T3 - Tinks Annual Project Bike ('98 VFR800)

**tinkerinWstuff** · 10-24-2011, 08:55 PM

A few weeks ago I picked up my 3rd VFR. Well, 2nd VFR as my first V4 was a VF500. The bike went through a high speed crash at the track that toasted the rear sub along with the front and many other parts.

I initially intended to play with the FI or the whole motor and attempt a conversion into my 3rd gen frame. But the bike ended up coming with a title and I started looking at other options. Tink's annual project - T3

My limited budget was one of the primary reasons I've decided to restore the bike to normal 5th gen status - sort of... This thread will have the rebuild updates over the winter.

More ugly:

Stripped off the ugly:

The previous owner kept the suspension parts

Parts I need to obtain:
Levers - sourced on ebay
Seat - sourced, VFRW member
sub frame and tail plastics - (6th gen) sourced VFRW member
exhaust - sourced, VFRW member
OEM bars or right side Heli bar - sourced Heli on ebay
Gauge cluster - sourced on ebay
Gauge surround plastic - sourced on ebay
Front fairing stay - sourced ebay
forks - sourced VFRW member
929 shock - sourced ebay
Mirrors with integrated signals - sourced on ebay
6gen Fuel tank - sourced VFRW member
wind screen - sourced ebay
Rt side engine cover/clutch cover
Front wheel - sourced, VFRW member
K&N air filter - sourced VFRW member
inner fender (6th gen) - sourced on ebay
tail light (6th gen) - sourced on ebay
passenger pegs (6th gen) - sourced on ebay
Front fender - sourced on ebay
Front inner V plastic - sourced on ebay

Read on to see how it turns into this:

**tinkerinWstuff** · 10-24-2011, 08:58 PM

The concept:

**tinkerinWstuff** · 10-24-2011, 09:02 PM

It lives! Forks are installed and the 929 shock is temp installed to make it easier to move around the garage. Attempted to start it up and see if it's worth sticking any money into:

**tinkerinWstuff** · 10-24-2011, 09:04 PM

6th gen rear sub frame arrives tomorrow

**Metallican525** · 10-24-2011, 10:15 PM

sounds pretty good, little loapy but good.

**Belgarion** · 10-24-2011, 10:52 PM

Is that belt whine (or whatever is causing it) normal?

**crustyrider** · 10-24-2011, 11:35 PM

that noise would be the gear driven cams.... gear whine not belt whine, Belgarion...

**ridervfr** · 10-25-2011, 02:16 AM

Nice! And it was Free ? Awsome...I got a free V-45 Sabre tooth bikie once and ended up giving it to a cousin cause of lack of space to work on it. He just neglected it and I dont know what ever happened to it.

If its free its for me

Nice winter project. You got a clear title for it?

**tinkerinWstuff** · 10-25-2011, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by Metallican525

sounds pretty good, little loapy but good.

I thought so too. First attempts to crank the motor had it hydro locked and you can see the smoke she puffed out. The can is smashed too. May need some plugs or a throttlebody sync (or both) but sounded good mechanically.

Originally Posted by Belgarion

Is that belt whine (or whatever is causing it) normal?

Originally Posted by crustyrider

that noise would be the gear driven cams.... gear whine not belt whine, Belgarion...

What crusty said. Gear cams started in 1990 thru 2001. Jump off that 500 and go try one out, you might like it

Originally Posted by ridervfr

If its free its for me

Nice winter project. You got a clear title for it?

Cost me a five hour road trip and dinner for a friend. As you can see from the shopping list, there isn't much left on the bike that wasn't damaged. Dude wanted the space back in his garage and didn't want to deal with any hassles. He's a member here but I don't know his VFRW name. I know him from the Colorado Sport Bike Club.

**pap11y** · 10-25-2011, 01:50 PM

Frikkin sweet.

You have an excellent starting point and for it to be running straight of is a huge bonus.

I'll be watching this thread with interest/envy :)

The gen 6 rear end on the gen 5 could be a cool thing. Will be great to hear your feeback after completion. In time of course..

**tinkerinWstuff** · 10-25-2011, 02:48 PM

^^ thanks pap

ok so,
one must wonder;
A) was the Fischer Price Big Wheel packaging by design?
B) where are the oatmeal cream pies?

**FoothillRyder** · 10-25-2011, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by tinkerinWstuff

What crusty said. Gear cams started in 1990 thru 2001. Jump off that 500 and go try one out, you might like it

Actually no... the very first '86 VFR had gear driven cams, as did the '84(?) '85 and '86 VF1000R.

**tinkerinWstuff** · 10-25-2011, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by FoothillRyder

Actually no... the very first '86 VFR had gear driven cams, as did the '84(?) '85 and '86 VF1000R.

Thanks. I always forget the 2nd gen like a redheaded step child.

further, I'm just ignorant and stupid, especially where the VF1000 is concerned

**jeVFR** · 10-25-2011, 05:23 PM

If you need a seat and can't find one closer, I've got the stocker off of my 6th. It's yours for the cost of shipping it to you.

**Metallican525** · 10-25-2011, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by tinkerinWstuff

I thought so too. First attempts to crank the motor had it hydro locked and you can see the smoke she puffed out. The can is smashed too. May need some plugs or a throttlebody sync (or both) but sounded good mechanically.

Shit that says it all, take off the smashed exhaust, blow out the cylinders, clean the plugs, bet she idles just fine then!!

**tinkerinWstuff** · 10-25-2011, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by jeVFR

If you need a seat and can't find one closer, I've got the stocker off of my 6th. It's yours for the cost of shipping it to you.

Thanks for the offer. I would pay extra if it came with pics that included your model.

I might have one on the way already, I will let you know.

**Kobe Diesel** · 10-25-2011, 06:51 PM

If something like this fell into my lap:
1. inverted forks
2. unlinked brakes
3. home made Al rear subframe
4. put the thing on a diet.
5. exclusive track/endurance racer bike

I've got Brembo front brake calipers if you need.....

**BWeiss** · 10-25-2011, 07:31 PM

I had a feeling you'd get a kick out of the packaging. Those pieces are a very odd shape and finding a box/boxes that would work proved to be a bit....challenging. I'm just glad I have a kid and all the boxes his sh....tuff comes in can be handy.

**tinkerinWstuff** · 10-25-2011, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by Kobe Diesel

If something like this fell into my lap:
1. inverted forks
2. unlinked brakes
3. home made Al rear subframe
4. put the thing on a diet.
5. exclusive track/endurance racer bike

I've got Brembo front brake calipers if you need.....

That would be a nice build. Thank you greatly for the offer on the Brembo. I lean more toward the touring side of the VFR than the track so I don't feel the need to go that direction with it. I have not rode the linked brakes yet and am very curious how I'll like them. It would appear they add a lot of weight with all that extra crap.

**reg71** · 10-25-2011, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by jeVFR

If you need a seat and can't find one closer, I've got the stocker off of my 6th. It's yours for the cost of shipping it to you.

dammit jev. I had to quote your message to see what you typed cause something to the left got my attention for about 5 minutes...

**reg71** · 10-25-2011, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by tinkerinWstuff

That would be a nice build. Thank you greatly for the offer on the Brembo. I lean more toward the touring side of the VFR than the track so I don't feel the need to go that direction with it. I have not rode the linked brakes yet and am very curious how I'll like them. It would appear they add a lot of weight with all that extra crap.

I don't think the weight is that big of a deal, and I can say from experience that the linked brakes work pretty well. I feel more seure on the track with them than I do without.

**tinkerinWstuff** · 10-25-2011, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by reg71

I don't think the weight is that big of a deal, and I can say from experience that the linked brakes work pretty well. I feel more seure on the track with them than I do without.

I suspect I'll get along with them pretty well. I'm not a purist and like technology. ABS, DCT, all that shit floats my boat.

**matt1986vf500f** · 10-26-2011, 04:07 AM

Originally Posted by Kobe Diesel

If something like this fell into my lap:
1. inverted forks
2. unlinked brakes
3. home made Al rear subframe
4. put the thing on a diet.
5. exclusive track/endurance racer bike

I've got Brembo front brake calipers if you need.....

Brembo's what did they come off of?

**TOE CUTTER** · 10-26-2011, 05:59 AM

Fisher Price logo on the tank is gonna look HOT! Are you done yet?

**Kobe Diesel** · 10-26-2011, 07:24 AM

Originally Posted by matt1986vf500f

Brembo's what did they come off of?

2000 Duc 748S

**matt1986vf500f** · 10-26-2011, 09:21 AM

What's the price tag for those babies?

**tinkerinWstuff** · 10-26-2011, 09:25 AM

PM maybe?

**matt1986vf500f** · 10-26-2011, 09:50 AM

Sorry tink thread jack over. Let me know if you need any parts I've got a few for the 5th gen.

**Pliskin** · 10-26-2011, 10:17 AM

Tink - curious what the objectives are in doing a 6th gen rear on the fifth gen. I know you mentioned you were more inclined for the tour than track, but I know the 2 things I've always wanted for my 5th Gen were an undertail exhaust (which I think Wolf is the only brand out there with this), and I'd like to remove the passenger pegs. I'm not doing any two up, so I'd like to get rid of them. The problem is the seat locking mechanism is fitted into the left side.

Just wondering...

**tinkerinWstuff** · 10-26-2011, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by matt1986vf500f

Sorry tink thread jack over. Let me know if you need any parts I've got a few for the 5th gen.

no worries. After Billy, I'm probably the king of off topic thread jack. Thanks for the offer and I have a list of parts needed at the bottom of the first post in this thread.

Originally Posted by Pliskin

Tink - curious what the objectives are in doing a 6th gen rear on the fifth gen. I know you mentioned you were more inclined for the tour than track,

One of the biggest reasons was because I fell into a 6gen tail at a price that couldn't be passed up. I expect and am prepared to spend a little money to customize a stock 6gen seat to fit my ass and to blend with the 5th gen tank. There may also be a minor tweak needed in the 6th gen OEM undertail exhaust to fit to 5th gen collection pipe (unsure). At the end of the day I hope it will be a zero sum ($$) mod compared with purchasing 5th gen OEM tail parts off eBay.

Second (third, fourth....), it allows me to do something a little different and unique with the build without breaking the bank, makes the project a little more interesting, retains some resale value, undertail exhaust for the slim looks, and keeps me out of the bar this winter.

I don't see the slimmer 6gen tail as affecting the touring capabilities when you read about all the members touring the west coast. I think it takes a bottomless checkbook like NCB to turn a VFR into a worthy trackbike. I neither have the riding skills or the money to pursue such a goal.

The ultimate goal would be to have the thing finished under budget by May 2012 in time for SLO.