1987 VFR 700F2 project bike - dump it or continue?

[iggy7]

I have a 1987 f2 with 25k miles. Was abandoned for at least a few years. I got it for well under $1k. Now after miscellaneous used parts(battery, coils,faring) and carb cleaning I am in WELL over $1k. Out of frustration and lack of time, the bike has ended up at a Honda dealer.

They are telling me that I need to spend at least another 1K to have the gaskets redone on the carb, and some general tuning. The bike has 135-150 compression in all four cylinders. Front tire is flat. Gas tank has noticeable dents. Color is Blue wave.

So If I spend the money I would be at about $2,200 - $2500 for this. This would be before some aditional fairing replacements.

I have not heard the bike run yet. Everyone tells me of a)that the bike has a very SWEET sound with the gear driven cams, and b) that it has a very even torque accross all rpms.

I have not lost my love for the bike, or for Hondas and Honda engineering. I am just not sure it is worth spending the money. Again, my all in cost would be close to $2,500.00. Wich is LESS than the used market price(I think).

Then again. After fixing it, it could theoretically last for at least for another 5 years....and I would look back, thinking it was worth it.


Any comments are appreciated.

-Iggy

[reg71]

well, you are in a tough spot. I had a similar situation with a VF500 a while back. After adding it up, I opted for selling it. You could part your bike out and make up some of what you have in it or maybe get close to what you have in it selling it for someone who wants to fix up a bike. Yes the bikes are great and sound great, but you could add the money you plan on using to fix it to what you get selling it and probably find a decent bike that you don't have to dump $$ into. What I'd do is start looking for a used 4g or 5g and then go hear it and see if they'll let you ride it. By the way, you can hear the multiple VFR sound clips with pipes here on the board. Just search for sound clips and you should find it.

[clublights]

I'm assuming your mechanically not very good ..


I just rebuilt my carbs in an 86 750 for the grand total of ...........

36 bucks.

that was spent on shop towels, carb cleaner , rubber gloves and such .also a new fuel filter and some fuel line.

if you did need all new gaskets that woudl cost 40 per carb.

it was really easy to do and if you spend about 35 on the clymer manual it's simple .

projected total cost : 250 if you needed 4 full gasket sets.. I've also found the gasket sets for as little as 28 bucks on line.

well toss in 100 or so for a carb syncing at a shop

[speed]

Yes i would have to agree with clublights, the carb gaskets are cheap but you would need to be mechanically inclined a bit ?
for what its worth i just sold my 87 VFR700F2 (blue/silver) in mint condition and it took me three months to do and i only got $2600 ?
they do sound hot and are fun to ride,
good luck

[iggy7]

I was did take tha carbs out, so that some one could service the carbs jets etc....but not the gaskets. Did have to buy new insulators and bands to put the carbs back in.

The Honda dealer had said nothing about the quality of my install of the carbs..(ie leakage).

Putting the carbs back in was very difficult, but not impossible. Just would not like to revisit that. But.....will looks into getting the clymer manual...I already have the Honda Repair manual. Will look for documentation about gasket replacement.

Thanks,

Iggy7

[iggy7]

Would you say that doing the carb kit rebuild is easier than reinstalling the carbs???

[clublights]

In some ways yes..

it was hard to get the carbs back in ..

I used a bit of wd40 to help shove em in ..

[iggy7]

Thanks.....

[speed]

hey clublights, i used WD-40 also it worked well

[fatso1277]

Well in my humble opinion, i would say go ahead and part it out get what you can or sell it for what you can. Cause it seems that you dont want the headache. to be honest i spent 1600 for mines and i have already spent that in replacing the fairings and f2 front end conversion. I havenet even started on the back yet. i havent even went into other upgrades and mods yet. not to mention the cost of tools(torque wrench, welder, etc, etc) that i need to complete these mods and upgrades. and to be honest i am not the most mechanically inclined either, but thanks to my public school education i can partically read and those big words i dont know i can ask the wonderful people here. i have the repair/service manual and clymers as well to help out so i figure between those 3 i should be up and running soon enough. i honestly dont focus on what i have spent thus far, i just focus on the love of riding and the love of my bike as motivation to get me through the rough sunny beautiful motorcycling days. but if you already got the carbs done, its seems that you are almost there. BUT if you do wanna part it out let me know i can sure use some parts.

JUST MY 2 CENTS