, KY.
He rented a van and hauled it home. Took it to a friend who owns a repair shop and Honda paid for a complete rebuild.

[kirby1923]

Honda pulled all the stops on the 1990 VFR model and gave the market a jewel with Ferrari like gear driven cams and a single sided swing arm near perfect carburation and 100+ HP.

Rumor is that they sold the machine at a loss.

To me the '90-'97 were the best of the best. Today you can find a good one for under $2000.

:-)