VF500 "Mini-ceptor" (Interceptor)

[rob2218]

hello,
I had recently re-purchased back my VF500 interceptor which I had 2 years ago.
it was the bike I always wanted to own as a kid but never had the chance to.
then, about 3 years ago, a local cop had acquired one at a police auction and I bought it from him.
took the 500 to my local mechanic. they did all the fluid changes, brake pad changes, clutch fluid draining and replacing, and all the good stuff to get her up and running. they even cleaned out those 4 hellacious carbs, all for of them.

So, about 2 years ago, I found myself having to sell the VF500 Interceptor to pay for my trucks transmission. The fellow whom I sold it to was a co-worker. He really didn't ride it much and was going to have his father ship it to Nicaragua and sell it there....but luckily, I got a bit of tax break and bought her back today.

I'll post pictures as soon as I have her decent for a photo-op.

anyone here who owns (or owned) and VF500 and has had experience with them I'd surely like to meet you guys. would help tremendously in knowing the "signs" of what to look for just to keep her running.

thanks
Rob

[derstuka]

....just to clarity boss....this is a "mini"cepter! VTR250 baby! ...oh, hello and welcome btw...

[matt1986vf500f]

....just to clarity boss....this is a "mini"cepter! VTR250 baby! ...oh, hello and welcome btw...

hey hey.. mines a miniceptor! good score those bikes kick arse

welcome back to the brotherhood

[rob2218]

thanks....and isn't that blue-black one a VF250? didnt' Honda make a limited number of those??? Neat bike.

[rob2218]

Matt, I hear you are the man who knows about the VF500's?? is that right?

[volks6000]

just keep the carbs clean and check on the cam tensioners should be a fun ride after that.

[rob2218]

whats the process for checking the cam tensioners?
any special tool I need?

[Jimtt]

Hi ....I also like the VF500 here is a pic of mine:

[matt1986vf500f]

Matt, I hear you are the man who knows about the VF500's?? is that right?

i know a little bit what want to know???
if your looking for ideas i have a thread started of mine, just go bacl to the first gen section and youll see it, just look for my user name under the title

[matt1986vf500f]

Hi ....I also like the VF500 here is a pic of mine:

i want your seat GIMME GIMME

[stewartj239]

Nice Story. I'm glad you had the opportunity to buy it back before you lost it for good. I think the 500 was also referred to as the "baby-ceptor". You've got to post some pictures of your bike. Here's mine:

[matt1986vf500f]

hey hey and heres mine

[rob2218]

Nice!
where do you guys find "parts", Honda parts that is, for your bikes?
I've seen the "Old Bike Barn" but where else?
I'm in need of the battery tray. the plastic box where the batter sits. mine has broken tabs and I just would like to get a new one.

[rob2218]

Stewart,
that Interceptor 500 looks brand new!
are you sure you didn't pluck that JPG off the catalog? (JK)
Nice VF500.

[rob2218]

Question for Matt:
if I needed to turn the idle screw so the bike idles now a little bit faster.....does that do any harm to the engine? Also, what could be causing it to idle so low that it turns off? Do I need to have a tech sync my carbs??? How hard is that do myself? What do I have to take apart?

[matt1986vf500f]

Question for Matt:
if I needed to turn the idle screw so the bike idles now a little bit faster.....does that do any harm to the engine? Also, what could be causing it to idle so low that it turns off? Do I need to have a tech sync my carbs??? How hard is that do myself? What do I have to take apart?

turning the idle screw is not going to harm the engine, you might need to clean the carbs up or something, its hard to say becouse bikes cut off for some many reasons, unless you have some vac gauges, i say just take it to someone and let them sync the carbs for you.

[volks6000]

E-BAY is where you'll find a LOT of the parts you need. also check with bikebandit.com

[stewartj239]

Stewart,
that Interceptor 500 looks brand new!
are you sure you didn't pluck that JPG off the catalog? (JK)
Nice VF500.

Thanks. It is about as showroom as you're going to find. I bought it back in 2003 from the original owner with just 600+ miles on it, but it was a mess from so many years of neglect. I spent 2-3 years restoring it. I tore it right down to the engine and put a top-end oiling kit on it. I found a couple of brand new tanks and also found some new bodywork. The Lockhart fairings are from a VF500 that I owned way back in 1990. I'm glad I kept them as I had them repainted and mounted them on this bike.

As far as where to find parts. eBay is your number one source. However, I've been lucky as a local bike shop has an '86 500 as a parts bike which is where I've been able to get many of mine.

[rob2218]

Matt,
my cousin swears by a product called "SeaFoam".
says I can use it in my gas tanks as per the required recommended ratio. And it will clean up the carbs and get the "stuff" out of them.

Have you heard of this product before?
is it any good?
any downsides?

[stewartj239]

Stewart,
that Interceptor 500 looks brand new!
are you sure you didn't pluck that JPG off the catalog? (JK)
Nice VF500.

One more thing. I am so in to this bike that I had to have a custom plate for it. What do you think?

[matt1986vf500f]

Matt,
my cousin swears by a product called "SeaFoam".
says I can use it in my gas tanks as per the required recommended ratio. And it will clean up the carbs and get the "stuff" out of them.

Have you heard of this product before?
is it any good?
any downsides?

to tell you the truth ive never used seafoam, so i cant tell you if it works or not but why would you need to use it?? there is no fix in a bottle, i might be a bandaid if theres a problem with your bike just fix it dont trust crap like that to keep your machine in tip top shape.

[Naseer23]

well seafoam is a great cleaner i have used it but at first my spark plugs were so bad that they caused the bike not to idle properly but after i changed my plugs it did a great job of cleaning out the carbs and engine. Matt is probably right that it is a band aid solution for you rob but i just wanted to run it thought because the bike was not started for around 2 years.

[Pcohen]

Here is a pic of my vf500. since this pic i've bought a full Vance and Hines exhaust system and full fairings I am in the process of priming for paint. think i'm going to paint it silver but i'm not sure

[rob2218]

is it true that the VF500 shares the same crank that the RC30 has?
that's what I'm told.

[matt1986vf500f]

is it true that the VF500 shares the same crank that the RC30 has?
that's what I'm told.

i have no idea??

[Pcohen]

The RC30 is a 750cc and the NC30 is a 400cc so i doubt either of those bikes share parts with the VF500

[Jimtt]

is it true that the VF500 shares the same crank that the RC30 has?
that's what I'm told.is it true that the VF500 shares the same crank that the RC30 has?
that's what I'm told.

NO.........they are both 360 degree cranks but are very different.